Jazz ♫ Music only | In the now, or recently, or that you love...

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Wicky]

 

[Timcognito]

 

[Wicky]

 

[MusicMan74]

 

[MoreWatts]

From their own website. "The Composers' Orchestra Berlin is a large orchestra, with strings, horns and rhythm section, founded in autumn 2010 by composer & conductor Hazel Leach. The members of the orchestra are not only improvising instrumentalists, but are also the composers. There is no fixed line-up: the composers can select instruments from the pool, to develop a brand-new and innovative orchestral repertoire with stylistic influences ranging from classical to jazz and from folk to free…. the music written for this band has no exclusion zones. Since its founding in the autumn of 2010 the COB has become an established part of the Berlin jazz-scene, with regular concerts in the Kunstfabrik Schlot and the production of 4 CDs and an audiobook." The video is a live performance from 2012, and below that is a link to their 2022 release "Holding Pattern." And I also added a link to the video page on their website, because I missed these on YouTube, and I kinda enjoyed them. You might too.

Composers' Orchestra Berlin, "Holding Pattern," YouTube link, full album.

Composers' Orchestra Berlin, website, more videos.

 

[pderousse]

 

[DarrylG]

 

[MoreWatts]

Ben Markley, a jazz pianist, has performed with Brian Lynch, Greg Osby, Eddie Henderson, Terell Stafford, George Garzone, and John Fedchock. Markley is active as a composer and arranger with many big band and vocal jazz charts published. He is an active performer in the Denver-metropolitan area and along the front range, and currently serves as Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Wyoming. He's appeared on at least 19 albums, about 6 as leader, with 2 big band albums. The latest is 2022s "Ari's Fun House," which features Ari Hoenig on drums. The video is a performance of the 4th tune from the album, which lets soloist horn players play a bit. A YouTube link to the full album follows. Enjoy!

Ben Markley Big Band, "Ari's Fun House," YouTube link, full album.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[DarrylG]

 

[MoreWatts]

From the AllAboutJazz.com review: "Saxophonist Justin Chart takes improvisation a step further with The Scarlet Jazz Room. This album relies almost entirely on improvisation, and the result is quite impressive. Some might assume that this amount of improvisation would suggest that it's some sort of free jazz performance. This isn't the case at all. Each of the songs has a structure and cohesion that seems like the band is reading charts..." No kidding. A live, not studio recording. It runs from hot to cool, with a nice flow. The first song is below, with a YouTube link to the entire album, along with a link to the mentioned review. Enjoy your holiday evening.

Justin Chart, "The Scarlett Jazz Room," YouTube link, full album.

AllAboutJazz.com album review.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

From the AllAboutJazz.com review: "While listening to Conspiracy, German-born saxophonist-composer-arranger Tobias Hoffmann's second album, the thought arose that "'Stan Kenton would have loved this.' Having said that, it should be noted that 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." Below is the title tune from the album, and a YouTube link to the entire album follows, along with a link to the mentioned review. Please enjoy some modern big band jazz.

Tobias Hoffman Jazz Orchestra, "Conspiracy," YouTube link, full album.

Tobias Hoffman album, AllAboutJazz.com review

 

[MoreWatts]

From AllAboutJazz.com: "PJ Perry is a survivor. Now, in 2022, eighty-one years old, he has been playing saxophone since he was fourteen, when he joined his father's dance band as a baritone saxophonist. During the course of his lengthy career, he has lived in Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto and a couple of European cities, before settling in Edmonton, Alberta. As a technically accomplished and eloquent alto saxophonist, he has played with the likes of Rob McConnell's Boss Brass, Dizzy Gillespie, Slide Hampton and Woody Shaw, where he epitomized the best of the bop style along the lines of Phil Woods. Over the course of the pandemic lockdown, Perry and the Toronto bassist Neil Swainson worked separately and remotely to craft the eight charts which are presented on No Hugs." The first video talks about PJs signature alto sax, and the second is a YouTube link to the album's first tune. A YouTube link to the full album follows, as well as a link to the mentioned review. Please enjoy some new jazz, hot off the presses, so to speak. [links don't work]

PJ Perry, "No Hugs", YouTube link, full album.

AllAboutJazz.com album review.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

From Spotify: "European jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Muriel Grossmann is responsible for some of the most musically evocative and emotionally resonant jazz albums of the last two decades. Issued primarily through her own , Grossmann is equally adept on alto, soprano, and tenor saxophones. Her compositions, written specifically to showcase the strengths of her collaborators, reflect the place where post- modalism meets spiritual post-bop and experimentalism." The first video showcases her soprano sax skills, with a quartet. The second video is the first song of her 2022 album Universal Code. Below is a YouTube link to the entire album, and a link to an AllAboutJazz.com review of the album. Enjoy!

Muriel Grossman, "Universal Code", YouTube link, full album.

Muriel Grossman AllAboutJazz.com album review

 

[DarrylG]

The Thorn, by Willie Jones III

from the album The Next Phase

williejonesiii.bandcamp.com

 

[MoreWatts]

From Spotify: "Jason Marshall’s 2003 arrival in New York City signified the continuation of hard swinging, forward thinking baritone saxophone playing. With early encouragement to appreciate all types of music, Jason has developed a style that encompasses with whole of African-American music. A special interest is given to the amalgamation of soul, R and B, and funk with straight-ahead jazz. Years of dedication and perseverance have resulted in a giant, soulful sound and instantly appealing concept. Influences such as Leo Parker, Nick Brignola and Bruce Johnstone have coalesced to ensure an open perception of the baritone sax and a “take -no-prisoners” approach to playing jazz music." Jason released his 3rd album in 2022, a quartet effort titled New Beginnings. The first video is Jason and his trio playing a tune live, and the second video is the first song off the new album. Below is a YouTube link to the full album, and a link to the AllAboutJazz.com review of the album. BTW, he plays in NYC every Friday with the Birdland Big Band. Check his website for more info. Go low with this baritone saxophone treat.

Jason Marshall, "New Beginnings," YouTube link, full album

AllAboutJazz.com Jason Marshall album review.

 

[MoreWatts]

From AllAboutJazz.com: "'For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to have my own big band—an epic jazz orchestra of 17+ musicians,' writes trombonist Sean Nelson, in the liner notes to this set named for the 17-piece New London Big Band's home base, The Social Bar + Kitchen in New London, Connecticut. Nelson, also a member of the United States Coast Guard Band, contributes half of these dozen tunes (and arranges "When You Wish Upon A Star"). His compositions reach across and into the broad sound that 17 voices afford, and particularly flatter guitarist Doug Maher, whose forty years of performing experience began as guitarist with the Jazz Ensemble of the U.S. Army Band, The Army Blues, and trumpeter Haneef Nelson (no relation), who studied trumpet under Donald Byrd and music theory and ensemble classes under Max Roach at the legendary Jazzmobile in Harlem." [links don't work] The 2 videos are live, in the studio, performances of tunes from the 2022 album Social Hour. Then come: a YouTube link to the band's YouTube videos page, where they have more nice, live performance; a link to the quoted AllAboutJazz.com album review; a YouTube link to the full album. The first video is a nice, big band blues, slow burner. Happy New Year!

More Sean Nelson...Band live performance videos on YouTube.

Sean Nelson AllAboutJazz.com album review.

Sean Nelson's New London Big Band, "Social Hour," YouTube link, full album.