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!
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. 🎷
Tuesday 25s 😁 an album from a quarter-century ago....
A recent tribute post to pianist/composer/arranger/bandleader Toshiko Akiyoshi mentions her husband, tenor saxophone and flute virtuoso Lew Tabackin.
"Lew Tabackin's guest appearance with the Netherlands Metropole Orchestra
(NMO) is one of the most enjoyable in their series of collaborations with
jazz soloists.... This is a very well-crafted release," Ken Dryden/Allmusic. Album Discogs.
Lew has released at least 30 albums as leader and with Toshiko. He's been a pro since 1962, and was in the bands of television hosts (USA) Dick Cavett and Johnny Carson. Lew, 84 now, still plays regularly in NYC, just did a tour with his trio in Japan, where he plans a 2025 Japan tour with Toshiko, who just turned 95, as a duo! My jazz heroes! 😍 Lew's: website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
The NMO, now called the Metropole Orkest, has 4 Grammys and 2 Oscars, and has released >150 albums
since 1952. They are a project of Netherlands Public Broadcasting, and
are based in Hilversum. NMOs: website; Wikipedia ; Discogs. A post below is about their 2024 Grammy-nominated album with arranger Vince Mendoza, Olympians.
"Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos (OJM) ... has had the support of Matosinhos, Portugal, since 1999. It ... continually invests in the development of
diversified artistic projects, coherent training projects and in the
publishing of Portuguese jazz records. A pioneer in a largely unexplored
territory, OJM fulfills the role of National Jazz Orchestra." OJM website ; Discogs. OJM has released at least 13 albums since 2006.
OJM released two albums in 2024. A long one and short one for a total of 2 hours of new big band jazz! 😁These are on Big Band 2024 at Spotify/JazzTodayish.
On the first, five arrangers wrote really nice charts for twelve Brazilian songs. Directed by Pedro Guedes and drummer Kiko Freitas guests.Nailor Proveta's arrangement ofthe song "Linha de Passe" earned a 2024 Latin Grammy Award nomination for Best Arrangement.Album Discogs.
Orquestra Jazz De Matosinhos, Músicas Brasileiras, Músicos Portugueses, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp
“We can’t talk about the history of jazz orchestras in Portugal without
talking about the important role of Zé Eduardo. His compositions traverse landscapes of the 70s and 80s - a swing, a bossa, a bolero - along with a quarantine-inspired composition." HighResAudio. Chris Cheek guests on sax.
Orquestra Jazz De Matosinhos, Farol: Musica de Carlos Azevedo, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp
Two hours of wonderful Portuguese big band still not enough? Here's a nice video of an entire show of the Músicas album, from 2019. 😎
"Pianist Geoff Stradling's
superb Los Angeles-based StradBand swings heartily and with
seldom a pause on its radiant and power-laden introductory album,Nimble Digits.
Stradling ... composed all but one song on Nimble Digits ... and arranged everything.... The StradBand has been performing in the Los Angeles area almost
since it was formed in 2010," Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz. Geoff's website.
Geoff Stradling & The Stradband, Nimble Digits, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions Vol. 2 follows 2022s Vol. 1 in the celebration of bassist/composer/bandleader Charles Mingus. Vol. 1 was a Grammy nominee, and has a post below. While Vol. 2 did not earn a Grammy-nod, it "features an impressive collection of new performances of his timeless works." William Brown/Maxazine. Album Discogs.
Friday 50s 😁 an album from a half-century ago.... A more recent release, an album from 1964 (60 years ago!) and a full concert round-out this tribute.
Dec 12th was pianist/big band composer-arranger-bandleader Toshiko Akiyoshi's 95th birthday. Here's her last big band release, from 2007, with the SWR Big Band, Let Freedom Swing. Album info Discogs ; Wikipedia. She leads the band through charts of her classic big band compositions.
Toshiko Akiyoshi And The SWR Big Band, Let Freedom Swing, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
The band was based in Los Angeles from 1973-82, then New York thru 2003 (with several name variations), and released ~17 studio albums. This Down Beat magazine and Grammy info attests to the band's popularity (Wikipedia info/links):
The 1980 Grammy-nominated album Kogun was actually a 1974 release, and is the actual subject of today's post. You know, Friday 50s, an album from 50 years ago... 😁
"Koguneasily displays why Akiyoshi is such a treasure. It's a record
that is simultaneously driving, romantic, and experimental, seductive in
its implications and undeniable in its swing." Daniel Gioffre/AllMusic. Album Discogs ; Wikipedia. TABB Discogs ; Allmusic. Toshiko Allmusic ; Discogs. Lew Tabackin Allmusic ; Discogs.
Digital availability of TABB albums was sketchy until recently. Kogun is available on YouTube as a CD-rip in one large file. Several 1970s TALTBB albums are now on Spotify, so check your service.
Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band, Kogun, full album: YouTube rip ; Spotify
Friday 50s extended a decade takes us to 1964 and the album Toshiko Mariano And Her Big Band, Jazz In Japan Recorded In Tokyo. Released also as Toshiko And Modern Jazz, this featured a preview of big band excellence-to-come with 4 tunes, along with 3 piano trio tunes. Toshiko was married to jazz saxophonist Charlie Mariano(Wikipedia ; Discogs) at the time, and their daughter is vocalist/flutist Monday Michiru(Wikipedia ; Discogs).
Toshiko released her first album in 1952. She plans a 2025 tour of Japan with husband Lew, as a duo! Lew is a young man at only 84. My jazz heroes. 💕
Toshiko Akiyoshi, Toshiko And Modern Jazz, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Trumpeter Clark Terry guests with the Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band at the 1975 Monterey Jazz Festival main stage. The bearded tenor sax soloist is Toshiko's husband Lew Tabackin. The video is aged and ends a bit abruptly, but the sound is absolutely fine.
To top off this love-fest 😍, here is a full show of the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra from 1993, which was released on DVD as Strive For Jive. Toshiko makes a few comments. Video is dated but the sound is fine. 😎
Grammy-nominated saxophonist/composer/arranger/bandleader Remy Le Boeuf appears on at least two 2024 releases.
"Remy Le Boeufsees with a panoramic outlook as a bandleader, composer, and performer, and that fact rests at the heart of Heartland Radio." Dan Bilawsky/AllAboutJazz. This is the 3rd Assembly Of Shadows release.
Remy LeBoeuf's Assembly Of Shadows, Heartland Radio, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp
Remy conducts and guests with the Nordkraft Big Band (NBB) on their new album Strangers To Ourselves.
NBB is based in Aalborg – the fourth largest city in Denmark, and a cultural hub in the Northern Jutland region of the country. NBB has released ~9 albums since 2016.NBBwebsite.
Nordkraft Big Band With Remy Le Boeuf , Strangers To Ourselves, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
A post below celebrates Remy Le Boeuf's two recent big band albums that earned various Grammy Award nominations: 2021s Architecture of Storms and 2019s Assembly of Shadows. Remy's website ; Discogs ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic.
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. 🎷
Tuesday 25s 😁 an album from a quarter-century ago....
Trumpeter Tom Harrell's 1999 big band album Time's Mirrorearned a 2000 Grammy Award nomination for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance(album).
"Harrell's regular pianist Xavier Davis, saxophonist Don Braden, and trombonist Conrad Herwig
are standouts in terms of their solo spots and this tight ensemble, some
17 strong, manages to nail Harrell's charts with a precision that
belies their relative difficulty." C.A. Hovan/AllAboutJazz. Album Allmusic ; Discogs ; Wikipedia
Harrell has released >65 albums since 1976, and has won multiple Trumpeter of the Year awards from DownBeatmagazine. Tom's website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.
Tom Harrell, Time's Mirror, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
"Buoyant up-tempo grooves, strong ensemble work and engaging arrangements make this an exemplary big band recording.
Trumpeter Michael Lamb began the band in 2003 and they have steadily developed to be the
top big band in the North East of England and one of the most exciting
in the UK.... Lamb's work is in demand for TV and he has recorded for films as diverse as Harry Potter and Downton Abbey. Joining the 19-strong band are special guests for each track, providing the album with the title." Neil Duggan/AllAboutJazz. Mainly instrumental, with 2 vocal tunes.
This is their ~3rd album since ~2021, with more live show downloads available at their website.
Strictly Smokin' Big Band, Strictly Smokin' & Friends, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist Jeff Coffin combines
traditional West African music and rhythms,
spirituals, and blues inOnly The Horizon.
Coffin assembled over 40 acclaimed musicians to perform the contemporary
music, with a cast that intermingles through the tunes. JazzViews review.
"Not for nothing is the recording named Funky Frijoles.
The beans don’t just sprout, they crackle and explode with a rhythmic
pulse that is fired up by eloquent melodies and sublime harmonies.... each song brings thrillingly vibrant and lucid playing from performers in the Bronx Conexión Latin Jazz Big Band." (BCBB) Raul De Gama/LatinJazzNet.
BCBB is a driving 20-piece Latin-jazz big band led by NYC
percussionist, composer/arranger, and educator Victor Rendón. The
ensemble did a 6-year weekly-show residency in NYC recently. This is their 3rd album since 2016. BCBB website ; Discogs. Victor Rendon website.
Victor Rendón & Bronx Conexión Latin Jazz Big Band, Funky Frijoles, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp
Friday 50s 😁 an album from a half-century ago.... And a bonus new release also.
"Evans explored ten of Hendrix's compositions with his unique 19-piece unit, an orchestra that included two French horns, the tuba of Howard Johnson, three guitars, two basses, two percussionists and such soloists as altoist David Sanborn, Billy Harper on tenor and guitarist John Abercrombie. Evans' arrangements uplift many of Hendrix's
more blues-oriented compositions and create a memorable set that is
rock-oriented but retains the improvisation and personality of jazz." Scott Yanow/AllMusic. Album Discogs ; Wikipedia.
"Pianist, composer, arranger and band-leader Gil Evans is widely recognized as one of the greatest orchestrators in jazz, playing an important role in the development of cool jazz, modal jazz, free jazz, and jazz fusion" Wikipedia. Evans released >40 albums from 1957-86, most with his orchestra, with 3 Grammy Awards and 13 more nominations.Discogs ; Allmusic.
The Gil Evans Orchestra, Plays The Music Of Jimi Hendrix, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
The Gil Evans Orchestra did a Monday night show at the club 'Sweet Basil' in NYC from 1982 thru Evans 1988 death and for awhile beyond as alumni. A 2014 alumni show has just been released, with what appears to be a nonet, includes 2 Hendrix tunes, and is a great tribute. AllAboutJazz review. Leader Pete Levin's website.
Gil Evans Remembered, Live At The Cutting Room NYC, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp
"Garland's compositions draw on a range of influences from jazz, classical,
pastoral, Turkish and free-form and are displayed in trio and orchestral
forms. His ability to compose, play and arrange musical narratives
makes him one of the most accomplished musicians in contemporary jazz." Neil Duggan/AllAboutJazz. Album Discogs. This is '3rd stream,' a jazz-classical mix.
Saxophonist Tim Garland has released ~25 albums since 1988. He was in Chick Corea's Origin, and played with guitarist Ralph Towner, drummer Bill Bruford and composer John Dankworth. Tim's website ; Discogs ; YouTube
The album is a collaboration with Turkish visual artistEsra Kizir Gokcen, and has its own website. I believe the piece below is 'The Forever Seed: Autumn 1,' and is ~3m on a side.
For another big band album based on art, see a post below for the Vanessa Perica Orchestra, The Eye Is The First Circle, inspired by a work from painter Lee Krasner.
Tbh, Tim just conducts on some of the symphonic tunes, which are the Britten Sinfonia or the London Studio Orchestra. Tim plays on the album with his Lighthouse Trio, with pianist Gwilym Simcock and percussionist Asaf Sirkis. Enjoy an album tune with the trio, and Esra Kizir Gokcen's art. 😎
"Parton has produced another winner with Relentless, and fans of big-band jazz should rejoice accordingly." Troy Dostert/AllAboutJazz. Mainly instrumental, with 2 vocal tunes.
Trumpeter Rob Parton is a faculty member of North Texas University (NTU) since 2019. Before that he was Chicago-based and led the JazzTech Big Band, which released 7 albums from 1991 - 2007. Rob's website ; Discogs. Fyi, an album by the Fernando Huergo Big Band with the same title was recommended recently below.
A post below is about NTU's One O'Clock Lab Band. Parton released the 2021 album Long Way On A Blues with NTU's Two O'Clock Lab Band (TLB), another renown NTU student class. The TLB has released ~18 albums since 1994. "The band takes to the charts like ducks to water..." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz. Mainly instrumental, with 2 vocal tunes. Album Discogs. TLB Discogs ; Wikipedia
Two O'Clock Lab Band, Long Way On A Blues, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
Tuesday 25s 😁 an album from a quarter-century ago....
"Saxophonist Phil Woods may be at his best when working over tunes familiar to his
audience. This collection of ten classic Porgy and Bess songs is just
such an instance... On this
occasion, Woods was accompanied by an excellent Italian big band." David Franklin/JazzTimes. Album Discogs ; Allmusic.
Alto saxophonist Phil Woods was a jazz giant active from the 1950s into the 2010s. He played in prominent 1950s big bands (Gil Evans Orchestra), and then primarily led his own groups later. He guested on and occasionally led big band albums throughout his career. Wikipedia ; Discogs ; Allmusic ; website.
Jazz Class Orchestra Meets Phil Woods, Porgy and Bess, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
San Francisco-based saxophonist Miguel Zenon's2024 albumGolden Cityearned a 2025 Grammy Award nomination for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. Recorded with a nonet, Zenon now has >20 Grammy/Latin Grammy nominations. He won Best Latin Jazz Album last year for his duet release with pianist Luis Pedromo, El Arte Del Bolero, Vol. 2.
"Thematically and instrumentally challenging and complex, featuring a
nonet heavy on the low-end brass (trombones, tuba, trumpet), Golden Cityis a triumph.... The album is Miguel Zenon at his creative peak." Dan McClenaghan/AllAboutJazz. Musicians include trumpeter Diego Urcola and trombonist Alan Ferber.
"One of the more flexible large ensembles on the New York scene. Capable
of swinging fervently, playing a persuasive mambo or laying down the
funk in no uncertain terms, the Hell’s Kitchen Funk Orchestra (HKFO) covers a
lot of bases on Chesapeake." Jeremy Smith/Last Row Music. Guests include saxophonist Gary Bartz, trombonist Conrad Herwig and keyboardist Paul Shaffer.
Trumpeter-composer-arranger-bandleader-educator and Baltimore native Bill Warfield has played in the NYC area and released ~9 big band albums since ~1983 (Discogs). Most were as the Bill Warfield Big Band, and this is the 3rd HKFO album since 2020. Bill has a day job as director of the jazz program at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Bill Warfield and The Hell’s Kitchen Funk Orchestra, Chesapeake, full album: YouTube ; Spotify
"Infinite Connections is remarkable contemporary jazz with a
slight yet definitive Korean accent, marvelously written by Lee and
impeccably performed by the orchestra." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz.
Jihye Lee is a Korean-born, Brooklyn-based composer, arranger, and conductor. This is her 3rd big band album since 2017, and all 3 are worth a listen. She studied with Jim McNeely at the
Manhattan School of Music, and her co-producer is Grammy-winning composer/arranger Darcy James Argue. A post below is on the 2024 Grammy-nominated album Darcy James Argue's Secret SocietyMaximum Dynamic Tension.
"...a buoyant drama, a roaming investigation that swells and swales in all the right places," wrote Mike Jurkovic/AllAboutJazz about her 2021 album Daring Mind, which was Best Jazz Album at the Korean Music Awards.
