Favorite Modern Big Bands?

TromboneFox · Post by **TromboneFox** » Tue Jan 01, 2019 6:12 pm

Hello all,

Do you have any favorite modern big bands or large swing ensembles/jazz orchestras/what have you? I'm on the hunt to expand the collection of big bands I listen to to include newer groups. The Jacob Mann Big Band, etc. Suggestions?

AndrewMeronek · Post by **AndrewMeronek** » Tue Jan 01, 2019 6:58 pm

Here around the Detroit area we have a few top-notch big bands:

Paul Keller Orchestra
Scott Gwinnell Orchestra
Planet D Nonet
Craig Strain Orchestra
P.O.R.K
Toledo Jazz Orchestra
Rhythm Society Orchestra

to name a few. Probably the most 'modern' of these are Paul and Scott's orchestras - both of those guys write some pretty great charts and have released significant albums.

Bach5G · Post by **Bach5G** » Tue Jan 01, 2019 8:06 pm

Darcy James Argue gets good reviews.

greenbean · Post by **greenbean** » Tue Jan 01, 2019 8:18 pm

WDR Big Band

greenbean · Post by **greenbean** » Tue Jan 01, 2019 8:20 pm

Gerald Wilson Orchestra. Depends how you define "modern," of course...

Posaunus · Post by **Posaunus** » Tue Jan 01, 2019 11:50 pm

Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
http://www.bigphatband.com/

islander · Post by **islander** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 2:37 am

Indeed - depends on how you define "modern." My favourite of all was the Clarke-Boland Big Band, but if we're talking contemporary - how about the Bohuslan Big Band in Gothenburg? They've done some remarkable recordings.

LeoInFL · Post by **LeoInFL** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 4:06 am

Posaunus wrote: ↑Tue Jan 01, 2019 11:50 pm Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
http://www.bigphatband.com/

+1

Exceptional soloists and awesome arrangements. What I enjoy most is the each section gets their 'moment in the sun', playing intricate runs (even the bones) within the context of the arrangements.

Good stuff!

cmcslide · Post by **cmcslide** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 9:24 am

The Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra. Current lineup has Marshall Gilkes and Ryan Keberle in the bone section. Also, Marshall Gilkes himself has a couple of really great big band albums. Also, I've been listening lately to a few latin big bands (Arturo O'Farrell, Dafnis Prieto, Bobby Sanabria). Finally, one more name to put out there is Jim McNeely, great writer who directs the Frankfurt Radio Big Band.

Redthunder · Post by **Redthunder** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:10 am

+1 for Jim McNeely.

Additionally, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, a group McNeely has been associated with for a long time too.

The Christian McBride Big Band.

bellend · Post by **bellend** » Thu Jan 03, 2019 3:32 am

Louis Dowdswell Big Band.

Here in Christmas mode ( bit late I know )
BellEnd

Cmillar · Post by **Cmillar** » Thu Jan 03, 2019 7:04 am

John Daversa Big Band!

....don't know of him? Don't delay!

Numerous clips on YouTube.

kingsk1117 · Post by **kingsk1117** » Thu Jan 03, 2019 7:44 am

Matt Catingub Big Band

SwissTbone · Post by **SwissTbone** » Thu Jan 03, 2019 8:25 am

Great suggestions! Keep it coming!

Bach5G · Post by **Bach5G** » Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:10 am

From The New York Times:

‘They’re Doing It Out of Love’: The Big Band Rises Again

Long seen as a vestige of jazz’s past, large ensembles are charging back, led by a new generation of musicians who see size as an opportunity, not a hindrance.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/31/arts ... vival.html

kingsk1117 · Post by **kingsk1117** » Thu Jan 03, 2019 10:23 am

And don't forget some of the University bands, most notably the University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band. (plus the Two O'Clock and Three O'Clock bands)

AndrewMeronek · Post by **AndrewMeronek** » Thu Jan 03, 2019 11:44 am

It's probably worth noting that the L.A. area has an essentially revolving big band with various leaders: Tom Kubis, Scott Whitfield, Carl Saunders, Bill Holman, Bob Florence (deceased, alas), and several others besides Gordon Goodwin.

dershem · Post by **dershem** » Fri Jan 04, 2019 7:14 pm

Dave Slonaker is doing some great stuff.
Ryan Haines has put out put some amazing CD's.

greenbean · Post by **greenbean** » Fri Jan 04, 2019 11:59 pm

The Clare Fischer Big Band has been fantastic for a long, long time. Dozens of great recordings.

LesBone · Post by **LesBone** » Sat Jan 05, 2019 8:27 pm

Check out LA based Steve Huffsteter "Gathered Around" on YouTube.

Spemrick · Post by **Spemrick** » Mon Jan 07, 2019 5:20 pm

Check out the Pittsburgh Collective, Dave Sanford director.

dershem · Post by **dershem** » Mon Jan 07, 2019 6:22 pm

Dave Slonaker is doing some amazing stuff. Ryan Haines has done some incredible CD's - he's a great bone player and writes some interesting changes.

jacobgarchik · Post by **jacobgarchik** » Tue Jan 08, 2019 11:40 am

gonna plug a bunch of bands I play with, some mentioned and some not

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society
Dafnis Prieto Big Band
Mike Formanek Ensemble Kollosus
John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble
Justin Mullens Delphian Jazz Orchestra
Andrew D'Angelo Big Band
Alan Ferber Big Band
Ohad Talmor

"modern" is a can of worms.

Post by **BGuttman** » Tue Jan 08, 2019 11:51 am

Just find groups Jacob plays with. Also look for Josh Roseman (they seem to play together a lot).

Bach5G · Post by **Bach5G** » Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:39 pm

“Modern is a can of worms”

I’m good with no Glenn Miller.

Chiptingle · Post by **Chiptingle** » Fri Jan 11, 2019 10:58 am

So many great bands, and many that are new to me.

But...I’m surprised The Mingus Big Band hasn’t been mentioned! Such a thriving, hungry coalition playing most every Monday night in NYC @ Jazz Standard.

ngrinder · Post by **ngrinder** » Sat Jan 12, 2019 10:26 am

I feel like Jacob mentioned all my favorite bands, but check out Brian Krock's "Big Heart Machine." I'm biased because I play in it, but the music is really great. Brian drew on a pretty eclectic mix of influences yielding some very cool results.

https://bigheartmachine.bandcamp.com/al ... rt-machine

http://downbeat.com/news/detail/big-heart-machine

AndrewMeronek · Post by **AndrewMeronek** » Sat Jan 12, 2019 12:46 pm

Bach5G wrote: ↑Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:39 pm “Modern is a can of worms”

I’m good with no Glenn Miller.

In The Mood kind of kills that band for a lot of musicians, but they were really one of the good bands of the period. Not as sharp as Artie Shaw's Orchestra or Basie, but still pretty good, and they actually did some good tunes like Sun Valley Jump and their big band version of Anvil Chorus.

Grah · Post by **Grah** » Sat Jan 12, 2019 4:56 pm

Stan Bann Big Band

https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/stanbann

Also Stan's arrangements for trombone groups, concert band, big band etc. are great!

BurckhardtS · Post by **BurckhardtS** » Tue Jan 15, 2019 1:29 am

I was at the JEN conference in Reno NV this week, and I heard the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors. They were the highlight of the conference for me. I don't think I've heard a big band play that tightly before live. Liesl Whitaker was playing lead trumpet and absolutely laying it down for the rest of the band. The soloists were great, and they also had great programming variety, which a lot of the bands I watched this week lacked.

Chiptingle · Post by **Chiptingle** » Tue Jan 15, 2019 10:15 am

One of my Mingus favs:

TheSheriff · Post by **TheSheriff** » Tue Jan 15, 2019 2:34 pm

islander wrote: ↑Wed Jan 02, 2019 2:37 am Indeed - depends on how you define "modern." My favourite of all was the Clarke-Boland Big Band, but if we're talking contemporary - how about the Bohuslan Big Band in Gothenburg? They've done some remarkable recordings.

=======

The Clark-Boland band took no prisoners! My kind of big band. Swingin! For me, so much of the newer contemporary stuff ain't swingin', not in the least.

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King2bPlus · Post by **King2bPlus** » Tue Jan 15, 2019 3:43 pm

Jens Wendelboe Big Band
Bohuslan Big Band
Brett Gold NY Jazz Orchestra
Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra
Chicago Jazz Orchestra
Eyal Vilner Big Band
Ian Charleton Big Band

islander · Post by **islander** » Wed Jan 16, 2019 4:08 am

TheSheriff wrote: ↑Tue Jan 15, 2019 2:34 pm
islander wrote: ↑Wed Jan 02, 2019 2:37 am Indeed - depends on how you define "modern." My favourite of all was the Clarke-Boland Big Band, but if we're talking contemporary - how about the Bohuslan Big Band in Gothenburg? They've done some remarkable recordings.
=======

The Clark-Boland band took no prisoners! My kind of big band. Swingin! For me, so much of the newer contemporary stuff ain't swingin', not in the least.

----------

I lead a big band in London dedicated to playing C-BBB music. We've had a load of stuff transcribed - including the entirety of "Fellini 712" - that high-water mark of the genre. Such a distinctive sound, and what players! Not many survivors of the band left now, but Tony Coe came to one of our concerts to hear Fellini 712 - first time it was played since 1968. He was thrilled. I met Erik van Lier a few years ago - he's still swinging hard.

TheSheriff · Post by **TheSheriff** » Wed Jan 16, 2019 6:45 am

islander wrote: ↑Wed Jan 16, 2019 4:08 am
TheSheriff wrote: ↑Tue Jan 15, 2019 2:34 pm =======

The Clark-Boland band took no prisoners! My kind of big band. Swingin! For me, so much of the newer contemporary stuff ain't swingin', not in the least.

----------
I lead a big band in London dedicated to playing C-BBB music. We've had a load of stuff transcribed - including the entirety of "Fellini 712" - that high-water mark of the genre. Such a distinctive sound, and what players! Not many survivors of the band left now, but Tony Coe came to one of our concerts to hear Fellini 712 - first time it was played since 1968. He was thrilled. I met Erik van Lier a few years ago - he's still swinging hard.

-------

Lucky you having played a bunch of the transcribed stuff. I've played their version of Johnny One Note and a few others that I can't remember the names of. What a great mix of guys; Brits, Europeans, and Americans. Nat Peck, Ake Persson, and Erik van Lier! Great trombone section. I believe Nat was an original member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. I never tire of listening to the Clarke-Boland Big Band.

======

TheSheriff · Post by **TheSheriff** » Wed Jan 16, 2019 6:52 am

King2bPlus wrote: ↑Tue Jan 15, 2019 3:43 pm Jens Wendelboe Big Band
Bohuslan Big Band
Brett Gold NY Jazz Orchestra
Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra
Chicago Jazz Orchestra
Eyal Vilner Big Band
Ian Charleton Big Band

-----------

I was the lead bone player in the Chicago Jazz Orchestra for 35 years. In the early days the band was called The Jazz Members Big Band. After co-leader Steve Jensen passed, the name was changed to the Chicago Jazz Orchestra.

========

dukesboneman · Post by **dukesboneman** » Thu Jan 31, 2019 9:15 pm

My personal favorites.

Vanguard Orchestra
Darcy James Argue`s Secret Society
The Flat Earth Society ( Look `em up - Fantastic)
Captain Black Big Band
The MK Groove Orchestra

RustBeltBass · Post by **RustBeltBass** » Sun Jun 16, 2019 10:40 am

Gordon Godwin’s big phat band
WDR Big Band Cologne
Bob Mintzer Bug Band

ExZacLee · Post by **ExZacLee** » Wed Jun 19, 2019 9:26 am

Oh Gosh, where do I start!

Dafnis Prietos' new band is killing - there are a few bands now really getting the cuban thing down in the music, this group is - wow.

Mariah Schneider Orchestra - sublime.

Darcy James Argue - it's like film music for a post-apocalyptic after party.

Roy Hargrove big band from a few years ago.

John Diversa's big band. He likes to play in the sandbox!

Ingrid Jensen's stuff with her sister's arrangements is really nice, I really dig it!

There was an album recently with Mary Lou Williams' music with the Dutch Jazz Orchestra that I really dug. Mary Lou Williams' music has always been ahead of its time, go check out the stuff she wrote for Andy Kirk's clouds of joy in the 30's, it's pretty modern sounding. Such a wonderful composer, should be a household name.

The Bob Belden ensemble's take on Turandot was pretty special.

The Village Vangard Jazz Orchestra is absolutely monstrous! The Thad Jones stuff, the Jim McNeely stuff, that band can play everything and just destroys you. Relentless...

Duke Ellington's work still holds up well today - check out Far East Suite if you haven't already.

A few years ago I got to sit in on a rehearsal at the union (I think it was the 802?) in NYC and after we were done I heard some of Ted Nash's big band rehearsal - that stuff was really killing. I don't know if they recorded it or not - I Imagine so.

BurckhardtS · Post by **BurckhardtS** » Thu Jun 20, 2019 1:11 am

You HAVE to check out Dafnis Prieto, and his big band. He came to our university for our jazz festival a month ago. His charts are insanely difficult, and also extremely exciting at the same time, not contrived at all. I've also never seen someone energize both the band and the audience quite like that before.

I saw the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra live a few months back, and they absolutely swung their asses off and played super tight. It was worth the watch.

The Jazz Ambassadors are an excellent ensemble if you can hear them live! I heard them at the Reno JEN conference in January and I was absolutely floored.

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Thu Jun 20, 2019 12:06 pm

Back to the German Radio/T.V. big bands, they're all great, but my favourite is the NDR, primarily for its frequent adventurous programming.

ddsbstrb · Post by **ddsbstrb** » Wed Jul 24, 2019 9:55 pm

Hey trombone-players, how could you overlook a really great big band which has been active in the LA-area for many years, also, lead by a pretty fine trombonist, Mike Barone. Mike has been around for many years and is one of the most underrated jazz arranger/composers still putting a band together.

I have been taking a few of his charts off his website and putting the parts into a Finale-score, for play-back and study utilization. They are all works-of-art.

Mike has a bunch of You Tube's of his band, in a studio setting, with really great audio and video. Check this band out! How about LA lead trombonist-legend, Charlie Loper. Charlie has to be in his 80's and still gets it done.

Mikebmiller · Post by **Mikebmiller** » Sat Oct 19, 2019 7:09 am

The Hip Bone big band with Michael Davis put out a fantastic CD last year. Trombone solos on every tune.

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Sat Oct 19, 2019 12:08 pm

Upper Austrian Art Orchestra
Vienna Art Orchestra