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.' 😎

Hyeseon Hong Jazz Orchestra - 'Things Will Pass' & 'Ee-Ya-Gi (Stories)'

"'A master musician who weaves dreams into vivid sonic landscapes, and turns sorrow and loss into enduring and endearing art.' That those landscapes traverse the musical terrain from the U.S. to Korea is icing on an already appetizing cake." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz. Album Discogs.

South Korean composer/arranger/bandleader Hyeseon Hong has arranged and fronted big bands in NYC for ~10 years now, and this 2024 release is her 2nd album. Discogs. No website, so Facebook.

Hyeseon Hong Jazz Orchestra, Things Will Pass, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Her 2017 debut Ee-Ya-Gi (Stories) is a joy also. Trumpeter Ingrid Jenson guests, and saxophonist Rich Perry is featured on both albums. Album Discogs. 😎

Hyeseon Hong Jazz Orchestra, Ee-Ya-Gi (Stories), full album: YouTube

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. 😎

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