Recent instrumental big band and orchestral jazz album recommendations. With ~25 & ~50 year retrospectives, to illustrate the timelessness of this great music.
THIS SITE PROMOTES FUN JAZZ!
Excerpts from and links to album reviews of rather boisterous jazz albums. Artist and album info links at: Wikipedia; website; Discogs; Bandcamp; Allmusic, as available/worthwhile. Links to the full album on: basic/free YouTube; subscription Spotify; purchase download Bandcamp, as available. Check your favorite service. Please enjoy!
Tuesday 25s,an album from Y2K / 2000, a quarter-century ago.... 😊
"Birdlandis a project setup by pianist Masanori Sasajiand a group of LA (studio) musicians." Sessiondays. The album cover promises L.A. All Stars and delivers, with saxophonists Ernie Watts, Brandon Field and Jack Nimitz, trumpeter Wayne Bergeron, trombonists Andy Martin and Bill Reichenbach, bassist Abraham Laboriel and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, among others. Solid section-work and the nice solos make this a solid big band product. Album Discogs.
Masanori Sasajiis a Japanese keyboardist/composer/arranger/scorer/producer who works in jazz, J-Pop, rock, fusion, anime and tv/film.His Wikipedia page would indicate his Discogs only scratches the surface. Mr. Sasaji did another L.A. All Stars album in 2002, Afro Blue, with players like saxophonist Pete Christlieb and drummer Peter Erskine.
M. Sasaji & L.A. All Stars, Birdland, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Today's selections are a 2025 tribute album, a 1989 album by the tributee, and a 2023 video tribute. 😁
Pianist/composer/arranger/bandleader/Latin Jazz icon Arturo "O'Farrill and his orchestra accomplished what they set out to do, which
was to honor Carla Bley's vision and virtuosity while producing an album of
stylish and entertaining Afro Latin jazz." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz. There's actually alotta tempo changes and a bit of a wild ride. This would be labelled 'Progressive Big Band' by some, and is actually light on the 'Latin' touch. The orchestra is tight.
Pianist/composer/arranger/bandleader Carla Bleywas an avant-garde jazz icon, with ~12 large ensemble albums and overall >24 releases from 1966 to 2019. Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
"Combining surprising arrangements and pop song melodies, Bley creates a
unique jazz language, setting herself apart from both traditionalist
bandleaders (Thad Jones) and more avant-garde stylists (George Russell). Fleur Carnivoreis one of Bley's best titles and good place to start for newcomers." Stephen Cook/Allmusic. Album Wikipedia ; Discogs. A live album, released in 1989.
Arturo did a Vlog episode in tribute to Carla, after she passed in 2023,"Virtual Birdland, Episode 167, Remembering Carla Bley." Arturo does some commentary, but this is basically a full music show, with the suite 'Blue Palestine' from the new album. Included is a 2020 Carla small-group video. ~Split between small-group tunes and the ALJO. You should watch this, andsubscribe to the ALJO YouTube Channel. 😎
Friday 50s,an album from 1975,a half-century ago.... 😊
"Saxophonist Lee Konitzperforms John Kander and Fred Ebb's songs from the Broadway musical Chicago....with surprisingly pleasing perfomances." Wikipedia. Konitz's regular nonet is augmented for this little-big-band project, which includes saxophonist Joe Farrell. Album Discogs. This album had several covers.
Lee Konitz was an alto saxophone giant from ~1945 to 2018, with over 200 albums released. He developed his big band chops with the Stan Kenton Orchestra in the 1950s. Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
Lee Konitz, Chicago‘N All That Jazz!,full album:YouTube;Spotify
"The bass drum beat is the heartbeat of New Orleans, the organ that
pushes the blood through the arteries and veins of our city streets, and
the biggest and strongest heart was Kerry 'Fat Man' Hunter. When the
bass drum was strapped over his shoulders and the mallets were in his
hands, he let ‘em know – loud, proud and undeniable was his style, and
it’s that style that’s at the heart of For Fat Man, the new recording by
the Preservation Hall Brass." Abbie Gobeli/Subpop. A project of their cornetist Kevin Louis.
"Along with the main Preservation Hall Jazz Band, who produced this,
the Preservation Brasskeeps the New Orleans brass band traditions
alive. Active with various members for decades," this is their
debut album. Matt Collar/Allmusic. Preservation Brass website.
Tuesday 25s,an album from Y2K / 2000, a quarter-century ago.... 😊
"....composer/conductor/arrangers Quincy Jones and Sammy Nestico, both of whom wrote for the Count Basie Orchestra, assemble a top-flight big band to perform some of their vintage charts.... Both Jones and Nestico are steeped in the Basie band's light, rhythmic approach to playing and their music is imbued with that style." William Ruhlmann/Allmusic. Album Discogs.
The orchestra includes: drummer Vinny Colaiuta; flutist Hubert Laws; saxophonists Ernie Watts, Kirk Whalum, Gerald Albright, Pete Christlieb; trombonists Bill Reichenbach, Bill Watrous; trumpeters Oscar Brashear and Wayne Bergeron, and many others.
This album mines the souls of 3 jazz giants.
Quincy Jones was a trumpeter/composer/arranger/bandleader/film scorer who released >90 albums and scores/soundtracks from ~1953 to 2010. He won 28 Grammy Awards, an Emmy, and a Tony, as well as nominations for 7 Academy and 4 Golden Globe and 80 more Grammy Awards. website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs
Sammy Nestico was a trombonist/composer/arranger/film and television scorer who arranged for the Count Basie Orchestra (CBO) from 1967 to 1984, when they won 4 Grammys, and Sammy had 4 more nominations for his solo work. He orchestrated 'The Color Purple' and TVs 'M*A*S*H', and did 5 albums with the SWR Big Band. Read his Wiki page - prolific is an understatement!website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs
Count Basiewas a pianist/bandleader/composer who formed the CBO in 1935 and led it until his death in 1984. Basie won 9 Grammys with 20 nominations, and released hundreds of recordings. He and Duke Ellington are the 2 most historically significant big band leaders. Basie'sWikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs
The Count Basie Orchestra won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for their album Basie Swings The Blues, directed by Scotty Barnhart. The CBO has been in ~continuous existence since 1935! A post below celebrates this album and has more CBO info, and a video. 😎
The Quincy Jones - Sammy Nestico Orchestra, Basie & Beyond, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Fifteen years ago the Portuguese
big band Orquestra Jazz De Matosinhos (OJDM) recorded Our Secret World with Kurt Rosenwinkel, the virtuoso guitarist from Philadelphia. A 2021 reunion concert recorded 4 tunes released now as a short album, or EP. Live performances are available on a YouTube video playlist. 🎸 🎺 🎷
Kurt Rosenwinkel, one of the world's top jazz guitarists, has released >25 albums and has credits on almost 150 albums since 1991.website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
A post below is about two 2024 OJDM releases, with band info. A song from Músicas Brasileiras, Músicos Portugueses earned a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Arrangement. Farol: Musica de Carlos Azevedo is just plain fun.
The original studio recording released in 2010 has 3 tunes not on the reunion EP. This was Kurt's 9th album as a leader. "....Our Secret World....has....the perfect combination of:
compellingly unique source material; arrangers who dig....into the spirit and essence of the
music to turn out charts of....great complexity and depth; and a
clearly talented ensemble." John Kelman/AllAboutJazz. Album Wikipedia ; Discogs.
Kurt Rosenwinkel & Orquestra Jazz De Matosinhos, Our Secret World, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp
Kurt and OJDM perform the tune 'Zhivago' from their 2010 collaboration. 😎
The 5th 2025 release posted is a tribute album, with an album from the tributee.... 🎺
Nick Smart conducts the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) Jazz Orchestra from the UK, and John Daversa leads the University of
Miami’s Frost Jazz Orchestra for one tune, in this album of recently discovered charts by Kenny Wheeler. These bands are augmented by Wheeler devotees and associates: pianist Shelly Berg; trumpeters John Daversa, Ingrid Jensen, Etienne Charles, Nick Smart, Brian Lynch; saxophonists Evan Parker, Chris Potter; singer Norma Winstone.
"While the historical importance of these compositions is clear, the real
magic of Some Days Are Better comes from the energy and depth the young
musicians of the Academy and Frost ensembles bring to the table. Their
passion, commitment, and feel for Wheeler’s music infuses these scores
with fresh life, showing that his music is just as vibrant and timeless
as ever." Tim Larsen/JazzViews.
Nick Smart is head of the Jazz Program at RAM, which is part of the University of London. This appears to be their 1st 'jazz orchestra' release. The Academy has a music label, which releases a wide variety of classical albums. Discogs. This is Nick's ~4th release since ~2006, and he recorded in Kenny Wheeler's big band.Website (old) ; Discogs.
Kenny Wheeler was a trumpeter/composer/arranger/bandleader, and big band and avant-garde stalwart. He had >80 releases and collaborations from ~1968 - 2014. Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
Kenny Wheeler Legacy, Some Days Are Better: The Lost Scores, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp.
Here's a Kenny Wheeler Big Band album, from 2012, that has Nick Smart in the trumpet section. "For this session, Wheeler's charts are performed by a 17-piece big band....
Wheeler's expressive flügelhorn has a slightly dissonant, fragile sound
that is very much his own, while his works are full of moving ensemble
passages and superb individual solos." Ken Dryden/Allmusic. Album Discogs. 😎
Kenny Wheeler Big Band, The Long Waiting, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Friday 50s,an album from about a half-century ago.... 😉
This is a 1973 release that was nominated for a 1975 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance by a Big Band. Patrick Williams won for Best Instrumental Arrangement of the title tune. 🎺 🎷
"....this album features Williams hitting....a 70s jazz funk groove,
with a nice electric edge. The tracks are long, and the solos are
played by Tom Scott and Marvin Stamm (mostly) -- and the rest of the
group includes Mike Melvoin on keyboards, John Guerin on drums, and
Larry Bunker on percussion." Dusty Groove. Album Allmusic ; Discogs.
Patrick Williams was a composer/arranger/bandleader who made most of his fame in TV and movie music, but also released some fine jazz albums. He scored > 200 films and ~ 20 television series, and did arrangements for >200 albums! He won 4 Emmys and 23 nominations, 2 Grammys and 19 nominations, with nominations for an Oscar and a Pulitzer. 😱 His website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs ; IMDB.
"Trumpeter Brad Goode leads a strong and classy 16 team big band through a
mix of originals and standards, all conducted under John Davis’ baton.
The charts keep your interest, and the band has it’s own signature
sound." George Harris/JazzWeekly.
Chicago/Colorado based Brad Goode, who plays trumpet, bass & drums,
has recorded with Red Rodney, Eddie Harris, Ira Sullivan, Curtis Fuller,
Jack DeJohnette, Rosemary Clooney, Richie Cole, Woody Herman and Ernie
Watts, among others.Brad is also an educator at the University of Colorado, the state where the album was made. He's released ~20 albums across 4 decades. Brad'swebsite ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
Brad Goode Polytonal Big Band, The Snake Charmer, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Tuesday 25s,an album from Y2K / 2000, a quarter-century ago.... 😊
"....a program of pop, jazz, and R&B hits, most of them coming from the artists of the era: Notorious B.I.G., Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Bob Marley, Babyface, India Arie,
and others.... The aplomb, taste, and exquisite sense of empathy
for this music is everywhere in Bowie's arrangements.... This is a fitting final project, and
easily the most consistent and realized of all the Brass Fantasy (BF) albums." Thom Jurek/Allmusic ; Wikpedia ; Discogs. This had >1 album cover.
Lester Bowie Brass Fantasy:
Drums – Vinnie Johnson
French Horn – Vincent Chancey
Guest, Vocals – Dean Bowman
Percussion – Victor See Yuen
Trombone – Gary Valente, Luis Bonilla
Trumpet – Gerald Brazel, Lester Bowie, Joseph "Mac" Gollehon, Ravi Best
Tuba – Bob Stewart
BF released ~9 albums from ~1984 - '00. Discogs. BF was a project of trumpet legend Lester Bowie, who released ~24 more albums from ~1978 - '00. He was a founder of the avant-gardeArt Ensemble of Chicago, who released >50 albums from ~'66 - '99. So, Lester released >80 albums across ~33 years. Busy dude. 😁Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
Lester Bowie Brass Fantasy, When The Spirit Returns, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
"....brisk and demanding ensemble passages are blended throughout, buttressed
by bright and impressive solos, all in the finest big-band tradition.
Vianna's well-honed ensemble readily conquers every one of them,
regardless of tone, tempo or tenor." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz. Saxophonist Eric Marienthal guests on the 1st tune. Album Discogs.
This is composer/arranger/bandleader Cassio Vianna's 3rd album since 2011, 2nd with the orchestra. Cassio is director of Jazz Studies at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, and this album is a PNW product. Cassio composes and arranges all the album music. Cassio's Website ; Discogs.
The band performs the energetic album tune 'Scrabble':
Cassio's 1st big band album was 2017's Infância (childhood). Musicians from Colorado, USA, were used in the orchestra. "Vianna's 17-piece orchestra is letter-perfect, the soloists....poised and resourceful. Add Vianna's admirable charts, blend
with care and Infância is an unequivocal winner." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz. Album Discogs.
The 2025 Grammy and 2024 Latin Grammy Awards are complete. Here is a summary of how 'large ensemble' or orchestral jazz nominees fared. The 67th Grammy Awards were 2 February.
Bill Frisell, Orchestras - Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
Henry Mancini, The 100th Sessions: Henry Has Company - Michael League of Snarky Puppy for Best Arrangement Of An Instrumental for "Baby Elephant Walk - Encore."
The 25th Latin Grammy Awards were 14 November 2024.
Hilario Duran WON for Best Arrangement of 'Night in Tunisia' on Hilario Durán and His Latin Jazz Big Band, Cry Me A River, featuring saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera. Hilario also earned a 2024 regular Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Arrangement for ‘I Remember Mingus.’ A post below has more info, links and a video of '....Mingus,' with Paquito.
Paquito D’Rivera earned a 2nd nomination for Best Classical Contemporary Composition for 'Caribbean
Berceuse' on the Barcelona Clarinet Players' (BCP) 2023 album Panamericano. Daniel Freiberg earned nominations for composition and Best Arrangment for the song 'Sueño Austral' from the this well-regarded album.
Here's some more info, from their label. "The Barcelona Clarinet Players
commissioned six prominent Latin American composers to write new works
for clarinet quartet and wind band. During their 2021–2022 season, they
recorded each work with a different wind band in the United States or
Latin America, and the result is a captivating album of extraordinary
musical richness and diversity that showcases the unique aesthetic of
each composer and the artistry of the performing ensembles." Album Discogs. BCP website ; Discogs.
Barcelona Clarinet Players, Panamericano, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Friday 50s,an album from 1975,a half-century ago.... 😊
Details are scarce for this excellent live performance recorded in Munich, Germany, in early 1974. Saxophonist Dexter Gordon guests. Album Discogs.
Trombonist/composer/arranger/bandleader Slide Hampton was a big band stalwart. He played in the big and small bands of Lionel Hampton, Maynard Ferguson, Art Blakey, Tadd Dameron, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis and Max Roach. Slide also led ~50 albums from ~1961 - 2008. Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
Pianist/bandleader Joe Haider has led ~29 albums since ~1970, and is still very active in Germany at a seemingly young age of 89. His current big band played a tribute concert to Slide and this album in ~April '23. He tours with a quintet that includes saxophonist Toni Lakatos this March in a Miles Davis tribute. He plans a final big band tour in January '26. Go Joe!Website ; Wikipedia ; Discography.
Slide Hampton & Joe Haider Orchestra, Give Me A Double, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
"Hassy and company have done well by the Duke, aligning and updating his
music for a new generation of listeners who may be more attuned to
change and eager to reassess the wizardry of Ellington." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz. Album Discogs.
This 2024 release is Japanese pianist/bandleader/composer/arranger Mercer Hassy's ~4th big band or orchestral album since ~2019. The big band is based in Sapporo. Website ; Website2
Mercer Hassy Orchestra, Duke’s Place, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Tuesday 25s,albums fromabout a quarter-century ago. Today's recommendation is a wonderful 3 album-run from 1999 - 2000 by the Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra (DRJO), or also Big Band (DRBB) 😊
Nice Work was required to earn pianist/composer/arranger Jim McNeely and the DRJO a 2001 Grammy Award nomination for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. 😁 Jim also earned a nomination for Best Instrumental Arrangement for the Gershwin tune 'Nice Work If You Can Get It.' Album Allmusic ; Discogs.
Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra & Jim McNeely, Nice Work, full album: Spotify
McNeely has led >25 , played on >140, and arranged for >100 albums since 1966. Jim earned a Grammy as part of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, with 12 more nominations. He was chief conductor of the DRJO/DRBB from 1998 - 2002. His piano chops placed him in the Stan Getz Quartet for 4 years and the Phil Woods Quintet for 6. Jim's website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
The jazz big band of The Danish Broadcasting Corporation was established in 1964 and has been renamed several times, with >70 albums. The complete discography is spread over at least these 2 iterations. DRJO Discogs. DRBB website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
Niels Jørgen Steen conducted the DRJO on their 1999 Duke Ellington centennial tributeThe Governor. This is an energetic and fun album. Discogs. Niels has been active in Danish jazz since 1958, with >100 composer/writer/pianist/conductor credits. His piano chops are exhibited with > 10 albums with saxophone legend Ben Webster. Niels Discogs ; Wikipedia.
Dutch Radio Jazz Orchestra & Niels Jørgen Steen, The Governor, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp
Danish pianist/composer/bandleader Ole Kock Hansen conducted the DRJO/BB for ~5 albums from 1995 - 2000. The 1999 album Ways Of Seeing: Live At The Basement, Sydney, captures a hot, straight-ahead show from Down Under. Audio could be crisper, but overall is just fine. Album Discogs. Ole's Discogs.
Dutch Radio Jazz Orchestra & Ole Kock Hansen, Ways Of Seeing, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
The DRBB shows they are a team effort, as the conductor from the 3rd album above leads an entire concert of music from the 2nd album, 7 years before either. A wonderful show from 1992, with nice sound. Trombonist Buster Cooper and trumpeter Clark Terry guest and solo, and the band's regular soloists are quite adept. 😎
"Saxophonist Tobias Hoffmann conducts a large jazz orchestra through a series of
original charts. The five reeds, 9 brass and four rhythm teams are
tighter than a hipsters skinny jeans." George Harris/JazzWeekly.
This 2024 release follows the orchestra's 2022 debut album Conspiracy, and Tobias led a 2019 nonet release Retrospective. Tobias' website ; Discogs.
Tobias Hoffmann Jazz Orchestra, Innuendo, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Might as well give ya the links for the 2022 album also. "Hoffman has his own singular voice, one that is well-suited to the
contemporary scene, as it uses complex and sophisticated harmonies and
rhythms in the service of music that is both resourceful and pleasing." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz. Discogs.
Tobias Hoffmann Jazz Orchestra, Conspiracy, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Friday 50s,an album from 1975,a half-century ago.... 😊
"A fine mid-'70s date that was both a showcase for Bellson's bombastic
drumming and also a nice straight-ahead date with great contributions
from" trumpeters Blue Mitchell, Snookey Young, Cat Anderson and Bobby Shew, saxophonists Pete Christlieb and Don Menza, and others. Ron Wynn/Allmusic. Album Wikipedia ; Discogs.
Louis Bellson released >100 albums from ~1952 to 1998, with >300 compositions and 9 Grammy nominations, mainly with big bands. Louis pioneered the use of double bass kick drums, developed new technology for and was vice-president of Remo drums, and was the husband and musical director for singer Pearl Bailey. Louis' Website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
Louis Bellson, The Louis Bellson Explosion, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Baritone saxophonist/composer/arranger/educator Ryan "Middagh’s arrangements reflect a deep respect for jazz’s big band
legacy, blending swing-era traditions with post-bop expression.... Each of the six tracks offers us a journey that celebrates tradition, spontaneity, and the personalities within the ensemble." Nolan DeBuke/TheJazzWord.
This is Ryan's 3rd ~big band album, and one with an octet, since 2010. 2019s Live From Nashville features vocalist Keb’ Mo’, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon and saxophonist Jeff Coffin, who is also on the new album, and his album Only The Horizon was featured in a post below. Ryan's website.
Ryan Middagh Jazz Orchestra, Live From Nashville, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
He did a 2013 album as a result of his dissertation while at the University of Northern Colorado. "This project is part of Ryan's Doctoral Jazz work and features his old
friends and mentors Jeff Coffin and drummer Tom Giampetro. They join a highly skilled student ensemble performing a set of
tunes honoring Colorado's fine craft beers. Pop a cold one and sit back
and enjoy the irrepressible joy inspired by their presence!" Soundcloud. This is a little-big-band.
Ryan Middagh, Colorado Brew, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
"This
project is part of Ryan's Doctoral Jazz work and features his old
friends and mentors saxophonist Jeff Coffin and drummer Tom Giampetro
joining a highly skilled student ensemble performing a set of tunes
honoring Colorado's fine craft beers. Pop a cold one and sit back and
enjoy the irrepressible joy inspired by their presence!"
Ryan's orchestra performs 4 tunes from the Live in Nashville album. The 1st is 'Move Your Rug'.
The 2nd is 'Dolphin Dance,' a Herbie Hancock tune.
The 3rd is 'Don't Push'.
The 4th is 'The Commissioner' and features trombonist Wycliffe Gordon.
The Nashville big band jazz scene thrives, apparently. A post below is about theChris McDonald Jazz Orchestra's It’s About Time, also based in the city. 😎
Gregg Hill is a 78 year old Central Michigan pianist/composer/arranger who is amidst a late life artistic surge that has produced 15 albums of his music since 2017, in various orchestrations. Here he arranges an album led by trombonist Michael Dease with 10 more players. Gregg's website ; Discogs.
"The highly acclaimed Dease has put an absolute stamp of approval on Hill's work.... Sharel Cassity is a highlight throughout the album on both alto saxophone and flute.... The inexhaustible energy of Hill is not to be denied." Paul Rauch/AllAboutJazz. Album Discogs.
Michael Dease, also on baritone sax, is joined on
woodwinds by Sharel Cassity, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Jason
Hainsworth and Virginia MacDonald, with trumpeter Matt White, trombonist Nanami Haruta, pianist Bill Cunliffe, bassist Katie Thiroux,
drummer Colleen Clark and percussionist Gwendolyn Dease.
This is Michael's ~14th album since 2007. He did more Gregg Hill music with a smaller ensemble on his 2023 albumThe Other Shoe. He is featured guest on OSU Jazz Orchestra - Solid Gold, in a post below. Michael's website ; Discogs ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic.
Michael Dease, Found In Space, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
