Review for the New Jersey Jazz Society
Jersey Jazz
by Joe Lang
It took five years for The Len Pierro Jazz Orchestra to follow up their wonderful debut album, The Third Quarter, but As I Was Saying (Walking Path Records –2024) is worth the wait. This Philadelphia-based 18-piece aggregation is tight and filled with excellent soloists. The program comprises nine Pierro originals plus “You and the Night and the Music.” Unlike many contemporary big band albums, Pierro’s charts swing out, nicely paced and full of interesting turns, while the solos are well spread around. Tenor saxophonist Bob Howell, trumpeter Tony DeSantis, trombonist Alan Ferber and pianist Jim Ridl are most prominent soloists. Pierro has the ability to produce music that is instantly welcoming to the listener, and this album should find frequent visits to your CD player. (lenpierro.com)