Kurt Rosenwinkel & Orquestra Jazz De Matosinhos - 'Our Secret World: Live At Cara' & 'Our Secret World'

Big Band 2025 posts its 6th album.  😁

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.

Kurt Rosenwinkel & Orquestra Jazz De Matosinhos, Our Secret World - Live At Cara, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp ; YouTube videos playlist.

This is on the Big Band 2025 and Jazz Best Albums 2025 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

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.   😎

Kenny Wheeler: Legacy - 'Some Days Are Better: The Lost Scores' & Big Band - 'The Long Waiting'

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.

A post below is about and gives more info on John Daversa and the Frost Jazz Orchestra and their 2024 album Historic Landmarks Of Miami: Live At Gusman Concert Hall 2024, and their 2023 album Live At Gusman Concert Hall 2023, with a video.   

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. 

This is on the Big Band 2025 and Jazz Best Albums 2025 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

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 

Cassio Vianna Jazz Orchestra - 'Vida'

Here's the 3rd 2025 release posted. 😁

"....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.

Cassio Vianna Jazz Orchestra, Vida, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

This is on the Big Band 2025 and Jazz Best Albums 2025 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

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. 

Cassio Vianna Jazz Orchestra, Infância, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

 

Cassio directs the Pacific Lutheran Jazz Ensemble in the album tune 'For The Rise Of A New Day.' 😎

Ryan Middagh Jazz Orchestra - 'Tenor Madness,' 'Live From Nashville' & 'Colorado Brew'

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.

Ryan Middagh Jazz Orchestra, Tenor Madness, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

This is on the Big Band 2025 and Jazz Best Albums 2025 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish. 

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

This is on the Big Band 2019 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

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 the Chris McDonald Jazz Orchestra's It’s About Time, also based in the city. 😎

OSU Jazz Orchestra - 'Angular Tuesday' & 'Room 118' & 'Solid Gold'

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

This is on the Big Band 2024 and Jazz Best Albums 2024 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

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

This is on the Big Band 2021 playlist at Spotify/JazzTodayish.

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

This is on the Big Band 2018 playlist at Spotify/JazzTodayish. 

Enjoy the new album's title track, performed in-studio. Their YouTube channel has ~9 more nice tunes, from the various albums, recorded like this. 😎

Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra - 'Groove Junkies' & 'Vital Frequencies'

"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.

Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra, Groove Junkies, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

This is on the Big Band 2024 and Jazz Best Albums 2024 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

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

The Gil Evans Orchestra - 'Plays The Music Of Jimi Hendrix' & Gil Evans Remembered - 'Live At The Cutting Room, NYC'

Friday 50s 😁 an album from a half-century ago.... And a bonus new release also.

"Evans explored ten of Hendrix's compositions with his unique 19-piece unit, an orchestra that included two French horns, the tuba of Howard Johnson, three guitars, two basses, two percussionists and such soloists as altoist David Sanborn, Billy Harper on tenor and guitarist John Abercrombie. Evans' arrangements uplift many of Hendrix's more blues-oriented compositions and create a memorable set that is rock-oriented but retains the improvisation and personality of jazz." Scott Yanow/AllMusic. Album Discogs ; Wikipedia.

"Pianist, composer, arranger and band-leader Gil Evans is widely recognized as one of the greatest orchestrators in jazz, playing an important role in the development of cool jazz, modal jazz, free jazz, and jazz fusion" Wikipedia. Evans released >40 albums from 1957-86, most with his orchestra, with 3 Grammy Awards and 13 more nominations. Discogs ; Allmusic.

The Gil Evans Orchestra, Plays The Music Of Jimi Hendrix, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

The Gil Evans Orchestra did a Monday night show at the club 'Sweet Basil' in NYC from 1982 thru Evans 1988 death and for awhile beyond as alumni. A 2014 alumni show has just been released, with what appears to be a nonet, includes 2 Hendrix tunes, and is a great tribute.  AllAboutJazz review. Leader Pete Levin's website.

Gil Evans Remembered, Live At The Cutting Room NYC, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

This is on the Jazz 2024 and Jazz Best Albums 2024 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish. 😎

Jihye Lee Orchestra - 'Infinite Connections' & 'Daring Mind' & 'April'

"Infinite Connections is remarkable contemporary jazz with a slight yet definitive Korean accent, marvelously written by Lee and impeccably performed by the orchestra." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz.

Jihye Lee is a Korean-born, Brooklyn-based composer, arranger, and conductor. This is her 3rd big band album since 2017, and all 3 are worth a listen. She studied with Jim McNeely at the Manhattan School of Music, and her co-producer is Grammy-winning composer/arranger Darcy James Argue. A post below is on the 2024 Grammy-nominated album Darcy James Argue's Secret Society Maximum Dynamic Tension.

Jihye Lee Orchestra, Infinite Connections, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

This is on the Big Band 2024 and Jazz Best Albums 2024 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

"...a buoyant drama, a roaming investigation that swells and swales in all the right places," wrote Mike Jurkovic/AllAboutJazz about her 2021 album Daring Mind, which was Best Jazz Album at the Korean Music Awards.

Jihye Lee Orchestra, Daring Mind, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

“Thought-provoking and gut-wrenching all at once,” wrote Dan Bilawsky/AllAboutJazz about her 2017 debut album April.

Jihye Lee Orchestra, April, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Here is a studio performance of the first tune from Infinite Connections, with trumpet guest Ambrose Akinmusire. 😎

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

Friday 50s 😁 an album from a half-century ago.... With a bonus new and 2014 release.

"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 and Jazz Best Albums 2024 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish. 😎

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.  😎

Remy Le Bouf - ‘Assembly Of Shadows’ & ‘Architecture Of Storms’

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

This was a 3rd nominee for last year’s (2023) Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. Here’s links to posts below for the WDR Big Band with Steve Gadd et al Center Stage, and Grammy-winner Steven Feifke’s Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra.

From Matt Collar/AllMusic: "The 2nd album from alto saxophonist Remy Le Boeuf's big band … 2021's Architecture of Storms, is… an album of dazzling and nuanced modern creative jazz that conjures cinematic landscapes, both real and imagined." 

This is Remy's 4th album, and 2 big band releases have earned him 4 Grammy nominations. The album tune ‘Minnesota, WI’ earned a Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Arrangement (video above.) Remy’s: Wikipedia ; Bandcamp ; Discogs.

Remy Le Boeuf's Assembly of Shadows, Architecture of Storms, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

His 2019 big band album, Assembly of Shadows, earned Grammy nominations for the tune ‘Strata’ for Best Instrumental Composition, and the tune ‘Honeymooners’ for Best Instrumental Arrangement.

Remy Le Boeuf, Assembly of Shadows, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

…Storms is on Grammy Jazz 2022 and Big Band 2021 and …Shadows is on Big Band 2019 at Spotify/JazzTodayish.  😎 

WDR Big Band &: Steve Gadd et al - ‘Center Stage’; Yellowjackets - ‘Jackets XL’; Bob Mintzer - ‘Soundscapes’; Ricky Peterson/Bob Mintzer - ‘Drop Shot"

WDR is a public broadcasting network based in Cologne, Germany. Besides television and radio stations, they sponsor several musical groups, one of which is the well-respected WDR Big Band. With their broadcasting connection, the band continually produces impeccably recorded performances, many of which are available on YouTube. The unit is absolutely prolific, and have released over 25 albums since 2013, often in collaboration with jazz stars. Website ; Discogs

Their 2023 album with arranger Chuck Owen, Renderings, was recommended earlier.

They earned Grammy Award nominations for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album in 2022 and 2023. The band partnered with drummer Steve Gadd, bari sax player Ronnie Cuber (RIP), and bassist Eddie Gomez on the album Center Stage, for their 2023 nod. The video above is an album tune performed in-studio.

Steve Gadd, Eddie Gomez, Ronnie Cuber & WDR Big Band, Center Stage, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

The big band’s collaborators for their 2022 nod were the all-time great band Yellowjackets, for Jackets XL. The album was inevitable, as Yellowjackets’ tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer has served as the big band's musical director, on and off, since 2014. The video is an in studio performance of an album tune.

Yellowjackets & WDR Big Band, Jackets XL, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Bob Mintzer did at least 1 other album with WDRBB, Soundscapes, in 2021. Jack Bower/AllAboutJazz: “A luminous showcase for his singular talents as composer, arranger and soloist… he will find a way to swing.” The video is the title track.

Bob Mintzer & WDR Big Band, Soundscapes, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp 

Pianist/vocalist Ricky Peterson joined Bob and the band for 2018s Drop Shot. Peterson recorded multiple albums with Prince and played with saxophonist David Sanborn for ~20 years. This was his 5th as leader.

Ricky Peterson with Bob Mintzer & WDR Big Band, Drop Shot, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

On playlists at Spotify/JazzTodayish: Center Stage - Grammy Jazz 2022, Jazz Best Albums 2022, Big Band 2022; Jackets XL & Soundscapes - Big Band 2021; Drop Shot - Big Band 2018.  😎

Ryan Haines Big Band & Courtney H. - 'Emerald And Sapphire' & 'Saxophone Barbie'

Trombonist/composer/arranger/bandleader/U of Texas-Arlington professor Ryan Haines released his 4th album with his big band, Emerald and Sapphire. He wrote all but 1 tune, 4 of which were originally penned for his saxophonist wife Courtney’s 2017 album Saxophone Barbie, who also plays on his album, as he did on hers. Ryan is a music professor at Arizona State University.

Prominent players are trumpeters Kevin Burns, Pete Clagett and guest Wayne Bergeron, trombonist Alex Dubrov, tenor David Lown, guitarist Davey Mooney and drummer Stockton Helbing. Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz: “Emerald and Sapphire readily lives up to the high standards set on Haines' first three albums. A delicious big-band smorgasbord.” The big band does a smokin’ album tune in a Zoom performance. The band at Discogs.

Ryan Haines Big Band, Emerald and Sapphire, full album: free YouTube ; Spotify

On Jazz Best Albums 2023 and Big Band 2023 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

Info is sparse for Courtney’s debut and only album, but it’s a solid straight-ahead/smooth album, with a tight band. Give a listen to the fine efforts from a couple dedicated to jazz .  😎

Courtney Haines, Saxophone Barbie, full album: free YouTube ; Spotify