The Quincy Jones - Sammy Nestico Orchestra - 'Basie & Beyond'

Tuesday 25s, an album from Y2K / 2000, a quarter-century ago.... 😊

"....composer/conductor/arrangers Quincy Jones and Sammy Nestico, both of whom wrote for the Count Basie Orchestra, assemble a top-flight big band to perform some of their vintage charts.... Both Jones and Nestico are steeped in the Basie band's light, rhythmic approach to playing and their music is imbued with that style." William Ruhlmann/Allmusic. Album Discogs. 

The orchestra includes: drummer Vinny Colaiuta; flutist Hubert Laws; saxophonists Ernie Watts, Kirk Whalum, Gerald Albright, Pete Christlieb; trombonists Bill Reichenbach, Bill Watrous; trumpeters Oscar Brashear and Wayne Bergeron, and many others.

This album mines the souls of 3 jazz giants.

Quincy Jones was a trumpeter/composer/arranger/bandleader/film scorer who released >90 albums and scores/soundtracks from ~1953 to 2010. He won 28 Grammy Awards, an Emmy, and a Tony, as well as nominations for 7 Academy and 4 Golden Globe and 80 more Grammy Awards.  website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs

Sammy Nestico was a trombonist/composer/arranger/film and television scorer who arranged for the Count Basie Orchestra (CBO) from 1967 to 1984, when they won 4 Grammys, and Sammy had 4 more nominations for his solo work. He orchestrated 'The Color Purple' and TVs 'M*A*S*H', and did 5 albums with the SWR Big Band. Read his Wiki page - prolific is an understatement!  website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs

Count Basie was a pianist/bandleader/composer who formed the CBO in 1935 and led it until his death in 1984. Basie won 9 Grammys with 20 nominations, and released hundreds of recordings. He and Duke Ellington are the 2 most historically significant big band leaders. Basie's Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs

The Count Basie Orchestra won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for their album Basie Swings The Blues, directed by Scotty Barnhart. The CBO has been in ~continuous existence since 1935! A post below celebrates this album and has more CBO info, and a video.  😎

The Quincy Jones - Sammy Nestico Orchestra, Basie & Beyond, full album: YouTube ; Spotify 

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

Patrick Williams - 'Threshold'

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

This is a 1973 release that was nominated for a 1975 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance by a Big Band. Patrick Williams won for Best Instrumental Arrangement of the title tune. 🎺 🎷

"....this album features Williams hitting....a 70s jazz funk groove, with a nice electric edge. The tracks are long, and the solos are played by Tom Scott and Marvin Stamm (mostly) -- and the rest of the group includes Mike Melvoin on keyboards, John Guerin on drums, and Larry Bunker on percussion." Dusty Groove. Album Allmusic ; Discogs.

Patrick Williams was a composer/arranger/bandleader who made most of his fame in TV and movie music, but also released some fine jazz albums. He scored > 200 films and ~ 20 television series, and did arrangements for >200 albums! He won 4 Emmys and 23 nominations, 2 Grammys and 19 nominations, with nominations for an Oscar and a Pulitzer. 😱 His website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs ; IMDB. 

Patrick Williams, Threshold, full album: Spotify 

This is on the Jazz Best Albums 1973 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

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.' 😎

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.  😎

Del Sasso Big Band - 'Chick Corea's "Three Quartets" Revisited' & 'Le Carnajazz Des Animaux'

Here's 2 really nice 2024 albums by a French big band.

"Under the expert guidance of the arranger, Christophe Dal Sasso, his big band (Voted France’s best jazz orchestra in 2020) revisits the legendary album, featuring in the footsteps of the late Michael Brecker, three exceptional saxophonists: David El-Malek, Stéphane Guillaume and Rick Margitza. A lively and spectacular tribute to the pianist who passed away in 2021."

Del Sasso Big Band, Chick Corea's "Three Quartets" Revisited, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Chris and his big band also released "Le Carnaval des Animaux, a comic musical suite composed by Camille Saint-Saëns in 1886.... The work consists of 14 short movements, each representing a different animal, and Saint-Saëns uses music to illustrate the characteristics of each animal.... So, in this brilliant latest version by maestro arranger Dal Sasso and his acolytes, it’s humor and lightness ... that characterize this work." Jacques Pauper/ColeursJazz.

Del Sasso Big Band, Le Carnajazz des Animaux, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is the ~6th album from the band since 2004, but Spotify/Dal Sasso Big Band is the only place I found them all listed together. Neither Chris's website nor Discogs are updated, so Facebook.

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

The band performs a tune from Chick Corea...  😎

Bill Frisell - 'Orchestras' & Henry Mancini - 'The 100th Sessions...'

The 2025 Grammy Awards are Sunday, 2 February. Besides the category of Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, jazzy orchestrations were nominated in 2 other categories.

Jazz guitarist Bill Frisell received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Orchestras, a live album with Alexander Hanson, the Brussels Philharmonic, Rudy Royston & Thomas Morgan. Bill has a Grammy, and this is his 8th nomination. Bill had a good year, as he also earned a nomination for the album Owl Song, which he co-led with trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and drummer Herlin Riley, for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.

Bill Frisell, Orchestras, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

A jazzy tribute to composer Henry Mancini at the Hollywood Bowl had a tune nominated for Best Arrangement Of An Instrumental. Michael League arranged his tune "Baby Elephant Walk - Encore", for his band Snarky Puppy (SP), a rather large jazz fusion ensemble. League has 5 Grammys with SP and this is his 8th nomination.

Henry Mancini, The 100th Sessions: Henry Has Company, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

These are on Big Band 2024 at Spotify/JazzTodayish.  😎

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

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. 😎

Mingus Big Band - ‘The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions Vol. 2’

The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions Vol. 2 follows 2022s Vol. 1 in the celebration of bassist/composer/bandleader Charles Mingus. Vol. 1 was a Grammy nominee, and has a post below. While Vol. 2 did not earn a Grammy-nod, it "features an impressive collection of new performances of his timeless works." William Brown/Maxazine. Album Discogs.

The Mingus Big Band (MBB) has celebrated the legacy of Charles Mingus' music with >15 albums since 1989. See the post for Vol. 1 below for more info on the Mingus Big Band. MBB website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Mingus Big Band, The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions Vol. 2, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

Jihye Lee Orchestra - 'Infinite Connections' & 'Daring Mind' & 'April'

"Infinite Connections is remarkable contemporary jazz with a slight yet definitive Korean accent, marvelously written by Lee and impeccably performed by the orchestra." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz.

Jihye Lee is a Korean-born, Brooklyn-based composer, arranger, and conductor. This is her 3rd big band album since 2017, and all 3 are worth a listen. She studied with Jim McNeely at the Manhattan School of Music, and her co-producer is Grammy-winning composer/arranger Darcy James Argue. A post below is on the 2024 Grammy-nominated album Darcy James Argue's Secret Society Maximum Dynamic Tension.

Jihye Lee Orchestra, Infinite Connections, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

"...a buoyant drama, a roaming investigation that swells and swales in all the right places," wrote Mike Jurkovic/AllAboutJazz about her 2021 album Daring Mind, which was Best Jazz Album at the Korean Music Awards.

Jihye Lee Orchestra, Daring Mind, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

This is on the Big Band 2021 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

“Thought-provoking and gut-wrenching all at once,” wrote Dan Bilawsky/AllAboutJazz about her 2017 debut album April.

Jihye Lee Orchestra, April, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Here is a studio performance of the first tune from Infinite Connections, with trumpet guest Ambrose Akinmusire. 😎

The One O'Clock Lab Band - 'Lab 2024'

3rd (or 1st) of 3 posts about jazz big bands comprised of young musicians. The other 2 are a short scroll below.

The class projects of the University of North Texas College of Music 'One O’Clock Lab Band' (OLB) have 7 Grammy Award nominations since the 1970s, from a library of >80 critically-acclaimed albums. Their 2024 release is Lab 2024.

"The OLB evolved from an extracurricular stage band founded in 1927 into a curricular laboratory dance band in 1947 when North Texas began its jazz degree program.... The OLB is noted for its exceptional individual musicianship and tight ensemble performance.... Among others, the university harbors the Stan Kenton and Maynard Ferguson Jazz Libraries." Wikipedia ; website ; YouTube ; Discogs (incomplete)

The One O'Clock Lab Band, Lab 2024, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

The vid is not an album tune, but a nice performance of a tune by guest drummer Alison Miller. 😎

The 14 Jazz Orchestra - ‘Islands’

Retrospective 2020s, a 2023 release.

Nicholas Mondello/AllAboutJazz: “Islands from Dan Bonsanti is a tour de force consisting of eleven unique selections, colorful textured arrangements, and outstanding ensemble and solo playing.”

 

The 14 Jazz Orchestra: Dan Bonsanti, composer/conductor; Ed Calle, Ed Maina, Peter Brewer, Mike Brignola, saxophones; Brett Murphey, Jason Carder, John Lovell, trumpet; Dana Teboe, Major Bailey, trombone; Mike Levine, piano; Lindsey Blair, guitar. Guests include Dave Liebman on sax, Peter Erskine on drums and Mike Mainieri on vibes.

This is the Orchestra’s 4th album since 2015. Discogs.

The 14 Jazz Orchestra, Islands, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society - ‘Dynamic Maximum Tension’

Grammy January (see 4 posts above) includes some February.

This album is nominated for a 2024 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. The awards are on 4 February.

Katchie Cartwright/AllAboutJazz: “From the tensile strength of the first chord… Darcy James Argue's Secret Society's Dynamic Maximum Tension is a delight… There is more to report but, like Argue said, ‘Just close your eyes and listen to the damn thing.’"

This is Darcy’s 4th big band album since 2009, and all received nominations. The YT link’s 1st ~12 vids are this album, then abuncha older live performances by the band, including an entire ‘Jazz Night In America’ show. The video below is the live-in-studio 1st album tune. Darcy’s website ; Discogs. Society’s Discogs.

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Dynamic Maximum Tension, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

Vince Mendoza & Metropole Orkest - ‘Olympians’

This is nominated for the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Large Ensemble Album. The awards are on 4 February.

Richard Salvucci/AllAboutJazz: “Here you have intriguing arrangements, superb musicians, and atmospherics galore… Olympians was recorded remotely during the pandemic. It is yet another lovely artifact of a very troubled time.” Dianne Reeves and Cecile McLorin Salvant each sing a song, and saxophonists Chris Potter and David Binney help.

Composer/arranger Vince Mendoza led the Metropole Orkest from 2005-13, and occasionally since. He has 7 Grammys and 1 Latin Grammy with 38 more nominations. This is his ~27th album since 1989. Vince’s: website ; Discogs ; Bandcamp.

The 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. The Orkest’s: website ; Discogs

Vince Mendoza & Metropole Orkest, Olympians, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on Jazz Best Albums 2023, Grammy Jazz 2023 and Big Band 2023, 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. 😎

Don Sebesky - ‘Joyful Noise’ & ‘I Remeber Bill’ & ‘Giant Box’

The emphasis here is contemporary large ensemble jazz. However, to illustrate the timelessness of this wonderful musical form, an occasional series of albums from a quarter-century and a half-century ago will be recommended. Here’s a gem from 1999, and 2 earlier, all with Grammy wins or nominations.

Don Sebesky arranged for hundreds of artists, including Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, John Pizzarelli, Michael Buble, Liza Minnelli, Seal, and Prince. 3 Grammy Awards, plus 31 more nominations, 1 Tony Award and 2 nominations, his career began as a trombonist in 1956. He passed away in 2023.

He only released ~16 albums under his own name. A nice one is 1999s Joyful Noise: A Tribute To Duke Ellington. Michael Nastos/Allmusic is succinct: "Of all the tributes to Ellington, this is the best, a magnum opus to the maestro from a man and his band who are well aware of his grandeur, plus how to play all the right notes." This album won him 2 of his 3 Grammy Awards in 1999: Best Instrumental Composition for ‘Joyful Noise Suite,’ and Best Instrumental Arrangement for ‘Chelsea Bridge.’ Don’s: website ; Discogs.

Don Sebesky, Joyful Noise: A Tribute To Duke Ellington, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

His 3rd Grammy was also for a big band tribute album, 1998s I Remember Bill: A Tribute To Bill Evans. He won Best Instrumental Arrangement for ‘Waltz for Debby.’ The YouTube link is the album on one file, with a ~10 minute Bill Evans interview at the end, and sounds fine.

Don Sebesky, I Remember Bill: A Tribute To Bill Evans, full album: YouTube

Here’s his album from a half-century - plus one - ago, Giant Box, from 1973. It earned a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Performance By A Big Band in 1975.

Richard S. Ginell/Allmusic: “The lineup reads almost like a gathering of the gods: Freddie Hubbard, Randy Brecker/tr; Hubert Laws/flu; Paul Desmond, Joe Farrell, Grover Washington, Jr./sax; Milt Jackson/vb; George Benson/gtr; Bob James/kb; Ron Carter/bs; Jack DeJohnette, Billy Cobham, Airto Moreira/dr & pc; Jackie Cain, Roy Kral/voc. Thankfully the music lives up to the billing… Giant Box still ranks as a sensational coup.”

Don Sebesky, Giant Box, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Joyful Noise is on Jazz Best Albums 1999 and Giant Box is on Jazz Best Albums 1973 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band - ‘Raymond Scott Reimagined’

Here's one for the preview of instrumental big-bandy albums nominated for 2024 Grammy Awards. The awards are on 4 February.

Walter Atkins/AllAboutJazz: “Raymond Scott Reimagined is an engaging collaborative project with Quartet San Francisco, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band and the Grammy winning acapella group Take 6 on two tracks. The album is a thoughtful and stylish interpretation of Raymond Scott's legacy. It is also interspersed with audio tidbits featuring Scott's singular musical approaches.” The song ‘Cutey and the Dragon’ was nominated for Best Instrumental Composition.

Scott was a composer/arranger/musician active from 1931-’85. He sold his music catalog to Warner Bros in 1943, which then became the most famous tunes in cartoons. He did release ~8 albums from 1947-’85, and was an electronica pioneer in the ‘50s-’60s. This is the Phat Band’s ~11th release since 1999, and their 4th nomination with 1 Grammy win. The video is the nominated tune performed live in the studio. Scott’s Discogs. Phat’s website & Discogs.

Quartet San Francisco & Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, Raymond Scott Reimagined, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on the Grammy Jazz 2023 and Big Band 2023 playlists 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.  😎

Joe McCarthy's Afro Bop Alliance Big Band - ‘The Pan American Nutcracker Suite'

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

The song 'Waltz of the Flowers' from this album was nominated for a 2023 Latin Grammy for Best Arrangement, Joe McCarthy & Vince Norman, arrangers. One last dash of holiday cheer. 😊

Richard J Salvucci/AllAboutJazz: “Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn did a jazz take on ‘The Nutcracker Suite’ in 1960… Drummer Joe McCarthy and arranger Vince Norman 2022 return to the original source, performed by the New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band… This Christmas album is distinctive, different, and delightful.” A 2022 release. ~39 minutes, like an old-school LP. Joe’s Discogs.

Joe McCarthy's Afro Bop Alliance Big Band, The Pan American Nutcracker Suite, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

WDR Big Band & Chuck Owen - 'Renderings'

 

WDR is a public broadcasting network based in Cologne, Germany. Besides television and radio stations, they sponsor several musical groups, one of which is the well-respected WDR Big Band. The unit is prolific, as Discogs shows over 80 albums since 1979, often in collaboration with jazz and other stars. Tenor saxophone great Bob Mintzer and composer/arranger Vince Mendoza have recently served as band directors. With their broadcasting connection, the band continually produces impeccably recorded performances, many of which are available on their YouTube channel.

Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz: “The WDR Big Band’s latest recording, on which it is paired with the esteemed Florida-based composer and arranger Chuck Owen, offers another master class in big-band artistry, or how to make even the most arduous charts seem deceptively simple.” The video is an in-studio performance of an album tune, a bit long, but nice.

Chuck Owen & The WDR Big Band, Renderings, full album: free YouTube  ;  Spotify

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