Bill Watrous - 'Manhattan Wildlife Refuge' & Gary Urwin Jazz Orch - 'A Beautiful Friendship' & 'Flying Colors'

Retrospective 1974, with an album from a half-century ago… (Friday 50s 😁) A Black Friday bonus includes a 2014 and 2024 album as well.

"Manhattan Wildlife Refuge and its follow-up, The Tiger of San Pedro, are the only two recordings of trombonist Bill Watrous' impressive big band of the mid-'70s." Scott Yanow/Allmusic. Album Discogs.

Trombonist/composer/arranger Bill Watrous was active in New York in the 60s - 70s, with a stint for the Merv Griffin Show and CBS. He moved to Los Angeles in the 80s, and continued to play on occasional small and big band albums to go with steady studio-work. Sam Houston State University (Texas) renamed its 66-year running jazz festival the SHSU Bill Watrous Jazz Festival 14 years ago, with an early April date. Bill's Discogs ; Allmusic.

Bill Watrous, Manhattan Wildlife Refuge, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Bill is featured on several Gary Urwin Jazz Orchestra (GUJO) albums. Here's Bill's last big band recorded performance, from 2014.

Gary Urwin Jazz Orchestra, A Beautiful Friendship, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

The YouTube link above includes the 2024 album 

Gary Urwin Jazz Orchestra, Flying Colors, so here's the Spotify link also.

"Pianist Gary Urwin leads a swinging big band through some clever charts and rich solos brought on by an A-list of guests including the late Carl Saunders/tp, Wayne Bergeron/tp, Pete Christlieb/ts." George Harris/JazzWeekly. GUJO Discogs

This is on the Big Band 2024 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish. 😎

Sam Rivers - 'Crystals'

Retrospective 1974, with an album from a half-century ago… (Friday 50s 😁)

Thom Jurek/AllAboutJazz: “It's difficult to note in the 21st century just how forward-thinking this avant-garde big band was, and how completely innovative saxophonist Sam Rivers' compositions are…. It is an underrated masterpiece and among the most rewarding and adventurous listening experiences in the history of jazz.” A piano-less big band (Wikipedia for correct musicians).

This was Rivers’ ~6th of >30 albums from 1965 to 2005. Sam’s big band work earned him 2 Grammy nominations. Discogs.

Sam Rivers, Crystals, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Two of Sam's Grammy-nominated albums with the Rivbea Orchestra are posted below, for 'Retrospective 1999 - albums from a quarter-century ago...' Inspiration and Culmination.

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

Maynard Ferguson - ‘M.F. Horn 4 & 5: Live At Jimmy’s’

Retrospective 1974, with an album from a half-century ago… 

Scott Yanow/Allmusic: “This double LP is easily Maynard Ferguson's best jazz-oriented recording for Columbia… In addition to Ferguson's powerful trumpet, other musicians making strong impressions include first trumpeter Lin Biviano, altoist Andy MacIntosh, Ferdinand Povel on tenor, baritonist Bruce Johnstone, and keyboardist Pete Jackson.” Maynard's Discogs.

This was Maynard’s ~31st of >50 albums from 1955-2001. The song ‘Teonova’ is dedicated to the famed producer of this album Ted Macero, written by Pete Jackson.

Maynard Ferguson, M.F. Horn 4 & 5: Live At Jimmy’s, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Here's a vid of the song 'MacArthur Park,' with nice sound. Maynard’s music is always upbeat, and the virtuosity of his often fresh-out-of-college players is on full display.

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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.  😎

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.  😎

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.  😎

Grover Washington, Jr. - 'Soul Box'

A retrospective of albums from 50 and 25 years ago begins with one 1973 entry. Have a listen to this beauty from saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr.

Thom Jurek/Allmusic: “Soul Box has Creed Taylor's production enhanced by a symphony orchestra and full-blown jazz band arranged and conducted by Bob James. Some of the session men include bassist Ron Carter, drummer Billy Cobham, guitarist Eric Gale, drummer Idris Muhammad, percussionist Airto, and keyboardist Richard Tee… Soul Box is a modern classic for its instrumental and arrangement invention and for its deeply emotional bounty.”

This was his 3rd of his 25 albums, from 1972-99. This was a double-album, over an hour of Grover’s finest. Much of Grover's late work is often considered ~smooth jazz, but his early albums were wonderful jazz. A Grover concert was an absolute joy to behold. Discogs.

Grover Washington, Jr., Soul Box, full album: YouTube   ;  Spotify

Soul Box and ~45 more fine albums are on the Jazz Best Albums 1973 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish. Have a listen to enjoy the wonderful timelessness of good jazz. 😎