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Modern Big Bands: Christian McBride, Marshal Gilkes, Gerald Wilson, Brian Lynch and More

By Russell Perry | Jazz at 100
September 29, 2020
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Since the early days of jazz, composers, arrangers, and players have sought out large ensembles for their potential for rich expression and vibrant musical color. Even in the heyday of small-group dominated bebop, Dizzy Gillespie formed a big band as soon as he could. To this day, while few bands can hold together as touring units, some find regular work in public radio, especially in Europe, some hold weekly residencies in a few major cities and, more frequently, a number reassemble periodically for purposes of recording. Big Band charts from Marshall Gilkes, Gerald Wilson, Brian Lynch, Electric Squeezebox Orchestra, Ed Palermo, and Christian McBride in this hour of Jazz at 100 Today!

Playlist

Host Intro 0:00
Marshall Gilkes and WDR Big Band "Puddle Jumping" from Always Forward (Alternate Side Records) 3:28
Gerald Wilson Orchestra "Variation on a Theme by Igor Stravinsky" from Legacy (Mack Avenue) 11:58
Host speaks 15:27
Brian Lynch Big Band with Jim Snidero "Tribute to Blue (Mitchell) for Isabel Wilkerson and Ralph Ellison" from The Omni-American Book Club / My Journey Through Literature In Music (Hollistic MusicWorks) 18:58
Electric Squeezebox Orchestra "The Falling Dream" from The Falling Dream (OA2 Records) 27:27
The Ed Palermo Big Band "Little Umbrellas" from Oh No! Not Jazz!! (Cuneiform Records) 34:10
Host speaks 38:53
Christian McBride Big Band "Bluesin' in Alphabet City" from The Good Feeling (Mack Avenue Records) 41:02
Christian McBride Big Band "Optimism" from Bringin' It (Mack Avenue) 49:41
Host Outro 56:45

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