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Vanguard Jazz Orchestra: Live At The Village Vanguard

There's a tradition in many New York City jazz clubs: Monday nights are reserved for big bands. The Village Vanguard, the most storied of clubs, has observed this practice since 1966, when a nascent large ensemble called together by trumpeter Thad Jones and drummer Mel Lewis was booked for three Mondays in February. Now called the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Grammy-winning 16-piece band upholds Jones and Lewis' precepts of swinging boldly and arranging deftly to a sold-out crowd weekly.

NPR Music and WBGO featured the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra on its home turf, in a live radio broadcast and online video webcast Monday, Feb. 13. NPR Music and WBGO have our own tradition of broadcasting monthly from the legendary club; this marks the 50th concert in the npr.org/villagevanguard series.

Set List

  • "A-That's Freedom" (H. Jones, arr. T. Jones)
  • "Extra Credit" (McNeely)
  • "ABC Blues" (Brookmeyer)
  • "Suite For Three" (Brookmeyer)
  • "Skylark" (Carmichael, arr. Brookmeyer)
  • "My Centennial" (T. Jones)
  • Personnel

  • Nick Marchione, trumpet (lead)
  • Tanya Darby, trumpet
  • Terell Stafford, trumpet
  • Scott Wendholt, trumpet
  • John Mosca, trombone (lead)/co-leader
  • Luis Bonilla, trombone
  • Jason Jackson, trombone
  • Douglas Purviance, bass trombone/co-leader
  • Dick Oatts, alto saxophone (lead)/winds
  • Billy Drewes, alto saxophone/winds
  • Ralph LaLama, tenor saxophone/winds
  • Rich Perry, tenor saxophone/winds
  • Gary Smulyan, baritone saxophone/bass clarinet
  • Michael Weiss, piano
  • David Wong, bass
  • John Riley, drums
  • Credits

    Producer And Host: Josh Jackson; Audio Engineer: David Tallacksen; Production Assistant: Michael Downes. Recorded Feb. 13, 2012 at The Village Vanguard in New York, N.Y.

    Copyright 2012 WBGO