Grammy 2025 + Latin Grammy 2024 Big Band Summary & Barcelona Clarinet Players - 'Panamericano'

The 2025 Grammy and 2024 Latin Grammy Awards are complete. Here is a summary of how 'large ensemble' or orchestral jazz nominees fared. The 67th Grammy Awards were 2 February.

The award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album went to the Dan Pugach Big Band for Bianca Reimagined. A post below has more info, links to the winner album, and a video.

The other nominees were (link to its post below):

• Orrin Evans And The Captain Black Big Band, Walk A Mile In My Shoe
• The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, And So It Goes
• John Beasley & Frankfurt Radio Big Band, Returning To Forever
• Miguel Zenon, Golden City 
  

There were 2 ~orchestral jazz nominees, a post below described both:

• Bill Frisell, Orchestras - Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
• Henry Mancini, The 100th Sessions: Henry Has Company - Michael League of Snarky Puppy for Best Arrangement Of An Instrumental for "Baby Elephant Walk - Encore."

The 25th Latin Grammy Awards were 14 November 2024.

Hilario Duran WON for Best Arrangement of 'Night in Tunisia' on Hilario Durán and His Latin Jazz Big Band, Cry Me A River, featuring saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera. Hilario also earned a 2024 regular Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Arrangement for ‘I Remember Mingus.’ A post below has more info, links and a video of '....Mingus,' with Paquito.

The Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos, conducted by Gabi Guedes with guest drummer Kiko Freitas, earned Nailor Proveta a nomination for Best Arrangement for the tune "Linha de Passe," from their album Músicas Brasileiras, Músicos Portugueses. See a post below for more info, links to this excellent album and a full concert video.

Paquito D’Rivera earned a 2nd nomination for Best Classical Contemporary Composition for 'Caribbean Berceuse' on the Barcelona Clarinet Players' (BCP) 2023 album Panamericano. Daniel Freiberg earned nominations for composition and Best Arrangment for the song 'Sueño Austral' from the this well-regarded album.

Here's some more info, from their label. "The Barcelona Clarinet Players commissioned six prominent Latin American composers to write new works for clarinet quartet and wind band. During their 2021–2022 season, they recorded each work with a different wind band in the United States or Latin America, and the result is a captivating album of extraordinary musical richness and diversity that showcases the unique aesthetic of each composer and the artistry of the performing ensembles." Album Discogs. BCP website ; Discogs.

Barcelona Clarinet Players, Panamericano, full album: YouTube ; Spotify 

This is on the Big Band 2023 and the Latin Grammy Jazz Albums 2020 - ? playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

A post below celbrates Paquito D'Rivera's win and Daniel Freiberg's nomination at the 2023 Latin Grammy Awards, for their work on the album Pacho Flores & Orquesta Sinfonica De Mineria, Estirpe.

The vid is Paquito D'Rivera and the BCP with 2 tunes from their 2022 album Fantasias Barcelonicas - A Tribute To Paquito D'Rivera.

These are the big bandish albums garnered from list scans. Post a comment if something was missed.

A post below summarizes the 2024 Grammy and 2023 Latin Grammy Awards. 😎

Bob James &: Grover Washington Jr. - 'Mr. Magic'; Hank Crawford - ' Don't You Worry...' and his own - 'One'

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 album Jazz Hands received a 2024 Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. One Allmusic ; Discogs. Bob's website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Bob James, One, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

All of these are on Jazz Best Albums 1974 at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

Terence Blanchard - 'Jazz In Film'

Tuesday 25s, an album from about a quarter-century ago ... 1999.  😉

"Terence Blanchard covers classic motion picture scores with an expressive jazz trumpet and approach to straight-ahead jazz on ... Jazz In Film. Scores ... are immersed in the world of jazz and resurface complete with Blanchard's imprint and eloquent style that is reminiscent of mid-'60s Miles Davis." Paula Edelstein/Allmusic.  

Covers of Duke Ellington (Anatomy of a Murder), Quincy Jones (The Pawn Broker), Jerry Goldsmith (Chinatown), Bernard Herrmann (Taxi Driver) and Elmer Bernstein (Man with the Golden Arm) and more. A band of: Bass – Reginald Veal; Drums – Carl Allen; Piano – Kenny Kirkland get some help from: Tenor Saxophone – Joe Henderson; Trombone – Steve Turre; Alto Saxophone – Donald Harrison. An orchestra supplements most tunes. Album Discogs.

Terence Blanchard is a New Orleans-born jazz trumpeter and film composer known for his close association with director Spike Lee. He has >80 film and television scores, has been nominated for 2 Academy Awards, has won 7 Grammy Awards with 16 nominations, and has an Emmy and BAFTA nomination. Website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Terence Blanchard, Jazz In Film, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Mahavishnu Orchestra - 'Apocalypse'

Friday 50s, an album from 1974, so about a half-century ago... 😁

With Michael Tilson Thomas and the London Symphony Orchestra. "The union wasn't taken seriously at the time.... Don't let old, outworn preconceptions on either side of the fence prevent you from checking out this beautiful record." Richard Ginell/Allmusic. Album Wikipedia ; Discogs. 

The Mahavishnu Orchestra (MO) released 8 studio albums from 1971 - 89. This was the first album of the '2nd MO': John McLaughlin, guitars; Jean Luc Ponty, violin; Gayle Moran, keys & vocals; Ralphe Armstrong, bass; Narada Michael Walden, drums. Produced by '5th Beatle' George Martin. MO: Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Mahavishnu Orchestra, Apocalypse, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on the Jazz Best Albums 1974 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish. 😎

Big Band 2024 still - 10 Albums

These are some 2024 big band/orchestral jazz releases that I won't get a chance to do a complete post on. Some are well-known jazz names. Generally less boisterous than my favorites, but might be right-up-your-alley, as they say. All are definitely worth a listen. 🎷

The goal is to at least mention all ~112 albums (hours) on Big Band 2024 at Spotify/JazzTodayish. 

Louis Cole & Metropole Orkest, Nothing, full album: YouTube (whole album concert video + album) ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Daniel Casimir & London Contemporary Orchestra, Balance, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Johan Hoogewijs & Toots Thielemans, Tout de Suite, full album: YouTube ; Spotify. Compilation of tunes recorded from 1999 - 2010.

Jazzrausch Bigband, Bangers Only!, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

John Daversa Big Band, Improvisatory Observatory: Live And Raw At The Baked Potato, Exhibit 1, full album: YouTube ; Spotify Two albums directed by John are recommended in a post below.

John Daversa Big Band, Improvisatory Observatory: Live And Raw At The Baked Potato, Exhibit 2, full album: YouTube ; Spotify. Two albums directed by John are recommended in a post below.

Tom Johnson Jazz Orchestra, Time Takes Odd Turns, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Danny Jonokuchi, A Decade, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Danny Jonokuchi, Past Is Present, full EP/25 minutes: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, Maetrix, full album: YouTube ; Spotify 😎

Big Band 2024 - 10 albums

These are some 2024 big band/orchestral jazz releases that I won't get a chance to do a complete post on. Some are well-known jazz names. Generally less boisterous than my favorites, but might be right-up-your-alley, as they say. All are definitely worth a listen. 🎷

The goal is to at least mention all ~110 albums (hours) on Big Band 2024 at Spotify/JazzTodayish. 😁

Frank Carlberg Large Ensemble, Elegy For Thelonious, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Cassie Kinoshi's seed, graitude, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Bruno Raberg Tentet, Evolver, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Vijay Iyer, Trouble, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Mark Lockheart, Smiling, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Jazzrausch Bigband, Bruckner's Breakdown, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Rebecca Trescher Tentet, Character Pieces, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Simon Lasky Group, For The Dreamers, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Mia Brentano's American Diary, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Angles & Elle-Kari, The Death Of Kalypso, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp 😎

Lew Tabackin & Netherlands Metropole Orchestra - 'Pyramid'

Tuesday 25s 😁 an album from a quarter-century ago....

A recent tribute post to pianist/composer/arranger/bandleader Toshiko Akiyoshi mentions her husband, tenor saxophone and flute virtuoso Lew Tabackin.

"Lew Tabackin's guest appearance with the Netherlands Metropole Orchestra (NMO) is one of the most enjoyable in their series of collaborations with jazz soloists.... This is a very well-crafted release," Ken Dryden/Allmusic. Album Discogs. 

Lew has released at least 30 albums as leader and with Toshiko. He's been a pro since 1962, and was in the bands of television hosts (USA) Dick Cavett and Johnny Carson. Lew, 84 now, still plays regularly in NYC, just did a tour with his trio in Japan, where he plans a 2025 Japan tour with Toshiko, who just turned 95, as a duo! My jazz heroes! 😍 Lew's: website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

The NMO, now called the Metropole Orkest,  has 4 Grammys and 2 Oscars, and has released >150 albums since 1952. They are a project of Netherlands Public Broadcasting, and are based in Hilversum. NMOs: website ; Wikipedia ; Discogs. A post below is about their 2024 Grammy-nominated album with arranger Vince Mendoza, Olympians.

Lew Tabackin & Netherlands Metropole Orchestra, Pyramid, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Big Band 2024 - 9 albums

These are some 2024 big band/orchestral jazz releases that I won't get a chance to do a complete post on. Some are well-known jazz names. Generally less boisterous than my favorites, but might be right-up-your-alley, as they say. All are definitely worth a listen. 🎷

The goal is to at least mention all ~112 albums (hours) on Big Band 2024 at Spotify/JazzTodayish.

Paul Dunmall Quintet, Soultime Again, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Jim Rotondi, Finesse, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Christopher Zuar Orchestra, Exuberance, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Neal Kirkwood Big Band, Night City, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Jeremy Rose & The Earshift Orchestra, Discordia, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Bill Laurance & The Untold Orchestra, Bloom, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Daggerboard, Escapement, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Ken Peplowski, unheard bird, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Richard Nelson, Dissolve, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp 😎

Tim Garland - 'Moment of Departure'

"Garland's compositions draw on a range of influences from jazz, classical, pastoral, Turkish and free-form and are displayed in trio and orchestral forms. His ability to compose, play and arrange musical narratives makes him one of the most accomplished musicians in contemporary jazz." Neil Duggan/AllAboutJazz. Album Discogs. This is '3rd stream,' a jazz-classical mix.

Saxophonist Tim Garland has released ~25 albums since 1988. He was in Chick Corea's Origin, and played with guitarist Ralph Towner, drummer Bill Bruford and composer John Dankworth. Tim's website ; Discogs ; YouTube

Tim Garland, Moment of Departure, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

The album is a collaboration with Turkish visual artist Esra Kizir Gokcen, and has its own website. I believe the piece below is 'The Forever Seed: Autumn 1,' and is ~3m on a side.

For another big band album based on art, see a post below for the Vanessa Perica Orchestra, The Eye Is The First Circle, inspired by a work from painter Lee Krasner.

Tbh, Tim just conducts on some of the symphonic tunes, which are the Britten Sinfonia or the London Studio Orchestra. Tim plays on the album with his Lighthouse Trio, with pianist Gwilym Simcock and percussionist Asaf Sirkis. Enjoy an album tune with the trio, and Esra Kizir Gokcen's art. 😎

Chick Corea & London Phil - ‘Corea: Spain & Piano Concerto No. 1’

Grammy January/February continues. This begins/ends a trio of Chick Corea posts (below): large ensembles, none with traditional big bands; 2 were tributes, not this one; 2 with Grammy nods. This 1999 release also fits in for the quarter-century retrospective.

Pianist/composer Chick Corea won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Arrangement for the version of his 1971 song ‘Spain,’ on this 1999 release with the London Philharmonic and his band Origin.

Chick Corea & London Philharmonic Orchestra, Corea: Spain & Piano Concerto No. 1, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

ADDA Simfònica et al - 'The Chick Corea Symphony Tribute - Ritmo'

This is both a preview of this year and a review of last year for this Grammy nominee. The 2024 Grammy Awards are on February 4.

This Chick Corea tribute album is a 2024 Grammy Award nominee for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. It was a 2023 Latin Grammy nominee for Best Instrumental Album, and for Best Arrangement for Emilio Sollo on the song ‘Spain,’ shown below.

Saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera guests, among others. Josep Vincent (conductor) and ADDA Simfònica have >20 classical releases since 2019. The Simfònica is based in Alicante, Spain. Emilio Solia (arranger) Discogs. Josep Wikipedia ; website.

ADDA Simfònica, Josep Vincent & Emilio Solla, The Chick Corea Symphony Tribute - Ritmo, full album: YouTube ; Spotify 

This is on Grammy Jazz 2023 and Big Band 2023, at Spotify/Jazz Todayish. 😎

Pacho Flores & Orquesta Sinfonica De Mineria - 'Estirpe'

The review of last year’s instrumental big-bandy Grammy nominees and winners continues. The 2024 Grammy Awards are February 4.

This album earned several classical music nominations at the 2023 Latin Grammys, but is a nice jazz + classical fusion, known as ‘3rd stream.’

The tune ‘Concerto Venezolano,’ written by saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera won for Best Classical Contemporary Composition. Paquito, who also guests, wrote the tune for trumpeter Pacho Flores.

The song ‘Crónicas Latinoamericanas’ was nominated for Best Arrangement, Daniel Freiberg, arranger. This was a Best Classical Music Album nominee also.

James Manheim/Allmusic: “The Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería … renders the Latin rhythms, and conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto has obviously drilled them well and created a strong sense of ensemble with the brilliant trumpeter Flores.”

This is Prieto’s ~17th release since 1999, Flores’ ~7th since 2009, and the Orquesta's ~27th since 1986. Prieto’s Discogs. The Orquestra’s Discogs.

Pacho Flores & Orquesta Sinfonica De Mineria, Estirpe, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

The album is on Jazz Best Albums 2022, Grammy Jazz 2022 and Big Band 2022 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎