Hyeseon Hong Jazz Orchestra - 'Things Will Pass' & 'Ee-Ya-Gi (Stories)'

"'A master musician who weaves dreams into vivid sonic landscapes, and turns sorrow and loss into enduring and endearing art.' That those landscapes traverse the musical terrain from the U.S. to Korea is icing on an already appetizing cake." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz. Album Discogs.

South Korean composer/arranger/bandleader Hyeseon Hong has arranged and fronted big bands in NYC for ~10 years now, and this 2024 release is her 2nd album. Discogs. No website, so Facebook.

Hyeseon Hong Jazz Orchestra, Things Will Pass, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Her 2017 debut Ee-Ya-Gi (Stories) is a joy also. Trumpeter Ingrid Jenson guests, and saxophonist Rich Perry is featured on both albums. Album Discogs. 😎

Hyeseon Hong Jazz Orchestra, Ee-Ya-Gi (Stories), full album: YouTube

Roy Wiegand's big bands - ‘Stan: Big Sur’ & 'Whatever Floats Your (Boat) Bone'

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

"Trombonist Roy Wiegand’s ... big–band release ... is by far his best to date with radiant charts ... and intrepid blowing throughout by Wiegand and his companions." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz.  Wiegand invited several Stan Kenton / Woody Herman alumni, such as himself, and saxophonist Bill Perkins, trumpeters Mike Vax and Buddy Childers, bassist Don Bagley and drummer Chuck Flores. Album Discogs.

Roy released 4 albums in a career that began in ~1955 in NYC. He also played in bands for Kai Windig, CBS, The Jackie Gleason Show, and then moved to Los Angeles to play in many film scores. Roy's website.

The Roy Wiegand Jazz Orchestra, Stan - Big Sur, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

His 1996 album Whatever Floats Your Bone Boat is another fine album. Less-known players but they include Roy's son on trumpet. "This album ... may be the surprise big band release of the year, sporting virtuosic writing and soloing throughout..." Dan Weinstein/L.A. Jazz Scene. Album Discogs.

The Roy Wiegand Big Band, Whatever Floats Your Boat Bone, full album: YouTube ; Spotify 😎

Big Band 2024 still - 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 ~108 albums (hours) on Big Band 2024 at Spotify/JazzTodayish. 

The Danish Radio Big Band, XL-LX, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp (5 suites by 5 jazz composers, 1.75 hours, 5 vinyl records)

Herb Alpert, 50, full album: YouTube ; Spotify (Smooth jazzin' his formula for a 50th album, his 2013 and 2016 albums earned a Grammy & a nomination, and he owns one of Los Angeles' top jazz clubs. 😁)

Geoffrey Keezer, Open During Construction, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Mosaic, Where We Are Now, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

 Danilo Perez & Bohuslan Big Band, Lumen, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Geof Bradfield, Colossal Abundance, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

 John Hollenbeck & NDR Big Band, Colouring Hockets, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Chris Muller Big Band, Turning Thoughts, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp
 

Sointi Jazz Orchestra, J​ä​ä​hyväiset, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Terry Waldo & The Gotham City Band, Treasury, Vol. 1, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp 😎

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. 😎