Recent instrumental big band and orchestral jazz album recommendations. With ~25 & ~50 year retrospectives, to illustrate the timelessness of this great music.
THIS SITE PROMOTES FUN JAZZ!
Excerpts from and links to album reviews of rather boisterous jazz albums. Artist and album info links at: Wikipedia; website; Discogs; Bandcamp; Allmusic, as available/worthwhile. Links to the full album on: basic/free YouTube; subscription Spotify; purchase download Bandcamp, as available. Check your favorite service. Please enjoy!
Showing posts with label band: little big band. Show all posts
Showing posts with label band: little big band. Show all posts
Friday 50s,an album from 1975,a half-century ago.... 😊
"Saxophonist Lee Konitzperforms John Kander and Fred Ebb's songs from the Broadway musical Chicago....with surprisingly pleasing perfomances." Wikipedia. Konitz's regular nonet is augmented for this little-big-band project, which includes saxophonist Joe Farrell. Album Discogs. This album had several covers.
Lee Konitz was an alto saxophone giant from ~1945 to 2018, with over 200 albums released. He developed his big band chops with the Stan Kenton Orchestra in the 1950s. Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
Lee Konitz, Chicago‘N All That Jazz!,full album:YouTube;Spotify
"The bass drum beat is the heartbeat of New Orleans, the organ that
pushes the blood through the arteries and veins of our city streets, and
the biggest and strongest heart was Kerry 'Fat Man' Hunter. When the
bass drum was strapped over his shoulders and the mallets were in his
hands, he let ‘em know – loud, proud and undeniable was his style, and
it’s that style that’s at the heart of For Fat Man, the new recording by
the Preservation Hall Brass." Abbie Gobeli/Subpop. A project of their cornetist Kevin Louis.
"Along with the main Preservation Hall Jazz Band, who produced this,
the Preservation Brasskeeps the New Orleans brass band traditions
alive. Active with various members for decades," this is their
debut album. Matt Collar/Allmusic. Preservation Brass website.
Tuesday 25s,an album from Y2K / 2000, a quarter-century ago.... 😊
"....a program of pop, jazz, and R&B hits, most of them coming from the artists of the era: Notorious B.I.G., Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Bob Marley, Babyface, India Arie,
and others.... The aplomb, taste, and exquisite sense of empathy
for this music is everywhere in Bowie's arrangements.... This is a fitting final project, and
easily the most consistent and realized of all the Brass Fantasy (BF) albums." Thom Jurek/Allmusic ; Wikpedia ; Discogs. This had >1 album cover.
Lester Bowie Brass Fantasy:
Drums – Vinnie Johnson
French Horn – Vincent Chancey
Guest, Vocals – Dean Bowman
Percussion – Victor See Yuen
Trombone – Gary Valente, Luis Bonilla
Trumpet – Gerald Brazel, Lester Bowie, Joseph "Mac" Gollehon, Ravi Best
Tuba – Bob Stewart
BF released ~9 albums from ~1984 - '00. Discogs. BF was a project of trumpet legend Lester Bowie, who released ~24 more albums from ~1978 - '00. He was a founder of the avant-gardeArt Ensemble of Chicago, who released >50 albums from ~'66 - '99. So, Lester released >80 albums across ~33 years. Busy dude. 😁Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
Lester Bowie Brass Fantasy, When The Spirit Returns, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
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.
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
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 theChris McDonald Jazz Orchestra's It’s About Time, also based in the city. 😎
Gregg Hill is a 78 year old Central Michigan pianist/composer/arranger who is amidst a late life artistic surge that has produced 15 albums of his music since 2017, in various orchestrations. Here he arranges an album led by trombonist Michael Dease with 10 more players. Gregg's website ; Discogs.
"The highly acclaimed Dease has put an absolute stamp of approval on Hill's work.... Sharel Cassity is a highlight throughout the album on both alto saxophone and flute.... The inexhaustible energy of Hill is not to be denied." Paul Rauch/AllAboutJazz. Album Discogs.
Michael Dease, also on baritone sax, is joined on
woodwinds by Sharel Cassity, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Jason
Hainsworth and Virginia MacDonald, with trumpeter Matt White, trombonist Nanami Haruta, pianist Bill Cunliffe, bassist Katie Thiroux,
drummer Colleen Clark and percussionist Gwendolyn Dease.
This is Michael's ~14th album since 2007. He did more Gregg Hill music with a smaller ensemble on his 2023 albumThe Other Shoe. He is featured guest on OSU Jazz Orchestra - Solid Gold, in a post below. Michael's website ; Discogs ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic.
Michael Dease, Found In Space, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Friday 50s,today with 3 albums from 1974, so about a half-century ago... 😁
Pianist/composer/arranger/bandleader Bob James did an album of his own, and also orchestral arrangements for albums by saxophonists Hank Crawford and Grover Washington Jr. James' arrangements on these albums were with a small big band plus strings. In order by my favorite...
"This is one of Grover Washington, Jr.'s best-loved recordings and
considered a classic of r&bish jazz.... Bob James provided the colorful if somewhat commercial arrangements, ... and Washington (mostly on tenor and soprano) is heard in particularly creative form. Highly recommended." Scott Yanow/Allmusic. The title tune was 'a hit,' and the album went to #1 on the jazz and soul charts. Album Discogs ; Wikipedia. Grover's Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
Grover Washington Jr., Mr. Magic, full album: YouTube (1 file) ; Spotify
Grover's 1973 album Soul Box, also with Bob James arrangements, earned a post below.
"Saxophonist Hank Crawford provides three original compositions along with two Stevie Wonder tunes (hence the album title). The string arrangements of Bob James,
who also plays electric keyboards on the date, provide a light touch of
sophistication and blend well with Crawford’s R&B-steeped alto
saxophone." Al Campbell/Allmusic. Album Discogs; Wikipedia. Hank's Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
Hank Crawford, Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing, full album; YouTube ; Spotify
One was Bob's ~3rd album as a leader, with now >50 releases. This shortish album is the ~start of Bob's smooth jazz career as a leader, and he's still active. His albumJazz Handsreceived a 2024 Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. OneAllmusic ; Discogs. Bob's website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
"The band ... has a performing home ... in Philadelphia, and has released about half a dozen superb albums, all featuring
David's compositions and bearing his unique soprano saxophone soloing
and sophisticated style of composing and arranging which allows the
musicians to play charts and improvise at very high levels, each with
his own imprint." Victor Schermer/AllAboutJazz.
The Eleventet is based in and plays regularly around Philadelphia, USA. This is their 6th album since ~ 2015. website.
"A high-energy collection that showcases the vitality of big-band jazz with an infectious New Orleans flavour." Pierre Giroux/AllAboutJazz.
This 2024 release is the Uptown Jazz Orchestra's 4th album since 2016, and all are absolute joys.Discogs. Trombonist/bandleader Delfeayo Marsalis has 7 additional releases since 1992. Website ; Wikipedia ; Discogs.
Delfeayo Marsalis & Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Crescent City Jewels, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Happy big band New Year! 😄Still postin' 2024 albums.
"Saxophonist Bobby Selvaggio's arrangements trade in tight charts yet loose-fitting solos.
The discipline the ensemble displays allows for this freedom.... With his latest release, he presents seven new compositions, arranged
for his 11-piece Cleveland band, all dedicated to his son Julian, with his wife Chelsea's vocals on two tracks" Mark Corroto/AllAboutJazz. Album Discogs.
This is Bobby's ~9th album since 1999. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, he has a day job as Director of Jazz Studies at Kent State University. Bobby's: website ; Discogs ; Allmusic.
Bobby Selvaggio 11, stories dreams, inspirations: for my boy, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp
"Sweet electric 70s funk from Blue Mitchell – blowing here in some of the
hippest arrangements of his career! Blue's trumpet alone is always
pretty darn great, but for this album he's working with arranger Dave Matthews" (no, not that guy) Dusty Groove.
Trumpeter Jon Faddis and sax/flutist Joe Farrell play in the ~11-member band. Not considered an essential Mitchell album, taken on its own it is a fun ride. 😁 Album Allmusic ; Discogs ; Wikipedia.
