January/February 2007

Phil Kelly & the SW Santa Ana Winds
My Museum
Origin Records

By Forrest Dylan Bryant

Like their meteorological namesake, this California counterpart to Phil Kelly’s Seattle-based big band is breezy, warm, and unmistakably L.A. The first half of the program finds the 19-piece ensemble working hard-swinging modern arrangements, until the title track slows things down with full strings and a soulful vocal by Greta Matassa. From there the band cruises along on some light funk and Latin numbers before coming full circle, ending strong with a snappy blowing session.