Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra - 'Mundoagua: Celebrating Carla Bley' & Carla Bley - 'Fleur Carnivore' & a YouTube ~Concert

Today's selections are a 2025 tribute album, a 1989 album by the tributee, and a 2023 video tribute.  😁

Pianist/composer/arranger/bandleader/Latin Jazz icon Arturo "O'Farrill and his orchestra accomplished what they set out to do, which was to honor Carla Bley's vision and virtuosity while producing an album of stylish and entertaining Afro Latin jazz." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz. There's actually alotta tempo changes and a bit of a wild ride. This would be labelled 'Progressive Big Band' by some, and is actually light on the 'Latin' touch. The orchestra is tight.

A post below is about Arturo's Grammy nominated album Virtual Birdland, with videos, and alotta info on him and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra (ALJO). Arturo produces a regular Vlog, also called 'Virtual Birdland,' that is definitely worth a look and a subscription. Arturo's website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs. ALJO Discogs. YouTube Channel.

Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Mundoagua: Celebrating Carla Bley, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

Pianist/composer/arranger/bandleader Carla Bley was an avant-garde jazz icon, with ~12 large ensemble albums and overall >24 releases from 1966 to 2019. Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

"Combining surprising arrangements and pop song melodies, Bley creates a unique jazz language, setting herself apart from both traditionalist bandleaders (Thad Jones) and more avant-garde stylists (George Russell). Fleur Carnivore is one of Bley's best titles and good place to start for newcomers." Stephen Cook/Allmusic. Album Wikipedia ; Discogs. A live album, released in 1989.

Carla Bley, Fleur Carnivore, full album: Spotify 

Arturo did a Vlog episode in tribute to Carla, after she passed in 2023,"Virtual Birdland, Episode 167, Remembering Carla Bley." Arturo does some commentary, but this is basically a full music show, with the suite 'Blue Palestine' from the new album. Included is a 2020 Carla small-group video. ~Split between small-group tunes and the ALJO. You should watch this, and subscribe to the ALJO YouTube Channel.  😎

Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra - 'Nice Work' & 'The Governor' & 'Ways Of Seeing' & a YouTube Concert

Tuesday 25s, albums from about a quarter-century ago. Today's recommendation is a wonderful 3 album-run from 1999 - 2000 by the Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra (DRJO), or also Big Band (DRBB) 😊

Nice Work was required to earn pianist/composer/arranger Jim McNeely and the DRJO a 2001 Grammy Award nomination for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. 😁 Jim also earned a nomination for Best Instrumental Arrangement for the Gershwin tune 'Nice Work If You Can Get It.' Album Allmusic ; Discogs.

Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra & Jim McNeely, Nice Work, full album: Spotify 

This is on the Jazz Best Albums 2000 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

McNeely has led >25 , played on >140, and arranged for >100 albums since 1966. Jim earned a Grammy as part of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, with 12 more nominations. He was chief conductor of the DRJO/DRBB from 1998 - 2002. His piano chops placed him in the Stan Getz Quartet for 4 years and the Phil Woods Quintet for 6. Jim's website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

A full concert video is posted below where McNeely arranges and conducts the Frankfurt Radio Big Band.

The jazz big band of The Danish Broadcasting Corporation was established in 1964 and has been renamed several times, with >70 albums. The complete discography is spread over at least these 2 iterations. DRJO Discogs. DRBB website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

I didn't write a post about the DRBB's 2024 album XL-LX, but I did mention its release in a post below, with links to album streams.

Niels Jørgen Steen conducted the DRJO on their 1999 Duke Ellington centennial tribute The Governor. This is an energetic and fun album. Discogs. Niels has been active in Danish jazz since 1958, with >100 composer/writer/pianist/conductor credits. His piano chops are exhibited with > 10 albums with saxophone legend Ben Webster. Niels Discogs ; Wikipedia.

Dutch Radio Jazz Orchestra & Niels Jørgen Steen, The Governor, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Danish pianist/composer/bandleader Ole Kock Hansen conducted the DRJO/BB for ~5 albums from 1995 - 2000. The 1999 album Ways Of Seeing: Live At The Basement, Sydney, captures a hot, straight-ahead show from Down Under. Audio could be crisper, but overall is just fine. Album Discogs. Ole's Discogs. 

Dutch Radio Jazz Orchestra & Ole Kock Hansen, Ways Of Seeing, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

The 2 above are on the Jazz Best Albums 1999 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

The DRBB shows they are a team effort, as the conductor from the 3rd album above leads an entire concert of music from the 2nd album, 7 years before either. A wonderful show from 1992, with nice sound. Trombonist Buster Cooper and trumpeter Clark Terry guest and solo, and the band's regular soloists are quite adept.  😎

Woody Herman - 'Herd At Montreaux' & a YouTube concert

Friday 50s,  an album from about a half-century ago.... 😉or 1974.

Clarinetist/saxophonist/bandleader Woody Herman earned Grammy Awards for Best  Jazz Performance By A Big Band in 1974 and 1975 for his two 1974 releases - a nice year's work 😁. A post below celebrates his 1974 winner Thundering Herd, with more band info. Here's his 1975 winner, Herd At Montreaux.

"Herman plays soprano saxophone exclusively, leads a 15-piece band through contemporary funk and fusion music of the day.... This prefigured the direction he would take for most of the '70s." Michael Nastos/Allmusic. From a 1974 concert at the famous Montreaux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), the sonics could be improved, but the band cooks throughout. Album Discogs. 

Woody Herman led big bands from the 1930s - 80s, with  >120 albums. He won 3 Grammys with 15 more nominations. Woody's: Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Woody Herman, Herd At Montreaux, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Here's a full show, maybe from November 1973, Jazzfest Berlin, maybe from sometime in 1974. Regardless, it's a nice document of the Grammy-winner Thundering Herd in action, with really nice sound. 😎

Frankfurt Radio Big Band: with John Beasley - ‘Returning To Forever’ & YouTube concert; with Sebastian Sternal - 'Turning Point'

This post mentions 3 albums with Grammy-cred, a new release, and 4 complete video concerts. Enough to keep you busy through the year? 😁

The Frankfurt Radio Big Band (FRBB) released two 2024 albums. This first was nominated for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album at the upcoming 2025 Grammy Awards.

"Fans of Chick Corea's 'Return to Forever' projects will love this as both the score and the musicianship are as superb as we’d expect from top American arranger John Beasley and the peerless FRBB.... The gorgeous section playing, a pleasure in itself, once again sets the scene here for the wonderfully well-crafted solos." David Shiers/UKJazzNews 

John Beasley & Frankfurt Radio Big Band, Returning To Forever, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is FRBBs 3rd Grammy nomination, and Beasley’s 13th, with 2 wins. Beasley’s website ; Discogs. A post below celebrates the Grammy success of John's 2022 album with the SWR Big Band Bird Lives & his 2021 album MONK’estra Plays John Beasley.

Here is a video concert of the entire new album, tunes rearranged, from March 2022.

 

 

FRBBs latest release is Turning Point, led by pianist Sebastian Sternal. "Dazzling tonal colors, catchy melodies and energetic grooves. The outstanding soloists of the FRBB shine." Schott-music.

Sebastian Sternal & HR-Bigband, Turning Point, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

These are on the Big Band 2024 and Jazz Best Albums 2024 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  more ⌄

The FRBB, also known as the ‘HR-Big Band,’ is a project of Hessian Radio, Germany. They have released ~19 albums since 2007. Their YouTube channel (please subscribe); website ; Discogs.   

 

Their YouTube channel has >50 full concerts 😱 that were live streamed from the last 6 years, with an emphasis on good sound. 🎷 Three shows are posted below, with: trumpeter Till Brönner ; saxophonist Mark Turner ; saxophonists Dick Oatts and Gary Smulyan and arranger/conductor Jim McNeely. 😎

Orquestra Jazz De Matosinhos - 'Músicas Brasileiras, Músicos Portugueses' & 'Farol: Musica de Carlos Azevedo' & a YouTube concert

"Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos (OJM) ... has had the support of Matosinhos, Portugal, since 1999. It ... continually invests in the development of diversified artistic projects, coherent training projects and in the publishing of Portuguese jazz records. A pioneer in a largely unexplored territory, OJM fulfills the role of National Jazz Orchestra." OJM website ; Discogs. OJM has released at least 13 albums since 2006.

OJM released two albums in 2024. A long one and short one for a total of 2 hours of new big band jazz! 😁These are on Big Band 2024 at Spotify/JazzTodayish.

On the first, five arrangers wrote really nice charts for twelve Brazilian songs. Directed by Pedro Guedes and drummer Kiko Freitas guests. Nailor Proveta's arrangement of the song "Linha de Passe" earned a 2024 Latin Grammy Award nomination for Best Arrangement. Album Discogs.

Orquestra Jazz De Matosinhos, Músicas Brasileiras, Músicos Portugueses, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

“We can’t talk about the history of jazz orchestras in Portugal without talking about the important role of Zé Eduardo. His compositions traverse landscapes of the 70s and 80s - a swing, a bossa, a bolero - along with a quarantine-inspired composition." HighResAudio. Chris Cheek guests on sax.

Orquestra Jazz De Matosinhos, Farol: Musica de Carlos Azevedo, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Two hours of wonderful Portuguese big band still not enough? Here's a nice video of an entire show of the Músicas album, from 2019. 😎

Steven Feifke & Bijon Watson's Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra - Complete Concert YouTube

Pianist, big band composer/arranger, Grammy Award winner Steven Feifke posted this concert earlier this year, with his and colleague Bijon Watson's Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra.

From the New Trier Jazz Festival, Gaffney Auditorium, New Trier High School, Winnetka, IL, USA, on 3 February 2024.

The band: Reeds - Alexa Tarantino, Christopher McBride, Tom Luer, Kirsten Edkins, Lauren Sevian. Trumpets - Bijon Watson, Derrick Gardner, Janelle Finton, Danny Jonokuchi. Trombones - John Fedchock, Javier Nero, Nick Finzer. Bass - Julianne Gralle. Guitar - Will Brahm. Piano - Steven Feifke. Bass - Dan Chmielinski. Drums - Jeff Hamilton.

A post below celebrates Steven Feifke’s last 3 big band albums and Grammy Award: Catalyst ; Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra (2023 Grammy for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album) ; Kinetic.

Two of Feifke’s band-members released excellent big band albums discussed below:

Trombonist Javier Nero Kemet: The Black Land.

Trumpeter Derrick Gardner Still I Rise. 😎

Lalo Schifrin - 'Latin Jazz Suite' & its YouTube concert

Retrospective 1999, which features an album from a quarter-century ago... (Tuesday 25s 😁)

"Lalo Schifrin's Latin Jazz Suite is a masterful celebration of the diverse and colorful sounds and feelings that Latin forms add to the jazz vocabulary. It is also a reflection of the composer's successful contributions to the Latin musical language over the last four decades." Douglas Payne/AllAboutJazz.

Recorded in concert with the WDR Big Band, guests include trumpeter Jon Faddis, saxophonist David Sanchez and percussionist Alex Acuna. The song ‘Fiesta’ earned a 2000 Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Arrangement.

Pianist/composer Lalo Schifrin has released >140 jazz, classical and film score albums since the 1950s. He is a five-time Grammy Award winner; he has been nominated for six Academy Awards (and received an 'honorary Oscar') and four Emmy Awards. Lalo's website ; Discogs.

Lalo Schifrin, Latin Jazz Suite, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on the Jazz Best Albums 1999 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

Enjoy the wonderful live show in full below. Video is a bit dated but sounds absolutely fine.  😎

WDR Big Band & Mark Lettieri - Complete Concert YouTube

The WDR Big Band posted this concert from January 2024.

YouTube: “The WDR BIG BAND performs the concert program ‘The Rhythm Side Of Things’ together with Mark Lettieri on guitar, Billy Test on B3 and Rhodes, Wes Stephenson on electric bass, Daniel Porter on keyboards and Jason ‘JT’ Thomas on drums. Lettieri has found the perfect algorithm for funk: He fuses the influences of rhythm and rock guitar icons from the 70s and 80s. Now, for the first time, the guitar virtuoso meets the WDR Big Band under the direction of bandleader Jörg Achim Keller. The arrangements are by Mike Abene. Recorded live in Cologne's Stadtgarten.”

Mark Lettieri plays guitar and is an original member of the band Snarky Puppy, who have 5 Grammys with 5 nominations. He has released 8 solo albums since 2011. His 2021 album Deep: The Baritone Sessions Vol. 2 was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. Website ; Discogs; YouTube.

A post below from 7 January recommends Snarky Puppy’s 2022 Grammy-nominated album Empire Central, with Mark.

The WDR Big Band is a project of WDR Broadcasters in Cologne, Germany. They have released >75 albums since 1979, and have won 4 Grammys with 6 nominations. YouTube channel (please subscribe); website ; Discogs

Four posts below about seven WDR Big Band albums: with trombonist Marshall Gilkes; 4 albums of Steve Gadd et al & Bob Mintzer collaborations; with arranger Chuck Owens; with bassist Ron Carter.  😎

Frankfurt Radio Big Band & Till Brönnerr - Complete Concert YouTube

Here’s a concert from 23 January by The Frankfurt Radio Big Band, with trumpeter Till Brönner. Chiara Civello - Vocals, Fausto Beccalossi - Accordion, Magnus Lindgren - Conductor  & Arrangements.

German trumpeter/composer Till Brönner has released ~24 albums since 1994, with a Grammy nomination and multiple Echo Awards (~German Grammys to 2018). Till has been a professor at the College of Music Carl Maria von Weber in Dresden since 2009. Website. Discogs.

The Frankfurt Radio Big Band, also known as the ‘hr Big Band,’ is a project of Hessian Radio, Germany. They have released ~19 albums since 2007. YouTube channel (please subscribe); website ; Discogs. Their YouTube channel has >50 full concerts that were live streamed from the last 6 years.  😎

Nikki Iles & NDR Big Band - ‘Face To Face’

Here's a nice 2023 release.

David Shiers/LondonJazzNews: “Face to Face was made during pianist Nikki Iles’ time working in Germany as Composer in Residence with the awesome NDR Bigband…. recorded ‘live’ in the studio, with no overdubs or effects…. Face to Face is evidence that the big band can still give us great art.”

This is Niki’s ~13th release since 1996, and first as a big band leader. Niki’s website ; Discogs.

The NDR Big Band is a project of NDR Broadcasters in Hamburg, and explores the progressive side of big band. They have released >75 albums since 1985. Discogs. Their YouTube channel (please subscribe) has >50 full concerts that were live streamed from the last 6 years.

Here’s a YouTube playlist with ~40 minutes of 5 tunes from Jazz Baltica 2023, with one below.

Nikki Iles & NDR Big Band, Face To Face, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

This is on Jazz Best Albums 2023 and Big Band 2023 at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

Wynton Marsalis & Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra - ‘Big Train’

Retrospective 1999, an album from 25 years or a quarter-century ago….

Richard Ginell/Allmusic: “A 52-minute big band suite modeled after Ellington's long-form essays, it purports to evoke the moods, sounds and feelings of a cross-country train trip with selections named after a train's various cars…. There is fine soloing all around in the hard bop tradition from Wessell Anderson, Victor Goines, Ted Nash & Walter Blanding, Jr. (saxes) and Wycliffe Gordon (trombone) …. One of Marsalis' better extended form essays.”

This was trumpeter/composer/arranger Wynton Marsalis’ ~51st of >100 albums since 1981. He has won 9 Grammys with 32 nominations. Discogs. Wikipedia. website.

The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra (LCJO) originated in 1988, and Marsalis has directed since ‘91. LCJO has released ~18 albums since 2015, and >30 since 1992. Wikipedia ; website ; Discogs (incomplete). LCJO is a component of Jazz At Lincoln Center, NYC.

Wynton Marsalis & Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Big Train, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on the Jazz Best Albums 1999 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

A 2023 big band album from LCJO saxophonist Victor Goines, The Woodlawn Suite, was the very first post of this blog, on 8 December 2023. More info about Victor in that post.

Jazz At Lincoln Center has a subscription video channel, called Jazz Live ($10 mo, $100 yr), and includes shows from Dizzy’s Club. Shows are live streamed and then available VOD. For $10 you get a ~half-dozen excellent live shows monthly.

Frustratingly, they only give access to a few of their back-log shows at-a-time, instead of full access to a treasure-trove of live jazz performances. Currently available, however, is a wonderful Toshiko Akiyoshi tribute concert from 2023, which features husband Lew Tabackin on sax, and the LCJO plays her big band charts.

Coincidentally, on Friday, May 3, 8 pm/2000h EDT, the LCJO and Wynton Marsalis perform(ed) Duke Ellington At 125. That’s 2 enticements for big band jazz fans to try Jazz Live.

Here's a live performance of Big Train in its entirety from around release time. Video is a bit dated, but the sound is fine.  😎

Frankfurt Radio Big Band & Oatts / Smulyan / McNeely - Complete Concert YouTube

Here’s a concert from 11 May 2023 by The Frankfurt Radio Big Band, with saxophonists Dick Oatts and Gary Smulyan and arranger/conductor Jim McNeely. See YouTube for a lot more info. This version re-masters the audio of the original livestream for improved sound.

The first tune 'Three And One' composed and arranged by Thad Jones:

Their YouTube channel has >50 full concerts that were live streamed from the last 6 years!

The Frankfurt Radio Big Band, also known as the ‘hr Big Band,’ is a project of Hessian Radio, Germany. They have released ~19 albums since 2007. YouTube channel (please subscribe); website ; Discogs

The whole show:  😎

Thad Jones & Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra - ‘Potpourri’ & YouTube concert

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. 

Enjoy ~45 minutes of the band from 1974 in Norway, with fine sound (and a drum solo 😣). Here's a list of the band: Thad Jones, flugelhorn; Jon Faddis, Steve Furtado, Jim Bossy, Cecil Bridgewater, trumpets; Jimmy Knepper, Billy Campbell, Quentin "Butter" Jackson, Dave Taylor, trombones; Jerry Dodgion, Ed Xiques, Billy Harper (rips the solo on the last tune), Ron Bridgewater, Pepper Adams, reeds; Walter Norris, piano; George Mraz, bass; Mel Lewis, drums. 😎

Frankfurt Radio Big Band with Mark Turner - Complete Concert YouTube

Here’s a concert from 9 March 2023 by The Frankfurt Radio Big Band, with saxophonist Mark Turner and conductor Christine Jensen. See YouTube for a lot more info. This version re-masters the audio of the original livestream for improved sound.

Here is the first tune ‘Return From The Stars.’ It is a Turner composition, arranged by Jim McNeely.

The Frankfurt Radio Big Band, also known as the ‘hr Big Band,’ is a project of Hessian Radio, Germany. They have released ~19 albums since 2007. YouTube channel (please subscribe); website ; Discogs. Their YouTube channel has >50 full concerts that were live streamed from the last 6 years!

The whole show: