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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We've got a cool Supersax rendition of Charlie Parker's "Now's the Time". Then get laid back with Bill Evans on Claus Ogerman's Symbiosis.
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We start with some tunes for the birds: Pigeons and Peppers, Whirlybird, Chasin' the Bird, and Birdland. Then it's on to some big band arrangements of some of Weather Report's greatest hits. And we don't stop until we get enough...
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A tribute to the long history of Big Band in Sweden and its neighbors. Includes Duke Ellington's Serenade to Sweden, the music that Thad Jones brought over, and some homegrown music from Harry Arnold. Also some experimental big band from Ultraviolett, and no Sweden episode would be complete without some ABBA.
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Featuring some Big Band arrangements of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, from Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and Cleo Laine, Miles Davis and Maria JoΓ£o. Then we hear some new releases from Tom Smith and the Australian National Jazz Orchestra.
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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.