While Under a Tree predates the TJO's most recent recording by half a dozen years, there's no appreciable imbalance in quality between the two, even though most of this one was recorded in concert, the other in a studio. In each case, the TJO affirms its stature as a world-class orchestra that is worthy of appraisal and respect.

Tracks and Personnel

A Time of Reckoning

Tracks: A Tribute to Francy Boland; A Time of Reckoning; W 7th; Copperhead; FEETS; North Star; Granicus; Gozar; Grembalambasamba; A Dream of Hungarian Lanterns.

Personnel: John Ahern, Sten Johnson, Tim Martin, Tom Krochock, Todd Matheson (3, 9), Adam Meckler (4), Bill Simonson (5), Mark Bobnick (8): trumpet, flugelhorn; Bob Byers: alto sax, soprano sax, flute; Sten Johnson: alto sax, flute, clarinet; Bill Burton, Paul Peterson: tenor sax, clarinet, flute; Mike Krikava: baritone sax, clarinet, bass clarinet; Mike Larson, Larry McCabe, Chris Wiley: trombone; Ike Wagner: bass trombone; Bruce Penalty: piano/Fender Rhodes (1, 3-6, 9, 10); Larry McDonough: piano (2, 7, 8); John Hyvarinen: guitar (5); Pooch Heine (1, 2, 5, 7, 8), Matt Mobley (4, 3, 6, 9), Greg Stinson (10): bass; Dave Perry, Kevin Dammen (1, 3, 9): drums. Special guest soloists: Dave Hagedorn: vibes; Dave Marden: flute, piccolo.

Lab 2009

Tracks: Sno' Peas; Dark Matters; Another Other; Li'l Darlin'; Unformal; Time Sensitive; Here Comes McBride; November; Ice-Nine.

Personnel: Steve Wiest: director; James Blackwell, Matt Timm, Thomas Davis, Clynt Yerkes, Pete Clagett: trumpet; Sam Reid, Collin Hauser, Sylvester Onyejiaka, Brian Clancy, Chris Mike: reeds; Dave Richards, Luke Brimhall, Carl Lundgren: trombone; Matt Jefferson, Jason Hausback: bass trombone; Ben Haugland: piano; Ryan Davidson: guitar; Ryan Hagler: bass; Michael D'Angelo: drums.

Folk Songs for Jazzers

Tracks: I've Been Working on the Railroad; Red River Valley; Skip to My Lou; Oh! Susanna; Did You Ever See a Lassie?; Polly Wolly Doodle; Tom Dooley; The Arkansas Traveler; Amazing Grace; The Erie Canal; Hush, Little Baby; The Blue Tail Fly; Kumbaya; On Top of Old Smokey.

Personnel: Frank Macchia, leader, arranger, piccolo, alto flute, bass flute, contrabass flute, clarinet, alto clarinet, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet; Wayne Bergeron: trumpet, flugelhorn; Sal Lozano: alto sax, piccolo, flute, bass flute, clarinet, bass clarinet; Bob Sheppard: soprano sax, tenor sax, piccolo, flute, alto flute, bass flute, clarinet, bass clarinet; Jay Mason: baritone sax, bass sax, piccolo, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, English horn; Alex Iles: trombone, baritone horn, tuba; Kevin Porter, Bill Reichenbach: trombone, bass trombone, baritone horn, tuba; Tom Ranier: acoustic, electric piano; Grant Geissman: electric guitar, banjo; Trey Henry: acoustic bass, electric bass; Peter Erskine: drums; Tierney Sutton, Ellis Hall, vocals.

Ceremony

Tracks: Llegada Con Elegba; Chango en Esmeraldas; Danzon de Tus Ojos; Yemaya en el Cielo; Cha con Marimba; Mi Tradicion; Carambaba; Monkuru; Salida Con Elegba.

Personnel: Omar Sosa: composer, piano, vibraphone, marimba, percussion; Jaques Morelenbaum: arranger, cello; Thorsten Benkenstein, Ingolf Burkhardt, Claus Stotter, Reiner Winterschladen, Stephan Meinberg (6, 7, 9), Torsten Maass (6): trumpet, flugelhorn; Fiete Felsch: alto sax, soprano sax, flute, clarinet; Peter Bolte: alto sax, flute; Christof Lauer, Lutz Buchner: tenor, soprano sax, clarinet; Frank Delle: baritone sax, bass clarinet; Dan Gottschall, Klaus Heidenreich, Stefan Lottermann, Gunter Bollmann (6, 7, 9), Jon Welch (6, 7, 9): trombone; Ingo Lahme: bass trombone, tuba; Stephan Dietz, Roland Cabezas: guitar; Lucas Lindholm: acoustic bass; Childo Tomas: electric bass; Julio Barreto: drums; Marcio Doctor: percussion; Marcos Ilukan: bata drums, congas, cajon de rumba, guiro; Michael Spiro: bata drums, congas, chekere, timbal.

October Arrival

Tracks: Call It a Day; A Passing Glance; Destination Unknown; October Arrival; October Interlude; Journey's End.

Personnel: Steve Waterman: leader, composer, arranger, trumpet soloist; Bob Moeller, Gethin Liddington, Edward John, Derek Lawton (1, 4, 6), Andy George (2, 3): trumpet; Eric Clarke, Richard Hamer: alto sax; Russell van den Berg, Tom Harries: tenor sax; Mike Starr: baritone sax; Martin Gladdish, Phil Jarvis, Chris Thomas (1, 4, 6), James Voros (2, 3), Andrew Williams: trombone; Dave Cottle: piano; James Chadwick: guitar; Alun Vaughan: bass; Richard Newby: drums.

Big Bang

Tracks: Bird Droppings; Flying Home; Fourth Floor; The Gospel (According to Agnes); Weedeater; P. Nose; Chunky.

Personnel: Russ Spiegel: leader, composer, arranger, guitar; Ralf Nusske, Martin Auer, Christian Meyers, Thomas Siffling: trumpet; Markus Lihocky, Volker Stegmann, Peter "Lines" Linhart, Alberto Menendez, Martin Serb: reeds; Alan Jacobsen, Thomas Sauter, Viola Engelbrecht, Geor Maus: trombone; Christoph Sanger: piano; Rudi Engel: bass; Andreas Neubauer: drums.

Under a Tree

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