The Verve Jazz Ensemble thrives on classic bop, swingers, and Latin. So it isn’t surprising to see such names as Benny Golson, Lee Morgan, and Gerry Mulligan among the songwriting credits for the VJE’s terrific, beautiful-sounding fifth album, Connect the Dots.

Although you won’t find any of the typical selections by these great composers here, what you will find are what the band’s drummer-leader Josh Feldstein calls “under-served tunes” by these masters, fabulous music neglected for no reason other than listeners getting focused on just a few favorites from their songbooks, and overlooking other gems.

“One of our goals is to find music that is fresh, with melodies we love, and blow the dust off it,” says Feldstein, whose adventurous ensemble, formed in Connecticut in 2006, includes trumpeter Tatum Greenblatt, tenor saxophonist Jon Blanck, pianist Steve Einerson, and bassist Elias Bailey. “There’s so much amazing music that people haven’t heard.” View full article...