The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra: 50 Years of Mondays
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- Hear the radio episode here: n.pr/1T1mNXk
In 1965, the trumpeter and composer/arranger Thad Jones and the drummer Mel Lewis found themselves with a book of big band music originally intended for the Count Basie Orchestra - and nobody to perform it. So they made their own. They handpicked some of New York's top talent and called rehearsals on Monday nights, when the studio musicians could actually make it. And by the time they debuted on a Monday in February 1966 at the famed Village Vanguard, they were already a force to be reckoned with - soon to become the most influential big band of the last 50 years. The Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra, now the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, still plays every Monday night.
Jazz Night In America heads to the basement jazz shrine to see the band's 50th anniversary show in February 2016, full of cuts from the original Thad Jones songbook. Our radio program tells the story of how the band came to be.
SKIP TO:
"Ah, That's Freedom" - 1:44
"Mornin Reverend" - 13:43
A word from original Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra member - 19:51
"All My Yesterdays" - 25:11
"Once Around" - 32:22
Recorded Feb. 8, 2016 @ The Village Vanguard
MUSICIANS:
Mat Jodrell (trumpet), Jon Owens (trumpet), Terell Stafford (trumpet), Scott Wendholt (trumpet), Luis Bonilla (trombone), Jason Jackson (trombone), John Mosca (trombone), Douglas Purviance (bass trombone), Dick Oatts (alto sax/winds), Billy Drewes (alto sax/soprano sax/winds), Rich Perry (tenor sax/winds), Ralph Lalama (tenor sax/winds), Gary Smulyan (baritone sax), Michael Weiss (piano), David Wong (bass), John Riley (drums) with Jerry Dodgion (alto sax).
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When I was a kid/music student in New Jersey my father, a professional musician and colleague of Thad and Hank Jones at CBS often took me to the Vanguard to hear and meet the band. I will never forget those days and the way they influenced me as a musician and arranger. Those charts still sound great.
Ekkie101 I will never forget too
I am 85 years hold and i remember, in 75' the Mel Lewis Big Band, in a fish box, like us but it swinged like a devil
25:23 caught you dude recording it dude 😂
Just came back from catching the band down at “my jazz temple” the Village Vanguard. I’ve been lucky to be able to go down there regularly for most of my life, one of the blessings of living in New York. But out-of-town people can come visit anytime they like. The band is continuing to play their hearts out every Monday night. Don’t complain about the $35 entrance fee, the guys have to eat and pay rent. Head down there, order your drink, and be a part of living jazz history.
1. Ah, That's Freedom - 1:47
2. Mornin' Reverend - 13:47
3. All My Yesterdays - 25:14
4. Once Around - 32:25
Riley, Hamilton and Erskine are superb in these situations. The are such musical players. Their feel is impeccable and Riley is killing it here!
Dan Felix Drums that may be true but also at times he looks like he's about to actually be killing in there.
Great band, and being a drummer, it's especially cool to hear John Riley just killing it. Never straining or taxed. Damn it man.
Tight band full of MUSICIANS. Not showy, but also not mundane... the perfect balance.
Well said!
This is my favourite band of all time. World class musicians, all of them. And the VV - great atmosphere, brilliant acoustic. It's so great to be able watch this set, especially while stuck in London on Covid lockdown. I hope everyone in the VJO is safe and well.
JOHN RILEY LEWIS....GREAT DRUMMER/MUSICIAN!!!....THE WHOLE BAND STILL AMAZING!!!....THE JAZZ TRADITION CONTINUES.
Is that Terrel Stafford in the trumpet section?
Richard Stanmeyer yes it is
Smulyan’s solo melted my speakers
Great, great post! I had the pleasure to hear the band at the Vanguard 20 years ago, sitting first row, right in front of Dick Oats, who came late from another gig and climbed into the band. John Riley played amazingly then as he does now.
Flutes and muted trumpets... SWEET
Nothing as beautiful!
A great concert featuring the works of Thad Jones.
Very active orchestra, all of them help each other out, the way it's supposed to be, many bands like this fail to play like this.
Is John Riley playing without music? Geez.
Yup, always has
Are you being serious?
He explained in an interview that he used to have the book but realized he was still looking at the music even if he already had memorized all the arrangements, so he decided it was better for him, for the music and for the band, if he just played without the music, and that led him to become immersed in the playing, the flow, the dynamics and the interplay within the band
What a great performance! Great musicians all--they inspire me to continue playing sax in my later years. I'm a big fan of Dick Oatts, who I saw live in Calgary, Canada.
MUSICASOS! Todos los lunes siguen la tradición que enjendraron los inconmensurables THAD JONES y MEL LEWIS en un místico lugar como es el legendario e histórico Village Vanguard!! Yo estuve ahí!!
I wanted to see them eating the cake
Tour de force by John Mosca on Freedom, wow 👏
Was John Mosca Sal Mosca's brother?
Inspirational and masterful!
I had the supreme opportunity to hear the VJO about ten years ago. I am so happy to see that Mr. Mosca is still doing and playing so well. And John Riley, what a big band drummer! Quiuspa!
#yeahbaby
David Wong, lets get married and have children together
:)
Drummer John Riley - my nephey Mikey's college professor and jazz drumming mentor!
Thank you so much for the Music 👏🏿
Jazz, Jazz and more JAZZ!
Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤
Some Monday by Year --- I go to Mass --- The Vanguard Mass --- For many 50 years More! --- God Bless the Village Vanguard
Algunos Lunes al Año --- Voy a Misa --- La Misa Vanguard --- Por muchos 50 años Mas ! --- Dios Bendiga al Village Vanguard
Tremendo. Bravo. Una joya.
Great Band! Iam very like Big Band !!!
Great band! Blown away by John Riley!
Gran big band reminicencia de lo que fus la tremenda orquesta que se presentaba todos los lunes en los años 70 en el Village Vanguard del gran Thad Jones y Mel Lewis!!!
Gran estupenda big band remiicencia de la tremenda orquesta como fue la del gran Thad Jones Mel Lewis!!!
This is the last GREAT big band, with wonderful players, wonderful writing, great players, interesting soloists, and great leadership. I was lucky enough to hear Thad and Mel's bands in the '60's. '70s, and '80s when they toured into Chicago, Mel's band in the Vanguard after Thad split for Europe, and then the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra in the Vanguard during the 2000's. It's always a thrill to hear Thad's charts played by musicians who are the cream of the crop. I hear bits of Mel in John Riley, Smulyan is a worthy successor to one of my two favorite bari players, Pepper Adams, Stafford contributes first rate solos, and Mosca, Purviance, Oatts, Perry, and Drewes have done so for three decades. Thad is in the first rank of great modern big band writers, along with Brookmeyer, Holman, Paich, and Mandel. It's no accident that this band has maintained the tradition for 50+ years! If this band doesn't thrill you, you died last week. Thanks to NPR for a first rate recording, video, audio, fine video direction, and a fine sound mix.
" Старый конь борозды не испортит"... Молодцы!!!
" Старый конь борозды не испортит"... Молодцы!!!
the bast big band. espetacular
D angelo brought me here
Masterwork!
!
John Riley on drums. Got to Thad and Mell four times all in Illinois in the early seventies. Loved it.
Ralph lalama’s ideas and tonal twists are crazyyy!!
Indeed ! He is not only a master capable of justifying his lines/note choices, he is also one of the funniest people I studied with.
(Ralph & Jerry Bergonzi = tied for musical masters who are very very funny.)
Great !
still the benchmark
This is fantastic!!
Thad Jones - Mel Lewis.
Been there one Monday Night.
Exited for them to come to Pittsburgh state our jazz band is taking a field trip then
Aaahhhh, Riley and those ride Cymbals!
Just like Mel. :D
The great John Mosca!! Love from Italy
Even cowbell dude is enjoying his business af.
3:03 The dreaded Eb11 ending the piece. Must be some AmATeuR wriTINg
Thad Jones was no amateur......
Issa joke...
r/wooosh
Klingt JETZT fast noch besser, als in meiner Jugendzeit.
These guys are ancient and still have more air support than me jeez
oops, the guys are announced at the end of the session.
Fabolous realy good música
💙🌸🌱🙄
Meravigliosi!
All My Yesterdays is an amazing piece
32:25
Awesome band and performance
Great Band!!!
Beautiful...
Anyone can supply the lineup of at least some the musicians here?
Around the 30:00 minute mark, he goes through the entire band
Thanks, I missed it.
sooooo coooool
I feel so sorry for all of you who never got to hear Thad Jones- Mel Lewis at the top of their creative form with Thad conducting and inspiring the musicians. This is still a professional band but there is no spirit or swing that they were once famous for.
vova47 I know what you mean but I disagree. I saw the band with Mel. Some of the players were younger and played with more urgency, but they are still really smokin’ down there every Monday night.