New Music Monday on Lunchtime! with Arturo Gómez

Join us on Lunchtime! with Arturo Gómez on Monday, September 25 for New Music Monday featuring Count Basie Orchestra, Carlos Henriquez, and Chuck Owens & the WDR Big Band.

Count Basie Orchestra: “Basie Swings the Blues”
The current director of the Count Basie Band, trumpeter/arranger Scotty Barnhart understands the Count Basie philosophy of keep the band swingin’ the blues. To keep that Basie motto alive Barnhart recruited an all-star cast of blues musicians and singers to join the big band for an extravaganza of danceable blues meets jazz songs. Some of the standouts include George Benson, Bobby Rush, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Keb Mo, Shemekia Copeland, and Charles Musselwhite as well as the 2 long-time Basie Band vocalists, Jamie Davis, and Carmen Bradford. When it comes time to elect nominees for the best big band and or blues albums of 2023, this album will undoubtedly lead the way, it’s that good!

Carlos Henriquez: “A Nuyorican Tale”
After 2 outings as a leader exploring his Bronx roots, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra bassist Carlos Henriquez expands his music tributes to include Manhattan’s former San Juan Hill neighborhood which was demolished to build the Lincoln Center. “A Nuyorican Tale” complies the experiences of Puerto Ricans living in New York City, affectionately called Nuyoricans. Carlos’ brilliant compositions and arrangements are enhanced by the mega-talented musicians he chose to accompany him on his journey, Terrel Stafford-trumpet, the Rodriguez brothers, Robert and Michael on piano and trumpet respectively, Obed Calvaire-drums and several others. In addition to leading his own band, and playing bass for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Henriquez teaches at Northwestern University.

Chuck Owens and the WDR Big Band: “Renderings”
Despite leading his 19-piece Jazz Surge big band since 1995, the multi-Grammy® nominated conductor, composer, and arranger, Owen decided to accept the offer to conduct and record and album with the prestigious Cologne, Germany based WDR Big Band. The project began in 2019 but was halted upon the arrival of the pandemic and resumed in 2021. Other than Chuck, the only other non-German musician involved in this recording is violinist Sara Caswell. All eight selections are either previously performed Jazz Surge songs or new renderings of other composers’ music. As always Chuck Owen conducts and arranged another swinging album start to finish.

Now in its 21st year of debuting the latest arrivals to the KUVO Jazz library, many of them are played ahead of their official release date. In addition to the music comments, I’ll provide a few tidbits about the artist, if it’s a new or an up-and-coming artist. It all begins at Noon every Monday.

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