The University of North Colorado in Greeley's choice of renowned educator and clinician Gene Aitken as Director of their Jazz Studies Program was a very, very good move, leading to an unprecedented Grammy nomination and more Down Beat magazine awards and National Endowment for the Arts grants than any other institution. Featured here are his 3-man, 2-woman Axidentals, performing here with some jazz ensemble accompaniment on P. Winter's title tune (arranged by Randy Crenshaw), 'Soul With a Capital 'S,' and Rodgers & Hammerstein's 'My Favorite Things;' but also a cappella on the traditional 'Shenandoah,' Anders Edenroth's 'Chile Con Carne' and the scattish 'There'll Never Be Another You.' Two man, 3 woman a cappella jazz ensemble Et Cetera's 'For the Beauty of the Earth,' which soars into surprising directions, and a cover of Sting's 'Seven Days' follow. All woman jazz quartet Sus 4 close with B. Dorough's upbeat, accompanied 'I've Got Just About Everything' and the moody, a cappella 'You Don't Know What Love Is.' 'Hot XII' is everything we've come to expect fro the UNC Jazz Studies Program, top-quality, well-chosen, beautifully performed and directed, Collegiate Jazz!