Thad Jones Centennial - Live at Bird's Eye (2024) [Hi-Res]

"Live at Bird's Eye" features compositions and arrangements by the legendary composer Thad Jones. It provides classical swinging jazz at the highest level with international acclaimed soloists from New York and Europe. It was recorded live at the The Bird’s Eye Jazz Club in Switzerland and combines the energy of a live-recording with the experience of the band having been on the road.

He came from an extremely musical family, his brothers Hank Jones (piano) and Elvin Jones (drums) also achieved great fame. He himself was self-taught on the trumpet and performed with Sonny Stitt at the age of 16. During the Second World War, he played in various US Army bands, then made several recordings with Charles Mingus and was a member of the Count Basie Orchestra from 1954 to 1963, for which he also arranged. He then worked with Pepper Adams, among others, and founded the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra with Mel Lewis in 1965, which was an institution on the American jazz scene for the next thirteen years.

Joe Magnarelli (trumpet), Dick Oatts (alto saxophone) and Gary Smulyan (baritone saxophone) are among the outstanding musicians on the New York jazz scene. Joe Magnarelli has been one of the world's leading trumpeters for three decades, working with the Lionel Hampton Big Band, organist Brother Jack McDuff, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Harry Connick, Jr., the Buddy Rich Band, Maria Schneider, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and Ray Barretto, among others.

Joe Magnarelli, trumpet
Dick Oatts, alto saxophone
Gary Smulyan, baritone saxophone
Oliver Kent, piano
Aldo Zunino, double bass
Bernd Reiter, drums