The Jaki Byard Quartet with Joe Farrell - The Last from Lennie's
Mick Rossi - One Block from Planet Earth
Eric Marienthal - Got You Covered
Wertico - StereoNucleosis
various - Big Bands and Classic Jazz Vol. 3
Spyro Gyra - Stories Without Words
Duke Ellington - Ken Burns Jazz
Victor Wooten - Palmystery
Jon Zeeman - Zeeland
Maynard Ferguson - Storm
Lea Delaria - Double Standards
James Silberstein - Express Lane

Some music that I've been enjoying lately would be:

1. "Three Wishes" - Spyro Gyra [GRP, 1992]
2. "We Live Here" - Pat Metheny Group [Geffen, 1995]
3. "Walking Tall" - Eric Marienthal [i.e. Music, 1998]
4. "Curves Ahead" - The Rippingtons [GRP, 1991]
5. "Great Composers of Jazz" - David Benoit [Vertical Jazz, 2000]
6. "Fields & Strings" - Brandon Fields [Paras, 1998]
7. "For Ella" - Patti Austin & WDR Orchestra [Concord, 2002]
8. "Make This City Ours" - Claire Martin [Honest, 1997]
9. "All For You" - Diana Krall Trio [Verve, 1996]
10. "Styne & Mine" - Christian Jacob [Wilder Jazz, 2003]
11. "New York Rendez-vous" - Didier Lockwood [JMS, 1996]
12. "A Day Like This" - New York Voices [MCG Jazz, 2007]
13. "Parallel Universe" - Pat Metheny & the Heath Brothers [Starburst, 2001]
14. "Joey Calderazzo" - Joey Calderazzo [Columbia, 2000]
15. "Some Other Time" - Diane Schuur [Concord, 2008]
16. "Two Blocks From the edge" - Michael Brecker [Impulse, 1998]
17. "Roots & Grooves" - Maceo Parker & WDR Orchestra [Heads Up, 2008]
18. "Something Else" - Cannonball Adderley [Blue Note, 1958 (remastered 1998)]
19. "Rit's House" - Lee Ritenour [GRP, 2002]
20. "Bags Meets Wes" - MIlt Jackson & Wes Montgomery [Rivreside, 1961]
21. "In the Moment" - Bob Mintzer Quartet [Art of Life, 2007]
22. "The Artistry of Art Pepper" - Art Pepper Nonet [Capitol, 1957]
23. "Altered State" - Yellowjackets [Heads Up, 2005]
24. "Cannon Re-Loaded" - Tom Scott [Concord, 2008]
25. "The Third Man" - Stefano Bollani & Enrico Rava [ECM, 2008]

Rippingtons - Kilimanjaro
Gerald Albright - New Beginnings
various - Big Bands and Classic Jazz Vol. 4 (last of a set)
Bob James - Ivory Coast
Natalie Cole - Ask a Woman Who Knows
Spyro Gyra - Rites of Summer

... and a couple I wouldn't normally include here
Steely Dan - Alive in America (many of their studio recordings are jazzlike, so it's only fitting that these live arrangements be mentioned)
Billy Joel - 52nd Street (if only because of Freddie Hubbard's solo on Zanzibar)

Wishful Thinking by Wishful Thinking

Think Spyro Gyra, but no Jay Beckenstein....I know, I know, but it works!!!!

And Michael Brecker endorsed this record on the back cover.

On Wishful Thinking;s second release, "Think Again" the even recorded an orgiginal "Mike and Randy Leave For Pluto"!!!

Alot of weird stop and start time changes in that one!!

Am also listening to the live PMG recording from about 10 years ago!!

Paul

Just received and am enjoying the latest from the Caribbean Jazz Project, "Afro Bop Alliance" on the Heads Up label.

It's billed as the CJP's music charted for a big band. And on several of the pieces a big band is evident. However, on quite a few of the arrangements you don't get a real "big band" feel. Instead you'd swear a much smaller group was in the recording studio that day. Any opinions on this release?

Regardless, I like the music and the soloists are first class thoughout. My only complaint would be that the session would have benefitted by a couple of original compositions & arrangements suited to CJP's big band Latin style.

Phil, please explain what you meant. What do you think is lacking here: Original songs? Big band sound? Latin style?
I'm no expert, but it seems all those elements are here.
Dave Samuels wrote five of the songs. Since Rendezvous is the only one I have on a Dave Samuels solo release, I assume the rest were written for CJP. Plus, he arranged all but Soul Sauce for the new album. So I'm totally not getting the "original compositions & arrangements" part of that.
As to the big band Latin sound, there's a 13-piece horn section, which covers the "big band" portion. And isn't Afro Bop Alliance a Latin-style band?
What am I missing?

Woody . . .

All the pieces on this release have been done on other CJP releases by the various CJP groups Dave Samuels has put together since 1995 with, I believe the lone exception being "Soul Sauce" [my favorite on the CD]. A couple of new compositions unique to this release would have added to its appeal.

Now that the Heads Up label is under the Concord Music Group umbrella, will CJP releases be on Heads Up rather than Concord Picante? I've often wondered how these sub-labels work under these larger enterprises.

Understood. You wanted a couple of new songs. The other stuff had me confused. Thanks for clarifying.

Spyro Gyra - Point of View
The Essence of Maynard Ferguson
Fourplay - Yes, Please; 4
Sakesho - We Want You to Say ...
Avery Sharpe - Legends & Mentors
Weather Report - Mr. Gone
Caribbean Jazz Project - Afro Bop Alliance

Miles Davis - Live Around the World
Cameron Mizell - Life is Loud
Big Organ Trio
Greg Vail - e motion
Kombo - The Big Blast !
Spyro Gyra - Good to Go Go