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. 😎

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

Gardyn Jazz Orchestra - 'Vinyl Brews' & their debut album

"Alto saxophonist Jon C. Gardner not only leads the piquant and powerful Philadelphia-based Gardyn Jazz Orchestra (GJO), he also wrote and arranged every song on Vinyl Brews, an in-concert performance recorded in December 2023 at Chris' Jazz Café in the City of Brotherly Love.... When such performances are as dynamic and inspiring as this one, they should be happily cherished and preserved forever in one's storehouse of pleasant memories." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz.

Gardyn Jazz Orchestra, Vinyl Brews, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

The album has 6 original tunes, plus 3 alternate takes. The band plays a tune from the live concert recording session:

This is GJOs 2nd live release. You might as well try their eponymous 2022 album. Double-down with some fine big band jazz from Philadelphia, USA. GJO no website, so Facebook.

Gardyn Jazz Orchestra, Gardyn Jazz Orchestra, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

This is on Big Band 2022 at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

Enjoy a 2nd tune from the live concert recording session. 😎

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.  😎 

Michael Davis Hip-Bone Big Band - 'Open City'

Jerome Wilson/AllAboutJazz: “All the music on the album was written by either trombonist/bandleader Michael Davis or his son, Cole, who plays bass on the album… This album shows that Michael Davis is a force in his own right as a composer, arranger, and bandleader.”

He’s recorded and/or toured with The Stones, Bob Dylan, Bob Mintzer, Buddy Rich, Paul Simon, and Sarah Vaughan.

The band must be acknowledged. 24 musicians are listed. That would be a big band!

Saxophones: David Mann, Steve Wilson, Matt Hong, Andy Snitzer, Troy Roberts, Charles Pillow, Sam Dillon, Frank Basile
Trumpets: Nick Marchione, Tony Kadleck, Jim Hynes, Scott Wendholt, Maneco Ruiz, Zaq Davis, Mike Rodriguez
French Horn: Judy Yin-Chi Lee
Trombones: Michael Davis, Marshall Gilkes, Ryan Keberle, Bill Reichenbach
Rhythm: Andy Ezrin (piano), David Finck (bass), Cole Davis (bass), Jared Schonig (drums)

This is Michael’s ~14th album since 1989, and 2nd with the big band. The video is an in-studio performance of an album tune. Here’s a YouTube playlist with 4 more live album tunes, plus a few older songs. Michael: Bandcamp ; Wikipedia

Michael Davis Hip-Bone Big Band, Open City, full album: free YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

Javier Nero Jazz Orchestra - 'Kemet: The Black Land'

Thierry De Clemensat/Paris-move: “This is the second recording by trombonist, composer, arranger, and educator Dr. Javier Nero… It's joyful, sun-soaked music, and Nero’s unique style is perfectly recognizable, with brass instruments being his preferred mode of expression.” 

This is Javier’s 2nd album. The video is a live studio performance of an album tune. Javier at Discogs.

Javier Nero Jazz Orchestra, Kemet: The Black Land, full album: free YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

Vanessa Perica Orchestra - 'The Eye Is The First Circle' & 'Love Is A Temporary Madness'

How about some really nice orchestral jazz, from a Melbourne artist.

ABCJazzAustralia: “The Eye Is The First Circle is named after a famous artwork by painter Lee Krasner, and like its namesake, this release from the Vanessa Perica Orchestra is deep, expansive and driven by emotions and the human experience.

The musicians showcased throughout this album represent some of Australia's finest jazz talents. You'll hear performances from the likes of saxophonists Tessie Overmyer, Julien Wilson and Jamie Oehlers (solos in the video), trumpeters Mat Jodrell and Paul Williamson and trombone greats including Jordan Murray as well as a star rhythm section of Theo Carbo, Andrea Keller, Sam Anning and Ben Vanderwal.”

This is Vanessa’s 2nd big band album. The video is an album tune in-studio performance. 

Vanessa Perica Orchestra, The Eye Is The First Circle, full album: free YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

 

Her debut album from 2020, Love Is A Temporary Madness, was nominated for a 2021 Australian Jazz Bell Award (Ozzie Jazz Grammy) for Best Produced Album. 

Vanessa Perica Orchestra, Love Is A Temporary Madness, full album: free YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Eye... is on Jazz Best Albums 2023 and Big Band 2023, and Love... is on Big Band 2020 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

For art folks, the namesake painting sold for $11.7 million in 2019, and is shown below. Actual size is ~2.4m x 4.8m. FYI, Krasner was the wife of famous abstract artist Jackson Pollock. 😎