Frankfurt Radio Big Band: with John Beasley - ‘Returning To Forever’ & YouTube concert; with Sebastian Sternal - 'Turning Point'

This post mentions 3 albums with Grammy-cred, a new release, and 4 complete video concerts. Enough to keep you busy through the year? 😁

The Frankfurt Radio Big Band (FRBB) released two 2024 albums. This first was nominated for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album at the upcoming 2025 Grammy Awards.

"Fans of Chick Corea's 'Return to Forever' projects will love this as both the score and the musicianship are as superb as we’d expect from top American arranger John Beasley and the peerless FRBB.... The gorgeous section playing, a pleasure in itself, once again sets the scene here for the wonderfully well-crafted solos." David Shiers/UKJazzNews 

John Beasley & Frankfurt Radio Big Band, Returning To Forever, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is FRBBs 3rd Grammy nomination, and Beasley’s 13th, with 2 wins. Beasley’s website ; Discogs. A post below celebrates the Grammy success of John's 2022 album with the SWR Big Band Bird Lives & his 2021 album MONK’estra Plays John Beasley.

Here is a video concert of the entire new album, tunes rearranged, from March 2022.

 

 

FRBBs latest release is Turning Point, led by pianist Sebastian Sternal. "Dazzling tonal colors, catchy melodies and energetic grooves. The outstanding soloists of the FRBB shine." Schott-music.

Sebastian Sternal & HR-Bigband, Turning Point, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

The FRBB, also known as the ‘HR-Big Band,’ is a project of Hessian Radio, Germany. They have released ~19 albums since 2007. Their YouTube channel (please subscribe); website ; Discogs.   

 

Their YouTube channel has >50 full concerts 😱 that were live streamed from the last 6 years, with an emphasis on good sound. 🎷 Three shows are posted below, with: trumpeter Till Brönner ; saxophonist Mark Turner ; saxophonists Dick Oatts and Gary Smulyan and arranger/conductor Jim McNeely. 😎

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 ~112 albums (hours) on Big Band 2024 at Spotify/JazzTodayish.

Matt Lavelle & The 12 Houses, The Crop Circles Suite - Part 1, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Flat Earth Society, The One, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Hans Koller, Natural Science, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Christine Jensen, Harbour, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Bigband Der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Charles Mingus: Epitaph, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Mike Holober & The Gotham Jazz Orchestra, This Rock We're On: Imaginary Letters, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Eric Ladish, Songs From In Between, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

New Regency Orchestra, New Regency Orchestra, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Eyal Vilner Big Band, Swingin' Uptown, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Cory Wong & Metropole Orkest, Starship Syncopation, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp 😎

Blue Mitchell - 'Many Shades Of Blue'

Friday 50s 😁 an album from a half-century ago....

"Sweet electric 70s funk from Blue Mitchell – blowing here in some of the hippest arrangements of his career! Blue's trumpet alone is always pretty darn great, but for this album he's working with arranger Dave Matthews" (no, not that guy) Dusty Groove.

Trumpeter Jon Faddis and sax/flutist Joe Farrell play in the ~11-member band. Not considered an essential Mitchell album, taken on its own it is a fun ride. 😁 Album Allmusic ; Discogs ; Wikipedia.

Blue Mitchell released >40 albums from 1958-78. Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs

Blue Mitchell, Many Shades Of Blue, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

OSU Jazz Orchestra - 'Angular Tuesday' & 'Room 118' & 'Solid Gold'

Another university band spreads plenty of holiday cheer on these 3 fine albums. 😁

"The splendid Oklahoma State University Jazz Orchestra (OSUJA) seldom pauses for breath on Angular Tuesday, its third album under director Tommy Poole.... It is the admirable and earnest section work on every number that raises Angular Tuesday above the norm." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz.

OSU Jazz Orchestra, Angular Tuesday, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

The other two OSUJA albums are corkers as well. OSUJA website ; YouTube

"There must be something special there, as the OSUJA is one of the most well-rehearsed university-level jazz ensembles you're likely to encounter..." Jack Bowers/All About Jazz. From 2021.

OSU Jazz Orchestra, Room 118, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Trombonist Michael Dease guests on their 2018 album. "A tasty banquet that's sure to quicken the appetite of almost any champion of straight-ahead big-band jazz." Jack Bowers/All About Jazz.

OSU Jazz Orchestra, Solid Gold, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on the Big Band 2018 playlist at Spotify/JazzTodayish. 

Enjoy the new album's title track, performed in-studio. Their YouTube channel has ~9 more nice tunes, from the various albums, recorded like this. 😎

Bob Mintzer Big Band - 'Latin From Manhattan'

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

“Tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer and his 17-piece ensemble perform ten numbers with an Afro-Cuban beat provided by percussionist Louis Bauzo.... This Afro-Cuban flavored effort serves as a strong change of pace for Mintzer's orchestra.” Scott Yanow/Allmusic.

This is a 1998 release, so part of the 25-year (plus one 😁) retrospective. Album Discogs. Bob did ~15 albums with his big band from 1987 through 2018. Big band Discogs. Bob's Discogs ; website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic.

Bob Mintzer Big Band, Latin From Manhattan, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Bob Mintzer earned a post below about 3 albums he did while guest musical director of the WDR Big Band: Jackets XL, Soundscapes and Drop Shot.

This is on the Jazz Best Albums 1998 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish. 😎

Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra - 'Groove Junkies' & 'Vital Frequencies'

"Groove Junkies searching for a fix need look no further. Mainlining this music—a hard-hitting big band set that satisfies as it soars—offers a serious high.... Trombonist-composer Ben Patterson delivers the goods and then some." Dan Bilawsky/AllAboutJazz. Album Discogs.

Ben is the former lead trombonist and music director for the USAF Airmen of Note, with whom he spent 22 years and was on ~8 albums. This is his Jazz Orchestra's (BPJO) 2nd release, he's led 3 more albums, and plays with various (big) bands in the Washington, D.C., area. Ben's: website ; Discogs ; Allmusic.

Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra, Groove Junkies, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

The BPJO 2016 album Vital Frequencies guests saxophonist Chris Potter, and boy does he let-er-rip as he fronts the big band. Album Discogs. Both of these are really fun big band albums. 😎

Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra, Vital Frequencies, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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. 😎

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. 😎

Geoff Stradling & The Stradband - 'Nimble Digits'

"Pianist Geoff Stradling's superb Los Angeles-based StradBand swings heartily and with seldom a pause on its radiant and power-laden introductory album, Nimble Digits.

Stradling ... composed all but one song on Nimble Digits ... and arranged everything.... The StradBand has been performing in the Los Angeles area almost since it was formed in 2010," Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz. Geoff's website.

Geoff Stradling & The Stradband, Nimble Digits, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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