Ryan Haines Big Band & Courtney H. - 'Emerald And Sapphire' & 'Saxophone Barbie'

Trombonist/composer/arranger/bandleader/U of Texas-Arlington professor Ryan Haines released his 4th album with his big band, Emerald and Sapphire. He wrote all but 1 tune, 4 of which were originally penned for his saxophonist wife Courtney’s 2017 album Saxophone Barbie, who also plays on his album, as he did on hers. Ryan is a music professor at Arizona State University.

Prominent players are trumpeters Kevin Burns, Pete Clagett and guest Wayne Bergeron, trombonist Alex Dubrov, tenor David Lown, guitarist Davey Mooney and drummer Stockton Helbing. Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz: “Emerald and Sapphire readily lives up to the high standards set on Haines' first three albums. A delicious big-band smorgasbord.” The big band does a smokin’ album tune in a Zoom performance. The band at Discogs.

Ryan Haines Big Band, Emerald and Sapphire, full album: free YouTube ; Spotify

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

Info is sparse for Courtney’s debut and only album, but it’s a solid straight-ahead/smooth album, with a tight band. Give a listen to the fine efforts from a couple dedicated to jazz .  😎

Courtney Haines, Saxophone Barbie, full album: free YouTube ; Spotify

Derrick Gardner - 'Pan Africa' & 'Still I Rise'

Mike Jurkovic/AllAboutJazz: "...Trumpeter Derrick Gardner fronts... long time Jazz Prophet's alto/tenor saxophonist Robert Dixon, trombonist brother Vincent Gardner, bassist Obasi Akoto, drummer Kweku Sumbry, and pianist George Caldwell... It is a powerhouse tear through... post-bop exoticism."

This is Gardner's ~4th release as a leader since 2003. He's been active since 1989, has played with many greats from his NYC base, and played and arranged for the Basie orchestra. He has been a music professor at the Univ. of Manitoba (UOM), Canada, since 2011. Derrick: Wikipedia ; Discogs

Derrick Gardner & the Jazz Prophets, Pan Africa, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

His 'Big dig! Band' big band did Still I Rise in 2020. The band combines NYC top-tier pros with graduates of his UOM program. Charlene Diehl/dig! magazine: “He lets his star players blaze, and makes room for the younger players to shoulder in.” Smokin' modern brass!

Derrick Gardner & the Big dig! Band, Still I Rise, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp  😎

Michael Davis Hip-Bone Big Band - 'Open City'

Jerome Wilson/AllAboutJazz: “All the music on the album was written by either trombonist/bandleader Michael Davis or his son, Cole, who plays bass on the album… This album shows that Michael Davis is a force in his own right as a composer, arranger, and bandleader.”

He’s recorded and/or toured with The Stones, Bob Dylan, Bob Mintzer, Buddy Rich, Paul Simon, and Sarah Vaughan.

The band must be acknowledged. 24 musicians are listed. That would be a big band!

Saxophones: David Mann, Steve Wilson, Matt Hong, Andy Snitzer, Troy Roberts, Charles Pillow, Sam Dillon, Frank Basile
Trumpets: Nick Marchione, Tony Kadleck, Jim Hynes, Scott Wendholt, Maneco Ruiz, Zaq Davis, Mike Rodriguez
French Horn: Judy Yin-Chi Lee
Trombones: Michael Davis, Marshall Gilkes, Ryan Keberle, Bill Reichenbach
Rhythm: Andy Ezrin (piano), David Finck (bass), Cole Davis (bass), Jared Schonig (drums)

This is Michael’s ~14th album since 1989, and 2nd with the big band. The video is an in-studio performance of an album tune. Here’s a YouTube playlist with 4 more live album tunes, plus a few older songs. Michael: Bandcamp ; Wikipedia

Michael Davis Hip-Bone Big Band, Open City, full album: free YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

Javier Nero Jazz Orchestra - 'Kemet: The Black Land'

Thierry De Clemensat/Paris-move: “This is the second recording by trombonist, composer, arranger, and educator Dr. Javier Nero… It's joyful, sun-soaked music, and Nero’s unique style is perfectly recognizable, with brass instruments being his preferred mode of expression.” 

This is Javier’s 2nd album. The video is a live studio performance of an album tune. Javier at Discogs.

Javier Nero Jazz Orchestra, Kemet: The Black Land, full album: free YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

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.  😎