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 1999,a quarter-century ago. Happy big band New Year! 😄
"Highly recommended, thoroughly enjoyable, and perhaps his magnum opus." Michael Nastos/Allmusic. This earned a 2000 Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album. Album Discogs.
Saxophone legend Paquito D'Rivera has released >80 albums since 1975, with 16 Grammy+Latin Grammy Awards and 33 more nominations. 😱 website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
Copy 'Paquito' into the 'search box' for posts about 4 albums he guests on below.
Paquito D’Rivera, Tropicana Nights, full album: Spotify ; Bandcamp
"This band certainly deserves to be heard on a wider platform... a big band worthy of the name." Peter Gamble/JazzJournal. Fine players from the Pacific Northwest (USA), The Pony Boy All-Star Big Band (PBB) is directed by drummer Greg Williamson.
This post mentions 3 albums with Grammy-cred, a new release, and 4 complete video concerts. Enough to keep you busy through the year? 😁
The Frankfurt Radio Big Band (FRBB) released two 2024 albums. This first was nominated for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album at the upcoming 2025 Grammy Awards.
"Fans of Chick Corea's 'Return to Forever' projects will love this as both the score and the musicianship are
as superb as we’d expect from top American arranger John Beasley and the peerless FRBB.... The gorgeous section playing,
a pleasure in itself, once again sets the scene here for the
wonderfully well-crafted solos." David Shiers/UKJazzNews
John Beasley & Frankfurt Radio Big Band, Returning To Forever, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
This is FRBBs 3rd Grammy nomination, and Beasley’s 13th, with 2 wins. Beasley’s website; Discogs. A post below celebrates the Grammy success of John's 2022 album with the SWR Big Band Bird Lives & his 2021 album MONK’estra Plays John Beasley.
Here is a video concert of the entire new album, tunes rearranged, from March 2022.
FRBBs latest release is Turning Point, led by pianist Sebastian Sternal. "Dazzling tonal colors, catchy melodies and energetic grooves. The outstanding soloists of the FRBB shine." Schott-music.
Sebastian Sternal & HR-Bigband, Turning Point, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
The FRBB, also known as the ‘HR-Big Band,’ is a project of Hessian Radio, Germany. They have released ~19 albums since 2007. Their YouTubechannel (please subscribe); website; Discogs.
These are some 2024 big band/orchestral jazz releases that I won't get a chance to do a complete post on. Some are well-known jazz names. Generally less boisterous than my favorites, but might be right-up-your-alley, as they say. All are definitely worth a listen. 🎷
"Sweet electric 70s funk from Blue Mitchell – blowing here in some of the
hippest arrangements of his career! Blue's trumpet alone is always
pretty darn great, but for this album he's working with arranger Dave Matthews" (no, not that guy) Dusty Groove.
Trumpeter Jon Faddis and sax/flutist Joe Farrell play in the ~11-member band. Not considered an essential Mitchell album, taken on its own it is a fun ride. 😁 Album Allmusic ; Discogs ; Wikipedia.
Another university band spreads plenty of holiday cheer on these 3 fine albums. 😁
"The splendid Oklahoma State University Jazz Orchestra (OSUJA) seldom pauses for breath on Angular Tuesday, its third album under director Tommy Poole.... It is the admirable and earnest section work on every number that raises Angular Tuesday above the norm." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz.
OSU Jazz Orchestra, Angular Tuesday, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
The other two OSUJA albums are corkers as well. OSUJA website ; YouTube
"There must be something special there, as the OSUJA is one of the most well-rehearsed
university-level jazz ensembles you're likely to encounter..." Jack Bowers/All About Jazz. From 2021.
OSU Jazz Orchestra, Room 118, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Trombonist Michael Dease guests on their 2018 album. "A tasty banquet that's sure to quicken the appetite of almost any champion
of straight-ahead big-band jazz." Jack Bowers/All About Jazz.
OSU Jazz Orchestra, Solid Gold, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Tuesday 25s,an album from about a quarter-century ago.... 😁
“Tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer and his 17-piece ensemble perform ten numbers with an Afro-Cuban beat provided by percussionist Louis Bauzo.... This Afro-Cuban flavored effort serves as a strong change of pace for Mintzer's orchestra.” Scott Yanow/Allmusic.
This is a 1998 release, so part of the 25-year (plus one 😁) retrospective. Album Discogs. Bob did ~15 albums with his big band from 1987 through 2018. Big band Discogs. Bob's Discogs ; website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic.
Bob Mintzer Big Band, Latin From Manhattan, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Bob Mintzer earned a post below about 3 albums he did while guest musical director of the WDR Big Band: Jackets XL, Soundscapes and Drop Shot.
"Groove Junkies searching for a fix need look no further. Mainlining this
music—a hard-hitting big band set that satisfies as it soars—offers a
serious high.... Trombonist-composer Ben Patterson delivers the goods
and then some." Dan Bilawsky/AllAboutJazz. Album Discogs.
Ben is the former lead trombonist and music director for the USAF Airmen of Note, with whom he spent 22 years and was on ~8 albums. This is his Jazz Orchestra's (BPJO) 2nd release, he's led 3 more albums, and plays with various (big) bands in the Washington, D.C., area. Ben's: website ; Discogs ; Allmusic.
The BPJO 2016 album Vital Frequencies guests saxophonist Chris Potter, and boy does he let-er-rip as he fronts the big band. Album Discogs. Both of these are really fun big band albums. 😎
Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra, Vital Frequencies, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp
These are some 2024 big band/orchestral jazz releases that I won't get a chance to do a complete post on. Some are well-known jazz names. Generally less boisterous than my favorites, but might be right-up-your-alley, as they say. All are definitely worth a listen. 🎷
Tuesday 25s 😁 an album from a quarter-century ago....
A recent tribute post to pianist/composer/arranger/bandleader Toshiko Akiyoshi mentions her husband, tenor saxophone and flute virtuoso Lew Tabackin.
"Lew Tabackin's guest appearance with the Netherlands Metropole Orchestra
(NMO) is one of the most enjoyable in their series of collaborations with
jazz soloists.... This is a very well-crafted release," Ken Dryden/Allmusic. Album Discogs.
Lew has released at least 30 albums as leader and with Toshiko. He's been a pro since 1962, and was in the bands of television hosts (USA) Dick Cavett and Johnny Carson. Lew, 84 now, still plays regularly in NYC, just did a tour with his trio in Japan, where he plans a 2025 Japan tour with Toshiko, who just turned 95, as a duo! My jazz heroes! 😍 Lew's: website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
The NMO, now called the Metropole Orkest, has 4 Grammys and 2 Oscars, and has released >150 albums
since 1952. They are a project of Netherlands Public Broadcasting, and
are based in Hilversum. NMOs: website; Wikipedia ; Discogs. A post below is about their 2024 Grammy-nominated album with arranger Vince Mendoza, Olympians.
"Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos (OJM) ... has had the support of Matosinhos, Portugal, since 1999. It ... continually invests in the development of
diversified artistic projects, coherent training projects and in the
publishing of Portuguese jazz records. A pioneer in a largely unexplored
territory, OJM fulfills the role of National Jazz Orchestra." OJM website ; Discogs. OJM has released at least 13 albums since 2006.
OJM released two albums in 2024. A long one and short one for a total of 2 hours of new big band jazz! 😁These are on Big Band 2024 at Spotify/JazzTodayish.
On the first, five arrangers wrote really nice charts for twelve Brazilian songs. Directed by Pedro Guedes and drummer Kiko Freitas guests.Nailor Proveta's arrangement ofthe song "Linha de Passe" earned a 2024 Latin Grammy Award nomination for Best Arrangement.Album Discogs.
Orquestra Jazz De Matosinhos, Músicas Brasileiras, Músicos Portugueses, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp
“We can’t talk about the history of jazz orchestras in Portugal without
talking about the important role of Zé Eduardo. His compositions traverse landscapes of the 70s and 80s - a swing, a bossa, a bolero - along with a quarantine-inspired composition." HighResAudio. Chris Cheek guests on sax.
Orquestra Jazz De Matosinhos, Farol: Musica de Carlos Azevedo, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp
Two hours of wonderful Portuguese big band still not enough? Here's a nice video of an entire show of the Músicas album, from 2019. 😎
"Pianist Geoff Stradling's
superb Los Angeles-based StradBand swings heartily and with
seldom a pause on its radiant and power-laden introductory album,Nimble Digits.
Stradling ... composed all but one song on Nimble Digits ... and arranged everything.... The StradBand has been performing in the Los Angeles area almost
since it was formed in 2010," Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz. Geoff's website.
Geoff Stradling & The Stradband, Nimble Digits, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions Vol. 2 follows 2022s Vol. 1 in the celebration of bassist/composer/bandleader Charles Mingus. Vol. 1 was a Grammy nominee, and has a post below. While Vol. 2 did not earn a Grammy-nod, it "features an impressive collection of new performances of his timeless works." William Brown/Maxazine. Album Discogs.
Friday 50s 😁 an album from a half-century ago.... A more recent release, an album from 1964 (60 years ago!) and a full concert round-out this tribute.
Dec 12th was pianist/big band composer-arranger-bandleader Toshiko Akiyoshi's 95th birthday. Here's her last big band release, from 2007, with the SWR Big Band, Let Freedom Swing. Album info Discogs ; Wikipedia. She leads the band through charts of her classic big band compositions.
Toshiko Akiyoshi And The SWR Big Band, Let Freedom Swing, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
The band was based in Los Angeles from 1973-82, then New York thru 2003 (with several name variations), and released ~17 studio albums. This Down Beat magazine and Grammy info attests to the band's popularity (Wikipedia info/links):
The 1980 Grammy-nominated album Kogun was actually a 1974 release, and is the actual subject of today's post. You know, Friday 50s, an album from 50 years ago... 😁
"Koguneasily displays why Akiyoshi is such a treasure. It's a record
that is simultaneously driving, romantic, and experimental, seductive in
its implications and undeniable in its swing." Daniel Gioffre/AllMusic. Album Discogs ; Wikipedia. TABB Discogs ; Allmusic. Toshiko Allmusic ; Discogs. Lew Tabackin Allmusic ; Discogs.
Digital availability of TABB albums was sketchy until recently. Kogun is available on YouTube as a CD-rip in one large file. Several 1970s TALTBB albums are now on Spotify, so check your service.
Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band, Kogun, full album: YouTube rip ; Spotify
Friday 50s extended a decade takes us to 1964 and the album Toshiko Mariano And Her Big Band, Jazz In Japan Recorded In Tokyo. Released also as Toshiko And Modern Jazz, this featured a preview of big band excellence-to-come with 4 tunes, along with 3 piano trio tunes. Toshiko was married to jazz saxophonist Charlie Mariano(Wikipedia ; Discogs) at the time, and their daughter is vocalist/flutist Monday Michiru(Wikipedia ; Discogs).
Toshiko released her first album in 1952. She plans a 2025 tour of Japan with husband Lew, as a duo! Lew is a young man at only 84. My jazz heroes. 💕
Toshiko Akiyoshi, Toshiko And Modern Jazz, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Trumpeter Clark Terry guests with the Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band at the 1975 Monterey Jazz Festival main stage. The bearded tenor sax soloist is Toshiko's husband Lew Tabackin. The video is aged and ends a bit abruptly, but the sound is absolutely fine.
To top off this love-fest 😍, here is a full show of the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra from 1993, which was released on DVD as Strive For Jive. Toshiko makes a few comments. Video is dated but the sound is fine. 😎
Grammy-nominated saxophonist/composer/arranger/bandleader Remy Le Boeuf appears on at least two 2024 releases.
"Remy Le Boeufsees with a panoramic outlook as a bandleader, composer, and performer, and that fact rests at the heart of Heartland Radio." Dan Bilawsky/AllAboutJazz. This is the 3rd Assembly Of Shadows release.
Remy LeBoeuf's Assembly Of Shadows, Heartland Radio, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp
Remy conducts and guests with the Nordkraft Big Band (NBB) on their new album Strangers To Ourselves.
NBB is based in Aalborg – the fourth largest city in Denmark, and a cultural hub in the Northern Jutland region of the country. NBB has released ~9 albums since 2016.NBBwebsite.
Nordkraft Big Band With Remy Le Boeuf , Strangers To Ourselves, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
A post below celebrates Remy Le Boeuf's two recent big band albums that earned various Grammy Award nominations: 2021s Architecture of Storms and 2019s Assembly of Shadows. Remy's website ; Discogs ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic.
