Dave Pell Octet - Swingin' School Songs (2020)

The smooth sound of the Dave Pell Octet and the general feeling of their presentations, though an essential contributing factor to the unit's success, have moved certain jazz critics to categorize Pell's music as jazz. The major portion of the octet's work were dances, and over 95 percent of them were for high schools and colleges. "Almost every time we play a college or high school, there are requests for the school song," said Pell. "When our baritone sax man suggested we make jazz arrangements on the best known college songs... I took the idea immediately. Utilizing the great arrangers available Marty Paich, Bill Holman, John Williams to us, the project was carried out."