Personally, I REALLY can't recommend Clare Fischer's "Thesaurus" enough. I feel like it's one of the most hip big band albums out there! The albums "Extension" and "Duality" are great Clare Fischer albums too! (Although I believe you can't find Duality online)
All phenomenal albums. Some of my favorites are Bob Curnow's LA Big Band "Music of Pat Methaney & Lyle Mays", the Airmen of Note's "Somewhere out there", Arturo Sandoval's "Dear Diz", John Daversa's "Junk Wagon", and Maynard's "Carnival"
Great list. I agree with most of them. For me, I'd add Rob McConnell's Boss Brass. There are many incredible albums from Rob, but The 2 Mel Torme albums are a great intro to his writing. No one writes solis and harmonies like Rob.
@@PandemoniumBigBand And now thanks to you, I've got Computer set on auto repeat! I can't believe I missed this album. I have Urban Contours and it's okay. I remember seeing Bob Mintzer's band perform at the Village Vanguard circa 1990. As for Threshold, well, I discovered that one out of college in NYC in the late 80s when I visited one of those ancient jazz record stores on some second floor office building downtown. I told the young dude that I liked big band music, and he said, "I think you'll like this one." It was great to hear it again, although the youtube recording was of an actual LP with the scratches and pops. Too funny.
Thanks for another awesome video Elliot! As always your content is super informative and inspiring. I can't believe I hadn't found Soaring before, its such an awesome album!
Great list, Elliot! I'm not familiar with that Tom Kubis album; I will check it out! My list would include Don Ellis- Live at the Fillmore, Maynard- Live at Jimmy's, Kenton- Live at Redlands, Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland- At Her Majesty's pleasure...gosh, so many great albums to choose from!
Great list of albums Elliot. I'm lucky to have many on your list and agree that they are all excellent. In a more contemporary list like you have given there are loads to check out: I have always thought that Tom's (Kubis) album "Slightly Off the Ground" was fantastic? Bob Florence released many great albums as did Rob McConnell - both great arrangers. Sammy Nestico's Night Flight album is great but so are his more recent ones such as "Basie and Beyond" and "This Is The Moment". Other arrangers and Big Band albums by the following artists are also worth checking out: Matt Catingub, Doc Rutherford, Ashley Alexander, Les Hooper, Frank Mantooth to name a few!
I’ll probably do a more contemporary list at some point. I also want to do a “my favorite albums by today’s young LA composers”. Lots of great stuff to highlight
@@PandemoniumBigBand The beard gave it away but I also recognize the pic from my college jazz ensemble director, Hank Levy's office....he had the same photo!
Soaring, YES!!!!!! But the best track off of that album has got to be Invincible. It has everything that's great about Ellis' music: Odd meter (14/8), amazing solis that swing, a beautiful melody, and strings!
Dude, just added these ALL to my Spotify library. EXCEPT-"Threshold" (Patrick Williams) doesn't appear to be on there (several other of his more recent albums are). Thanks for these suggestions!
With you on the Mintzer side. Thad and Mel’s Live at the Village Vanguard has strong attributes that better represent the band’s spontaneity. Basie’s Roulette label era yielded both Live at Birdland and Chairman of The Board.
Nobody asked me, and probably no one cares, but here are the 8 albums that were most influential on me, in no particular order: I'm not saying that these are my favorite albums now, although some are, but these were the records that most influenced me in my formative years. You can't go wrong with any of them. 1. Duke Ellington: Such Sweet Thunder (Ellington, Strayhorn) 2. Duke Ellington: Blanton/Webster Band 3. Thad Jones: Presenting the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra (Thad, Brookmeyer, MacIntosh) 4. Miles Ahead (Gil Evans) 5. Atomic Basie (Neal Hefti) 6. Any Jimmie Lunceford record between 1935-39 (Oliver, Wilcox) 7. Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band '63 (Brookmeyer, Cohn, McFarland) 8. Monk at Town Hall (Overton)
This is great!! Thank you so much! So glad to see Pat Williams on there … when I was 17, I heard a Pat Williams chart on the radio (“Think”) while driving and I found myself pulling the car over to stop and listen. Became obsessed with tracking down his work. What are your feelings about Kenton?
I got them all, except for Rich. I'm surprised you did not include the (arguably) best jazz big band in the planet: The WDR jazz big band. In terms of performance AND arranging... Mike Avene, Michael Philip Mossman, Vince Mendoza, John Clayton...Rich's Band was too brassy, too bright for me. Probably, "Consummation" (Thad's) wipes them all the rest 😏
Nice List! I have quite a few of those. I would add another great writer: Kenny Wheeler’s “Music for Large and Small Ensembles”. Exquisite counterpoint, quartal voicings, and great players (P. Erskine, Dave Holland, & John Aebercrombie along with Britian’s best horn players.
Got them all except your honorable mentions and Buddy’s Roar (but a bunch of others - LOVE Channel One Suite!!!). I’d have to add Maynard’s “Blues Roar,” pre-pop days, with French horns and tuba! Great stuff! Other comments listed great listings as well!
great taste...my personal list (in no particular order) "Basie straight ahead", Count Basie, great swing stuff, played Hay burner a lot with my school band, back in the days "Incredible Journey", Bob Mintzer, unique arrangements, unique recording technique "one more once," Michel Camillo Bigband, great salsa/latin - Bigband with Michel Camillo in "beast mode", Paquito, John Fadis... "GRP Bigband Live (in Japan)", in my 20ties i heard it on heavy rotation, now maybe not my favorite CD but influenced my writing a lot "Sylva," snarky puppy and Metropol orkest, live, great large-ensemble writing/playing and Corey Henry on keys "Quintessence", Quincy Jones "Christmas Songs" John Clayton and Jeff Hamillton Jazzorchestra & Diana Krall, every year in my CD-Player while driving home..... "Big" New Cool Collective, Dutch Bigband with electronics Bonus: of course some Maria Schneider stuff. Some Duke Ellington, WDR-Bigband (germany radio/tv Bigband, actual conducted by Bob Mintzer), Thad Jones, Stan Kenton, Gordon Goodwin... all the best from Frankfurt to you.
I have many of the same albums, as well as dozens more. I've listened to Mintzer's "Computer" many times and always wonder about the abrupt ending of that piece. Maybe someone out there knows the answer: Did they actually run out of tape? (I'm virtually certain that digital recordings of that era were done on tape, and Bob's band recorded live in the studio in a circular arrangement around the mics.) Or is the ending just a gimmick to make it sound like a "computer"? I've never played the arrangement or seen the score, so maybe someone who has played it can let us know whether that ending is written into the published version of the arrangement.
That's my weeks listening sorted. Many thanks for the list and your content in general. It's very friendly and accessible.
Great list! Not Surprised that Roar of 74 was on the list!! Threshold always floors me!!!
It's so good!
Personally, I REALLY can't recommend Clare Fischer's "Thesaurus" enough.
I feel like it's one of the most hip big band albums out there!
The albums "Extension" and "Duality" are great Clare Fischer albums too! (Although I believe you can't find Duality online)
Gaviotte! 😁
All phenomenal albums. Some of my favorites are Bob Curnow's LA Big Band "Music of Pat Methaney & Lyle Mays", the Airmen of Note's "Somewhere out there", Arturo Sandoval's "Dear Diz", John Daversa's "Junk Wagon", and Maynard's "Carnival"
Those are all killer albums.
What a fantastic topic! I'm going to make a playlist of all of those and start studying right away!
Good idea!
Great list. I agree with most of them. For me, I'd add Rob McConnell's Boss Brass. There are many incredible albums from Rob, but The 2 Mel Torme albums are a great intro to his writing. No one writes solis and harmonies like Rob.
Agreed. Great albums
Great choices! I was, however, disappointed that Bill Watrous' Manhattan Wildlife Refuge albums did not make your list.
Great choice. I didn’t discover that album until much more recently.
@@PandemoniumBigBand And now thanks to you, I've got Computer set on auto repeat! I can't believe I missed this album. I have Urban Contours and it's okay. I remember seeing Bob Mintzer's band perform at the Village Vanguard circa 1990. As for Threshold, well, I discovered that one out of college in NYC in the late 80s when I visited one of those ancient jazz record stores on some second floor office building downtown. I told the young dude that I liked big band music, and he said, "I think you'll like this one." It was great to hear it again, although the youtube recording was of an actual LP with the scratches and pops. Too funny.
Thanks for another awesome video Elliot! As always your content is super informative and inspiring. I can't believe I hadn't found Soaring before, its such an awesome album!
I LOVE Soaring. If this list were in order, it would be near the top for sure.
Great list, Elliot! I'm not familiar with that Tom Kubis album; I will check it out! My list would include Don Ellis- Live at the Fillmore, Maynard- Live at Jimmy's, Kenton- Live at Redlands, Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland- At Her Majesty's pleasure...gosh, so many great albums to choose from!
Great choices.
Have subbed!
Great list of albums Elliot. I'm lucky to have many on your list and agree that they are all excellent.
In a more contemporary list like you have given there are loads to check out:
I have always thought that Tom's (Kubis) album "Slightly Off the Ground" was fantastic?
Bob Florence released many great albums as did Rob McConnell - both great arrangers.
Sammy Nestico's Night Flight album is great but so are his more recent ones such as "Basie and Beyond" and "This Is The Moment".
Other arrangers and Big Band albums by the following artists are also worth checking out:
Matt Catingub, Doc Rutherford, Ashley Alexander, Les Hooper, Frank Mantooth to name a few!
I’ll probably do a more contemporary list at some point. I also want to do a “my favorite albums by today’s young LA composers”. Lots of great stuff to highlight
Love that pic of Don Ellis behind you!!
Good eye!
@@PandemoniumBigBand The beard gave it away but I also recognize the pic from my college jazz ensemble director, Hank Levy's office....he had the same photo!
Excellent list!!! The very top of my list is Patrick Williams Aurora!!!
Good choice! Also... Sinatraland. Pat was the best!
Elliot - could you post this as a written list?
Might be good to have one of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis albums included here.
I do. I think it’s number 2 or 3
Soaring, YES!!!!!! But the best track off of that album has got to be Invincible. It has everything that's great about Ellis' music: Odd meter (14/8), amazing solis that swing, a beautiful melody, and strings!
I love that track.
Great vid!
Thanks Evan!
Dude, just added these ALL to my Spotify library. EXCEPT-"Threshold" (Patrick Williams) doesn't appear to be on there (several other of his more recent albums are). Thanks for these suggestions!
Dang! Threshold is definitely on Apple Music. ua-cam.com/video/zuSWzXz0uFU/v-deo.html
With you on the Mintzer side. Thad and Mel’s Live at the Village Vanguard has strong attributes that better represent the band’s spontaneity. Basie’s Roulette label era yielded both Live at Birdland and Chairman of The Board.
Yes. Agreed.
Nobody asked me, and probably no one cares, but here are the 8 albums that were most influential on me, in no particular order: I'm not saying that these are my favorite albums now, although some are, but these were the records that most influenced me in my formative years. You can't go wrong with any of them. 1. Duke Ellington: Such Sweet Thunder (Ellington, Strayhorn) 2. Duke Ellington: Blanton/Webster Band 3. Thad Jones: Presenting the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra (Thad, Brookmeyer, MacIntosh) 4. Miles Ahead (Gil Evans) 5. Atomic Basie (Neal Hefti) 6. Any Jimmie Lunceford record between 1935-39 (Oliver, Wilcox) 7. Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band '63 (Brookmeyer, Cohn, McFarland) 8. Monk at Town Hall (Overton)
Good list too! I am sure a bunch of people have asked you over the years...
This is the playlist that Elliot suggests…
ua-cam.com/play/PLUtiFOy2KdaMQV7wf1ncpv8ECePs3Ur_j.html
Thank you Neil!
This is great!! Thank you so much! So glad to see Pat Williams on there … when I was 17, I heard a Pat Williams chart on the radio (“Think”) while driving and I found myself pulling the car over to stop and listen. Became obsessed with tracking down his work. What are your feelings about Kenton?
I got them all, except for Rich. I'm surprised you did not include the (arguably) best jazz big band in the planet: The WDR jazz big band.
In terms of performance AND arranging... Mike Avene, Michael Philip Mossman, Vince Mendoza, John Clayton...Rich's Band was too brassy, too bright for me.
Probably, "Consummation" (Thad's) wipes them all the rest 😏
WDR is a killer ensemble, no question about that.
more list!!!!
More lists coming for sure!
Nice List! I have quite a few of those.
I would add another great writer: Kenny Wheeler’s “Music for Large and Small Ensembles”. Exquisite counterpoint, quartal voicings, and great players (P. Erskine, Dave Holland, & John Aebercrombie along with Britian’s best horn players.
Great suggestion!
I agree with many of the choices, some of his choices are good but not groundbreaking.
Not intended to be the most groundbreaking big and albums. These are the ones that I listened to over and over again early on.
@@PandemoniumBigBand I get that. I'm a big band composer as well, my list would be considerably different as would probably everyone's.
Any good ones that include strings?
Don Ellis’ Soaring AND Patrick Williams’ Threshold both have strings! Enjoy!
@@PandemoniumBigBand "Invincible" has some really nice string writing. Thanks!
Good list, how about some of these?
Miles Davis & Gil Evans
Miles Ahead
Buddy Rich
Mercy, Mercy
Girl Evans
Into the Hot
Stan Kenton
Cuban Fire.
Got them all except your honorable mentions and Buddy’s Roar (but a bunch of others - LOVE Channel One Suite!!!). I’d have to add Maynard’s “Blues Roar,” pre-pop days, with French horns and tuba! Great stuff! Other comments listed great listings as well!
You should put these into a Spotify playlist and link to it in the description!
great taste...my personal list (in no particular order)
"Basie straight ahead", Count Basie, great swing stuff, played Hay burner a lot with my school band, back in the days
"Incredible Journey", Bob Mintzer, unique arrangements, unique recording technique
"one more once," Michel Camillo Bigband, great salsa/latin - Bigband with Michel Camillo in "beast mode", Paquito, John Fadis...
"GRP Bigband Live (in Japan)", in my 20ties i heard it on heavy rotation, now maybe not my favorite CD but influenced my writing a lot
"Sylva," snarky puppy and Metropol orkest, live, great large-ensemble writing/playing and Corey Henry on keys
"Quintessence", Quincy Jones
"Christmas Songs" John Clayton and Jeff Hamillton Jazzorchestra & Diana Krall, every year in my CD-Player while driving home.....
"Big" New Cool Collective, Dutch Bigband with electronics
Bonus:
of course some Maria Schneider stuff. Some Duke Ellington, WDR-Bigband (germany radio/tv Bigband, actual conducted by Bob Mintzer), Thad Jones, Stan Kenton, Gordon Goodwin...
all the best from Frankfurt to you.
Good list!
Glad to see Don Ellis on this list. People don’t really mention him in polite conversation. Electric Bath is one of my favorite albums.
Glad to put Don on my list. I love Electric Bath too.
Amazing video! Thanks for sharing your taste and experiences :D
My pleasure!
I have many of the same albums, as well as dozens more. I've listened to Mintzer's "Computer" many times and always wonder about the abrupt ending of that piece. Maybe someone out there knows the answer: Did they actually run out of tape? (I'm virtually certain that digital recordings of that era were done on tape, and Bob's band recorded live in the studio in a circular arrangement around the mics.) Or is the ending just a gimmick to make it sound like a "computer"? I've never played the arrangement or seen the score, so maybe someone who has played it can let us know whether that ending is written into the published version of the arrangement.
I have played it in a couple of bands… the ending is abrupt, exactly like the recording. I think he cut it off like that for the effect.
I added some of these on my playlist!
Thanks, Boss
Enjoy!
Nice, Elliot! (Many of those are on my favorites list, too.)
I already knew you had great taste.
@@PandemoniumBigBand Thank you, sir! :)