Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra - 'Tidal Currents: East Meets West'

Jack Bowers at AllAboutJazz wrote, "The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra (WJO) has engaged two of that country's leading jazz composers, Jill Townsend and Christine Jensen, to present in musical terms impressions of places that have a special meaning to them... A superb album with no discernible flaws," except it is a bit short.

Full album at YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp.

This is the WJOs seventh release since 1997. Discogs (not up to date) ; website.

On the Spotify playlists Big Band 2024 and Jazz Best Albums 2024.

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David Liebman & The CNY Jazz Orchestra - 'If A White Horse From Jerusalem...'

"The mix of Semitic and swing is as delicious as za’atar on bread," wrote George Harris at JazzWeekly.

Saxophonist Dave Liebman has released >200 albums since 1973. Wikipedia ; Discogs ; website. 

The Central New York, or CNY Jazz Orchestra was formed in 1996 by the CNY Jazz Arts Foundation and has released at least 4 albums. website

Dave Liebman & The CNY Jazz Orchestra, If A White Horse From Jerusalem..., full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp.

Added to Big Band 2024 and Jazz Best Albums 2024 at Spotify/JazzTodayish.

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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.

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:

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William Cepeda - 'The Sound Of Puerto Rican Jazz'

"If you’re looking for some new, fresh and exciting sounds, this big band album led by trombonist William Cepeda is going to knock your socks off," wrote George Harris at JazzWeekly. William's website.

Full album: YouTube ; Spotify.

Added to Big Band 2024 and Jazz Best Albums 2024 at Spotify/JazzTodayish.

Several of the album tunes have nice live performances on William's YouTube channel:

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Steve Lehman & Orchestre National De Jazz - ‘Ex Machina’

Here's a somewhat futuristic 2023 release.

The Orchestre National De Jazz is a progressive French big band that has released ~35 albums since 1986. Their latest endeavors delve into prog-rock and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted compositions. Discogs ; website ; YouTube ; Bandcamp

Their 2023 album Ex Machina, with composer/saxophonist Steve Lehman, used an AI program as a pre-compositional tool. Karl Ackermann/AllAboutJazz: “ Seamlessly incorporated with acoustic and electronic instrumentation, the elements blend together as … a baffling and beautiful juggling act.”

This is Steve Lehman's ~6th album since 2005. Discogs ; website ; Bandcamp

Steve Lehman & Orchestre National De Jazz, Ex Machina, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp.

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

Fredrik Nordström - ‘Big Band Stories’

Here’s a nice 2024 release.

Big Band Stories is saxophonist Fredrik Nordström’s 2nd big band album. Mark Corroto/AllAboutJazz: “Nordström's gift is his ability to leave space in this music for the solos to develop…. While Nordström solos on six tracks, he also gives generous attention to the skilled ensemble players assembled.” The band is ~northern European players.

Fredrik has released >13 albums since 2000, with Vibb, in 2007, his other big band release. Website. Discogs.

Fredrik Nordström, Big Band Stories, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

WDR Big Band & Mark Lettieri - Complete Concert YouTube

The WDR Big Band posted this concert from January 2024.

YouTube: “The WDR BIG BAND performs the concert program ‘The Rhythm Side Of Things’ together with Mark Lettieri on guitar, Billy Test on B3 and Rhodes, Wes Stephenson on electric bass, Daniel Porter on keyboards and Jason ‘JT’ Thomas on drums. Lettieri has found the perfect algorithm for funk: He fuses the influences of rhythm and rock guitar icons from the 70s and 80s. Now, for the first time, the guitar virtuoso meets the WDR Big Band under the direction of bandleader Jörg Achim Keller. The arrangements are by Mike Abene. Recorded live in Cologne's Stadtgarten.”

Mark Lettieri plays guitar and is an original member of the band Snarky Puppy, who have 5 Grammys with 5 nominations. He has released 8 solo albums since 2011. His 2021 album Deep: The Baritone Sessions Vol. 2 was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. Website ; Discogs; YouTube.

A post below from 7 January recommends Snarky Puppy’s 2022 Grammy-nominated album Empire Central, with Mark.

The WDR Big Band is a project of WDR Broadcasters in Cologne, Germany. They have released >75 albums since 1979, and have won 4 Grammys with 6 nominations. YouTube channel (please subscribe); website ; Discogs

Four posts below about seven WDR Big Band albums: with trombonist Marshall Gilkes; 4 albums of Steve Gadd et al & Bob Mintzer collaborations; with arranger Chuck Owens; with bassist Ron Carter.  😎

WDR Big Band & Jörg Achim Keller - YouTube song - ‘Young Blood'

The WDR Big Band posted this tune recently. Some contemplative big band….

From the YouTube info: “The WDR BIG BAND plays ‘Young Blood’ (composer: Gerry Mulligan / arranger Jörg Achim Keller) under the direction of Jörg Achim Keller. Solos are played by Rob Bruynen on trumpet, Paul Heller on tenor saxophone and Karolina Strassmayer on alto saxophone. Live recording of the concert ‘Mr Mulligan's Concert Jazz’ at the Kölner Philharmonie (October 2023).”

Jörg Achim Keller is a German drummer who has played with the hr Bigband and the NDR Big Band. He is leader on 3 albums released with NDRBB from 2002-09. Discogs.

The WDR Big Band is a project of WDR Broadcasters in Cologne, Germany. They have released >75 albums since 1979, and have won 4 Grammys with 6 nominations. YouTube channel (please subscribe); website ; Discogs

Four posts below about seven WDR Big Band albums: with trombonist Marshall Gilkes; 4 albums of Steve et Gadd al & Bob Mintzer collaborations; with arranger Chuck Owens; with bassist Ron Carter.  😎

Martin Sjöstedt & Stockholm Jazz Orchestra - ‘Horizon’

This album was mentioned as a new release in a post below on 21 February.

Pianist/bassist/composer/band-member Martin Sjöstedt writes 4 tunes to go with 5 standards for the Stockholm Jazz Orchestra’s (SJO) new album Horizon. Neil Duggan/AllAboutJazz: “The orchestra plays flawlessly, often weaving textures that can seamlessly shift from dark to light while the soloists improvise at a high level, making this an attractive example of the jazz orchestra art form.”

This is Martin’s ~6th album since 2009. He’s been a member of the SJO for >25 years. He also led In The Blink Of An Eye with the SJO in 2013. Martin’s Discogs.

The Stockholm Jazz Orchestra has played modern swinging big band jazz in the tradition for 40 years, with 19 albums and one more coming in the fall of 2024. They’ve done albums with Bob Brookmeyer, Bob Mintzer and Jim McNeely. SJO's Discogs.

Martin Sjöstedt & Stockholm Jazz Orchestra, Horizon, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Sam Rivers & Rivbea Orchestra - ‘Inspiration’

Retrospective 1999, with an album from a quarter-century ago.

Inspiration was avant-garde saxophonist/composer/arranger Sam Rivers first album in ~20 years, and one of two 1999 releases of 4 total with the Rivbea Orchestra. The album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, as did his next release, Culmination, a year later.

Stephen Erlewine/AllAboutJazz: “Inspiration truly is a revelation, proving not only that Rivers retains all his creative power at the age of 75, but that avant-garde jazz can be as inviting as any other style without sacrificing any of its depth or daring.”

This goes up to the edge of free, then re-groups, and is usually just good big band. Rivers released >40 albums from 1965-2005, with a few seminal big band albums. Discogs.

The Rivbea Orchestra: Alto Saxophone – Greg Osby, Steve Coleman; Baritone Horn – Joseph Daley; Baritone Saxophone – Hamiet Bluiett; Bass – Doug Mathews; Drums – Anthony Cole; Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Sam Rivers; Tenor Saxophone – Chico Freeman, Gary Thomas; Trombone – Art Baron, Joseph Bowie, Ray Anderson; Trumpet – Baikida Carroll, James Zollar, Ralph Alessi, Ravi Best;Tuba – Bob Stewart.

Sam’s wife Beatrice helps arrange, has a namesake song on the album, and is a part of ‘Rivbea.’

Sam Rivers & Rivbea Orchestra, Inspiration, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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