Jim Rattigan plays the French horn and before turning to jazz played in leading symphony orchestras. It takes a bit of getting used to, simply because its sound is so rarely heard in a jazz context. But Rattigan is also a composer with a canny approach when it comes to combining the sounds of various instruments. The distinctive voice of the horn soon becomes familiar as it weaves among the saxophones and trumpets and takes its turn among the soloists. The hard-to-achieve balance between scored ensemble and improvisation is perfect. And it’s quite a band, too, each one of the 12 a player of note. Touring soon – catch them if they come your way.
