Quantum Leap by Paul Cacia Jazz Orchestra

30 Jul

Written by Bill Falconer
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Paul Cacia is a bandleader, studio musician and a trumpeter with a flair for the stratospheric. He will remind you of Maynard. Cacia played with the Kenton orchestra and produced the excellent 1987 release, "The Alumni Tribute to Stan Kenton." His "Quantum Leap," recorded in the same year, has arrangements by David Stout, Janine Cameo, Hank Levy, Willie Maiden, Johnny Richards, Rusty Higgins and Joe Coccia. The result, given the ingredients, is also very much a tribute to Stan.

As with the Kenton band, Cacia and his group are intense and flamboyant. They have a sense of drama. There's the emphasis on brass and percussion, those eloquent trombone solos. The sections are tight and well rehearsed. (Check out those saxes on "I Have Dreamed.") "From Mars to Zarathustra" is other-worldly and there are two extended medleys, "Journey" and "James Bond." Vocalist Janine Cameo demonstrates her versatility, sounding diva-like on her emotional "Journey," doing the Bassey bit on "James Bond" and exhibiting a blues touch on " No One Ever Tells You." The leader, Cacia, is everywhere and his solo on "I Have Dreamed" is inspired.

My only reservation regarding this CD is its lack of the usual liner note information on composers, soloists, recording date and individual arrangements.

An emotional journey from the dark intro to "Eye of the Tiger" to that last long-held Cacia note in the moving closer, "Send In the Clowns." It was like hearing Stan's orchestra again.