Brass Roland

Although not as satisfying in terms of overall content as the individual soundtracks, this concert recording of Ennio Morricone film music with the composer leading the Orchestra and Chorus of the Academia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia has its virtues. Among the latter are the superb musicianship of a full-blown classical orchestra and chorus and the exceptionally clean sound, although this also has its flaws – the quality of the recording is impeccable, although there is a certain lack of presence; producer David Mottley and recording engineer Mike Sheady could have tried for a closer, more intimate sound, although the performance's wit and charm come through along with the virtuosity of the players.

Active during a period of jazz history when it seemed radical innovation was a thing of the past, Joe Lovano nevertheless coalesced various stylistic elements from disparate eras into a personal and forward-seeking style. While not an innovator in a macro sense, Lovano has unquestionably charted his own path. His playing contains not an ounce of glibness, but possesses in abundance the sense of spontaneity that has always characterized the music's finest improvisers. Lovano doesn't adopt influences – he absorbs them – so that when playing a standard, he exudes the same sense of abandon as when playing totally free (which, it should be pointed out, he does well, if infrequently).

The success of the Austin Powers movies rekindled an interest in everything groovy, swinging and mod. The Instro Hipsters a Go-Go responded in kind, serving up fun but mostly forgotten instrumentals from the '60s and early '70s that sound equally good in a bachelor pad or discotheque. Instro Hipsters a Go-Go, Vol. 2 is a Wall of Sound made up of twangy surf guitars, tumbling drums, flourishes of brass, and funky organs, exemplified by Excursion's "Switched On," St. Louis Union's "English Tea" and Zoot Money's "Zoot Suite." The Ray McVay Sound's "Revenge" and the Reg Guest Syndicate's "Underworld" sound like gritty spy movie themes, while Purple Fox's "Git Some" and Salon Band's "Disco 2" take things in a mellower direction, but the entire collection makes for very entertaining mood music that still conjures up that swinging, stylish era.