Just must be the year for me to truly appreciate big bands, especially those with a more “modernistic" bent (although I really do love Duke Ellington and Count Basie.)
Here are some links and videos for you to enjoy (or, at least, peruse.)
Hie thee to Darcy James Argue Secret Society blog (link below and look for “live" audio) and download (for free, no less) the audio from the Band's July 15th 2009 gig at Le Poison Rouge. If you don't already own “Infernal Machines“, the band's brilliant (and only) CD so far (issued on New Amsterdam), lend your ears and soul to these cuts. If they don't move you and get you thinking about the direction of modern creative music, so be it. Just give a listen.
Trumpeter Roy Hargrove has just issued a Big Band recording called “Emergence“ (Groovin' High/Emarcy Records) and the 19-piece band marched into WBGO-FM studios on Friday August 28 to play one hot set. You can listen to the “hit" and view some images from the afternoon gig by going to wbgo.org. It's a bit more “in the tradition" than the DJA music but it still has soul, sass and many fine solos. Check it out.
Soon, there will be a CD release of trumpeter Dave Douglas's first Big Band venture. “A Single Sky“ will come out on his GreenLeaf label (link here) but you can watch 3 of the pieces (that will be on the CD) from a 2008 concert on YouTube. The music features Douglas with special guest Joe Lovano (tenor saxophone), James Genus (bass), the delightful Clarence Penn (drums), Simon Nabatov (piano) and the NDR Big Band. It's in HD and looks quite good, sounds even better. Give a look and listen - let me know what you think.
Here are some links and videos for you to enjoy (or, at least, peruse.)
Hie thee to Darcy James Argue Secret Society blog (link below and look for “live" audio) and download (for free, no less) the audio from the Band's July 15th 2009 gig at Le Poison Rouge. If you don't already own “Infernal Machines“, the band's brilliant (and only) CD so far (issued on New Amsterdam), lend your ears and soul to these cuts. If they don't move you and get you thinking about the direction of modern creative music, so be it. Just give a listen.Trumpeter Roy Hargrove has just issued a Big Band recording called “Emergence“ (Groovin' High/Emarcy Records) and the 19-piece band marched into WBGO-FM studios on Friday August 28 to play one hot set. You can listen to the “hit" and view some images from the afternoon gig by going to wbgo.org. It's a bit more “in the tradition" than the DJA music but it still has soul, sass and many fine solos. Check it out.
Soon, there will be a CD release of trumpeter Dave Douglas's first Big Band venture. “A Single Sky“ will come out on his GreenLeaf label (link here) but you can watch 3 of the pieces (that will be on the CD) from a 2008 concert on YouTube. The music features Douglas with special guest Joe Lovano (tenor saxophone), James Genus (bass), the delightful Clarence Penn (drums), Simon Nabatov (piano) and the NDR Big Band. It's in HD and looks quite good, sounds even better. Give a look and listen - let me know what you think.
