Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra
Where or When
Owl Studios
By George W. Harris

Last year, The BWJO put out a fantastically arranged set of Christmas tunes, further augmented by the molasses-rich voice of Everett Greene. On this more secular outing, arranger/trombonist Brent Wallarab shows that he knows when he has a good thing, and spotlights Greene on a plethora of the romantic songs, like “Where Or When” and “I’ll Be Around”. Greene’s sound is thick enough to hold up a knife, and he milks it for all it’s worth. Cynthia Layne delivers a bit of female contrast on the peppy “Avalon”, and co-leaders Wallarab and Mark Buselli get some nice solo space on their respective horns, but this is Greene’s spotlight, and he is absolutely verdant. In this era that h as an overflow of menopausal madams, it’s nice to hear some testosterone in behind the microphone.