Jazz Big Band Recommendations?

Great suggesion about Clayton/Hamilton. BTW, I just got in a DVD of the Mike Vax Big Band at Morningside College. Apparently, it's a recording they made at a jazz festival in 1995. I think it's a bunch of guys that used to play with Kenton. Haven't watch it yet.

And here's another one I pulled from the NPR jazz program. This groups been around for awhile. http://www.vanguardjazzorchestra.com/. They do some top flight stuff and they have a new release that you can purchase from their website.

I "third" the Dave Holland big band.

Hey Nighthawk,

I have a great jazz/big band recommendation for you! His name is Matt Dusk and he's a 24-year-old budding star from Canada. YOu might have caught him on FOX's "The Casino" this past week... he plays the hotel's lounge singer. Anyway if you didn't get a chance to see him on the show, you missed out! His voice is phenomenal... like a young Frank Sinatra! Check out his site at www.mattdusk.com and tell me waht you think. =)

I recommend the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Big Band. The Mosaic set is out of print, but individual CDs are still available. These are the charts that Basie did not want to
touch because they were too complex.

Lavay Smith,,wow