Always apprehensive about jazz musicians jumping on the big band wagon, I sat down to listen to Ernie Krivda and the Fat Tuesday Big Band's second release, The Band That Swings (KOCH Jazz). Krivda takes us through 12 big band standards and one original in an attempt to build a bridge to link the power of the big band sound with his tenor sax stylings and extensive jazz background. But it appears The Band That Swings was intended more for jazz patrons and less for today's dancing big band fans. All of the notes are just where they are supposed to be, but throughout this recording the music seems too smooth. And while The Fat Tuesday Big Band performs better than many other modern orchestras, Krivda's arrangements need work before they rival the quality of contemporary bandleaders Bill Elliott, George Gee or Matt Catingub. The album begins with a not-so-recognizable rendition of Gershwin's "'S Wonderful" and tours itself though other "sweet jazz" standards, including "Undecided," "Sunny Side of the Street," "Boogie Blues" and Count Basie's "One O'clock Jump." Sadly, the arrangements are uninspiring, and once the final track plays, one can barely notice that the music has stopped.

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