WDR Big Band & Chuck Owen - 'Renderings'

 

WDR is a public broadcasting network based in Cologne, Germany. Besides television and radio stations, they sponsor several musical groups, one of which is the well-respected WDR Big Band. The unit is prolific, as Discogs shows over 80 albums since 1979, often in collaboration with jazz and other stars. Tenor saxophone great Bob Mintzer and composer/arranger Vince Mendoza have recently served as band directors. With their broadcasting connection, the band continually produces impeccably recorded performances, many of which are available on their YouTube channel.

Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz: “The WDR Big Band’s latest recording, on which it is paired with the esteemed Florida-based composer and arranger Chuck Owen, offers another master class in big-band artistry, or how to make even the most arduous charts seem deceptively simple.” The video is an in-studio performance of an album tune, a bit long, but nice.

Chuck Owen & The WDR Big Band, Renderings, full album: free YouTube  ;  Spotify

On Jazz Best Albums 2023 and Big Band 2023 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

Vanessa Perica Orchestra - 'The Eye Is The First Circle'

How about some really nice orchestral jazz, from a Melbourne artist.

ABCJazzAustralia: “The Eye Is The First Circle is named after a famous artwork by painter Lee Krasner, and like its namesake, this release from the Vanessa Perica Orchestra is deep, expansive and driven by emotions and the human experience.

The musicians showcased throughout this album represent some of Australia's finest jazz talents. You'll hear performances from the likes of saxophonists Tessie Overmyer, Julien Wilson and Jamie Oehlers (solos in the video), trumpeters Mat Jodrell and Paul Williamson and trombone greats including Jordan Murray as well as a star rhythm section of Theo Carbo, Andrea Keller, Sam Anning and Ben Vanderwal.”

This is Vanessa’s 2nd big band album. The video is an album tune in-studio performance. 

Vanessa Perica Orchestra, The Eye Is The First Circle, full album: free YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

 

Her debut album from 2020, Love Is A Temporary Madness, was nominated for a 2021 Australian Jazz Bell Award (Ozzie Jazz Grammy) for Best Produced Album. 

Vanessa Perica Orchestra, Love Is A Temporary Madness, full album: free YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Eye... is on Jazz Best Albums 2023 and Big Band 2023, and Love... is on Big Band 2020 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.

For art folks, the namesake painting sold for $11.7 million in 2019, and is shown below. Actual size is ~2.4m x 4.8m. FYI, Krasner was the wife of famous abstract artist Jackson Pollock. 😎

Victor Goines - 'The Woodlawn Suite'

Enjoy a new big band gem by an under-recorded artist.

Marilyn Lester/NiteLifeExchange: “...Reed player-composer, Victor Goines, has created the thoughtful and thoroughly magnificent The Woodlawn Suite, which debuted in July 2022,” and now has an album release. “Every movement of The Woodlawn Suite is a stand-alone gem.” Woodlawn Cemetery is in NYC and is the final home for several jazz luminaries, e.g. Duke Ellington and many bandmates.

Victor Goines is co-founder of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, with Wynton Marsalis. This is his ~11th album since 1992. He has been director of jazz studies at Julliard and Northwestern University. 

Victor's website ; Discogs, which doesn't seem to be complete.

Victor Goines, The Woodlawn Suite, full album: free YouTube ; Spotify

On Jazz Best Albums 2023 and Big Band 2023 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎