I'll admit I'm very biased against big bands, they tend to get on my nerves and it usually doesn't take long to switch them off. But I decided to behave and listen to this album in its entirety. Yes there's still a lot I don't like (got the vibrato trumpets within the first 5 seconds, urgh) and many songs are what I call "Tom & Jerry" or "Love Boat" songs. However there were some good jazzy (but less big-bandy) bits that were OK and generally this album is rhythmically good (that bass player is like a Swiss clock and his fast walking bass line are fab). I'd give it a 1 or 2 because I don't like the music - it does not move me at all (not in a good way at least). But it gets an extra point because I do see it's good "for the genre" and it's well made. And I like it more/ dislike it less than Duke Ellington which I gave a 2, so a 3 it is.