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'

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. 😎