Recent instrumental big band and orchestral jazz album recommendations. With ~25 & ~50 year retrospectives, to illustrate the timelessness of this great music.
THIS SITE PROMOTES FUN JAZZ!
Excerpts from and links to album reviews of rather boisterous jazz albums. Artist and album info links at: Wikipedia; website; Discogs; Bandcamp; Allmusic, as available/worthwhile. Links to the full album on: basic/free YouTube; subscription Spotify; purchase download Bandcamp, as available. Check your favorite service. Please enjoy!
"....brisk and demanding ensemble passages are blended throughout, buttressed
by bright and impressive solos, all in the finest big-band tradition.
Vianna's well-honed ensemble readily conquers every one of them,
regardless of tone, tempo or tenor." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz. Saxophonist Eric Marienthal guests on the 1st tune. Album Discogs.
This is composer/arranger/bandleader Cassio Vianna's 3rd album since 2011, 2nd with the orchestra. Cassio is director of Jazz Studies at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, and this album is a PNW product. Cassio composes and arranges all the album music. Cassio's Website ; Discogs.
The band performs the energetic album tune 'Scrabble':
Cassio's 1st big band album was 2017's Infância (childhood). Musicians from Colorado, USA, were used in the orchestra. "Vianna's 17-piece orchestra is letter-perfect, the soloists....poised and resourceful. Add Vianna's admirable charts, blend
with care and Infância is an unequivocal winner." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz. Album Discogs.
The 2025 Grammy and 2024 Latin Grammy Awards are complete. Here is a summary of how 'large ensemble' or orchestral jazz nominees fared. The 67th Grammy Awards were 2 February.
Bill Frisell, Orchestras - Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
Henry Mancini, The 100th Sessions: Henry Has Company - Michael League of Snarky Puppy for Best Arrangement Of An Instrumental for "Baby Elephant Walk - Encore."
The 25th Latin Grammy Awards were 14 November 2024.
Hilario Duran WON for Best Arrangement of 'Night in Tunisia' on Hilario Durán and His Latin Jazz Big Band, Cry Me A River, featuring saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera. Hilario also earned a 2024 regular Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Arrangement for ‘I Remember Mingus.’ A post below has more info, links and a video of '....Mingus,' with Paquito.
Paquito D’Rivera earned a 2nd nomination for Best Classical Contemporary Composition for 'Caribbean
Berceuse' on the Barcelona Clarinet Players' (BCP) 2023 album Panamericano. Daniel Freiberg earned nominations for composition and Best Arrangment for the song 'Sueño Austral' from the this well-regarded album.
Here's some more info, from their label. "The Barcelona Clarinet Players
commissioned six prominent Latin American composers to write new works
for clarinet quartet and wind band. During their 2021–2022 season, they
recorded each work with a different wind band in the United States or
Latin America, and the result is a captivating album of extraordinary
musical richness and diversity that showcases the unique aesthetic of
each composer and the artistry of the performing ensembles." Album Discogs. BCP website ; Discogs.
Barcelona Clarinet Players, Panamericano, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Friday 50s,an album from 1975,a half-century ago.... 😊
Details are scarce for this excellent live performance recorded in Munich, Germany, in early 1974. Saxophonist Dexter Gordon guests. Album Discogs.
Trombonist/composer/arranger/bandleader Slide Hampton was a big band stalwart. He played in the big and small bands of Lionel Hampton, Maynard Ferguson, Art Blakey, Tadd Dameron, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis and Max Roach. Slide also led ~50 albums from ~1961 - 2008. Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
Pianist/bandleader Joe Haider has led ~29 albums since ~1970, and is still very active in Germany at a seemingly young age of 89. His current big band played a tribute concert to Slide and this album in ~April '23. He tours with a quintet that includes saxophonist Toni Lakatos this March in a Miles Davis tribute. He plans a final big band tour in January '26. Go Joe!Website ; Wikipedia ; Discography.
Slide Hampton & Joe Haider Orchestra, Give Me A Double, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
"Hassy and company have done well by the Duke, aligning and updating his
music for a new generation of listeners who may be more attuned to
change and eager to reassess the wizardry of Ellington." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz. Album Discogs.
This 2024 release is Japanese pianist/bandleader/composer/arranger Mercer Hassy's ~4th big band or orchestral album since ~2019. The big band is based in Sapporo. Website ; Website2
Mercer Hassy Orchestra, Duke’s Place, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Tuesday 25s,albums fromabout a quarter-century ago. Today's recommendation is a wonderful 3 album-run from 1999 - 2000 by the Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra (DRJO), or also Big Band (DRBB) 😊
Nice Work was required to earn pianist/composer/arranger Jim McNeely and the DRJO a 2001 Grammy Award nomination for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. 😁 Jim also earned a nomination for Best Instrumental Arrangement for the Gershwin tune 'Nice Work If You Can Get It.' Album Allmusic ; Discogs.
Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra & Jim McNeely, Nice Work, full album: Spotify
McNeely has led >25 , played on >140, and arranged for >100 albums since 1966. Jim earned a Grammy as part of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, with 12 more nominations. He was chief conductor of the DRJO/DRBB from 1998 - 2002. His piano chops placed him in the Stan Getz Quartet for 4 years and the Phil Woods Quintet for 6. Jim's website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
The jazz big band of The Danish Broadcasting Corporation was established in 1964 and has been renamed several times, with >70 albums. The complete discography is spread over at least these 2 iterations. DRJO Discogs. DRBB website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
Niels Jørgen Steen conducted the DRJO on their 1999 Duke Ellington centennial tributeThe Governor. This is an energetic and fun album. Discogs. Niels has been active in Danish jazz since 1958, with >100 composer/writer/pianist/conductor credits. His piano chops are exhibited with > 10 albums with saxophone legend Ben Webster. Niels Discogs ; Wikipedia.
Dutch Radio Jazz Orchestra & Niels Jørgen Steen, The Governor, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp
Danish pianist/composer/bandleader Ole Kock Hansen conducted the DRJO/BB for ~5 albums from 1995 - 2000. The 1999 album Ways Of Seeing: Live At The Basement, Sydney, captures a hot, straight-ahead show from Down Under. Audio could be crisper, but overall is just fine. Album Discogs. Ole's Discogs.
Dutch Radio Jazz Orchestra & Ole Kock Hansen, Ways Of Seeing, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
The DRBB shows they are a team effort, as the conductor from the 3rd album above leads an entire concert of music from the 2nd album, 7 years before either. A wonderful show from 1992, with nice sound. Trombonist Buster Cooper and trumpeter Clark Terry guest and solo, and the band's regular soloists are quite adept. 😎
"Saxophonist Tobias Hoffmann conducts a large jazz orchestra through a series of
original charts. The five reeds, 9 brass and four rhythm teams are
tighter than a hipsters skinny jeans." George Harris/JazzWeekly.
This 2024 release follows the orchestra's 2022 debut album Conspiracy, and Tobias led a 2019 nonet release Retrospective. Tobias' website ; Discogs.
Tobias Hoffmann Jazz Orchestra, Innuendo, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Might as well give ya the links for the 2022 album also. "Hoffman has his own singular voice, one that is well-suited to the
contemporary scene, as it uses complex and sophisticated harmonies and
rhythms in the service of music that is both resourceful and pleasing." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz. Discogs.
Tobias Hoffmann Jazz Orchestra, Conspiracy, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Friday 50s,an album from 1975,a half-century ago.... 😊
"A fine mid-'70s date that was both a showcase for Bellson's bombastic
drumming and also a nice straight-ahead date with great contributions
from" trumpeters Blue Mitchell, Snookey Young, Cat Anderson and Bobby Shew, saxophonists Pete Christlieb and Don Menza, and others. Ron Wynn/Allmusic. Album Wikipedia ; Discogs.
Louis Bellson released >100 albums from ~1952 to 1998, with >300 compositions and 9 Grammy nominations, mainly with big bands. Louis pioneered the use of double bass kick drums, developed new technology for and was vice-president of Remo drums, and was the husband and musical director for singer Pearl Bailey. Louis' Website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
Louis Bellson, The Louis Bellson Explosion, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Baritone saxophonist/composer/arranger/educator Ryan "Middagh’s arrangements reflect a deep respect for jazz’s big band
legacy, blending swing-era traditions with post-bop expression.... Each of the six tracks offers us a journey that celebrates tradition, spontaneity, and the personalities within the ensemble." Nolan DeBuke/TheJazzWord.
This is Ryan's 3rd ~big band album, and one with an octet, since 2010. 2019s Live From Nashville features vocalist Keb’ Mo’, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon and saxophonist Jeff Coffin, who is also on the new album, and his album Only The Horizon was featured in a post below. Ryan's website.
Ryan Middagh Jazz Orchestra, Live From Nashville, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
He did a 2013 album as a result of his dissertation while at the University of Northern Colorado. "This project is part of Ryan's Doctoral Jazz work and features his old
friends and mentors Jeff Coffin and drummer Tom Giampetro. They join a highly skilled student ensemble performing a set of
tunes honoring Colorado's fine craft beers. Pop a cold one and sit back
and enjoy the irrepressible joy inspired by their presence!" Soundcloud. This is a little-big-band.
Ryan Middagh, Colorado Brew, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
"This
project is part of Ryan's Doctoral Jazz work and features his old
friends and mentors saxophonist Jeff Coffin and drummer Tom Giampetro
joining a highly skilled student ensemble performing a set of tunes
honoring Colorado's fine craft beers. Pop a cold one and sit back and
enjoy the irrepressible joy inspired by their presence!"
Ryan's orchestra performs 4 tunes from the Live in Nashville album. The 1st is 'Move Your Rug'.
The 2nd is 'Dolphin Dance,' a Herbie Hancock tune.
The 3rd is 'Don't Push'.
The 4th is 'The Commissioner' and features trombonist Wycliffe Gordon.
The Nashville big band jazz scene thrives, apparently. A post below is about theChris McDonald Jazz Orchestra's It’s About Time, also based in the city. 😎
Gregg Hill is a 78 year old Central Michigan pianist/composer/arranger who is amidst a late life artistic surge that has produced 15 albums of his music since 2017, in various orchestrations. Here he arranges an album led by trombonist Michael Dease with 10 more players. Gregg's website ; Discogs.
"The highly acclaimed Dease has put an absolute stamp of approval on Hill's work.... Sharel Cassity is a highlight throughout the album on both alto saxophone and flute.... The inexhaustible energy of Hill is not to be denied." Paul Rauch/AllAboutJazz. Album Discogs.
Michael Dease, also on baritone sax, is joined on
woodwinds by Sharel Cassity, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Jason
Hainsworth and Virginia MacDonald, with trumpeter Matt White, trombonist Nanami Haruta, pianist Bill Cunliffe, bassist Katie Thiroux,
drummer Colleen Clark and percussionist Gwendolyn Dease.
This is Michael's ~14th album since 2007. He did more Gregg Hill music with a smaller ensemble on his 2023 albumThe Other Shoe. He is featured guest on OSU Jazz Orchestra - Solid Gold, in a post below. Michael's website ; Discogs ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic.
Michael Dease, Found In Space, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Tuesday 25s,an album from Y2K / 2000, a quarter-century ago.... 😊
Saxophonist Joe Lovano's 2000 release 52nd Street Themes won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, even though he only used 9 musicians.
"....this record is a powerful reminder of the tenor giant’s debt to the
tradition. Still, the music has that unmistakable Lovano edge." David Adler/AllAboutJazz. Album Allmusic ; Discogs.
Joe has released >50 albums since 1986, with this Grammy Award win and 14 more nominations. He did another nonet album, 2003s On This Day At The Vanguard. Website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
Joe Lovano Nonet, 52nd Street Themes, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
