Bob Mintzer is a saxophonist and composer whose big band showcases his gift for modernist sophistication within the swing tradition. Spectrum, his 1988 debut for the audiophile DMP label, features a seventeen-piece ensemble playing Mintzer's own compositions. The music swings with complex harmonies and interlocking horn lines, with a rhythm section that drives without pushing. Mintzer's tenor work is at the center, assertive and swinging over the band's coordinated ensemble sections. You hear traces of Gil Evans and Thad Jones in the approach, but Mintzer's voice is distinctly his own. This is big band music for the curious listener, rewarding close attention without demanding it.