Thad Jones Centennial / Live at Bird’s Eye
Release Date: 11th October 2024
CD & Digital Formats / UBU0170
Bernd Reiter, Gary Smulyan, Joe Magnarelli, Aldo Zunino, Dick Oatts, Oliver Kent (Photographer: Suthakar Rasnayagam)
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the release of The Thad Jones Centennial, a tribute album to one of the all-time greatest jazz trumpet soloists and arrangers, featuring an all-star line-up of musicians which include Joe Magnarelli (trumpet), Dick Oatts (alto sax) and Gary Smulyan (baritone sax). It was recorded Live at Bird’s Eye, Basel (Switzerland).
Bernd Reiter, drummer and visionary for the project, explains the thinking behind the idea: “Thad Jones was one of the most influential composers and arrangers in jazz history. As he would have celebrated his 100th birthday in 2023, Gary Smulyan approached me with the idea of a special ‘Centennial’ project to honor Thad with specialists of his music. And nobody knows Thad’s repertoire better than Dick Oatts, Gary Smulyan and Joe Magnarelli, who were closely associated with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra - now the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra - for more than 40 years. Thad’s music is mostly played by big bands all over the world. Our project presents it in a small group (sextet) setting, as many compositions by Thad were originally written for quintet/sextet and arranged for a big band at a later date. So, our line-up leaves a lot of space for the soloists and everybody in the band gets a chance to really play on the tunes. Bird’s Eye Basel happened at the end of the tour, so it was also a great opportunity of doing a live recording after having been on the road for two weeks. No rehearsal needed, we could just go to the club and play, which was a special and privileged situation.”
The Bird's Eye Jazz Club, (Basel, Switzerland) is one of the most renowned and popular jazz clubs in Europe for decades.
Live at Bird’s Eye, Basel features five compositions by Thad Jones and three standards arranged by Jones. The music is modern, straight-ahead jazz throughout, with a contemporary touch of classical swinging. Each soloist on the recording knows how to treat the timeless material with freedom while adding new, personal ideas.
Bernd Reiter is no stranger to the Ubuntu Music record label, as he describes: “Ubuntu is not new to me. I was lucky to already be on three releases for the label, including my own very successful ‘Dameronia’ project. Dick Oatts and Aldo Zunino were part of this recording too. Joe Magnarelli, Gary Smulyan and Oliver Kent have their debut on Ubuntu with this recording. We are all extremely excited about the release and the collaboration with Martin Hummel and the Ubuntu team as this is one of the very few labels nowadays which takes care of the music and the musicians the way it should be.”
Gary Smulyan, Aldo Zunino, Joe Magnarelli, Oliver Kent, Dick Oatts, Bernd Reiter (Photographer: Suthakar Rasnayagam)
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “Bernd never ceases to amaze me. He’s constantly creating exciting projects with tremendous musicians and The Thad Jones Centennial is no exception. Bernd has assembled an all-star cast of some of the biggest names in contemporary jazz, who have also performed with legends such as Joe Magnarelli (Lionel Hampton), Dick Oatts (Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra) and Gary Smulyan (Woody Herman). This live recording packs a punch that reminds us of just how special Thad Jones and his music always was, is and will be. It’s so very special for Ubuntu Music to bring this timeless, contemporary jazz to the world, which is certain to put a smile on your face and a tap in your toes .”
Thad Jones in Denmark, 1969. (Video Image)
For further information, please contact:
Bernd Reiter (Artist): berndreiter@gmx.at
Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com