Daniel Hersog, a Vancouver-based trumpeter-composer, is the latest in a line of contemporary Canadian big band arranger-leaders, which includes Ingrid Jensen, to follow in the legendary footsteps of Gil Evans. He's the central influence on Night Devoid of Stars, a title lifted from Martin Luther King Jr's very topical speech that stresses the danger of violence leading to more violence. Although Evans is the standout influence throughout these impressive pieces, Hersog's music has a strong character of its own and the younger man eschews close emulation of his hero. The 16-piece orchestra contains the cream of Hersog's fellow countrymen and the leader's arrangements create some open-ended possibilities for his soloists, notably trumpeter Brad Turner stands out and probably the most well-known orchestra member Noah Preminger impressing with some loosely inventive solo tenor sax playing. The only cover, Jerome Kern's ‘Smoke Gets in Your Eyes’, is given the Gil Evans treatment, with its dark-hued drone feature. A mature, superbly-crafted statement that doesn't sound anything like a debut.