Tuesday 25s, an album from Y2K / 2000, a quarter-century ago.... 😊
"Birdland is a project setup by pianist Masanori Sasaji and 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 Sasaji is 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
This is on the Jazz Best Albums 2000 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish. 😎
