On Unexpected Guests, longtime bandleader and composer Ira B. Liss and his Big Band Jazz Machine deliver a genre-bending adventure that blends the richness of large-ensemble swing with fantastic cross-genre collaborations. Co-leader and arranger Dan Radlauer’s imaginative writing anchors the session, performed by a powerhouse lineup that includes trumpeters Doug Meeuwsen, Mark Nicholson, Dr. Michael […]
On Unexpected Guests, longtime bandleader and composer Ira B. Liss and his Big Band Jazz Machine deliver a genre-bending adventure that blends the richness of large-ensemble swing with fantastic cross-genre collaborations. Co-leader and arranger Dan Radlauer’s imaginative writing anchors the session, performed by a powerhouse lineup that includes trumpeters Doug Meeuwsen, Mark Nicholson, Dr. Michael Schmidt, and Jack Houghton; reed players Tyler Richardson, Nicholas Hoo, Greg Armstrong, Josh Smitley, and Rob Elinson; trombonists Gary Bucher, Rob Clark, Carly Ines, and Tim Hull; pianist Steve Sibley, bassist Oliver Shirley, drummer Charlie McGhee, and percussionist Bruce Carver. Into this vibrant mix, Liss and Radlauer invite a remarkable array of guests, among them Vince Gill contributing his own composition, Daniel Ho on ukulele, Tina Guo on cello, Paul Hanson on bassoon, Eva Scow on mandolin, and Leo Manzari adding a tap-dance and rap performance. The brilliance of this album lies in how it seamlessly merges a tradition, where each artist’s individuality shines with the ensemble foundation. It’s a production that is an ambitious and uplifting showcase of versatility, musical openness, and big-band greatness.
