"35-year old pianist Manuel Engel has achieved a real coup with the Bienne City (BNC) Arkestra. Unique, fresh, large format, the nine Swiss musicians go to work. The cast is exciting, 3 bass clarinets and 3 trumpets, rhodes, bass, and drums. The big band with guest Richie Beirach reminiscent of the wild seventies, the experiments of the “Bitches Brew” era (especially the rhodes interludes refer to it) or to Jaco Pastorius' “Word of Mouth Big Band”. The nine compositions from Beirach have been cleverly arranged by Engel – the CD is highly and unconditionally recommended."

Jazz 'N' More