THE H2 BIG BAND

Led by two educators from the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music—renowned trumpeter Al Hood and co-leader, pianist Dave Hanson—have assembled a seventeen-piece ensemble including some of Denver's finest.The H2 Big Band, named from the first letter of both co-leaders' surnames, can surely be considered a muscle-type orchestra, as the music clearly bears out. A special feature of the band is its out-of-towners, who contribute mightily and include baritone saxophonist Glenn Kostur, and trumpeters Bobby Shew, Jason Carder and Mike Rodriguez. Hanson—whose specialty is composing and arranging for big bands—contributes the majority of the charts. from http://www.allaboutjazz.com