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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Featuring a track off of Bob Mintzer's new album with the WDR Big Band "Bluegrass", and a Scottish reel by Michael Brecker performed but the U. of North Texas 1 O'clock Lab Band. Then we also hear Lil' Liza, Lil' Darlin' and a tribute to the Jeep.
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A Father's Day special: From Horace Silver's standard "Song for My Father", Woody Herman's "Your Father's Moustache" and some special recordings from the sons of Clare Fischer and Duke Ellington.
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A big band tribute to all of the triathletes from far and wide on the shore this weekend. Includes the classic theme from Rocky "Gonna Fly Now", a few different Olympic Themes, and an experimental rendition of Chariots of Fire from the Bad Plus.
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Celebrate Pride Month by running through the colors of the Big Band Rainbow! Featuring the music of Judy Garland, Elton John and Billy Strayhorn, from "The Kid From Red Bank", through "Rhapsody in Blue" and "Mood Indigo", and culminating in the Maria Schneider Orchestra's excellent rendition of "Over the Rainbow".
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A journey on the rivers of the Chesapeake Bay. From Hoagy Carmichael's earliest recording of "Lazy River", to the latest from Maryland's own Allison Miller, it's a musical river boat of big band tunes.
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Starting with "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got that Swing)" from the Duke, we explore whether things without "that swing" or breaking some of the old rules, might still bring joy. From Clark Terry's nonsense-syllables in "Mumbles", to Bob Mintzer's experiment with the AKAI EWI on "Mofongo", let's have fun seeing how far we can go.
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A special Mother's Day episode. Featuring Carla Bley's suite of compositions about mothers: Grand Mother, Step Mother, Your Mother and God Mother. Also some great tracks from Maria Schneider, Gerry Mulligan, Toshiko Akiyoshi and Thad Jones.
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Celebrating the music of Keith Jarrett with a few big band performances of his compositions. Also the latest from the 3 Cohens and a surprise appearance from one of the hottest drummers of the 1980's.
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An episode devoted to Duke Ellington. From his earliest hits to his last known recording, and a bunch in between, including some of Ellington's film scores. We end with the excellent tribute to Duke from Chucho Valdés' Irakere, entitled "El Duke".
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A special episode for Easter and Passover. Includes Duke Ellington's classic Cottontail, some pastoral vibes with "The Thompson Fields" by Maria Schneider and John Zorn's Gehegial.