Big Band Theory
The Big Band Theory plays the classics from the golden era of swing, and then connects it to large ensemble jazz from the past 100 years. There's some tunes you might know, and some tunes to surprise you, from right here in Maryland and around the world!
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A varied mix of big band, both old and new. From Duke Ellington's Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me (Concerto for Cootie) performed by Cootie Williams, and Count Basie's Not Now, I'll Tell You When, to newer things like That's What She Said from Gordon Goodwin and Dan Savant's Five Alarm, and Small Town, Big Band from Sean Nelson's New London Big Band. Also includes a very special orchestral arrangement of Billy Strayhorn's Lush Life performed by Joshua Redman.
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Some old favorites, including All the Things Your Are, I'm Old Fashioned, and Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, and some new things, including Ryan Middaugh's Move Your Rug. Then we conclude with hour with Maria Schneider's masterpiece, The "Pretty" Road.
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After a tribute to Thelonius Monk in the first segment, a tribute to Miles Davis in the second. New tracks from the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and Miho Hazama, and some mid-century classics from Gerald Wilson, Thad Jones and Arturo Sandoval.
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We start with the Puppini Sisters on Dolly Parton's Nine to Five, the Brassmen's rendition of Sixteen Tons, and of course no Labor Day jazz special is complete without the great Charlie Haden and his Liberation Music Orchestra on Song of the United Front.
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We start with a composition from Cambridge, Maryland-born bassist Edward Snead, I Ain't Fattenin' Frogs for Snakes. Then we play through some tunes both old and new, from Count Basie, Woody Herman, Ben Patterson and Eric Ladish. Includes a fun new cover of Elvis' Love Me Tender from Lucy Woodward and Darcy James Argue's Secret Society's collaboration with Cecile McLarin Salvant on Mae West Advice.
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A big band tribute to Philadelphia, featuring the iconic "Gonna Fly Now" from Rocky, and music from some famous Philadelphia natives, including Gerry Mulligan, Philly Joe Jones, Lee Morgan and the Brecker brothers (Randy and Michael).
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Celebrating the Newport Jazz Festival this weekend, we play some of the famous live recordings from that festival. Includes Duke Ellington's Newport Suite, Toshiko Akiyoshi's Strive for Jive and Dave Brubeck's Blues for Newport.
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A collection of big band tunes for the hot, hot days of summer. Includes Count Basie's One Note Samba, Chick Corea's Armando's Rhumba, Ken Peplowski's new rendition of the Andrews Sisters' classic Rum and Coca Cola, and then we groove out on St. Thomas.
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A great mix of tunes, both new and old, including a segment of standards written by George and Ira Gershwin.