The things that I took away most out of this latest recording by Marshall Gilkes and the WDR Big Band were threefold: firstly, LifeSongs' sense of control - there isn't any grandstanding and for an orchestra as powerful as the WDR there is a lot of subtlety that isn't lost in the scaling up; secondly, the sheer melodic richness of the writing where you get a very yearning West Wing-like graceful soaring quality, particularly on 'My Unanswered Prayer' and 'Longing for Home'; and thirdly almost a brass band quality to the horns here which gives the sound a lot of personality and honesty. While not a record that swings relentlessly all the time or wallows in some fake nostalgic past there's a get down swagger on 'Back in the Groove' that is pretty satisfying. Mostly trombonist Marshall Gilkes' tunes plus a version of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's 'This Nearly Was Mine' and vocalist Sabeth Pérez appears on the traditional song 'All the Pretty Little Horses' it's a treat for big band lovers and agnostic big band followers alike - and just as complete a listen as Köln all those years ago. SG