With Tasty Tunes, Ira B. Liss proves that the big band survives well into the 21st century and, at least under his leadership, is thriving in inspiration and creativity.

Wow. A fixture in the Southern California scene for 38 years, when this Big Band kicks off with a volcanic "You Don't Know What Love Is," one simply goes along for the equivalent of a Formula One ride with this Big Bad Band with Eric Richards' heated arrangement, a full speed ahead alto sax solo from Christopher Hollyday, and blistering trumpet from Peter Green, before pianist Steve Sibley's reflective piano break.

This is the fifth release by the Ira B. Liss Big Band, which has been based in southern California for the past four decades. To the plethora of soloists he usually has at his disposal the leader has added guest stars Eric Marienthal, Bob Mintzer and Holly Hofmann to bring a little extra magic to charts by Tom Kubis, Mike Abene, Mike Crotty and Peter Herbolzheimer.

...This is, plain and simple, a gathering of first rate players soaring on fresh, stimulating, and often challenging arrangements.

...The wide array of material makes this a rather unique performance.

Right out of the gate, this big band races into the sound space with the fastest renditions of "You Don't Know What Love Is" that I've ever heard. It was an exciting production with arrangements full of ebullition.