Chris McDonald Jazz Orchestra – 'It’s About Time'

"It’s About Time is a ... a collection of eight originals and two covers, performed by a collection of some of Nashville’s best players.... The album is a sonic delight, vibrant and full, giving proper aural space to soloists and fully textured beds of sound to the ensemble." Bert Saraco/Tollbooth.

Trombonist/bandleader Chris McDonald is Nashville (USA) based since the 1980s, and his arrangements for Carrie Underwood, Willie Nelson, Sara Evans and more have been heard world-wide by billions. (Thierry De Clemensat/ParisMove). Chris has done arrangements for or played on >40 Grammy winner/nominated albums. He does an occasional big band project, and this 2024 release is his ~9th album since 1996. For boomer readers, the 1st tune is a cover of Yes' 'Roundabout.' Chris' website ; Discogs ; Allmusic.

Chris McDonald Jazz Orchestra, It’s About Time, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Gardyn Jazz Orchestra - 'Vinyl Brews' & their debut album

"Alto saxophonist Jon C. Gardner not only leads the piquant and powerful Philadelphia-based Gardyn Jazz Orchestra (GJO), he also wrote and arranged every song on Vinyl Brews, an in-concert performance recorded in December 2023 at Chris' Jazz Café in the City of Brotherly Love.... When such performances are as dynamic and inspiring as this one, they should be happily cherished and preserved forever in one's storehouse of pleasant memories." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz.

Gardyn Jazz Orchestra, Vinyl Brews, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

The album has 6 original tunes, plus 3 alternate takes. The band plays a tune from the live concert recording session:

This is GJOs 2nd live release. You might as well try their eponymous 2022 album. Double-down with some fine big band jazz from Philadelphia, USA. GJO no website, so Facebook.

Gardyn Jazz Orchestra, Gardyn Jazz Orchestra, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

This is on Big Band 2022 at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

Enjoy a 2nd tune from the live concert recording session. 😎

Mahavishnu Orchestra - 'Apocalypse'

Friday 50s, an album from 1974, so about a half-century ago... 😁

With Michael Tilson Thomas and the London Symphony Orchestra. "The union wasn't taken seriously at the time.... Don't let old, outworn preconceptions on either side of the fence prevent you from checking out this beautiful record." Richard Ginell/Allmusic. Album Wikipedia ; Discogs. 

The Mahavishnu Orchestra (MO) released 8 studio albums from 1971 - 89. This was the first album of the '2nd MO': John McLaughlin, guitars; Jean Luc Ponty, violin; Gayle Moran, keys & vocals; Ralphe Armstrong, bass; Narada Michael Walden, drums. Produced by '5th Beatle' George Martin. MO: Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Mahavishnu Orchestra, Apocalypse, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Delfeayo Marsalis & Uptown Jazz Orchestra - 'Crescent City Jewels'

"A high-energy collection that showcases the vitality of big-band jazz with an infectious New Orleans flavour." Pierre Giroux/AllAboutJazz.

This 2024 release is the Uptown Jazz Orchestra's 4th album since 2016, and all are absolute joys. Discogs.  Trombonist/bandleader Delfeayo Marsalis has 7 additional releases since 1992. Website ; Wikipedia ; Discogs.

Delfeayo Marsalis & Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Crescent City Jewels, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

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.  😎

Claude Bolling Big Band - 'A Tone Parallel To Harlem: Duke Ellington'

Tuesday 25s an album from 1999, or about a quarter-century ago.... 😉

Claude Bolling was a French pianist and bandleader who interbred jazz and classical idioms throughout a career that spanned from 1945 - 2016. His love of Duke Ellington's music resulted in this big band album of Duke's tunes, with Claude's French big band. Album Discogs.

The Claude Bolling Big Band released ~15 albums from 1990 - 2016. Discogs. Bolling's Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Claude Bolling Big Band, A Tone Parallel To Harlem: Duke Ellington, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Anders Malta - 'Introducing Anders Malta Almost Big Band'

"It’s striking how agile this 13-piece ensemble is, delivering the tight, nimble sound more typical of a small group." Tim Larsen/JazzViews.

This 2024 release is the band's debut album, and they've performed regularly since 2020 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Anders is a trumpet/trombone player with credits on Discogs.

Anders Malta, Introducing Anders Malta Almost Big Band, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

Temple University Studio Orchestra - 'Labyrinth'

"One of Los Angeles’ greatest treasures, pianist Billy Childs, takes a trip to Philadelphia where his big band compositional and arranging skills are put to good use. The Temple University Studio Orchestra (TUSO), conducted by Jose Luis Deominguez, is supplemented by ringers Terell Stafford/tp, and Dick Oatts/as,  on this three song collection." George Harris/JazzWeekly. Album Discogs ; website.

A post below celebrates Billy Childs' 2024 Grammy Award winner album The Winds Of Change. The post has a video of Billy with the WDR Big Band, along with more Billy info.

This is the TUSOs 2nd album, but Temple U. has many jazz ensemble iterations. "BCM&D Records is the official record label of the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University. Founded in 2009 to highlight recordings by Boyer students and faculty, the label has since garnered five Grammy nominations." TUSO Discogs. BCM&D website. The Temple University Jazz Band has 3 albums: Spotify ; Discogs.

Temple University Studio Orchestra, Labyrinth, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

Ray Brown's Great Big Band - 'I Could Write A Book'

"Celebrating twenty-seven years of performing together, Ray Brown’s Great Big Band has reassembled to record one last time. You will enjoy over 100 minutes of authentic big band jazz." Dee Dee McNeil/MakingAScene. 21 songs with 5 Christmas tunes. A 2024 release. Album Discogs.

Active since the 1960s, Bay Area trumpeter/vibraphonist/arranger/bandleader Ray Brown has played and arranged for Stan Kenton and others. This is his big band's 3rd release. BB Discogs. Ray's Wikipedia.

Ray Brown's Great Big Band, I Could Write A Book, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Woody Herman - 'Herd At Montreaux' & a YouTube concert

Friday 50s,  an album from about a half-century ago.... 😉or 1974.

Clarinetist/saxophonist/bandleader Woody Herman earned Grammy Awards for Best  Jazz Performance By A Big Band in 1974 and 1975 for his two 1974 releases - a nice year's work 😁. A post below celebrates his 1974 winner Thundering Herd, with more band info. Here's his 1975 winner, Herd At Montreaux.

"Herman plays soprano saxophone exclusively, leads a 15-piece band through contemporary funk and fusion music of the day.... This prefigured the direction he would take for most of the '70s." Michael Nastos/Allmusic. From a 1974 concert at the famous Montreaux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), the sonics could be improved, but the band cooks throughout. Album Discogs. 

Woody Herman led big bands from the 1930s - 80s, with  >120 albums. He won 3 Grammys with 15 more nominations. Woody's: Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Woody Herman, Herd At Montreaux, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Here's a full show, maybe from November 1973, Jazzfest Berlin, maybe from sometime in 1974. Regardless, it's a nice document of the Grammy-winner Thundering Herd in action, with really nice sound. 😎