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. 😎

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.  😎