WDR Big Band &: Steve Gadd et al - ‘Center Stage’; Yellowjackets - ‘Jackets XL’; Bob Mintzer - ‘Soundscapes’; Ricky Peterson/Bob Mintzer - ‘Drop Shot"

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. With their broadcasting connection, the band continually produces impeccably recorded performances, many of which are available on YouTube. The unit is absolutely prolific, and have released over 25 albums since 2013, often in collaboration with jazz stars. Website ; Discogs

Their 2023 album with arranger Chuck Owen, Renderings, was recommended earlier.

They earned Grammy Award nominations for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album in 2022 and 2023. The band partnered with drummer Steve Gadd, bari sax player Ronnie Cuber (RIP), and bassist Eddie Gomez on the album Center Stage, for their 2023 nod. The video above is an album tune performed in-studio.

Steve Gadd, Eddie Gomez, Ronnie Cuber & WDR Big Band, Center Stage, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

The big band’s collaborators for their 2022 nod were the all-time great band Yellowjackets, for Jackets XL. The album was inevitable, as Yellowjackets’ tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer has served as the big band's musical director, on and off, since 2014. The video is an in studio performance of an album tune.

Yellowjackets & WDR Big Band, Jackets XL, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Bob Mintzer did at least 1 other album with WDRBB, Soundscapes, in 2021. Jack Bower/AllAboutJazz: “A luminous showcase for his singular talents as composer, arranger and soloist… he will find a way to swing.” The video is the title track.

Bob Mintzer & WDR Big Band, Soundscapes, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp 

Pianist/vocalist Ricky Peterson joined Bob and the band for 2018s Drop Shot. Peterson recorded multiple albums with Prince and played with saxophonist David Sanborn for ~20 years. This was his 5th as leader.

Ricky Peterson with Bob Mintzer & WDR Big Band, Drop Shot, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

On playlists at Spotify/JazzTodayish: Center Stage - Grammy Jazz 2022, Jazz Best Albums 2022, Big Band 2022; Jackets XL & Soundscapes - Big Band 2021; Drop Shot - Big Band 2018.  😎

Steven Feifke - ‘Catalyst,’ ‘Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra’ & ‘Kinetic’

Happy New Year everyone! The Grammy Awards are 4 February 2024. This continues the overview of last year's nominees, winners and associated albums.

 

Jim Hynes/MakingAScene!: “Catalyst is the new album for Steven Feifke, where he does all the heavy lifting as pianist, composer, arranger, orchestrator, bandleader, and producer. Feifke became the youngest ever Grammy winner for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album in 2023… Catalyst will only further his growing reputation, especially as an arranger.”

This is his ~7th album since 2015 (5 big band), plus alotta session jobs, and work with saxophonist Alexa Tarantino. He is all of 32 years old… Wikipedia. Discogs is disorganized. The YouTube link for this album has 8 of the 10 tunes played live-in-studio.

 

Steven Feifke, Catalyst, full album: free YouTube   ;   Spotify 

 

Here is his Grammy-winner album Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra (GGJO). The album cover shows the quality players involved. Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz: "GGJO, co-led with trumpeter par excellence Bijon Watson, is a 17-member ensemble comprising seasoned players paired with young lions whose … debut album is sharp and radiant from start to finish. " A Zoom performance of the 3rd album tune is shown.

Steven Feifke & Bijon Watson, Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra, full album: free YouTube  ;  Spotify ;  Bandcamp

 

His 2021 big band album Kinetic is aptly titled. This was the 1st of his hat-trick of excellent big band jazz albums! Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz: “Feifke's intense and high-powered charts neatly pave the way, giving the band a well-drawn road map on which to shape its dynamic course.” The YT link has videos of the entire album played live-in-studio, with the title-tune shown below.

 

Steven Feifke Big Band, Kinetic, full album: free YouTube ;  Spotify  ;  Bandcamp

Catalyst is on Jazz Best Albums 2023 and Big Band 2023. GGJO is on Jazz Best Albums 2022, Big Band 2022, and Grammy Jazz 2022. Kinetic is on Big Band 2021. All are 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.  😎

Grover Washington, Jr. - 'Soul Box'

A retrospective of albums from 50 and 25 years ago begins with one 1973 entry. Have a listen to this beauty from saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr.

Thom Jurek/Allmusic: “Soul Box has Creed Taylor's production enhanced by a symphony orchestra and full-blown jazz band arranged and conducted by Bob James. Some of the session men include bassist Ron Carter, drummer Billy Cobham, guitarist Eric Gale, drummer Idris Muhammad, percussionist Airto, and keyboardist Richard Tee… Soul Box is a modern classic for its instrumental and arrangement invention and for its deeply emotional bounty.”

This was his 3rd of his 25 albums, from 1972-99. This was a double-album, over an hour of Grover’s finest. Much of Grover's late work is often considered ~smooth jazz, but his early albums were wonderful jazz. A Grover concert was an absolute joy to behold. Discogs.

Grover Washington, Jr., Soul Box, full album: YouTube   ;  Spotify

Soul Box and ~45 more fine albums are on the Jazz Best Albums 1973 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish. Have a listen to enjoy the wonderful timelessness of good jazz. 😎

William Maestre Big Band - 'Semblanzas'

This was nominated for a 2023 Latin Grammy Award for Best Jazz Album.

 

Pianist/arranger/composer William Maestre has been active in Colombian jazz since the 1980s. Discogs lists an EP from 2007 with his band Magenta, active since 1993, but his bio insinuates other recordings. He is a professor at Universidad El Bosque, in Bogotá, Colombia.

This was posted about the album on a YouTube interview: “Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Semblanzas, the first production of the William Maestre Big Band. This extraordinary album is the result of a research project supported by the Vice-Rector's Office for Research and the musical training program of El Bosque University. We explore the captivating rhythms of the Colombian Caribbean, immersing ourselves in the unique interpretation of the mooring drums and their vivid traditions such as the bullerengue and the tumbara. We have achieved a surprising fusion, combining traditional instruments with a contemporary orchestra, creating a rich melodic and harmonic mix inspired by jazz. This album includes seven instrumental tracks and an exciting composition in a reduced instrumental format.”

William Maestre Big Band, Semblanzas, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Ryan Haines Big Band & Courtney H. - 'Emerald And Sapphire' & 'Saxophone Barbie'

Trombonist/composer/arranger/bandleader/U of Texas-Arlington professor Ryan Haines released his 4th album with his big band, Emerald and Sapphire. He wrote all but 1 tune, 4 of which were originally penned for his saxophonist wife Courtney’s 2017 album Saxophone Barbie, who also plays on his album, as he did on hers. Ryan is a music professor at Arizona State University.

Prominent players are trumpeters Kevin Burns, Pete Clagett and guest Wayne Bergeron, trombonist Alex Dubrov, tenor David Lown, guitarist Davey Mooney and drummer Stockton Helbing. Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz: “Emerald and Sapphire readily lives up to the high standards set on Haines' first three albums. A delicious big-band smorgasbord.” The big band does a smokin’ album tune in a Zoom performance. The band at Discogs.

Ryan Haines Big Band, Emerald and Sapphire, full album: free YouTube ; Spotify

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

Info is sparse for Courtney’s debut and only album, but it’s a solid straight-ahead/smooth album, with a tight band. Give a listen to the fine efforts from a couple dedicated to jazz .  😎

Courtney Haines, Saxophone Barbie, full album: free YouTube ; Spotify

Derrick Gardner - 'Pan Africa' & 'Still I Rise'

Mike Jurkovic/AllAboutJazz: "...Trumpeter Derrick Gardner fronts... long time Jazz Prophet's alto/tenor saxophonist Robert Dixon, trombonist brother Vincent Gardner, bassist Obasi Akoto, drummer Kweku Sumbry, and pianist George Caldwell... It is a powerhouse tear through... post-bop exoticism."

This is Gardner's ~4th release as a leader since 2003. He's been active since 1989, has played with many greats from his NYC base, and played and arranged for the Basie orchestra. He has been a music professor at the Univ. of Manitoba (UOM), Canada, since 2011. Derrick: Wikipedia ; Discogs

Derrick Gardner & the Jazz Prophets, Pan Africa, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

His 'Big dig! Band' big band did Still I Rise in 2020. The band combines NYC top-tier pros with graduates of his UOM program. Charlene Diehl/dig! magazine: “He lets his star players blaze, and makes room for the younger players to shoulder in.” Smokin' modern brass!

Derrick Gardner & the Big dig! Band, Still I Rise, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp  😎

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.  😎

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.  😎