Allison Miller & The One O'Clock Lab Band - 'Big & Lovely'

The first post for a 2025 release is from that wonderful jazz program that helps keep the flame alive. The University of North Texas (UNT) and its One O'Clock Lab Band performs songs by and with drummer Allison Miller.

"I couldn’t be more thrilled to have collaborated with Alan Baylock and the prestigious One O’Clock Lab Band on this project. It just felt right from the very beginning and I am immensely grateful to the talented students for their hard work, passionate energy, and exemplary performance on this album!" 

Allison has released >15 albums since 2004. She began her jazz career as a big band drummer at age 14, and her recording career with singer/songwriter Ani DiFranco in the late 90s. She now leads her own band 'Boom Tic Boom,' and guests on many sessions. Website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

A post below is about the One O'Clock Lab Band's album Lab 24, with more info about the band and a video with Allison.

Allison Miller And The One O'clock Lab Band, Big & Lovely, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

This is on the Big Band 2025 and Jazz Best Albums 2025 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

UNT has a Two O'Clock Lab Band as well, and their 2021 album Long Way On A Blues earned a post below, with more info on that band.

Allison and the band perform the fun title track.

That was so nice, here's another tune.

Might as well post all of these concert tunes. One more at the previously mentioned post below. 😎

Tracy Yang Jazz Orchestra - 'OR 手術劇院'

"The album is a collection of engaging tone poems with pungent orchestral writing for brass, especially trombones. The virtuosity of the writing demands and receives similar virtuosity from the players. This is an album from an eloquent new voice that has much to say." Jack Kenny/AllAboutJazz. Album Discogs.

"Born and raised in Taiwan, Tracy Yang has established herself as a composer, musician, and cross-discipline artist in NYC since 2013. Recognized with the Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize." This is her 2nd album, first with the orchestra. Website ; Discogs.

Tracy Yang Jazz Orchestra, OR 手術劇院, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

The orchestra plays a nice, introspective album tune.  😎

Del Sasso Big Band - 'Chick Corea's "Three Quartets" Revisited' & 'Le Carnajazz Des Animaux'

Here's 2 really nice 2024 albums by a French big band.

"Under the expert guidance of the arranger, Christophe Dal Sasso, his big band (Voted France’s best jazz orchestra in 2020) revisits the legendary album, featuring in the footsteps of the late Michael Brecker, three exceptional saxophonists: David El-Malek, Stéphane Guillaume and Rick Margitza. A lively and spectacular tribute to the pianist who passed away in 2021."

Del Sasso Big Band, Chick Corea's "Three Quartets" Revisited, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Chris and his big band also released "Le Carnaval des Animaux, a comic musical suite composed by Camille Saint-Saëns in 1886.... The work consists of 14 short movements, each representing a different animal, and Saint-Saëns uses music to illustrate the characteristics of each animal.... So, in this brilliant latest version by maestro arranger Dal Sasso and his acolytes, it’s humor and lightness ... that characterize this work." Jacques Pauper/ColeursJazz.

Del Sasso Big Band, Le Carnajazz des Animaux, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is the ~6th album from the band since 2004, but Spotify/Dal Sasso Big Band is the only place I found them all listed together. Neither Chris's website nor Discogs are updated, so Facebook.

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

The band performs a tune from Chick Corea...  😎

Bob James &: Grover Washington Jr. - 'Mr. Magic'; Hank Crawford - ' Don't You Worry...' and his own - 'One'

Friday 50s, today with 3 albums from 1974, so about a half-century ago... 😁

Pianist/composer/arranger/bandleader Bob James did an album of his own, and also orchestral arrangements for albums by saxophonists Hank Crawford and Grover Washington Jr. James' arrangements on these albums were with a small big band plus strings. In order by my favorite...

 "This is one of Grover Washington, Jr.'s best-loved recordings and considered a classic of r&bish jazz.... Bob James provided the colorful if somewhat commercial arrangements, ... and Washington (mostly on tenor and soprano) is heard in particularly creative form. Highly recommended." Scott Yanow/Allmusic. The title tune was 'a hit,' and the album went to #1 on the jazz and soul charts. Album Discogs ; Wikipedia. Grover's Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Grover Washington Jr., Mr. Magic, full album: YouTube (1 file) ; Spotify

Grover's 1973 album Soul Box, also with Bob James arrangements, earned a post below.

"Saxophonist Hank Crawford provides three original compositions along with two Stevie Wonder tunes (hence the album title). The string arrangements of Bob James, who also plays electric keyboards on the date, provide a light touch of sophistication and blend well with Crawford’s R&B-steeped alto saxophone." Al Campbell/Allmusic. Album Discogs; Wikipedia. Hank's Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Hank Crawford, Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing, full album; YouTube ; Spotify

One was Bob's ~3rd album as a leader, with now >50 releases. This shortish album is the ~start of Bob's smooth jazz career as a leader, and he's still active. His album Jazz Hands received a 2024 Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. One Allmusic ; Discogs. Bob's website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Bob James, One, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

All of these are on Jazz Best Albums 1974 at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

Terence Blanchard - 'Jazz In Film'

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

"Terence Blanchard covers classic motion picture scores with an expressive jazz trumpet and approach to straight-ahead jazz on ... Jazz In Film. Scores ... are immersed in the world of jazz and resurface complete with Blanchard's imprint and eloquent style that is reminiscent of mid-'60s Miles Davis." Paula Edelstein/Allmusic.  

Covers of Duke Ellington (Anatomy of a Murder), Quincy Jones (The Pawn Broker), Jerry Goldsmith (Chinatown), Bernard Herrmann (Taxi Driver) and Elmer Bernstein (Man with the Golden Arm) and more. A band of: Bass – Reginald Veal; Drums – Carl Allen; Piano – Kenny Kirkland get some help from: Tenor Saxophone – Joe Henderson; Trombone – Steve Turre; Alto Saxophone – Donald Harrison. An orchestra supplements most tunes. Album Discogs.

Terence Blanchard is a New Orleans-born jazz trumpeter and film composer known for his close association with director Spike Lee. He has >80 film and television scores, has been nominated for 2 Academy Awards, has won 7 Grammy Awards with 16 nominations, and has an Emmy and BAFTA nomination. Website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Terence Blanchard, Jazz In Film, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Norman David And The Eleventet - 'Intention'

"The band ... has a performing home ... in Philadelphia, and has released about half a dozen superb albums, all featuring David's compositions and bearing his unique soprano saxophone soloing and sophisticated style of composing and arranging which allows the musicians to play charts and improvise at very high levels, each with his own imprint." Victor Schermer/AllAboutJazz. 

The Eleventet is based in and plays regularly around Philadelphia, USA. This is their 6th album since ~ 2015. website.

Norman David And The Eleventet, Intention, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Another Philadelphia big band album, the Gardyn Jazz Orchestra - Vinyl Brews, was recommended just a few posts below.

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

Hendrik Meurkens &: CCCN Jazz Orchestra - 'Big Band Brasil'; WDR Big Band - 'Samba Jazz Odyssey'

Big band jazz and... harmonica? It works! Hendrik Meurkens leads 2 bands through 2 joyful albums. His 2024 album is with Costa Rica's CCCN Jazz Orchestra, led by drummer Carlomagno Araya. Album Discogs.

Hendrik has >30 releases, and this appears to be the 1st for the orchestra. His website ; Discogs ; Allmusic. CCCNJO website. Araya's Discogs. Hendrik's recent ~quintet release is The Jazz Meurkengers -- ya gotta love it. 😁

Hendrik Meurkens & CCCN Jazz Orchestra, Big Band Brasil, full album: YouTube (one big file) ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

Here's his 2022 album. "Combine Meurkens' superb playing and writing with Mossman and Franzetti's dazzling charts, flawlessly performed by the marvelous WDR Big Band, and you have the complete package. To put it another way, Latin-flavored big-band jazz simply doesn't get much better than this." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz. Album Discogs.

The WDR Big Band is a project of WDR Broadcasters in Cologne, Germany. They have released >75 albums since 1979. YouTube channel (please subscribe); website ; Discogs. Type "WDR" into the search box for alotta WDR Big Band album recommendations.

Hendrik Meurkens & The WDR Big Band, Samba Jazz Odyssey, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Hendrik leads the WDR Big Band in a tune from their album. 😎

Bill Frisell - 'Orchestras' & Henry Mancini - 'The 100th Sessions...'

The 2025 Grammy Awards are Sunday, 2 February. Besides the category of Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, jazzy orchestrations were nominated in 2 other categories.

Jazz guitarist Bill Frisell received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Orchestras, a live album with Alexander Hanson, the Brussels Philharmonic, Rudy Royston & Thomas Morgan. Bill has a Grammy, and this is his 8th nomination. Bill had a good year, as he also earned a nomination for the album Owl Song, which he co-led with trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and drummer Herlin Riley, for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.

Bill Frisell, Orchestras, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

A jazzy tribute to composer Henry Mancini at the Hollywood Bowl had a tune nominated for Best Arrangement Of An Instrumental. Michael League arranged his tune "Baby Elephant Walk - Encore", for his band Snarky Puppy (SP), a rather large jazz fusion ensemble. League has 5 Grammys with SP and this is his 8th nomination.

Henry Mancini, The 100th Sessions: Henry Has Company, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

These are on Big Band 2024 at Spotify/JazzTodayish.  😎

Maynard Ferguson - 'Chameleon'

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

"It features cover versions of many songs that were popular in the years leading up to its production, including 'Jet', 'The Way We Were' and 'Livin' for the City.'  Album Discogs. Wikipedia ; Allmusic.

This was Maynard’s ~32nd of >50 albums from 1955-2001. Maynard's: website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs. A post below is about his other 1974 release, M.F. Horn 4 & 5: Live At Jimmy's.

Maynard Ferguson, Chameleon, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Maynard and the band perform the title track, with Brian Smith on sax. Vid is a bit imperfect. 😎

Orrin Evans And The Captain Black Big Band - ‘Walk A Mile In My Shoe’

This was nominated for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album at the upcoming 2025 Grammy Awards.

This is a vocal-based big band album. "As he has always done in the past Orrin Evans, the pianist and bandleader from Philadelphia, is inspired by tradition to renew and enrich, with passion and freshness. This time the orchestrations are functional to the interpretations of four prodigious singers who are divided into seven out of nine songs: Lisa Fischer, Bilal, Joanna Pascale and Paul Jost ." Angelo Leonardi/AllAboutJazz. Album Discogs.

This is Evans' ~5th  Captain Black Big Band (CBBB) album since ~2011, and 3 earned Grammy nominations! Orrin has ~13 more total albums, since 2000. Evans' website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs. CBBB Discogs.

Orrin Evans And The Captain Black Big Band, Walk A Mile In My Shoe, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

This is on the Big Band 2024 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

Here's a mellow album tune with singer Paul Jost. 😎