Oattsnotes:
* …..perhaps lesser-known but no less resourceful and accomplished Millennium Jazz Orchestra.
Kudos to Reinders and the MJO who have produced a rewarding album from start to finish, splendidly performed and wonderfully enhanced by the presence of one of America’s most talented saxophonists, the consistently impressive Dick Oatts. First-rate sound and generous playing time at no extra charge.
Jack Bowers
* Deze cd is een uitstekend voorbeeld hoe bigband muziek op eigentijdse wijze gecomponeerd, gearrangeerd en gespeeld wordt.
Munich records
Specially Arranged for Fay:
* If you’re only going to buy one big band/vocalist album this year, “Specially Arranged for Fay” should probably be the one. This isn’t your grandfather’s big band, and perhaps not your father’s, either. If it is, you’ve got hip parents, for sure.
Bruce Anderson
* Not only was Frank Sinatra an incomparable singer, he was a smart one too, employing only the finest arrangers (Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Gordon Jenkins, Axel Stordahl) and musicians to bring out the best in every note he sang. On her third album Fay Claassen takes a cue from Ol’ Blue Eyes, using as her back-up crew the world-class Millennium Jazz Orchestra and commissioning superlative charts by conductor / music director Joan Reinders. But the album was Specially Arranged for Fay, and Ms Claassen returns the compliment by showing on every selection that she’s a talented young singer who is definitely on an upward curve. Reinders’ charts fit her like a glove, and vice versa. Add the MJO and the upshot is one of the better big-band-with-vocalist (or vocalist-with-big-band) albums of the year.
Jack Bowers
* …arranged and conducted with complete originality and style by Joan Reinders with the Millennium Jazz Orchestra, both new to me. Chestnuts include "Nature Boy," "Love For Sale" and "Speak Low," but making the program really interesting are the unexpected arrangements of "Giant Steps," "A House Is Not A Home," and Bill Evans' "Very Early," which leads off the disc. Reinders is neither a (Nelson) Riddler nor avant; indeed, he has that special touch that some of Stan Kenton's arrangers have.
allegro-music.com
Triangular:
* About the last place one might think to look for an ultra–hip, ultra–swinging and inclusively modern big band is the Netherlands, but there — word of honour — is where one may readily find exactly that, namely the awesomely talented Millennium Jazz Orchestra under Joan Reinders’ unerring baton.
John Bowers
* I particularly liked the MJO CD. Your music was beautifully played by the band and some of the music was extra-special ("Triangular").
Bob Florence
* The Millennium Jazz Orchestra has to be one of the finest I have experienced on CD, certainly this year and among the best for some time.
The dynamics of the band are thrilling ……
.....playing with this superb Dutch Big Band.
John Killoch
* The Millennium Jazz Orchestra is een hechte eenheid, die op basis van inventieve arrangementen en een stuwende ritmegroep een hoogst adequaat bigband geluid produceert.
René de Cocq
* Het geheel ademde de geest van de Thad Jones/Mel Lewis bigband en de roemruchte Basie bigband: swingend, fel en met stevig koperwerk. De vijf trompetten onder leiding van Rini Swinkels en de trombones stonden daar zonder problemen voor garant. De vijf riet-/houtblazers zorgden voor de juiste kleuring.
Hessel Fluitman
* Reinders en de zijnen grijpen niet direct terug naar het meer voor de hand liggende repertoire. Standards als "All the things you are", die je niet vaak in een big band context hoort, krijgen uiterst fris klinkende arrangementen mee.
Zo klinkt het Millennium Jazz Orchestra verfrissend, zonder afstand te nemen van de oude big band traditie.
Jacob Haagsma
* Millennium Jazz is onverslaanbaar
Joan Reinders, de leider van het Millennium Jazz Orchestra, is een ware grootmeester in het vinden van bij zijn band passende solisten. De mannen van Millennium op hun beurt nemen als kameleons de kleur aan van de gasten.
Hans Invernizzi
Magnifying-glass:
* I wasn’t prepared for this kind of writing and playing. I’m really impressed by the charts. This is great music, performed with spirit and dedication.
Bill Holman
* The performances are first rate, and excellent writing. Bravo to everyone and special congrats to the arranger.
John Clayton | 
