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Size Matters: (Mostly New) Jazz for Big Bands and Orchestras, Part 1

By Ludovico Granvassu | Mondo Jazz
August 3, 2021
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More is not always necessarily better, especially in music. However, the proliferation of remarkable jazz big bands and orchestras of the last decade or so is providing plenty of material to prove that quality and quantity can go hand-in-hand. This week we focus on recent releases by some of the most compelling large ensembles around, the exception-to-the-rule being a few older albums that fit with the forward-looking tenor of this music.

Happy listening!

Playlist

Ben Allison

bass, acoustic
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Allison Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00

Vienna Art Orchestra

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Vienna Art Orchestra "On the Funny Side" Standing ... What? (Amadeo) 0:16

Host talks 5:19

Sun Ra

piano
1914 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Sun Ra "Where Pathways Meet (Alternate Mix)" Lanquidity (Definitive Edition) (Strut) 6:33

Host talks 12:59

Rob Mazurek

trumpet
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Rob Mazurek Exploding Star Orchestra "Parable of Inclusion" Dimensional Stardust (International Anthem) 14:53

The

Matthew Herbert

electronics

" data-original-title="" title="">Matthew Herbert Big Band "The Yesness" There's Me and There's You (Accidental) 18:54

CvA Concert Big Band,

Reinier Baas

guitar
b.1985

" data-original-title="" title="">Reinier Baas, Johan Plomp "The Baron" Beyond the Sum of All Parts (Challenge) 23:40

Host talks 32:59

Yuri Honing

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Yuri Honing,

Vince Mendoza

composer / conductor
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Vince Mendoza,

Metropole Orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Metropole Orchestra "L'avventura" Symphonic (Jazz in Motion) 35:40

Luciana Souza

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Luciana Souza "Meu Pai" Storytellers (Sunnyside) 41:12

Vince Mendoza "Concerto for Orchestra: Meditation (feat. Antonio Sanchez & Joshua Redman)" Freedom over Everything (Modern Recordings) 45:30

Host talks 49:14

Johannes Wallmann

piano
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Johannes Wallmann "Elegy for an Undiscovered Species" Elegy for an Undiscovered Species (Shifting Paradigm) 51:22

Alban Darche

saxophone, tenor
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Alban Darche "? la bougie" Le gros cube #2 (Yolk) 1:02:22

Surnatural Orchestra "Yusef" Tall man was here (Self-released) 1:08:58

Host talks 1:13:10

The Very Big Experimental Toubifri Orchestra "Range ta chambre / Blucaf��te" Dieu poulet (La Grande Experimentale) 1:13:47

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