Trumpeter
Thad Jones, brother of pianist
Hank and drummer
Elvin, was probably best known as the co-leader of
the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, for which he composed and arranged a tremendous amount of material during the 1960s and 1970s.
Jones' career as a composer is honored on this CD, which features many younger musicians -- including saxophonists
Rob Derke,
Ralph Lalama, and
Steve Wilson; trumpeter
David Smith; trombonist and tuba player
Sam Burtis; trombonist
Mark Meyers; pianists
Art Hirahara and
David Bryant; bassist
Carlo DeRosa; and drummer
Eric McPherson -- playing his compositions, of course including the standard "A Child Is Born." This is swinging, ultra-mainstream jazz by a largish ensemble, and while most younger jazz fans have probably rarely if ever spent any serious time listening to big bands, this CD very much shows the virtues of the form by exploring the repertoire of one of its acknowledged masters.