Louis Bellson - 'The Louis Bellson Explosion'

Friday 50s, an album from 1975, a half-century ago.... 😊

"A fine mid-'70s date that was both a showcase for Bellson's bombastic drumming and also a nice straight-ahead date with great contributions from" trumpeters Blue Mitchell, Snookey Young, Cat Anderson and Bobby Shew, saxophonists Pete Christlieb and Don Menza, and others. Ron Wynn/Allmusic. Album Wikipedia ; Discogs.

Louis Bellson released >100 albums from ~1952 to 1998, with >300 compositions and 9 Grammy nominations, mainly with big bands. Louis pioneered the use of double bass kick drums, developed new technology for and was vice-president of Remo drums, and was the husband and musical director for singer Pearl Bailey. Louis' Website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Louis Bellson, The Louis Bellson Explosion, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on the Jazz Best Albums 1975 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

Allison Miller & The One O'Clock Lab Band - 'Big & Lovely'

The first post for a 2025 release is from that wonderful jazz program that helps keep the flame alive. The University of North Texas (UNT) and its One O'Clock Lab Band performs songs by and with drummer Allison Miller.

"I couldn’t be more thrilled to have collaborated with Alan Baylock and the prestigious One O’Clock Lab Band on this project. It just felt right from the very beginning and I am immensely grateful to the talented students for their hard work, passionate energy, and exemplary performance on this album!" 

Allison has released >15 albums since 2004. She began her jazz career as a big band drummer at age 14, and her recording career with singer/songwriter Ani DiFranco in the late 90s. She now leads her own band 'Boom Tic Boom,' and guests on many sessions. Website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

A post below is about the One O'Clock Lab Band's album Lab 24, with more info about the band and a video with Allison.

Allison Miller And The One O'clock Lab Band, Big & Lovely, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

This is on the Big Band 2025 and Jazz Best Albums 2025 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

UNT has a Two O'Clock Lab Band as well, and their 2021 album Long Way On A Blues earned a post below, with more info on that band.

Allison and the band perform the fun title track.

That was so nice, here's another tune.

Might as well post all of these concert tunes. One more at the previously mentioned post below. 😎

The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra - 'And So It Goes'

The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra (CHJO) had 3 leaders: drummer Jeff Hamilton, with the brothers altoist Jeff Clayton and bassist John. This is the band's 1st album since Jeff Clayton passed, and is dedicated to his memory. This 2023 release is nominated for a 2025 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. Album website ; Discogs.

This is the CHJO's ~14th album since 1990, and their 2nd Grammy nomination. Wikipedia ; Discogs. John Clayton website. Jeff Hamilton website.

The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, And So It Goes, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Pony Boy All-Star Big Band - 'This Is Now: Live At Boxley’s'

"This band certainly deserves to be heard on a wider platform... a big band worthy of the name."  Peter Gamble/JazzJournal. Fine players from the Pacific Northwest (USA), The Pony Boy All-Star Big Band (PBB) is directed by drummer Greg Williamson.

This is the 1st PBB album, and Williamson's 2nd. Album Discogs. Greg's Discogs ; YouTube. PBB website. Boxley's YouTube.

Pony Boy All-Star Big Band, This Is Now: Live At Boxley’s, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

The YouTube sites for Greg and Boxley's have many full shows of PBB and others.The PBB does the album tune 'Mr. X' below. 😎

Victor Rendón & Bronx Conexión Latin Jazz Big Band - 'Funky Frijoles'

"Not for nothing is the recording named Funky Frijoles. The beans don’t just sprout, they crackle and explode with a rhythmic pulse that is fired up by eloquent melodies and sublime harmonies.... each song brings thrillingly vibrant and lucid playing from performers in the Bronx Conexión Latin Jazz Big Band." (BCBB) Raul De Gama/LatinJazzNet. 

BCBB is a driving 20-piece Latin-jazz big band led by NYC percussionist, composer/arranger, and educator Victor Rendón. The ensemble did a 6-year weekly-show residency in NYC recently. This is their 3rd album since 2016. BCBB website ; Discogs. Victor Rendon website.

Victor Rendón & Bronx Conexión Latin Jazz Big Band, Funky Frijoles, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

Here's a performance of the title tune.😎

Dan Pugach Big Band - 'Bianca Reimagined'

Drummer Dan Pugach released this album twice this year, earlier as just Bianca, and recently as Bianca Reimagined, with 2 songs and an alternate version added. The reimagined version earned two 2025 Grammy Award nominations: Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, and Best Jazz Performance for the tune 'Little Fears.' Review AllAboutJazz.

Mostly instrumentals, vocals on acoupla tunes by his wife Nicole Zuraitis. She earned a Grammy nomination with Dan in 2018 for Best Arrangement for Instruments and Vocals for the tune 'Jolene' on Dan Pugach Nonet Plus One. Dan's website.

Dan Pugach Big Band, Bianca Reimagined, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp.

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

Here's a live album tune:

 😎

Anthony Brown’s Asian American Orchestra - ‘Far East Suite’

Here’s an album for the quarter-century retrospective, and Grammy-nominated. This 1999 release was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance (album).

A tribute to a 1966 Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn classic. Alex Henderson/AllMusic: “While Ellington's orchestra stuck to traditional instruments, [drummer Anthony] Brown's outfit combined them with various Asian and Middle Eastern instruments, which range from Chinese bamboo flutes to the daf (a Persian/Iranian drum) and the ney (a Middle Eastern flute). The end result is … fresh-sounding instead of clichéd.”

This was the Orchestra's 2nd of 4 albums from 1998 to 2010. Orchestra’s Discogs. This was Anthony’s 1st of 4 Grammy nominations. Anthony's Wikipedia.

Anthony Brown’s Asian American Orchestra, Far East Suite, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on the Jazz Best Albums 1999 playlist 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.  😎

Camilo Valencia & Richard Bravo - 'Made In Miami'

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

This won the 2023 Latin Grammy for Best Instrumental Album, and Rafael Valencia won Best Arrangement for the song ‘Songo Bop!’

Dan Bilawsky/AllAboutJazz: “Blending elements sourced from numerous musical styles and languages including salsa, pop, samba, jazz and R&B, among others, multi-instrumentalist Camilo Valencia and drummer Richard Bravo create unique and flavorful dishes served hot by a rotating cast… Miami has so much music to share and influence to bear, and Camilo Valencia and Richard Bravo bring that truth to light for all to hear.” ~27 musicians rotate to provide most tunes with a big band on this 2022 release. This is a hot album!

Both their Discogs show this as their only release, but Camilo has arranged and played since 1979, and Richard since 1994. Camilo has a Latin Grammy and another nomination, while Richard has won 3 Latin Grammys with 5 more nominations. Camilo’s Discogs, Richard’s Discogs.

Camilo Valencia & Richard Bravo, Made In Miami, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Steve Fidyk & the Live Wire Broad Band - 'Red Beats'

Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz: "...Red Beats is a swinging album deftly performed by drummer Steve Fidyk's fashionably named Live Wire Broad Band… The album itself consists of nine of Fidyk's multi-layered and high-powered compositions. Trumpeter Tim Leahey, leads the parade ... and is superb, as is veteran tenor saxophonist ... Walt Weiskopf."

Fidyk: has been active since 1991; released ~15 albums with the U.S. Army Blues; ~6 releases of his own; has lotsa studio and big band experience; is a prominent music educator. Steve’s Bandcamp ; Discogs.

Steve Fidyk & the Live Wire Broad Band, Red Beats, full album: YouTube  ;  Spotify

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