Review at Jersey Jazz

Review for the New Jersey Jazz Society 
Jersey Jazz  by Joe Lang 

THE LEN PIERRO JAZZ ORCHESTRA is a hard swinging big band from Philadelphia as can be heard on The Third Quarter (Walking Path Records – 2020).  Pierro has gathered a top-flight crew of Philadelphia area cats to play his charts on eight original tunes plus “If I Should Lose You,” “Jitterbug Waltz” and Kenny Barron’s “Voyage.”  Their playing is tight and exciting.  There are outstanding solo interludes by the likes of tenor saxophonists Larry McKenna and Chris Farr, alto saxophonist Matt Vashlishan, trumpeter Tony DeSantis and flugelhornist George Rabbai.  Pierro is one fine arranger who has given his aggregation a lot of wonderful music to play on.  It is pleasing to hear, and it sounds like the band had just as much fun making it all come to life.