Big Jazz Band Music with Great Sound

@slaw 

Harry James and his Orchestra 

My uncle, Al Lerner, was the pianist in the Harry James orchestra during their heyday!

If you want to read a fun book about his experiences with Harry James, and others, check out "Vamp 'Til Ready".

I will recommend some big band jazz albums. 

But please note, despite having an uncle that played in a famous, traditional big band, I am not really a fan.

Therefore, my recommendations will be contemporary, progressive, and maybe a bit avant-garde.

Most of these will be in the "deep end" of jazz.

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society - Dynamic Maximum Tension

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society - Real Enemies

Steve Coleman and the Council of Balance - Synovial Joints 

Coleman has several different ensembles he leads, most are sextets and quintets. He's quite brilliant actually. 

Michael Formanek with Ensemble Kolossus - The Distance

Kenny Wheeler - Music for Large and Small Ensembles 

@frogman 

His and my aunt’s house in Studio City was kind of the gathering place for my extended family while growing up.

I  used to spend hours listening to him do arrangements in his studio. 

He worked with many well known people: Rosemary Clooney, Liza Maneli, Pat Boone, Allan Sherman, and others. 

Hanging out at his house, you never knew who would drop in. Louis Belson gave me my first practice pad. Rosemary, Keely Smith, Buddy Rich, and others would drop by from time to time, and have impromptu jam sessions.