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

[MoreWatts]

From saxophonist Eyal Vilner's website: "Eyal Vilner has become one of the leading new voices in the New York swing and big band scene. Born in Tel Aviv, saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist, composer and bandleader Eyal Vilner moved to New York in 2007 and started his big band the following year.... The big band performs Eyal’s new arrangements of jazz and swing tunes as well as his original compositions. Their music, which derives from the tradition of jazz, swing and the blues, strives to bring a unique voice to this beautiful art form. The big band’s first four albums: Introducing the Eyal Vilner Big Band, Almost Sunrise, Hanukkah and Swing Out! received rave reviews." The band released their 5th album, The Jam!, in 2022. Below is an official preview video for the album, then 2 Zoom live performances, the first a tune from the new album. A YouTube link to the full album follows. Please enjoy some snappy big band jazz to start your New Year!

Elay Vilner Big Band, "The Jam!" YouTube link, full album.

 

[Wicky]

Ezra Collective, Where I'm Meant To Be

 

[Wicky]

Apologies Bossa Nova, I consider it "jazz" enough for this purpose, regardless beautiful / sublime :

 

[DarrylG]

Apologies Bossa Nova, I consider it "jazz" enough for this purpose, regardless beautiful / sublime :

I get "Video unavailable" on both those videos.

 

[DarrylG]

 

[MoreWatts]

From AllAboutJazz.com: "Any orchestra that professes to establish a new standard had better be able to back that up. Happily for the listener, on its debut recording, Waltz About Nothing, Chicago's New Standard Jazz Orchestra can—and does. In a little more than two years, the NSJO has arisen as a worthy successor to one of the more exemplary ensembles ever to grace the Windy City, trumpeter Rob Parton's JazzTech Big Band. The equivalence seems predestined when one notes that no less than nine members of the NSJO—including co-leaders Ken Partyka and Andy Baker —are former members of Parton's cutting-edge ensemble. Seven of the album's eleven numbers were written by NSJO members, and they are admirable in every respect, as are the others." I thought this was a 2022 release, but it's from 2016. No nice video of the band live in the usual places, so the post is the first tune from the album, followed by a YouTube link to the entire album. Please enjoy a really nice big band jazz album. These folks should record another.

New Standard Jazz Orchestra, "Waltz About Nothing," YouTube link, full album.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Wicky]

I get "Video unavailable" on both those videos.

odd, links are still up for me. perhaps some geographic constraint?

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[DarrylG]

odd, links are still up for me. perhaps some geographic constraint?

Maybe, but they normally give an error message saying it's not available in your country.

 

[DarrylG]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[DarrylG]

Emmet Cohen - Piano; Paquito D'Rivera - Clarinet; Diego Urcola - Trumpet; Philip Norris - Bass; Kyle Poole - Drums

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

From Spotify: "Pianist Antonio Adolfo grew up in a musical family in Rio de Janeiro, ... and at seventeen he was already a professional musician. His teachers include Eumir Deodato and the great Nadia Boulanger. During the 60's he led his own trio and toured in Brazil and abroad.... His compositions, have been recorded by such artists as Sérgio Mendes, Stevie Wonder, Herb Alpert and Earl Klugh....Six recent CD releases have been nominated for a Latin Grammy."

His 2022 album is Octet and Originals. From AllAboutJazz.com: "While Adolfo is more than adequate as a pianist, the entire vibe of the recording is just relaxed and musical....Everyone is outstanding. The rhythm section simply seems to float on top of the time....Even for those not inclined to dig Brazilian fare, this is a recording that will wear very, very well. It is an outstanding example of its genre, and of Antonio Adolfo's work in particular. He has been in the midst of it all since the late '60s. With any luck, he has a long way to go and much more to offer."

3 live videos follow, the first is a song from the album, but with added vocals, then an Antonio composition not on the album, and then he does Coltrane, because, why not? YouTube and Spotify links for the new album are at the end. Please enjoy some nice Brazilian jazz.

Antonio Adolfo, "Octet and Originals," YouTube link, full album. Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

From Brazilian jazz, to Latvian jazz? From their website: "The Latvian Radio Big Band has played a significant role in the history of jazz in Latvia. The big band’s legacy to Latvian culture is priceless – currently, the sound library of 'Latvian Radio' holds over 9,000 recordings featuring the band. Since 2012, the big band has performed with such musical stars as James Morrison, Seamus Blake, Randy Brecker, Diane Schuur, and many others. Each of the Latvian Radio Big Band performances is like an energy exchange between the musicians and the audience. Today the collective is an integral part of the Latvian culture scene and they are preparing new and interesting projects under the leadership of artistic director Kārlis Vanags."

For an interesting project, "Pierre Bertrand (French saxophonist and big band arranger) has created a program of his original music exclusively for the Latvian Radio Big Band: a selection with an atmosphere that will transport the audience to the narrow streets of Montmartre and offer a taste of Bohemia." This is a video of the entire live performance, with wonderfully recorded sound (but wholly inadequate camera-work, ces la vie). The tunes with singer Paloma Pradal are especially captivating. Go to YouTube if you want to see the tunes time-indexed with featured performers. Just to remind us these are Latvians, playing French jazz, an accordion virtuoso features prominently, of course. An album of this was released in 2022, with a song featuring Ms. Pradal listed. YouTube and Spotify album links follow. Please enjoy some French, Latvian, Bohemian, big band jazz.

Latvian Radio Big Band with Pierre Bertrand, "Les Nuits De Montparnasse," YouTube playlist, full album. Spotify link.

 

[DarrylG]