Big Band / Swing - CD Reviews (348)
Dick Johnson of Brockton, MA., is known throughout New England, and a lot of other places, as a master of all the reeds. On Stardust and Beyond, a tribute to Artie S…
Read more...
The evolution of the big band has emphasized intricate charts and unusual instrumentation. I have reviewed many of the resulting CDs and have been impressed. However, Richi…
Read more...
This weekend, I was invited to an album release party. I must admit it was my first time attending a function like this but I had to bite since I love jazz so much. The …
Read more...
Hailing from Germany, Chris Walden has combined the two elements of European big band with classic American big band to release a great album.What really stands o…
Read more...
When is the last time you smiled or laughed? Research on the effects of smiling has shown that a smiling person is judged to be more pleasant, attractive, sincere, socia…
Read more...
It isn’t often that you think of Big Band music emanating from Tennessee, the center of everything Country and most gospel vibes. Rory Partin however is not originally f…
Read more...
Bob Brookmeyer, master of the valve trombone, was an arranger at 14. Influenced by 20th century classical music and such jazz giants as Eddie Sauter, Gil Evans, and George …
Read more...
Chris Walden made his bandleading debut last year with the fine, Grammy-nominated disc Home of My Heart. Its follow up is No Bounds, which seems to suf…
Read more...
Please take a letter.... Can we please try and venture outside the box of old blue eyes.... Sinatra as fantastic an entertainer as he was is in tribute overdrive.... Sig…
Read more...
This memorable collection is a live recording, arranged and conducted by the creative Vince Mendoza, featuring the Brecker brothers with the WDR Big Band. These big band…
Read more...
Trumpeter/composer Randy Sandke's The Subway Ballet takes us, and a young dancer with her mother, from downtown to Harlem. At forty-five minutes or so with interes…
Read more...
John Pizzarelli on vocals and guitar, along with The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, ring in a splendid tribute to Frank Sinatra with this fine collection of big band/s…
Read more...
If the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree it's only natural that John Pizzarelli would one day pay homage to the music of Frank Sinatra. John's father is guitarist…
Read more...
Absolutely amazing was my initial response after listening to this CD twice! Michael Bolton not only pulls it off singing a tribute to Sinatra with the Sinatra big band …
Read more...
Bob Mintzer is without doubt one of the eminent legends in contemporary jazz. One of my greatest joys as a jazz lover was when I snatched him out (three years ago), play…
Read more...
Those who love big-band jazz should go down on their knees and thank Art Lillard and his kind. The New York based drummer/arranger/bandleader has been leading the 12 or 13 …
Read more...
The Word is Out treats us to an electric performance by the Jaco Pastorius Big Band. Like its predecessor, Word of Mouth Revisited, special guests include an …
Read more...
Here’s a nice presentation by Art Lillard’s big band from New York City. Lillard’s classy congregation retains the spirit of the swing era but avoids repeating all the time…
Read more...
For J.G is the Kenichi Tsunoda Big Band. Its name humbly sits in the corridors from those in the past, "for Jazz Giants" and gives a blasting ode to Dizzy Gillespi…
Read more...
21 Sep
Don't be afraid...the music of Charles Mingus by Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
The music of Charles Mingus is unique in the history of jazz. What makes it unique is also the reason I can’t recommend the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra’s tribute album…
Read more...