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[MoreWatts]

The post about pianist Orrin Evans upthread reminded me of his ~4 nice albums with his Captain Black Big Band. A nice one is Presence, which earned a 2019 Grammy nomination.

Sometimes goes a bit free but always returns to the usually furious groove. Please enjoy some thoroughly modern big band.

Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band, Presence, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

Tenor saxophonist Warne Marsh (also recommended upthread here) did many recordings with altoist Lee Konitz, usually with the Marsh quartet. Crosscurrents was a 1977 album they did with the backing of pianist Bill Evans and his trio, which was released as an Evans album, with bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Eliot Zigmund.

It has that quiet, yet always interesting, groove of a Bill Evans album. Please enjoy this classic collaboration.

Bill Evans Trio with Lee Konitz & Warne Marsh, Crosscurrents, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

Grover Washington, Jr.'s 1988 album Then And Now is a nice surprise. From Allmusic: "This is one of Grover Washington, Jr.'s occasional strays away from R&B-oriented jazz to play in a more straight-ahead setting, switching between soprano, alto and tenor... Worth acquiring."

The video is a live tune from the album's tour. An under-appreciated classic.

Grover Washington, Jr., Then And Now, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

From AllAboutJazz: "This is music for the open-minded. On A Thousand Pebbles, his fourth album as leader, New York-based pianist & accordionist Ben Rosenblum's seven-member Nebula Project traverses a number of international musical landscapes... offering a pleasurable smorgasbord of contemporary jazz that is always engaging and never shopworn.

Rosenblum the composer wrote all of the album's eleven numbers save one, and each of his themes is bright and charming.

Rosenblum is accompanied by trumpeter Wayne Tucker, bass clarinetist Jasper Dutz, drummer Ben Zweig, guitarist Rafael Rosa and percussionist Xavier Del Castillo to make up the septet, which is solid and in step on every number."

That's alotta words to not even say classical/Euro folk/jazz fusion. The video is Rosenblum on accordian in duet with a sax. Please enjoy something new and a bit different.

Ben Rosenblum Nebula Project, A Thousand Pebbles, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[DarrylG]

 

[DarrylG]

From AllAboutJazz: "This is music for the open-minded. On A Thousand Pebbles, his fourth album as leader, New York-based pianist & accordionist Ben Rosenblum's seven-member Nebula Project traverses a number of international musical landscapes... offering a pleasurable smorgasbord of contemporary jazz that is always engaging and never shopworn.

Rosenblum the composer wrote all of the album's eleven numbers save one, and each of his themes is bright and charming.

Rosenblum is accompanied by trumpeter Wayne Tucker, bass clarinetist Jasper Dutz, drummer Ben Zweig, guitarist Rafael Rosa and percussionist Xavier Del Castillo to make up the septet, which is solid and in step on every number."

That's alotta words to not even say classical/Euro folk/jazz fusion. The video is Rosenblum on accordian in duet with a sax. Please enjoy something new and a bit different.

Ben Rosenblum Nebula Project, A Thousand Pebbles, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

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Very nice, to say the least. Here's something along the same line, or at least the same instrumentation.

 

[MoreWatts]

This was recorded toward the end of Dexter Gordon's 14 year European residence, a 1974 release. From Allmusic: "While in Europe, tenor-sax-great Dexter Gordon recorded many sessions with pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath. All are worth acquiring and this one is no exception."

The video is from 1974, with a different drummer, and nice Dex and Niels solos. I have this album on a vinyl slab, but instead I summoned from the heavens, because I can...

Dexter Gordon, The Apartment, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

Tenor saxophonist David Sanchez has had 1 Grammy win and 6 nominations in Latin Jazz categories since 1997. His album Carib was a 2020 nomination for best Latin Jazz Instrumental Album. Nice variety of moods, heavier on the jazz than the Latin.

The video is a live album cut. The video is a bit fuzzy, but the sound is just fine. Please enjoy.

David Sanchez, Carib, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

From AllAboutJazz: "Pardon the superlative, but what a terrific album! Big Band Extravaganza marks the debut of guitarist Doug MacDonald's seventeen-member Jazz Orchestra, and he has guaranteed that it swings with gusto by writing nine perceptive and luminous charts.

During his decades-long career as one of the West Coast's foremost guitarists, MacDonald has recorded fifteen albums with groups ranging from solo to duo, quartet to brass and woodwind ensemble, but this is the first excursion as leader of his Jazz Orchestra, which was formed in early 2020.

MacDonald has certainly made the most of his inaugural enterprise, enlisting a number of the Los Angeles area's leading jazz musicians to bring his splendid compositions and arrangements to life... For those who may have forgotten how big bands used to excite their audiences, here is a timely reminder, courtesy of the ever-adventurous Doug MacDonald and his remarkable Jazz Orchestra."

Hey, this guy is busy! His two 2022 releases were recommended upthread here, Overtones with his octet, and also a quartet album, I'll See You In My Dreams.

Please enjoy some nice new big band jazz.

Doug MacDonald, Big Band Extravaganza, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

Try tenor saxophonist Dave O'Higgins and guitarist Rob Luft's 2nd collaboration, from 2022, Pluto. Recorded with some top British jazz back-up. (London Jazz News review)

The video is an in-studio performance of the title tune. Please enjoy some new jazz.

O'Higgins & Luft, Pluto, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

Nice for a Sunday afternoon... From 1998, Allmusic: "With an easy bop sensibility, Woods cuts loose on a number of originals and a few surprising chestnuts for a strong set. Fellow reed player Johnny Griffin (the two played in Monk's nonet in the late '60s) and the fine rhythm section of Cedar Walton on piano, Ben Riley on drums and Peter Washington on bass all make great contributions... All in all, a charming set."

Phil Woods, The Rev and I, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

Have some fun with this one. From AllAboutJazz: "Even though New Orleans' lively and colorful holiday festival is the focal point of trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis' Uptown Jazz Orchestra's latest recording, this is an album that can be heard and appreciated at any time of the year, as there is never a day when pleasure and happiness aren't in style.

The Uptown Orchestra, clearly steeped in Crescent City lore, brings the music to life with ease, helping to make Uptown on Mardi Gras Day a delightful place to spend some time admiring the scenery while grooving to the sunny and expressive music."

The video is a tune that introduces the album, essentially. Please enjoy some joyful tunes.

Delfeayo Marsalis' Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Uptown on Mardi Gras Day, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

Jazz composer Sasha Matson has a new release, titled Molto Molto. From Positive Feedback: "This is not 1940s, 50s or 60s big band jazz. This is definitely jazz of the 21st century, filled with influences from modern classical music (atonal and all), redolent of show tunes, classic rock, and blues. If you like stretching your boundaries a bit, this is an album very much worth hearing. As [ASR member] @John Atkinson says in the liner notes, 'A viscerally exciting presentation of big band sound within classical forms. The more you listen, the more you will hear!'"

This is a Stereophile release, with production by JA and Joe Harley. Although not mentioned much on the website... yet (?) Available on vinyl, CD, MP3 files.

The PF review has nice recording details, worth a read.

And since it's PF, "I am listening to the 24-96kHz download file which was captured by Kevin Gray directly off of his cutterhead feed when he cut the lacquer for the vinyl. So, what I'm hearing has the same balance and mix that you'd hear on the LP, but the sound from the LP will likely be more transparent than this digital file. (Oh, that Kevin would switch to capturing this cutterhead feed in DSD256!)"

Please enjoy John Atkinson's knees, and a really nice Stereophile jazz production.

Molto Molto - Works for Jazz Orchestra by Sasha Matson, full album: Spotify link.

 

[John Atkinson]

Jazz composer Sasha Matson has a new release, titled Molto Molto. From Positive Feedback: "This is not 1940s, 50s or 60s big band jazz. This is definitely jazz of the 21st century, filled with influences from modern classical music (atonal and all), redolent of show tunes, classic rock, and blues. If you like stretching your boundaries a bit, this is an album very much worth hearing. As [ASR member] @John Atkinson says in the liner notes, 'A viscerally exciting presentation of big band sound within classical forms. The more you listen, the more you will hear!'"

This is a Stereophile release, with production by JA and Joe Harley. Although not mentioned much on the website... yet (?) Available on vinyl, CD, MP3 files.

An article on the making of this album will be posted on the Stereophile website the week starting April 21.

John Atkinson
Technical Editor, Stereophile/co-producer, Molto Molto

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[DarrylG]

Have some fun with this one. From AllAboutJazz: "Even though New Orleans' lively and colorful holiday festival is the focal point of trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis' Uptown Jazz Orchestra's latest recording, this is an album that can be heard and appreciated at any time of the year, as there is never a day when pleasure and happiness aren't in style.

The Uptown Orchestra, clearly steeped in Crescent City lore, brings the music to life with ease, helping to make Uptown on Mardi Gras Day a delightful place to spend some time admiring the scenery while grooving to the sunny and expressive music."

The video is a tune that introduces the album, essentially. Please enjoy some joyful tunes.

Delfeayo Marsalis' Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Uptown on Mardi Gras Day, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

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I've heard that, and the description is accurate. It's well recorded, too.

 

[DarrylG]

 

[Frank Sinbeans]

Four-Time Grammy Winner