favorite modern large jazz ensembles

[John B]

My favorites would be the DHBB, the Barry Guy New Orchestra and Italian Instabile Orchestra.

The Vienna Art Orchestra and the Brotzmann Chicago Tentet also have their moments, but both have fairly uneven output.

[David Ayers]

My 'other' vote was for Maynard.

[Alon Marcus]

What about this guy and his band - Brotherhood of breath?

and the thread already started here.

[Dr. Rat]

I thought Marcus Shelby deserved a mention.

--eric

THIS guy?

Singlehandedly kept the big bands alive!

Could it be the same guy?

--eric

[GA Russell]

Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, which is active in southern California.

Two albums, two Grammy nominations. The first album was the first DVD audio.

[Alon Marcus]

Are Paquito D'Rivera's big bands considered ghost bands too? You know... because he inherited Dizzy.

Nevermind, I enjoy it very much. Especially this one

[RDK]

As much as I love the MBB and Holland's group, I went with the Danish Radio Big Band. They're easily the most versitile large ensamble around.

From what I've heard I have to agree. My write-in would be Holman.

[Alon Marcus]

Can someone please give me some info about Michael Gibbs? He seems to be an important contributor in the realm of modern big bands.

What kind of music he plays and by whom is he influenced?

Who is playing with him?

Recommendations?

Edited December 5, 2004 by ztrauq22

[medjuck]

I saw his band in in London many years ago. Jack Bruce was on bass and I think John Surman was playing with him. My memory is that it was pretty straight ahead jazz. I liked ti but not enough to run out and buy any records.

I think he's done some music for films.

[medjuck]

I saw his band in in London many years ago. Jack Bruce was on bass and I think John Surman was playing with him. My memory is that it was pretty straight ahead jazz. I liked it but not enough to run out and buy any records.

I think he's done some music for films.

[sonic1]

George Gruntz

Though I am fond of the ICP orchestra, and others on the list.

Edited December 5, 2004 by sonic1

[king ubu]

not sure what I'd vote here... maybe ICP?

and wtf is the mingus bb doing here if there's supposed to be no ghost bands? I like them alright, but with all their repertoire being from mingus, I consider it a ghost band.

and just because Schneider did a project with the DRBB... there are other very good radio big bands over here, though just a few ones remain by now, NDR Big Band and WDR Big Band deserve mention just as much as the DR BB, I'd say!

[king ubu]

Dedalo (Enja Winckelmann) by Gianluigi Trovesi & WDR Big Band:

Ekapa Lodumo (Enja Winckelmann) by Abdullah Ibrahim & NDR Big Band:

These are just two examples, of course... I don't have either but heard live broadcasts on tv and radio of these programmes and loved the music quite some!

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

And two more for the WDR

(Pity they don't have the full view of the insert sleeve note)

MG

[robviti]

and wtf is the mingus bb doing here if there's supposed to be no ghost bands? I like them alright, but with all their repertoire being from mingus, I consider it a ghost band.

imo, a "ghost band" began when the leader was alive, then continued under someone else's leadership after his death. also, these kinds of bands tend to play the same arrangements from the "old days." the mingus big band and the mingus jazz orchestra were both created after mingus's death. they play new arrangements of his original compositions. finally, i think the mbb features some of the best performers playing incredibly vital music, and is one of the most consistently entertaining outfits in jazz today.

long live the mmb!

[king ubu]

ok, I can see that point - as I said I like them alright, seen them live once, too (with Stubblefield, shortly before he died, much too early). anyway, they're still kind of "derivative", even if not an actual ghost band... and in mainstream jazz, they might indeed be one of the liveliest outfits around these days (for instance, I find Holland's music more and more boring, can't help it... I realize it's not the music that changes much - though maybe that in fact is part of the problem - but my perception of it...)

[Peter Friedman]

Most of the big bands I like best were not on the list.

My current favorite is the Clayton/Hamilton Big Band. Other favorites include The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Bob Florence Big Band, The Bill Holman Big Band, Frankie Capp Juggernaut, Dave McMurdo Big Band, John Fedschock Big Band.

[kh1958]

and wtf is the mingus bb doing here if there's supposed to be no ghost bands? I like them alright, but with all their repertoire being from mingus, I consider it a ghost band.

imo, a "ghost band" began when the leader was alive, then continued under someone else's leadership after his death. also, these kinds of bands tend to play the same arrangements from the "old days." the mingus big band and the mingus jazz orchestra were both created after mingus's death. they play new arrangements of his original compositions. finally, i think the mbb features some of the best performers playing incredibly vital music, and is one of the most consistently entertaining outfits in jazz today.

long live the mmb!

One of the best jazz bands around today.

[Kalo]

Either/Orchestra!!!!

As a Bostonian, I'm going with E/O, too!

(Although, I have to say, that two of the best shows I've caught in Boston over the past few years were the Mingus Big Band and the ICP Orchestra.)

[paul secor]

Voted Other - Willem Breuker Kollektief

[Guy Berger]

I don't think anybody's mentioned Muhal Richard Abrams's Blu Blu Blu, though at this point it's 15-20 years old. Excellent big band writing that straddles a-g jazz and post-bop.

[Elissa]

Has anyone caught Roy Hargrove's Big Band?

[Guest Bill Barton]

I voted for Maria Schneider from the list but also think very highly of Satoko Fujii's orchestras, most particularly Orchestra NY.

[John Tapscott]

Most of the big bands I like best were not on the list.

My current favorite is the Clayton/Hamilton Big Band. Other favorites include The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Bob Florence Big Band, The Bill Holman Big Band, Frankie Capp Juggernaut, Dave McMurdo Big Band, John Fedschock Big Band.

Yes, the list is hardly comprehensive. I voted for Maria Schneider, but would have voted for either Florence or Holman, had they been listed. I'm also a big fan of the John Fedchock Big Band. His latest CD "Up and Running" on Reservoir is excellent, possibly his best yet.