Jazztropic Posted March 18, 2005 Report Posted March 18, 2005 Any thoughts for big band cds Ellington , W Herman, west coast etc. with lots of solo space. thanks Quote
ghost of miles Posted March 18, 2005 Report Posted March 18, 2005 Ellington--NEVER NO LAMENT (3-CD set of the Blanton-Webster years/band). Herman--The Columbia Mosaic. There's a 2-CD distillation called BLOWIN' UP A STORM, if you don't mind the production hand of Orrin Keepnews; I'd definitely go with the Mosaic if you can afford it. West Coast--hmmmm.... the Gerald Wilson Mosaic? A Shorty Rogers CD or two? The Mulligan Concert Jazz Band Mosaic, which can probably be considered at least distantly West Coast. Quote
Free For All Posted March 18, 2005 Report Posted March 18, 2005 West Coast--hmmmm.... the Gerald Wilson Mosaic? A Shorty Rogers CD or two? The Mulligan Concert Jazz Band Mosaic, which can probably be considered at least distantly West Coast. Bill Holman Straight No Chaser (the music of Thelonious Monk) It does not suck! Quote
B. Goren. Posted March 18, 2005 Report Posted March 18, 2005 Anything by Thad Jones & Mel Lewis big band. Quote
cannonball-addict Posted March 18, 2005 Report Posted March 18, 2005 Maria Schneider - Allegresse! & Concert in the Garden John Fedchock Big Band - No Nonsense Bob Mintzer Big Band - Incredible Journey and everything since WDR Danish Radio Big Band with various guest composers/conductors ICP Vanguard Jazz Orchestra thanks to EKE BBB for introducing me to Ken Schaphorst Big Band on NaxosJazz all have lots of solo space! Quote
Ron S Posted March 18, 2005 Report Posted March 18, 2005 Dizzy Gillespie's "Birks' Works"--a 2-CD set of Dizzy's great big band of the late 1950's that was sponsored by the U.S. State Department on international tours. Lots of great musicians including Lee Morgan and Benny Golson. Samples can be heard here. Quote
Jazz Kat Posted March 18, 2005 Report Posted March 18, 2005 Bob Florence Concert By The Sea and Westlake Buddy Rich Swingin' New Big Band The New One! Quote
Dennis_M Posted March 18, 2005 Report Posted March 18, 2005 Buddy Rich- Big Swing Face Both Gorden Goodwin CD's Any big band CD by Toshiko Akyioshi Quote
Jazz Kat Posted March 19, 2005 Report Posted March 19, 2005 This thread has reminded me of my lack of experience and knowledge of big bands. I hardly got any big band albums. If I play Buddy Rich a lot I get sick and tired of the loud trumpets and everything, but every once in a while I need some big band. I haven't really heard any big bands that much to my liking. Quote
John Tapscott Posted March 19, 2005 Report Posted March 19, 2005 If you can find it - Bob Curnow and his L.A. Big Band Plays the Music of Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays (Mama) Superb! Almost anything by Bob Florence, though if you're new to his music you might start with his earlier CD's, say mid 90's and earlier. His last 2 or 3 like "Whatever Bubbles Up" (Summit) and "Serendipity 18" (Mama) are quite challenging listening, even for long-time big band listeners. Don't get me wrong, I think they're great, but not everyone appreciates the edginess Bob seems to have put into his recent music. Phil Kelly and the NorthWest Prevailing Winds - "Convergence Zone" (Origin) Highly recommended. Quote
Jazz Kat Posted March 19, 2005 Report Posted March 19, 2005 You like Florence's 1970's stuff? Like Westlake and Concert By The Sea? Quote
AllenLowe Posted March 19, 2005 Report Posted March 19, 2005 well, it's a little different, but I always thought Julius Hemphill's big band CD had the freshest writing for a large group in the last 30 years - Quote
Brad Posted March 19, 2005 Report Posted March 19, 2005 The Count Basie Story that was issued on Roulette last year is great. Also love Birk's Works, one of my better acquisitions. Quote
AllenLowe Posted March 19, 2005 Report Posted March 19, 2005 yes - and there are a number of live bootleg CDs of that band which are excellent - Quote
frank m Posted March 19, 2005 Report Posted March 19, 2005 I have one recommendation which a lot of younger folks won't be aware of. But then again, the people here frequently surprise me. Try Claude Thornehill. Arrengements by Gil Evans. Very early big band featuring bop influence. Records are available from Amazon,Worlds and lots of others. Cheers. Quote
Ron S Posted March 19, 2005 Report Posted March 19, 2005 yes - and there are a number of live bootleg CDs of that band which are excellent - Not to mention the 1957 Newport CD. Quote
Free For All Posted March 19, 2005 Report Posted March 19, 2005 I have one recommendation which a lot of younger folks won't be aware of. But then again, the people here frequently surprise me. Try Claude Thornehill. Arrengements by Gil Evans. Very early big band featuring bop influence. Records are available from Amazon,Worlds and lots of others. Cheers. Yes- great stuff. Evans' arrangements of Yardbird Suite, Anthropology and Donna Lee (among others like Buster's Last Stand) are exceptional. It seems obvious that the instrumentation/sound of the Thornhill band was an influence on the instrumentation of the Birth Of The Cool band (specifically the use of french horn and tuba). Quote
John Tapscott Posted March 19, 2005 Report Posted March 19, 2005 (edited) You like Florence's 1970's stuff? Like Westlake and Concert By The Sea? Absolutely. I believe those recordings are the place to start if you're new to Florence's music. Then work backward to a great Bob Florence CD called Name Band 1959 (Fresh Sound) if you can find it, and/or forward to Bob's '90's and beyond recordings. You will hear a fascinating evolution in all this. Florence is a very engaging writer, no doubt about it. Also, I noticed the original poster asked about big bands with lots of solo space. Try Danny D'Imperio's recent "Big Band Bloviation" CDs Vol. 1 & 2. If anything, I think they have too much solo space for a big band, but they're pretty good. Very strong personnel. Edited March 19, 2005 by John Tapscott Quote
Fran Posted March 19, 2005 Report Posted March 19, 2005 Count Basie !!! Yes ALWAYS - and the afor mentioned Mosaic Columbia Herman as well - possibly the greatest rerelease collection ever compiled. Hats off to Scott Wenzel Quote
Alon Marcus Posted March 19, 2005 Report Posted March 19, 2005 This thread has reminded me of my lack of experience and knowledge of big bands. I hardly got any big band albums. If I play Buddy Rich a lot I get sick and tired of the loud trumpets and everything, but every once in a while I need some big band. I haven't really heard any big bands that much to my liking. Big bands do not have to be always loud. In fact the best of them are capable of producing a wide range of dynamic nuances. Any thoughts for big band cds Ellington , W Herman, west coast etc. with lots of solo space. There were few very interesting and informative threads on this topic, take a look. favorite modern large jazz ensembles, 10 pieces+ (not including ghost bands) favorite modern jazz RECORDINGS w/ 10+ players, recommend specific releases. Thanks!!! Carla Bley who is responsible for many wonderful big band recordings has her own thread - Carla Bley, general discussion Enjoy! Quote
Alon Marcus Posted March 19, 2005 Report Posted March 19, 2005 Few more recommendations: Maria Schneider - Evanescence, review Maria Schneider - forget looking in your CD shop! Gil Evans - New Bottle Old Wine, review Quote
SGUD missile Posted March 19, 2005 Report Posted March 19, 2005 Some other good overlooked big band CDs: Carl Saunders: Big Bebop Band Jim Knapp Orch : Secular Breathing * John Fedchock: several albums or out Bill Holman: View from the other side Kim Richmond: Refractions * oh yeah, I almost forgot .. Phil Kelly: Convergence Zone * * these three available from Origin Records website and/or bigbandjazz.net Quote
ghost of miles Posted March 19, 2005 Report Posted March 19, 2005 I have one recommendation which a lot of younger folks won't be aware of. But then again, the people here frequently surprise me. Try Claude Thornehill. Arrengements by Gil Evans. Very early big band featuring bop influence. Records are available from Amazon,Worlds and lots of others. Cheers. Yes- great stuff. Evans' arrangements of Yardbird Suite, Anthropology and Donna Lee (among others like Buster's Last Stand) are exceptional. It seems obvious that the instrumentation/sound of the Thornhill band was an influence on the instrumentation of the Birth Of The Cool band (specifically the use of french horn and tuba). Great comps of late-1940s Thornhill on Hep (two CDs of radio transcriptions, one of studio recordings, with another forthcoming--I think). Quote
Jazz Kat Posted March 19, 2005 Report Posted March 19, 2005 Big bands do not have to be always loud. In fact the best of them are capable of producing a wide range of dynamic nuances. I know, that's what I am looking for. I haven't found any yet. Quote
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