BILL BERRY'S L.A. BIG BAND

BILL BERRY
L.A. BIG BAND

Hello Rev 

AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

Although a bit overlooked at the time (especially on the East Coast), Bill Berry's L.A. Big Band was one of the finest jazz orchestras of the mid- to late '70s. The all-star unit unfortunately recorded much too little, just one album for cornetist Berry's Beez label and this lone Concord set. The power and joyful swing of the all-star unit can certainly be heard on the latter, which was recorded at the 1976 Concord Jazz Festival. Solo space is allocated to Berry; trumpeters Jack Sheldon (who also sings "Tulip or Turnip"), Blue Mitchell, and Cat Anderson; trombonists Tricky Lofton, Jimmy Cleveland, and Britt Woodman; tenor saxophonists Richie Kamuca and Don Menza; and pianist Dave Frishberg, among others, and one should not overlook the lead alto work by Marshall Royal. This was certainly a remarkable unit. Berry modeled the band after Duke Ellington's and his rendition of "Cotton Tail" (with high note blasts in the "background" by Cat Anderson) is a classic. Highly recommended.

Monty Budwig

Bass

Frank Capp

Drums

Bill Berry

Performer, Primary Artist, Trumpet

Dave Frishberg

Piano

Lanny Morgan

Sax (Alto), Saxophone

Marshall Royal

Sax (Alto), Saxophone

Jack Nimitz

Sax (Baritone), Saxophone

Richie Kamuca

Sax (Tenor), Saxophone

Don Menza

Sax (Tenor), Saxophone

Jimmy Cleveland

Trombone

Tricky Lofton

Trombone

Benny Powell

Trombone

Britt Woodman

Trombone

Cat Anderson

Trumpet

Gene Coe

Trumpet

Gene Goe

Trumpet

Blue Mitchell

Trumpet

Jack Sheldon

Trumpet

NSJO

New Standard Jazz Orchestra 

 "Metamorphasis" - Tom Garling

Just stay in Chicago. We’ve got it all.

New Standard Jazz Orchestra

Recorded live at The Jazz Showcase, Chicago. 8/11/14

Trumpets:

Chuck Parrish

BJ Cord

Chad McCullough

Marquis Hill

Trombones:

Andy Baker

Tom Garling

Tim Coffman

Tom Matta

Saxes

Ken Partyka

Chris Madsen

Mark Colby

Dan Nicholson

Scott Burns

Dan Murphy, Piano

Tim Fox, Bass

Todd Howell, Drums

CHRISTIAN McBRIDE

Christian McBride Big Band 

featuring Melissa Walker Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center Rose Theater 2016

I love this tune and Walker does it really well. But I have always been amazed that it was written by a country music guy from upstate New York (go figure) Jerry Jeff Walker

Really nice all around except that “Jive ass”  MC

Christian McBride - bandleader, bass

Xavier Davis - piano

Quincy Phillips- drums

Melissa Walker - vocals

Danny Rey - MC

Trumpets - Nabate Isles, Frank Green, Brandon Lee, Benny Benack III

Trombones -  Michael Dease, James Burton, Joe McDonough, Douglas Purviance (bass trombone)

Saxophones - Ron Blake (tenor), Daniel Pratt (tenor), Steve Wilson (alto), Todd Bashore (alto), Carl Maraghi (baritone)

RICH SHEMARIA

RICH SHEMARIA 

Big Band

Dance All Night”

A composer, arranger, and pianist, and Jazz Composer in Residence at New York University, where I teach composition and arranging.  

Has written music for Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Tom Scott, Joe Lovano, Chris Potter, Michael and Randy Brecker, Lenny Pickett, Teo Macero, and a host of others. In the 1990s, Was director of the UMO Jazz Orchestra,  the national radio big band of Finland based in Helsinki, where I recorded two albums: "The Prescription: The Music Of Lenny Pickett" and "Michael Brecker: Live In Helsinki 1995,” both on Random Act Records. He also toured with Natalie Cole and conducted performances with Paquito de Rivera, Mercer Ellington, Steve Turre, and Dee Dee Bridgewater. In New York,

Runs the jazz orchestra and teaches composition. Through our faculty concert series with the NYU Jazz Orchestra at the Blue Note Jazz Club,

With Combo Nuvo, a group I formed with Dave Schroeder, who runs NYU’s Jazz Studies program, I play piano and synth. Dave and I pen most of the music and in 2006 we added a string orchestra. We’ve performed with the Sinfonica Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica; Peru National Symphony, United Arab Emirates Philharmonic, the i Solisti dell Orchestra del Teatro Verdi (Florence, Italy) and Morin Khuur Ensemble—the National Symphony of Mongolia. So far, we’ve released two CDs: "Nouveau Skteches" and "Far From Home,” which features a string quartet, big band and orchestra.

Saxes: David Pietro, David Mann, Rich Perry, Billy Drewes, Frank Vacin, Marc Phaneuf

Trumpets: Alex Sipiagin, Bob Millikan, Tim Hagans, Andy Gravish, Jim O' Connor

Trombones: Dave Bargeron, Dan Levine, Nick Grinder, David Taylor

Guitar: Brad Shepik

Piano: Rich Shemaria

Bass: Mike Richmond, Jerry Devore

Drums: Steve Johns

GERRY MULLIGAN

GERRY MULLIGAN
Blueport

At The Village Vanguard

My personal favorite of all the recorded Mulligan big band tunes. Wonderful solos but especially about half way through when Mulligan and Clark Terry trade solos. SPECTACULAR. And check out some of the stuff Mel Lewis does here. One of the reasons the Lewis is my favorite big band drummer

THE REAL GROUP

THE REAL GROUP

Flight of the Foo-birds

I know this is cheating a little. There are no wind or percussion instruments in this recording and it certainly ain’t big, but as a follow up on yesterday’s Basie, Lockjaw post here is a Swedish vocal group doing Flight of the Foo Birds. The first solo is the Frank Wes alto solo and then a trumpet solo, probably Joe Newman but I don’t know but then come the bombshell. Every time I listen to it I totally fall out. It’s Lockjaw. Its pretty much his solo as recorded on the Basie Bomb album and it is 100% Jaws, and great.

CHARLES MINGUS

CHARLES MINGUS

Mingus big band 93

Moanin

Ronnie Cuber - bari sax

AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow  [-]

There have been many attempts to revisit the music of Charles Mingus ever since his death in 1979 (with several of the groups being called Mingus Dynasty), but this is by far the most successful of all the Mingus tribute albums. The 20-piece Mingus Big Band is an all-star unit comprised of mostly younger musicians who have spent several years really studying and getting inside the great bassist's music. The band's debut CD has such spirited soloists as baritonist Ronnie Cuber (who introduces "Nostalgia in Times Square" with a memorable story of his first encounter with Mingus), trumpeters Randy Brecker, Ryan Kisor, and Jack Walrath, trombonists Art Baron, Frank Lacy, and Dave Taylor, altoist Steve Slagle, tenors Chris Potter, Craig Handy, and John Stubblefield, and pianist Kenny Drew, Jr., among others. The ten Mingus compositions are all given memorable treatments, particularly "Moanin'," the witty and somewhat nutty "Don't Be Afraid, the Clown's Afraid Too," and "Weird Nightmare." The new arrangements by Sy Johnson, Jack Walrath, and Ronnie Cuber are quite crowded and very much in the spirit of Mingus. This was one of the top recordings to be released in 1994 and is essential for all serious jazz collections.

Michael Formanek

Bass

Andy McKee

Bass

Marvin "Smitty" Smith

Drums, Guest Artist

Victor Jones

Drums

Ronnie Cuber

Guest Artist, Reeds

Craig Handy

Guest Artist, Reeds

Randy Brecker

Guest Artist, Trumpet

Lew Soloff

Guest Artist, Trumpet

Jack Walrath

Guest Artist, Trumpet

Sy Johnson

Guest Artist

Kenny Drew, Jr.

Piano

Alex Foster

Reeds

Roger Rosenberg

Reeds

Steve Slagle

Reeds

John Stubblefield

Reeds

Art Baron

Trombone, Trombone (Bass)

Sam Burtis

Trombone

Frank Lacy

Trombone

Chris Kase

Trumpet

Ryan Kisor

Trumpet

Joe Locke

Vibraphone

COUNT BASIE

COUNT BASIE

BOMB - The Atomic Mr Basie

featuring: Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAWS
My favorite Lockjaw solo. While admittedly  super cliched, they are Jaw's cliches. I like to tell the story about when I was in college I had a friend, a very good tenor player, that would despair  at my love of this solo. He was a huge Zoot Simms fan. Hard to get much different then Simms and Lockjaw. 

• Wendell Culley — trumpet

• Snooky Young — trumpet

• Thad Jones — trumpet

• Joe Newman — trumpet

• Henry Coker — trombone

• Al Grey — trombone

• Benny Powell — trombone

• Marshal Royal — reeds

• Frank Wess — reeds

• Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis — reeds

• Frank Foster — reeds

• Charles Fowlkes — reeds

• Count Basie — piano

• Eddie Jones — bass

• Freddie Green — guitar

• Sonny Payne — drums

CHRISTIAN McBRIDE

CHRISTIAN McBRIDE
Gettin’ To It

-All About Jazz-

-By DAN BILAWSKY 

September 8, 2017-

Where and how does Christian McBride find the time to do what he does? His plate is full about nine times over, what with his work as bassist, composer, bandleader, educator, jazz advocate, public speaker, radio personality, DJ, and Artistic Director for the Newport Jazz Festival. It's no wonder that it took him six years to get this juggernaut of a big band back together in the studio. 

This album serves as the long-awaited follow-up to The Good Feeling (Mack Avenue, 2011), the group's Grammy-winning debut. And like its lauded predecessor, Bringin' It presents a tight and tasty program of music designed by McBride and bolstered by his bass. Everything you've come to expect from this musical dynamo—taste, punch, humor, intelligence, solid gold grooves, an appreciation for lyricism—is here for the taking. Styles and settings vary greatly from track to track and moment to moment, but this ensemble is remarkably consistent through it all. 

McBride looks to the funky side of life on "Gettin' To It," an album opener that finds trumpeter Freddie Hendrix and guitarist Rodney Jones stealing the show, and he delivers a solidly swinging take on Freddie Hubbard's "Thermo" that recalls his time spent working with that trumpet icon. Then he brings his wit into full view with "Youthful Bliss." Unexpected detours that seemingly come out of left field—a quick drop into Brazil, a classically-oriented flute finger-bender—make for a wild ride. They enliven the atmosphere and keep everybody on their toes. 

The leader takes a compositional cue or two from the great Maria Schneider with his harmonically moored vision of "I Thought About You," a feature for trumpeter Brandon Lee, and he eschews the desert in favor of the jungle on McCoy Tyner's "Sahara," giving drummer Quincy Phillips the greenlight to take charge. As on The Good Feeling, vocalist Melissa Walker drops in for a pair of tunes—"Upside Down" and "Mr. Bojangles," bookending a nod to Wes Montgomery in the form of "Full House"—and she doesn't disappoint. 

The final stretch of the album proves no less memorable than what precedes it. The soul quotient is exceeded with "Used 'Ta Could," an earthy number showcasing saxophonist Steve Wilson and trombonist Michael Dease; Sinatra's late night clarity comes through in McBride's vision of "In The Wee Small Hours," a number resting on his lyrical arco lines and featuring Dan Pratt's tenor; and the band swings its way home through trombonist Steve Davis' arrangement of "Optimism." 

This album is proof positive that big band jazz can be entertaining without actually pandering or diluting itself. Whether putting a new coat of paint on material from his past, nodding to his influences and mentors, or looking to the classics for inspiration, Christian McBride proves artfully inventive while drawing us in with his magnetic personality. Bringin' It is a meritorious musical feast just waiting to be consumed. No real surprise there. Everything this man touches turns to gold.

Personnel: Christian McBride: bass; Steve Wilson: alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute; Todd Bashore: alto saxophone, flute, piccolo; Ron Blake: tenor saxophone, flute; Dan Pratt: tenor saxophone, flute; Carl Maraghi: baritone saxophone, bass clarinet; Frank Greene: trumpet; Freddie Hendrix: trumpet; Brandon Lee: trumpet; Nabate Isles: trumpet; Steve Davis: trombone (11); Michael Dease: trombone; Joe McDonough: trombone (1-10); James Burton: trombone; Douglas Purviance: bass trombone; Xavier Davis: piano; Quincy Phillips: drums; Rodney Jones: guitar; Melissa Walker: vocals (6, 8); Brandee Younger: harp (10).

BULGARIAN NATIONAL RADIO BAND

Bulgarian National Radio Big Band

Milcho Leviev

Milcho Leviev is best known to us un the US as being a piano player and arranger for the late Don Ellis. He lead a reunion band tribute ot Ellis about 10 years ago at at Ken Poston event in LA

WOODY HERMAN

WOODY HERMAN
Featuring Bill Chase

Somewhere

Dan Schmidt reminded me of yesterday being Bill Chase’s birthday.  As often as I saw Woody in those days, one thing stood out. The first time I thought he was just late, but after a while if became evident to everyone that Chase’s late arrival on stage was a planned occurrence. He was always the last person on the stand. After all he was the lead trumpet player and the STAR. It almost became comical.

Rolf Ericson, Don Rader, Bill Chase, Paul Fontaine, John Bennett (tp) George Hanna, Henry Southall, Jimmy Guinn (tb) Woody Herman (cl,as) Sal Nistico (ts) Marty Harris (p) Larry Rockwell (b) Rufus Jones (d)

DIZZY GILLESPIE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DIZ
Salt Peanuts

BARRETT DEEMS

Barrett Deems Big Band

Groovin' Hard :

Barrett Deems, 81 at the time of this recording, and when you talked with him he still sounded like the 40s/ 50s hipster he was. He will always be best known for his stint with the Louis Armstrong All-Stars in the 1950s. After settling in Chicago, the drummer became the leader of a top-notch jazz orchestra which made its recording debut on this Delmark release. Deems, whose musical role model is Buddy Rich, is in top form throughout the set, which is a bit surprising considering his shaky health at the time. The performances (mostly veteran standards) are usually hard-driving and always swing..Recorded 20 years ago, many of the musicians are well know in Chicago and the country

: John Chudoba, Pete Ellman, Chuck Parrish, Manny Lopez (tp) Audrey Morrison, Loren Binford, Tim Coffman, Craig Kaucher (tb) Andy Farber, Jane Johnson (as) Frank Catalano, Brian Watson (ts) Brian Patti (bar) Ed Harrison (vib) Rob Curtis (g) Geoffrey Lowe (b) Barrett Deems (d)

JOE GRANSDEN

Joe Gransden Big Band

Here's a short video highlighting Joe Gransden and his 16 Piece Big Band! 

The Joe Gransden 16 Piece Big Band is quickly becoming one of the busiest groups on the jazz scene. Originally formed in 2009 Joe and the guys have continued to build momentum and are performing numerous shows around the country. The bands new release entitled "It's A Beautiful Thing" has sold incredibly well and is getting radio air play all over the world! The cd was recorded live at Cafe 290 in Atlanta Georgia where the band holds a steady gig twice every single month. "The Big Band truly has its own sound and really swings!" Says Gransden, "I attribute that to the arrangements that were all written by jazz trombone great Wes Funderburk! It's such a pleasure to front a band of top musicians that can interpret Wes's arrangements perfectly! These guys are the best!" 

There legion of fans continues to grow as well. 

Smokey Robinson says:

"Joe has an innate ability to connect with an audience. His singing and trumpet playing are world class. Throw in his 16 piece big band and you have something very special!"

Clint Eastwood Says 

"Joe is a young man with and old soul and a classic voice. He is a great new talent with a wonderful sense of humor to boot. And don't forget, he plays a hell of a trumpet!"

Freddie Cole says 

" Joe is an extraordinary musician and on top of that, a wonderful person and that ain't no lie. With Joe singin' and the band swingin' It's a Beautiful Thing!"

BRUSSLES JAZZ ORCHESTRA

Brussels Jazz Orchestra

Brussels Jazz Orchestra is a Belgian jazz orchestra with big band line up founded in 1993 by saxophonist and composer Frank Vaganée, Serge Plume, Marc Godfroid and Bo van der Werf. Since 1999 the orchestra is supported by the Flemish government.

Since then it has established a reputation both at home and on relevant jazz stages abroad: Jazz Middelheim (Antwerp, Belgium), Jazz at Lincoln Center (New York, U.S.), Concertgebouw Amsterdam (Netherlands), Jazz à Vienne (France), Paris Jazz Festival (France) and many others.

BJO has performed with Philip Catherine, Bert Joris, Royal Flemish Philharmonic, Tutu Puoane, Brussels Philharmonic, David Linx and Richard Galliano in its own productions. BJO invited Joe Lovano (US), Maria Schneider (US), Kenny Werner (US), Dave Liebman (US), Dave Douglas (US), Gianluigi Trovesi (IT), McCoy Tyner (US), Maria João (PT), Kenny Wheeler (GB), Lee Konitz (US), Toots Thielemans, Enrico Pieranunzi (I) and others.

• Trumpets: Serge Plume, Nico Schepers, Pierre Drevet, Jeroen Van Malderen

• Trombones: Marc Godfroid, Lode Mertens, Ben Fleerakkers, Frederik Heirman, Laurent Hendrick

• Saxophones: Frank Vaganée, Dieter Limbourg, Kurt Van Herck, Bart Defoort, Bo Van Der Werf

• Acoustic bass: Jos Machtel

• Piano: Nathalie Loriers

• Drums: Toni Vitacolonna