Ira B. Liss: Unexpected Guests

by Jack Bowers
September 12, 2025

Unexpected Guests is the seventh recording by Ira B. Liss' southern California-based Big Band Jazz Machine since Liss formed the ensemble in 1979. His guests on this radiant and high-energy studio date are “unexpected" in more ways than one, as only one of their 11 names can be found anywhere on the album aside from the playlist. That would be Daniel Ho, who solos on ukulele on the flavorful “Pineapple Mango" but is listed only as a member of that ...