Arturo O’Farrill & Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra - ‘Virtual Birdland’ album and vlog.

Pianist Arturo O'Farrill leads the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, based in NYC. Arturo uploads a vlog to YouTube weekly, called ‘Virtual Birdland.’ Here’s a recent episode that features pandemic- related Zoom performances. They're wild because 18 musicians were coordinated to play from home, and is also how the namesake album was recorded.

YouTube: “Virtual Birdland is continuing for the beginning of 2024! Our Belongo/ALJA online content is changing, but we will continue to present on a regular basis. Tune in every Sunday at 8:30PM ET.

This week, we're revisiting some favorite selections from the Virtual Birdland CD, released on Zoho Music in 2021. Included are compositions by Arturo O'Farrill, Rafi Malkiel and the late, great Larry Willis.

To learn more about the work of the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance, and to see how you can contribute, please visit: https://afrolatinjazz.org #ALJO #ALJA #afrolatinjazz #ALJADigitalVillage #VirtualBirdland

The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra are: Arturo O’Farrill – Piano & Artistic Director. Saxes: Alejandro Aviles, Roman Filiu, Adison Evans, Ivan Renta, Jasper Dutz, Larry Bustamante. Trumpets: Seneca Black, Bryan Davis, Rachel Therrien, Adam O’Farrill, Walter Cano. Trombones: Rafi Malkiel, Mariel Bildsten, Abdulrahman Amer, Earl McIntyre. Vince Cherico – Drums, Bam Bam Rodriguez – Bass, Carlos “Carly” Maldonado – Percussion, Keisel Jimenez – Congas.”

The YouTube channel for Arturo’s vlog and the orchestra is Belongó | Afro Latin Jazz (please subscribe). This is episode 174, so the channel has many vlogs and performances.

Arturo has released ~21 albums since 1999, 8 with the orchestra. Arturo has 6 Grammys and 12 nominations (4 & 7 with the orchestra), to go with 2 Latin Grammys and 3 nominations (1 each with the orchestra). They won Grammys for Best Latin Jazz Album in 2021 and 2023, with a 2022 nomination. Quite a streak! Arturo’s Discogs ; website.

The vlog namesake album Virtual Birdland earned a 2022 Grammy Award nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album. Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz: “It's an album that also touches a lot of bases, from Cuba to Morocco and beyond, embracing Brazilian and even Kuwaiti themes while employing Afro-Cuban rhythms, the samba, rhumba, bomba jazz and American swing to press home its point…. Even though this Birdland is virtual ... the spirit is no less ardent, and it shows.” Saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera guests and wrote the tune 'Samba for Carmen.'

Arturo O'Farrill, Virtual Birdland, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on the Big Band 2021 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish. 😎

Billy Childs - ‘The Winds Of Change’ & WDR Big Band - YouTube song - ‘Dance Of Shiva’

Grammy January (see 2 posts below) includes some February.

The WDR Big Band posted this tune today. Pianist Billy Childs just won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album for his 2023 release The Winds Of Change.

From the YouTube info: “The WDR Big Band plays with Grammy winner Billy Childs on piano the latter's composition ‘Dance Of Shiva’ in an arrangement by Ansgar Striepens (conductor). Further solos are played by Johan Hörlén on alto saxophone and Hans Dekker on drums. Recorded live at the Kölner Philharmonie (February 2018).”

The WDR Big Band is a project of WDR Broadcasters in Cologne, Germany. They have released >75 albums since 1979. YouTube channel (please subscribe); website ; Discogs

This is Billy's 6th Grammy Award with 17 nominations! He has released ~19 albums since 1985. Billy's Discogs ; website

Billy Childs, The Winds of Change, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Winds is on Jazz Best Albums 2023, Grammy Jazz 2023 and Jazz 2023 at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

Grammy January Preview/Recap

Below is a preview/recap of 28 albums for Grammy January. 

Seven albums that were nominated for a 2024 Grammy Award; nine 2023/22/21 Grammy nominees; five 25/50 year retrospective albums that earned nominations; five nominees for a 2023 Latin Grammy.

The nominees for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album were (link to post):

• THE WINNER: The Count Basie Orchestra directed by Scotty Barnhart - Basie Swings the Blues!
• Darcy James Argue's Secret Society - Dynamic Maximum Tension
• Vince Mendoza & Metropole Orkest - Olympians
• Mingus Big Band - The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions
• ADDA Simfònica, Josep Vincent & Emilio Solla - The Chick Corea Symphony Tribute - Ritmo [Latin and USA Grammy nominations!]

Two big bands received nominations for an instrumental tune:

• Best Instrumental Composition: Gordon Goodwin & Raymond Scott - "Cutey and the Dragon" (Quartet San Francisco ft. Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band)
• Best Instrumental Arrangement: Hilario Duran- "I Remember Mingus" (Hilario Duran & his Latin Jazz Big Band ft. Paquito D'Rivera)

2023 Best Large Jazz Ensemble album nominees:

• Steven Feifke - Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra (winner) & Kinetic (2022 nominee)
• Steve Gadd, Eddie Gomez, Ronnie Cuber & WDR Big Band, Center Stage & Jackets XL (2022 nominee)
  
• Remy Le Bouf - Architecture Of Storms & Assembly Of Shadows (2022 nominee)
• John Beasley - & SWR Big Band Bird Lives & MONK’estra Plays John Beasley (2021 nominee)
• Ron Carter - Remembering Ron Freedman

Retrospective 1999 nominees:

• Don Sebesky - Joyful Noise: A Tribute To Duke Ellington = Wins for 2 songs in 2000.
• I Remember Bill: A Tribute To Bill Evans = song win 1999
• Giant Box = 1975 album nominee
  
• Anthony Brown’s Asian American Orchestra - Far East Suite = 2000 album nominee
• Chick Corea & London Symphony Orchestra - Corea: Spain & Piano Concerto No. 1 = a 2000 song win.

Retrospective 1974 nominees:

• Woody Herman - Thundering Herd = Best Album in 1975!
• Thad Jones & Mel Lewis - Potpourri = 1976 album nominee

 

 

Here’s large ~instrumental ensembles that earned a win/nomination at the 2023 Latin Grammys.

• Best Instrumental Album, winner: Camilo Valencia & Richard Bravo - Made In Miami
• Best Arrangement, winner: Rafael Valencia for ‘Songo Bop’ [2022]
• Best Jazz Album: William Maestre Big Band - Semblanzas
• Best Traditional Tropical Album: Orquesta Failde – Danzoneando (En Vivo Desde Matanzas)
• Best Arrangement: Joe McCarthy & Vince Norman – "Waltz of the Flowers" (Joe McCarthy's New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band) [2022]
• and Daniel Freiberg – "Crónicas Latinoamericanas," Pacho Flores & Orquesta Sinfonica De Mineria - Estirpe [2022]
• Best Instrumental Album: ADDA Simfònica, Josep Vicent & Emilio Solla – The Chick Corea Symphony Tribute: Ritmo [Latin and USA Grammy nominations!]
• Best Arrangement: Emilio Solla – "Spain"  😎
  

Woody Herman - ‘Thundering Herd’

Grammy January (see the post above) includes some February.

Today is the day for the 2024 Grammy Awards. Nominees are reviewed in posts below that run the month of January. Let’s reminisce before the show, with an album for the 50 year retrospective. This 1974 release won the 1975 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance by a Big Band (best album).

Scott Yanow/Allmusic: “Of all the big-band leaders of the swing era, clarinetist Woody Herman went the most out of his way to interpret current material and keep his orchestra young, enthusiastic, and modern…. This is one of Herman's most successful efforts of the period.”

Soloists are tenor Frank Tiberi, flügelhorn Tony Klatka, and keyboards Andy Laverne. Songs by John Coltrane, Frank Zappa, Stanley Clarke and Carole King. Arrangements by Alan Broadbent, Bill Stapleton and Tony Klatka.

The video is a wonderful 1974 performance of Carole King’s ‘Corazon,’ from the album.

Woody won 3 Grammys (also 1974 & 1964), a Lifetime Achievement Grammy (1987), with 12 nominations. He released >110 albums from 1944-1987. Woody’s: Discogs

That’s alotta words for 37 minutes of music. Short, but sweet.

Woody Herman, Thundering Herd, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on the Jazz Best Albums 1974 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society - ‘Dynamic Maximum Tension’

Grammy January (see 4 posts above) includes some February.

This album is nominated for a 2024 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. The awards are on 4 February.

Katchie Cartwright/AllAboutJazz: “From the tensile strength of the first chord… Darcy James Argue's Secret Society's Dynamic Maximum Tension is a delight… There is more to report but, like Argue said, ‘Just close your eyes and listen to the damn thing.’"

This is Darcy’s 4th big band album since 2009, and all received nominations. The YT link’s 1st ~12 vids are this album, then abuncha older live performances by the band, including an entire ‘Jazz Night In America’ show. The video below is the live-in-studio 1st album tune. Darcy’s website ; Discogs. Society’s Discogs.

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Dynamic Maximum Tension, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

This is on Jazz Best Albums 2023, Grammy Jazz 2023 and Big Band 2023, at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

Anthony Brown’s Asian American Orchestra - ‘Far East Suite’

Here’s an album for the quarter-century retrospective, and Grammy-nominated. This 1999 release was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance (album).

A tribute to a 1966 Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn classic. Alex Henderson/AllMusic: “While Ellington's orchestra stuck to traditional instruments, [drummer Anthony] Brown's outfit combined them with various Asian and Middle Eastern instruments, which range from Chinese bamboo flutes to the daf (a Persian/Iranian drum) and the ney (a Middle Eastern flute). The end result is … fresh-sounding instead of clichéd.”

This was the Orchestra's 2nd of 4 albums from 1998 to 2010. Orchestra’s Discogs. This was Anthony’s 1st of 4 Grammy nominations. Anthony's Wikipedia.

Anthony Brown’s Asian American Orchestra, Far East Suite, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on the Jazz Best Albums 1999 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

Count Basie Orchestra - 'Basie Swings The Blues'

This is nominated for the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Large Ensemble Album. The awards are on 4 February.

When the horn section for your R&B album is The Count Basie Orchestra…

BluesRockReview: “Mr. Basie said, ‘our blues will make your blues go away.’ Throughout Basie Swings The Blues The Count Basie Orchestra flows the album together with both mood-altering rhythms and horn exclamation points.”

Shemekia Copeland, Keb Mo, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Bettye LeVette, Charlie Musselwhite, George Benson and more do a vocal tune and play.

Trumpeter Scotty Barnhart has led the band since 2013, their 6th leader since Basie died in ‘84, and they’ve now earned 3 Grammy nominations under his direction. The Count Basie Orchestra has been in ~continuous business since 1936! Orchestra’s website ; Discogs

The video is the band swingin’ the blues from 1941. To record these guys with modern techniques….

The Count Basie Orchestra, Basie Swings The Blues, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on Jazz Best Albums 2023, Grammy Jazz 2023 and Big Band 2023, at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

Thad Jones & Mel Lewis - ‘Potpourri’

Here’s an album for the ‘half-century retrospective,’ 1974, or 50 years ago. It is also Grammy discussion appropriate.

Scott Yanow/Allmusic: “With such notable sidemen as trumpeter Cecil Bridgewater, Ron Bridgewater and Billy Harper on tenors, trombonist Quentin Jackson, baritonist Pepper Adams, keyboardist Roland Hanna, bassist George Mraz and lead trumpeter Jon Faddis, the music certainly has its moments of interest… With material by Stevie Wonder, Marian McPartland and four worthwhile originals by Jones.”

Thad Jones & Mel Lewis earned 1976 Grammy nominations for Best Jazz Performance by a Big Band (~best album), and Thad one for Best Instrumental Arrangement of ‘Living for the City.’ Discogs.

The Thad Jones - Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra morphed into the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra in 1990, has been in existence since 1965, and has won a Grammy by each name with 16 more nominations.

Thad Jones & Mel Lewis, Potpourri, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on the Jazz Best Albums 1974 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

Vince Mendoza & Metropole Orkest - ‘Olympians’

This is nominated for the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Large Ensemble Album. The awards are on 4 February.

Richard Salvucci/AllAboutJazz: “Here you have intriguing arrangements, superb musicians, and atmospherics galore… Olympians was recorded remotely during the pandemic. It is yet another lovely artifact of a very troubled time.” Dianne Reeves and Cecile McLorin Salvant each sing a song, and saxophonists Chris Potter and David Binney help.

Composer/arranger Vince Mendoza led the Metropole Orkest from 2005-13, and occasionally since. He has 7 Grammys and 1 Latin Grammy with 38 more nominations. This is his ~27th album since 1989. Vince’s: website ; Discogs ; Bandcamp.

The 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. The Orkest’s: website ; Discogs

Vince Mendoza & Metropole Orkest, Olympians, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on Jazz Best Albums 2023, Grammy Jazz 2023 and Big Band 2023, at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

Mingus Big Band - ‘The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions’

This 2022 release is nominated for a 2024 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. The awards are on 4 February.

Album info from their website: “The flagship repertory ensemble Mingus Big Band (MBB) celebrated the 100th anniversary of Mingus’ birth with The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions. Highlights include 11 compositions and new arrangements, vocals and narrations by Charles’ son Eric Mingus, and 34 first-class musicians, rotating in MBB tradition.”

This is MBB’s ~11th album since 1993. They’ve won a Grammy with 6 more nominations. The MBB is a project of the Charles Mingus Institute. They play ~weekly at DROM in NYC. Discogs ; website.

Mingus Big Band, The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

The album is on Jazz Best Albums 2022, Grammy Jazz 2022 and Big Band 2022 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

Chick Corea & London Phil - ‘Corea: Spain & Piano Concerto No. 1’

Grammy January/February continues. This begins/ends a trio of Chick Corea posts (below): large ensembles, none with traditional big bands; 2 were tributes, not this one; 2 with Grammy nods. This 1999 release also fits in for the quarter-century retrospective.

Pianist/composer Chick Corea won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Arrangement for the version of his 1971 song ‘Spain,’ on this 1999 release with the London Philharmonic and his band Origin.

Chick Corea & London Philharmonic Orchestra, Corea: Spain & Piano Concerto No. 1, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on the Jazz Best Albums 1999 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

ADDA Simfònica et al - 'The Chick Corea Symphony Tribute - Ritmo'

This is both a preview of this year and a review of last year for this Grammy nominee. The 2024 Grammy Awards are on February 4.

This Chick Corea tribute album is a 2024 Grammy Award nominee for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. It was a 2023 Latin Grammy nominee for Best Instrumental Album, and for Best Arrangement for Emilio Sollo on the song ‘Spain,’ shown below.

Saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera guests, among others. Josep Vincent (conductor) and ADDA Simfònica have >20 classical releases since 2019. The Simfònica is based in Alicante, Spain. Emilio Solia (arranger) Discogs. Josep Wikipedia ; website.

ADDA Simfònica, Josep Vincent & Emilio Solla, The Chick Corea Symphony Tribute - Ritmo, full album: YouTube ; Spotify 

This is on Grammy Jazz 2023 and Big Band 2023, at Spotify/Jazz Todayish. 😎

Don Sebesky - ‘Joyful Noise’ & ‘I Remeber Bill’ & ‘Giant Box’

The emphasis here is contemporary large ensemble jazz. However, to illustrate the timelessness of this wonderful musical form, an occasional series of albums from a quarter-century and a half-century ago will be recommended. Here’s a gem from 1999, and 2 earlier, all with Grammy wins or nominations.

Don Sebesky arranged for hundreds of artists, including Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, John Pizzarelli, Michael Buble, Liza Minnelli, Seal, and Prince. 3 Grammy Awards, plus 31 more nominations, 1 Tony Award and 2 nominations, his career began as a trombonist in 1956. He passed away in 2023.

He only released ~16 albums under his own name. A nice one is 1999s Joyful Noise: A Tribute To Duke Ellington. Michael Nastos/Allmusic is succinct: "Of all the tributes to Ellington, this is the best, a magnum opus to the maestro from a man and his band who are well aware of his grandeur, plus how to play all the right notes." This album won him 2 of his 3 Grammy Awards in 1999: Best Instrumental Composition for ‘Joyful Noise Suite,’ and Best Instrumental Arrangement for ‘Chelsea Bridge.’ Don’s: website ; Discogs.

Don Sebesky, Joyful Noise: A Tribute To Duke Ellington, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

His 3rd Grammy was also for a big band tribute album, 1998s I Remember Bill: A Tribute To Bill Evans. He won Best Instrumental Arrangement for ‘Waltz for Debby.’ The YouTube link is the album on one file, with a ~10 minute Bill Evans interview at the end, and sounds fine.

Don Sebesky, I Remember Bill: A Tribute To Bill Evans, full album: YouTube

Here’s his album from a half-century - plus one - ago, Giant Box, from 1973. It earned a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Performance By A Big Band in 1975.

Richard S. Ginell/Allmusic: “The lineup reads almost like a gathering of the gods: Freddie Hubbard, Randy Brecker/tr; Hubert Laws/flu; Paul Desmond, Joe Farrell, Grover Washington, Jr./sax; Milt Jackson/vb; George Benson/gtr; Bob James/kb; Ron Carter/bs; Jack DeJohnette, Billy Cobham, Airto Moreira/dr & pc; Jackie Cain, Roy Kral/voc. Thankfully the music lives up to the billing… Giant Box still ranks as a sensational coup.”

Don Sebesky, Giant Box, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Joyful Noise is on Jazz Best Albums 1999 and Giant Box is on Jazz Best Albums 1973 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band - ‘Raymond Scott Reimagined’

Here's one for the preview of instrumental big-bandy albums nominated for 2024 Grammy Awards. The awards are on 4 February.

Walter Atkins/AllAboutJazz: “Raymond Scott Reimagined is an engaging collaborative project with Quartet San Francisco, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band and the Grammy winning acapella group Take 6 on two tracks. The album is a thoughtful and stylish interpretation of Raymond Scott's legacy. It is also interspersed with audio tidbits featuring Scott's singular musical approaches.” The song ‘Cutey and the Dragon’ was nominated for Best Instrumental Composition.

Scott was a composer/arranger/musician active from 1931-’85. He sold his music catalog to Warner Bros in 1943, which then became the most famous tunes in cartoons. He did release ~8 albums from 1947-’85, and was an electronica pioneer in the ‘50s-’60s. This is the Phat Band’s ~11th release since 1999, and their 4th nomination with 1 Grammy win. The video is the nominated tune performed live in the studio. Scott’s Discogs. Phat’s website & Discogs.

Quartet San Francisco & Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, Raymond Scott Reimagined, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on the Grammy Jazz 2023 and Big Band 2023 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎 

John Beasley - & SWR Big Band ‘Bird Lives’ & ‘MONK’estra Plays John Beasley’

A review of last year’s instrumental big-bandy Grammy nominees and winners follows below. The 2024 Grammy Awards are February 4.

Here’s a nominee for the 2023 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album.

SWR is a public radio broadcaster in Stuttgart, Germany, and sponsors The SWR Big Band, which has released ~55 albums since 1997, many in collaboration with jazz giants.Their 2022 album Bird Lives, with pianist John Beasley as arranger, earned an album nod, plus 2 others.

Beasley won the Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement for the album tune ‘Scrapple From The Apple.’ The tune ‘Cherokee/Koko’ was nominated for Best Jazz Performance. This was SWR’s 3rd nomination, Beasley’s 12th and 2nd win. SWR Discogs. Beasley’s website ; Discogs.

Magnus Lindgren, John Beasley & SWR Big Band, Bird Lives, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

John Beasley's previous large ensemble project, MONK'estra Plays John Beasley, was nominated for the same award in 2021. The tune ‘Dona Lee’ won the Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement.

John Beasley, MONK'estra Plays John Beasley, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Bird Lives is on Grammy Jazz 2022 and Big Band 2021 and Monkestra is on Big Band 2020 at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

Posts below for other Best Album nominees: Ron Carter & the Jazzaar Festival Big Band Remembering Bob Freedman; Remy LeBouf Architecture Of Storms; the WDR Big Band & Steve Gadd et al Center Stage; Grammy-winner Steven Feifke Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra.  

 ~30 Large Jazz Ensemble album recommendations so far...😎

Ron Carter - ‘Remembering Bob Freedman’ & ‘My Personal Songbook’ & ‘Ron Carter’s Great Big Band'

The review of last year’s instrumental big-bandy Grammy nominees and winners continues. The 2024 Grammy Awards are February 4.

Ron Carter and the Jazzaar Festival Big Band released Remembering Bob Freedman, and earned a nomination for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. The Jazzaar Festival is a spring Swiss jazz-fest that has run since ~1997, with an emphasis on jazz education and youth.

From the festival website: "The album features the bass legend Ron Carter with acclaimed jazz instrumentalists trumpeter Ryan Quigley, saxophonist Antonio Hart, trombonist Jason Jackson, pianist Donald Vega, and drummer Carl Allen, as seasoned role models for twelve selected aspiring young jazz musicians from the Swiss music scene that completed the big band… The production was a long-awaited collaboration between Jazzaar Festival producer, Bob Freedman, and Ron Carter, which took a sudden tragic turn when Bob sadly passed away in the middle of planning." Hence, the album title. Ron’s: website ; Discogs. Freedman’s Discogs.

Ron Carter & the Jazzaar Festival Big Band, Remembering Bob Freedman, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Ron Carter has 2 previous big band albums. Both are worth a listen, as are most Ron Carter projects.

From the album’s press-release: “Ron Carter chose ten pieces and … Richard DeRosa, principal conductor of the WDR Big Band, contributed the arrangements. The result is a sound, which pays attention to the lush big band tone as well as to the fine and sophisticated solo parts and allows both to fully bloom.” 2013 recordings released in 2016.

Ron Carter & WDR Big Band, My Personal Songbook, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Here’s links to 2 other posts for 5 more WDR Big Band albums: Center Stage, Jackets XL, Soundscapes, Drop Shot and Renderings.

Ken Dryden/Allmusic: “Ron Carter is … the most recorded bassist in jazz [>2000 session credits]. In his 70s at the time of these sessions, he is very much still at the top of his game as he leads the first big-band date of his own, with potent arrangements by conductor Bob Freedman with some of New York's busiest musicians, including Jerry Dodgion, Steve Wilson, Wayne Escoffery, and Scott Robinson in the woodwind section, brass players Steve Davis, Douglas Purviance, and Greg Gisbert, plus pianist Mulgrew Miller and drummer Lewis Nash… With this delightful big-band date, the veteran bassist continues to surprise and delight listeners.” From 2011.

Ron Carter, Ron Carter’s Great Big Band, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Jazzaar is on Grammy Jazz 2022 and Big Band 2022 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

Below are posts for other best album nominees: Remy LeBouf Architecture Of Storms; WDR Big Band & Steve Gadd et al Center Stage; Grammy-winner Steven Feifke Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra.  😎

Pacho Flores & Orquesta Sinfonica De Mineria - 'Estirpe'

The review of last year’s instrumental big-bandy Grammy nominees and winners continues. The 2024 Grammy Awards are February 4.

This album earned several classical music nominations at the 2023 Latin Grammys, but is a nice jazz + classical fusion, known as ‘3rd stream.’

The tune ‘Concerto Venezolano,’ written by saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera won for Best Classical Contemporary Composition. Paquito, who also guests, wrote the tune for trumpeter Pacho Flores.

The song ‘Crónicas Latinoamericanas’ was nominated for Best Arrangement, Daniel Freiberg, arranger. This was a Best Classical Music Album nominee also.

James Manheim/Allmusic: “The Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería … renders the Latin rhythms, and conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto has obviously drilled them well and created a strong sense of ensemble with the brilliant trumpeter Flores.”

This is Prieto’s ~17th release since 1999, Flores’ ~7th since 2009, and the Orquesta's ~27th since 1986. Prieto’s Discogs. The Orquestra’s Discogs.

Pacho Flores & Orquesta Sinfonica De Mineria, Estirpe, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

The album is on Jazz Best Albums 2022, Grammy Jazz 2022 and Big Band 2022 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

Snarky Puppy - 'Empire Central'

The review of last year’s instrumental big-bandy Grammy nominees and winners continues. The 2024 Grammy Awards are February 4.

The band Snarky Puppy won their 5th Grammy Award in 2023, and 5 more nominations, for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, Empire Central. This Grammy category is often smooth jazz and jazz fusion. 

What is a Snarky Puppy? From Wikipedia: "The band was formed as a 10-piece group by bassist Michael League at the University of North Texas in 2004...The group has grown into an international super-band made up of '...a wide-ranging assemblage of musicians known affectionately as 'The Fam.' In more than 17 years since its founding, about 40 players have performed... in 'The Fam,' and 6 of the 10 original members are regulars." They rotate through 19 players on this album, and this is their ~39th release since 2005! Discogs.

The album was recorded, over several days, live in a club. For the video, at least, the feed is mixed and fed out to the crowd, who listen through wired headphones, somehow (!). A link to a YouTube playlist of 7 of the album tunes played live is included in addition to the usual album playlist.

Snarky Puppy, Empire Central, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; YouTube video playlist

This is on the Grammy Jazz 2022, Jazz Best Albums 2022, and Big Band 2022 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish. 😎

Orquesta Failde - 'Danzoneando (En Vivo Desde Matanzas)'

The review of last year’s instrumental big-bandy Grammy nominees and winners continues. The 2024 Grammy Awards are February 4.

This album was nominated for a 2023 Latin Grammy for Best Traditional Tropical Album.

El Chino Solar Latin Club: This live album “is a kind of anthology with some of the most beautiful danzones [Cuban song & dance music] created during the 20th century and where the flute … takes us by the hand through the music.” Orchestra leader/founder flutist Ehiel Falde displays his virtuosity. This is a ‘little big band,’ with 3 percussionists, violin and 4 horns in the mix. The YT link has videos of the entire album played in-studio. The 3rd tune is below. The official album is a concert recorded live in Matanzas, Cuba.

Orquesta Failde, Danzoneando (En Vivo Desde Matanzas), full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on the Grammy Jazz 2023 and Big Band 2023 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

Joe McCarthy's Afro Bop Alliance Big Band - ‘The Pan American Nutcracker Suite'

The review of last year’s instrumental big-bandy Grammy nominees and winners continues. The 2024 Grammy Awards are February 4.

The song 'Waltz of the Flowers' from this album was nominated for a 2023 Latin Grammy for Best Arrangement, Joe McCarthy & Vince Norman, arrangers. One last dash of holiday cheer. 😊

Richard J Salvucci/AllAboutJazz: “Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn did a jazz take on ‘The Nutcracker Suite’ in 1960… Drummer Joe McCarthy and arranger Vince Norman 2022 return to the original source, performed by the New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band… This Christmas album is distinctive, different, and delightful.” A 2022 release. ~39 minutes, like an old-school LP. Joe’s Discogs.

Joe McCarthy's Afro Bop Alliance Big Band, The Pan American Nutcracker Suite, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

The album is on the Jazz Best Albums 2022, Grammy Jazz 2022 and Big Band 2022 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎