The Weekend Spin [Jackets, DeFrancesco, Sanchez & Najee]

Tags

Christmas Music, Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Joey DeFrancesco, Latin Jazz, Najee, Organ, Poncho Sanchez, The Yellowjackets

Greeting’s  fellow jazz enthusiast … Friday has finally arrived.  Today we’re kicking off the weekend with another appetizing array of superb jazz. Being that it’s the “Christmas Season,” we thought we’d pull out jazz super-group the “Yellowjackets” and their infallible interpretations of Christmas classics titled “Peace Round.”

Yellowjackets, Peace

Yellowjackets | Peace Round – “A Christmas Celebration” [Heads Up/Christmas Jazz/2003]

Recording a Christmas collection poses some unique challenges. One must make these familiar Christmas songs personal but at the same time respect their original intent and the spirit of the season. We felt we could best do this by capturing lyrical and relaxed performances. We also wanted to render the songs as directly as possible with spare use of overdubbing. Therefore most performances are first or second takes and all but two are just the quartet live. ~ Yellowjackets.com

“Swing Out” – Bob Mintzer Big Band [Nu-Jazz]

Tags

Jazz, Saxophone, The Yellowjackets

Bob Mintzer, "Swing Out"

The Bob Mintzer Big Band’s new CD, Swing Out, will be released on the MCG Jazz label in August, 2008. It was recorded live at the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild in Pittsburgh, PA.

In the jazz world Bob Mintzer is a household name, usually associated with being a saxophonist, bass clarinetist, composer, arranger, leader of a Grammy winning big band, member of the Yellowjackets, and educator.

Bob has written over 200 big band arrangements spanning a 34 year career, many of which are performed all over the world by both student and pro bands.

“Swing Out” is due for release on 8/26/2008