BILL WATROUS - The Manhattan Wildlife Refuge

Complete Recording

 It is a pity that this Lp and its followup The Tiger Of San Pedro
have been long out-of-print for they are the only two recordings of trombonist
Bill Watrous' impressive big band of the mid-1970's. Watrous, who takes an
uncharacteristically crazy cadenza on "Fourth Floor Walk-Up," is in top form
on such numbers as Chick Corea's "Spain," "Dichotomy" and "Zip City." Among
his more notable sidemen are trumpeter Danny Stiles, guitarist Joe Beck and
pianist Dick Hyman. Well worth searching for. -- Scott Yanow

Joe Beck -     Guitar
Dick Hyman -     Piano, Moog, Fender Rhodes
Bill Watrous -     Trombone, Arranger
Charlie Small -    Trombone
Wayne Andre -    Trombone
Joe Petrizzo -    Trombone
Joe Randazzo -    Bass Trombone
Danny Stiles -     Trumpet, Flugelhorn
John Gatchell -    Assistant Lead Trumpet
Dean Pratt -    Trumpet and Flugehorn
George Triffon -    Trumpet and Flugehorn
Alan Gauvin -     Flute, Sax (Soprano)
Ed Xiques -    Alto Sax, Flute, Soprano Sax
Charlie LaGond -    Tenor Sax, Clarinet, Flute
Frank Perowsky -    Tenor Sax, Clarinet, Flute, Soprano Sax
Juroslav Jakubovic -    Baritone Sax
Ed Soph -    Drums and Percussion
John Miller -    Bass and Fender Bass

 1974

ROB PARTON JAZZTECH BIG BAND - Fascinatin' Rhythm

GIRL TALK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_iYKuRXl3U

Credits
    •    Bass – Paul Martin (46)
    •    Design, Layout – Rob Parton
    •    Drums – Tom Hipskind
    •    Piano – Deanna Witkowski
    •    Saxophone – Bob Frankich, Bob Reszutko, Brian Budzik, Kurt Berg, Mark Colby
    •    Trombone – Antonio J. García* (tracks: 7), Brian Jacobi, Craig Sunkin, Jack Schmidt, Tom Matta*
    •    Trumpet – Art Davis (5) (tracks: 1, 2, 5 to 7, 9 to 11), Joey Tartall (tracks: 3, 4, 8, 12), Mike McGrath, Scott Wagstaff, Vincent DiMartino*
    •    Trumpet [Lead] – Rob Parton
    •    Vocals – Kristy Parton

BIG BAND BOOM

I Can't Stop Loving You

From a local big band, Big Band Boom. I caught this a few years ago, and they are still working regularly. The super swinging Quincy Jones arrangement of, I Can't Stop Living you

JAZZ MISSION TO MOSCOW

 COMPLETE  RECORDING

I’m sure everyone is acutely aware of the stories and circumstances surrounding the the Benny Goodman trip to the Soviet Union in 1962. They are legendary. But here is a recording made after that tour, sans Goodman.

In 1962 Benny Goodman had a historic visit to the Soviet Union, touring with a big band full of young all-stars. After the orchestra returned to the U.S., tenor saxophonist Al Cohn (who had not made the trip but did write some of Goodman's charts) put together an album (also released by Colpix) using many of the sidemen and paying tribute to the event. Strangely enough none of the six numbers are Cohn originals and he does not play on the record although he arranged all of the music. Of the six songs, "Mission to Moscow," "Let's Dance" and "Russian Lullaby" were part of Goodman's repertoire. Altoist Phil Woods effectively doubles on clarinet and other soloists include tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims, trumpeter Marky Markowitz and trombonist Willie Dennis. An interesting set of modern swing but this LP has been unfortunately long out-of-print.

    •    Al Cohn – arranger, conductor
    •    Markie Markowitz, Jimmy Maxwell – trumpet
    •    Willie Dennis – trombone
    •    Phil Woods – alto saxophone, clarinet
    •    Jerry Dodgion – alto saxophone, flute
    •    Zoot Sims – tenor saxophone
    •    Gene Allen – baritone saxophone
    •    Eddie Costa – piano
    •    Bill Crow – bass
    •    Mel Lewis – drums

Presenting Joe Williams and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, the Jazz Orchestra

COMPLETE RECORDING

    •    Joe Williams – vocals
    •    Thad Jones – flugelhorn
    •    Mel Lewis – drums
    •    Richard Davis – bass
    •    Roland Hanna – piano
    •    Sam Herman – guitar
    •    Jerome Richardson – saxophone
    •    Jerry Dodgion – saxophone
    •    Joe Farrell – saxophone
    •    Eddie Daniels – saxophone
    •    Pepper Adams – saxophone
    •    Richard Williams – trumpet
    •    Bill Berry – trumpet
    •    Jimmy Nottingham – trumpet
    •    Snooky Young – trumpet
    •    Bob Brookmeyer – trombone
    •    Garnett Brown – trombone
    •    Tom McIntosh – trombone
    •    Cliff Heather – trombone

LOUIS BELLSON BIG BAND - Dynamite

Sambandrea Swing

    •    Baritone Saxophone – Andy Mackintosh
    •    Bass, Electric Bass – John Williams, Jr.*
    •    Drums – Louie Bellson*
    •    Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Matt Catingub
    •    Guitar – John Chiodini
    •    Percussion, Vibraphone – Jack Arnold
    •        •    Piano – Frank Collett
    •    Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Piccolo Flute – Dick Spencer
    •    Tenor Saxophone – Don Menza, Gordon Goodwin
    •    Trombone – Alan Kaplan, Dana Hughes, Nick DiMaio, Bob Payne*
    •    Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Bobby Shew, John Thomas (3), Nelson Hatt, Ron King, Walt Johns

UNT ONE O'CLOCK BAND - LAB 2018

DENNIS NODAY ORCHESTRA

Strike Up The Band

Dominic Cama, Gretchen Marsh, Noah Branmark, Mike Brignola Saxes
Jim Long, Dave Dickey Trombones - Mike Balough: Bass Trombone
Chris O'Farrill, Seth Merlin, Scott Malamerson, Tom Swayzee, Trumpets
Bass: Dave Wertman - Drums: Lorraine Faina

OLIVER NELSON - Impressions Of Phaedra

Phaedra (Tragedy)

Oliver Nelson - arranger, conductor
Clark Terry, Bernie Glow, Doc Severinsen, Snooky Young - trumpet
Urbie Green, Paul Faulise, Britt Woodman, Tommy Mitchell - trombone
Don Butterfield - tuba
Phil Woods - alto saxophone
Barry Galbraith - guitar
Lloyd G. Mayers - piano
George Duvivier - bass
Ed Shaughnessy - drums
Ray Barretto - bongos

SI ZENTNER - Waltz In Jazz Time

Willow Weep For Me

Bob Florence - arranger

Si Zentner was one of the leading exponents of swing music -- which was supposedly dead -- in the 1960s, and this CD fully explains his popularity. Combining his excellent band with Liberty Records' superior recording facilities, he generated music that, if dated for its time, still forced itself to be heard and found its audience. There's no annotation but the music sounds so good that this oversight can be forgiven, especially as the original (albeit U.K.) cover art, front and back, is reprinted.

BRUSSELS JAZZ ORCHEATRA - Mama Africa

Complete Recording

‘Mama Africa’ is a tribute to the music of South Africa and Miriam Makeba. The BJO and Tutu Puoane have chosen from South Africa's extensive repertoire. The songs have been rearranged by a team of BJO composers to yield the unique BJO spirit: exciting and adventurous, with a slight African touch.
Tutu Puoane grew up in South Africa and began her professional career in Johannesburg at the age of eighteen. She was discovered by Jack Van Poll and moved to Europe. Tutu Puoane is now one of the most remarkable female jazzsingers of the Benelux.
In May 2011 the album received the South African Music Award for "Best Traditional Jazz Album"

LOUIE BELLSON - Breakthrough

The Look Of Love

• Bass – GeorgeDuvivier
• Bass Trombone – Benny Powell
• Drums – Louie Bellson*
• Guitar – Barry Galbraith, Tony Mottola
• Percussion [Additional] – Doug Allen
• Piano – Patrick Rebillot*, Ross Tompkins Julie Klages
• Saxophone, Flute – Pete Christlieb, Sam Most
• Trombone – Bill Tole, Jimmy Cleveland, Nick Di Maio*
• Trumpet – Jim Bossy, Irv Markowitz*, Marvin Stamm, Paul Ubinon
• Vibraphone [Vibes] – Jack Arnold

QUINCY JONES - Birth Of A Band

Tuxedo Junction

Although this particular big band changed its personnel quite a bit before touring Europe, Quincy Jones began 1959 with high hopes. On one of his finest jazz recordings, Jones' arrangements feature such top players as trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison, Zoot Sims, and Sam "The Man" Taylor on tenors, altoist Phil Woods, and flügelhornist Clark Terry. Highlights include the title cut, "The Midnight Sun Will Never Set," "Moanin'," and three Benny Golson tunes ("I Remember Clifford," "Along Came Betty," and "Whisper Not"). This music has been reissued on CD.

   AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

CAPTAIN BLACK BIG BAND - Orin Evans

Complete Recordimg

One of the promising pianists who emerged on the jazz scene in the late '90s, pianist Orrin Evans leads a big band on this live CD, compiled from three separate club dates, featuring a rotating cast of New York-based musicians young and old, several of whom are bandleaders themselves. Although time is at a premium rehearsing a big band made up of busy musicians, the Captain Black Big Band sound like a regularly working unit playing in the midst of a long tour. Surprisingly, Evans takes a back seat as a soloist, featuring two other pianists and only taking one solo himself. The driving Latin vehicle "Here's the Captain" showcases Victor North's burning tenor sax, though the piece detours into more of a hard bop feeling during Evans' solo. The promising bass clarinetist Todd Marcus composed and arranged the forceful "Inheritance" in addition to delivering a stunning solo, while trumpeter Walter White humorously begins his solo by quoting Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" from The Messiah and drummer Anwar Marshall builds things to a crescendo with a fiery solo. Todd Bashore arranged Evans' upbeat riff tune "Captain Black," a breezy work that sounds like it could easily have been a part of the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra's repertoire, featuring powerful solos by pianist Jim Holton, veteran tenor saxophonist Ralph Bowen (a regular leader and sideman for Posi-Tone), and trombonist Stafford Hunter. The combined strength of the writing, ensembles, and solos all make one hope that the Captain Black Big Band will be making regular appearances in clubs and future recordings.