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
