Big Band 2024 still - 10 Albums

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. 🎷

The goal is to at least mention all ~108 albums (hours) on Big Band 2024 at Spotify/JazzTodayish. 

The Danish Radio Big Band, XL-LX, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp (5 suites by 5 jazz composers, 1.75 hours, 5 vinyl records)

Herb Alpert, 50, full album: YouTube ; Spotify (Smooth jazzin' his formula for a 50th album, his 2013 and 2016 albums earned a Grammy & a nomination, and he owns one of Los Angeles' top jazz clubs. 😁)

Geoffrey Keezer, Open During Construction, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Mosaic, Where We Are Now, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

 Danilo Perez & Bohuslan Big Band, Lumen, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Geof Bradfield, Colossal Abundance, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

 John Hollenbeck & NDR Big Band, Colouring Hockets, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Chris Muller Big Band, Turning Thoughts, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp
 

Sointi Jazz Orchestra, J​ä​ä​hyväiset, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Terry Waldo & The Gotham City Band, Treasury, Vol. 1, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp 😎

Chris McDonald Jazz Orchestra – 'It’s About Time'

"It’s About Time is a ... a collection of eight originals and two covers, performed by a collection of some of Nashville’s best players.... The album is a sonic delight, vibrant and full, giving proper aural space to soloists and fully textured beds of sound to the ensemble." Bert Saraco/Tollbooth.

Trombonist/bandleader Chris McDonald is Nashville (USA) based since the 1980s, and his arrangements for Carrie Underwood, Willie Nelson, Sara Evans and more have been heard world-wide by billions. (Thierry De Clemensat/ParisMove). Chris has done arrangements for or played on >40 Grammy winner/nominated albums. He does an occasional big band project, and this 2024 release is his ~9th album since 1996. For boomer readers, the 1st tune is a cover of Yes' 'Roundabout.' Chris' website ; Discogs ; Allmusic.

Chris McDonald Jazz Orchestra, It’s About Time, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Gardyn Jazz Orchestra - 'Vinyl Brews' & their debut album

"Alto saxophonist Jon C. Gardner not only leads the piquant and powerful Philadelphia-based Gardyn Jazz Orchestra (GJO), he also wrote and arranged every song on Vinyl Brews, an in-concert performance recorded in December 2023 at Chris' Jazz Café in the City of Brotherly Love.... When such performances are as dynamic and inspiring as this one, they should be happily cherished and preserved forever in one's storehouse of pleasant memories." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz.

Gardyn Jazz Orchestra, Vinyl Brews, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

The album has 6 original tunes, plus 3 alternate takes. The band plays a tune from the live concert recording session:

This is GJOs 2nd live release. You might as well try their eponymous 2022 album. Double-down with some fine big band jazz from Philadelphia, USA. GJO no website, so Facebook.

Gardyn Jazz Orchestra, Gardyn Jazz Orchestra, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

Enjoy a 2nd tune from the live concert recording session. 😎

Mahavishnu Orchestra - 'Apocalypse'

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

With Michael Tilson Thomas and the London Symphony Orchestra. "The union wasn't taken seriously at the time.... Don't let old, outworn preconceptions on either side of the fence prevent you from checking out this beautiful record." Richard Ginell/Allmusic. Album Wikipedia ; Discogs. 

The Mahavishnu Orchestra (MO) released 8 studio albums from 1971 - 89. This was the first album of the '2nd MO': John McLaughlin, guitars; Jean Luc Ponty, violin; Gayle Moran, keys & vocals; Ralphe Armstrong, bass; Narada Michael Walden, drums. Produced by '5th Beatle' George Martin. MO: Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Mahavishnu Orchestra, Apocalypse, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Delfeayo Marsalis & Uptown Jazz Orchestra - 'Crescent City Jewels'

"A high-energy collection that showcases the vitality of big-band jazz with an infectious New Orleans flavour." Pierre Giroux/AllAboutJazz.

This 2024 release is the Uptown Jazz Orchestra's 4th album since 2016, and all are absolute joys. Discogs.  Trombonist/bandleader Delfeayo Marsalis has 7 additional releases since 1992. Website ; Wikipedia ; Discogs.

Delfeayo Marsalis & Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Crescent City Jewels, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra - 'And So It Goes'

The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra (CHJO) had 3 leaders: drummer Jeff Hamilton, with the brothers altoist Jeff Clayton and bassist John. This is the band's 1st album since Jeff Clayton passed, and is dedicated to his memory. This 2023 release is nominated for a 2025 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. Album website ; Discogs.

This is the CHJO's ~14th album since 1990, and their 2nd Grammy nomination. Wikipedia ; Discogs. John Clayton website. Jeff Hamilton website.

The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, And So It Goes, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on the Big Band 2023 and Jazz Best Albums 2023 playlists at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

Claude Bolling Big Band - 'A Tone Parallel To Harlem: Duke Ellington'

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

Claude Bolling was a French pianist and bandleader who interbred jazz and classical idioms throughout a career that spanned from 1945 - 2016. His love of Duke Ellington's music resulted in this big band album of Duke's tunes, with Claude's French big band. Album Discogs.

The Claude Bolling Big Band released ~15 albums from 1990 - 2016. Discogs. Bolling's Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Claude Bolling Big Band, A Tone Parallel To Harlem: Duke Ellington, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Anders Malta - 'Introducing Anders Malta Almost Big Band'

"It’s striking how agile this 13-piece ensemble is, delivering the tight, nimble sound more typical of a small group." Tim Larsen/JazzViews.

This 2024 release is the band's debut album, and they've performed regularly since 2020 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Anders is a trumpet/trombone player with credits on Discogs.

Anders Malta, Introducing Anders Malta Almost Big Band, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

Temple University Studio Orchestra - 'Labyrinth'

"One of Los Angeles’ greatest treasures, pianist Billy Childs, takes a trip to Philadelphia where his big band compositional and arranging skills are put to good use. The Temple University Studio Orchestra (TUSO), conducted by Jose Luis Deominguez, is supplemented by ringers Terell Stafford/tp, and Dick Oatts/as,  on this three song collection." George Harris/JazzWeekly. Album Discogs ; website.

A post below celebrates Billy Childs' 2024 Grammy Award winner album The Winds Of Change. The post has a video of Billy with the WDR Big Band, along with more Billy info.

This is the TUSOs 2nd album, but Temple U. has many jazz ensemble iterations. "BCM&D Records is the official record label of the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University. Founded in 2009 to highlight recordings by Boyer students and faculty, the label has since garnered five Grammy nominations." TUSO Discogs. BCM&D website. The Temple University Jazz Band has 3 albums: Spotify ; Discogs.

Temple University Studio Orchestra, Labyrinth, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

Ray Brown's Great Big Band - 'I Could Write A Book'

"Celebrating twenty-seven years of performing together, Ray Brown’s Great Big Band has reassembled to record one last time. You will enjoy over 100 minutes of authentic big band jazz." Dee Dee McNeil/MakingAScene. 21 songs with 5 Christmas tunes. A 2024 release. Album Discogs.

Active since the 1960s, Bay Area trumpeter/vibraphonist/arranger/bandleader Ray Brown has played and arranged for Stan Kenton and others. This is his big band's 3rd release. BB Discogs. Ray's Wikipedia.

Ray Brown's Great Big Band, I Could Write A Book, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

Woody Herman - 'Herd At Montreaux' & a YouTube concert

Friday 50s,  an album from about a half-century ago.... 😉or 1974.

Clarinetist/saxophonist/bandleader Woody Herman earned Grammy Awards for Best  Jazz Performance By A Big Band in 1974 and 1975 for his two 1974 releases - a nice year's work 😁. A post below celebrates his 1974 winner Thundering Herd, with more band info. Here's his 1975 winner, Herd At Montreaux.

"Herman plays soprano saxophone exclusively, leads a 15-piece band through contemporary funk and fusion music of the day.... This prefigured the direction he would take for most of the '70s." Michael Nastos/Allmusic. From a 1974 concert at the famous Montreaux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), the sonics could be improved, but the band cooks throughout. Album Discogs. 

Woody Herman led big bands from the 1930s - 80s, with  >120 albums. He won 3 Grammys with 15 more nominations. Woody's: Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Woody Herman, Herd At Montreaux, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Here's a full show, maybe from November 1973, Jazzfest Berlin, maybe from sometime in 1974. Regardless, it's a nice document of the Grammy-winner Thundering Herd in action, with really nice sound. 😎

Big Band 2024 still - 10 Albums

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. 🎷

The goal is to at least mention all ~112 albums (hours) on Big Band 2024 at Spotify/JazzTodayish. 

Louis Cole & Metropole Orkest, Nothing, full album: YouTube (whole album concert video + album) ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Daniel Casimir & London Contemporary Orchestra, Balance, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Johan Hoogewijs & Toots Thielemans, Tout de Suite, full album: YouTube ; Spotify. Compilation of tunes recorded from 1999 - 2010.

Jazzrausch Bigband, Bangers Only!, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

John Daversa Big Band, Improvisatory Observatory: Live And Raw At The Baked Potato, Exhibit 1, full album: YouTube ; Spotify Two albums directed by John are recommended in a post below.

John Daversa Big Band, Improvisatory Observatory: Live And Raw At The Baked Potato, Exhibit 2, full album: YouTube ; Spotify. Two albums directed by John are recommended in a post below.

Tom Johnson Jazz Orchestra, Time Takes Odd Turns, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Danny Jonokuchi, A Decade, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Danny Jonokuchi, Past Is Present, full EP/25 minutes: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, Maetrix, full album: YouTube ; Spotify 😎

Bobby Selvaggio 11 - 'stories dreams, inspirations: for my boy'

Happy big band New Year! 😄Still postin' 2024 albums.

"Saxophonist Bobby Selvaggio's arrangements trade in tight charts yet loose-fitting solos. The discipline the ensemble displays allows for this freedom.... With his latest release, he presents seven new compositions, arranged for his 11-piece Cleveland band, all dedicated to his son Julian, with his wife Chelsea's vocals on two tracks" Mark Corroto/AllAboutJazz. Album Discogs.

This is Bobby's ~9th album since 1999. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, he has a day job as Director of Jazz Studies at Kent State University. Bobby's: website ; Discogs ; Allmusic.

Bobby Selvaggio 11, stories dreams, inspirations: for my boy, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp 

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

Paquito D’Rivera - 'Tropicana Nights'

Tuesday 25s 😁 an album from 1999, a quarter-century ago. Happy big band New Year! 😄

"Highly recommended, thoroughly enjoyable, and perhaps his magnum opus." Michael Nastos/Allmusic. This earned a 2000 Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album. Album Discogs.

Saxophone legend Paquito D'Rivera has released >80 albums since 1975, with 16 Grammy+Latin Grammy Awards and 33 more nominations. 😱 website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Copy 'Paquito' into the 'search box' for posts about 4 albums he guests on below.

Paquito D’Rivera, Tropicana Nights, full album: Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

Pony Boy All-Star Big Band - 'This Is Now: Live At Boxley’s'

"This band certainly deserves to be heard on a wider platform... a big band worthy of the name."  Peter Gamble/JazzJournal. Fine players from the Pacific Northwest (USA), The Pony Boy All-Star Big Band (PBB) is directed by drummer Greg Williamson.

This is the 1st PBB album, and Williamson's 2nd. Album Discogs. Greg's Discogs ; YouTube. PBB website. Boxley's YouTube.

Pony Boy All-Star Big Band, This Is Now: Live At Boxley’s, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

The YouTube sites for Greg and Boxley's have many full shows of PBB and others.The PBB does the album tune 'Mr. X' below. 😎

Frankfurt Radio Big Band: with John Beasley - ‘Returning To Forever’ & YouTube concert; with Sebastian Sternal - 'Turning Point'

This post mentions 3 albums with Grammy-cred, a new release, and 4 complete video concerts. Enough to keep you busy through the year? 😁

The Frankfurt Radio Big Band (FRBB) released two 2024 albums. This first was nominated for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album at the upcoming 2025 Grammy Awards.

"Fans of Chick Corea's 'Return to Forever' projects will love this as both the score and the musicianship are as superb as we’d expect from top American arranger John Beasley and the peerless FRBB.... The gorgeous section playing, a pleasure in itself, once again sets the scene here for the wonderfully well-crafted solos." David Shiers/UKJazzNews 

John Beasley & Frankfurt Radio Big Band, Returning To Forever, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is FRBBs 3rd Grammy nomination, and Beasley’s 13th, with 2 wins. Beasley’s website ; Discogs. A post below celebrates the Grammy success of John's 2022 album with the SWR Big Band Bird Lives & his 2021 album MONK’estra Plays John Beasley.

Here is a video concert of the entire new album, tunes rearranged, from March 2022.

 

 

FRBBs latest release is Turning Point, led by pianist Sebastian Sternal. "Dazzling tonal colors, catchy melodies and energetic grooves. The outstanding soloists of the FRBB shine." Schott-music.

Sebastian Sternal & HR-Bigband, Turning Point, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

The FRBB, also known as the ‘HR-Big Band,’ is a project of Hessian Radio, Germany. They have released ~19 albums since 2007. Their YouTube channel (please subscribe); website ; Discogs.   

 

Their YouTube channel has >50 full concerts 😱 that were live streamed from the last 6 years, with an emphasis on good sound. 🎷 Three shows are posted below, with: trumpeter Till Brönner ; saxophonist Mark Turner ; saxophonists Dick Oatts and Gary Smulyan and arranger/conductor Jim McNeely. 😎

Big Band 2024 - 10 albums

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. 🎷

The goal is to at least mention all ~112 albums (hours) on Big Band 2024 at Spotify/JazzTodayish.

Matt Lavelle & The 12 Houses, The Crop Circles Suite - Part 1, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Flat Earth Society, The One, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Hans Koller, Natural Science, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Christine Jensen, Harbour, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Bigband Der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Charles Mingus: Epitaph, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Mike Holober & The Gotham Jazz Orchestra, This Rock We're On: Imaginary Letters, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Eric Ladish, Songs From In Between, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

New Regency Orchestra, New Regency Orchestra, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

Eyal Vilner Big Band, Swingin' Uptown, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

Cory Wong & Metropole Orkest, Starship Syncopation, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp 😎

Blue Mitchell - 'Many Shades Of Blue'

Friday 50s 😁 an album from a half-century ago....

"Sweet electric 70s funk from Blue Mitchell – blowing here in some of the hippest arrangements of his career! Blue's trumpet alone is always pretty darn great, but for this album he's working with arranger Dave Matthews" (no, not that guy) Dusty Groove.

Trumpeter Jon Faddis and sax/flutist Joe Farrell play in the ~11-member band. Not considered an essential Mitchell album, taken on its own it is a fun ride. 😁 Album Allmusic ; Discogs ; Wikipedia.

Blue Mitchell released >40 albums from 1958-78. Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs

Blue Mitchell, Many Shades Of Blue, full album: YouTube ; Spotify ; Bandcamp

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

OSU Jazz Orchestra - 'Angular Tuesday' & 'Room 118' & 'Solid Gold'

Another university band spreads plenty of holiday cheer on these 3 fine albums. 😁

"The splendid Oklahoma State University Jazz Orchestra (OSUJA) seldom pauses for breath on Angular Tuesday, its third album under director Tommy Poole.... It is the admirable and earnest section work on every number that raises Angular Tuesday above the norm." Jack Bowers/AllAboutJazz.

OSU Jazz Orchestra, Angular Tuesday, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

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

The other two OSUJA albums are corkers as well. OSUJA website ; YouTube

"There must be something special there, as the OSUJA is one of the most well-rehearsed university-level jazz ensembles you're likely to encounter..." Jack Bowers/All About Jazz. From 2021.

OSU Jazz Orchestra, Room 118, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on the Big Band 2021 playlist at Spotify/JazzTodayish.

Trombonist Michael Dease guests on their 2018 album. "A tasty banquet that's sure to quicken the appetite of almost any champion of straight-ahead big-band jazz." Jack Bowers/All About Jazz.

OSU Jazz Orchestra, Solid Gold, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on the Big Band 2018 playlist at Spotify/JazzTodayish. 

Enjoy the new album's title track, performed in-studio. Their YouTube channel has ~9 more nice tunes, from the various albums, recorded like this. 😎