Mike Thompson’s 6th Avenue is a confident debut from a young arranger steeped in the grand tradition of big band writing. Recorded live at Q Division Studios in Cambridge, Massachussetts with a 17‑piece ensemble of seasoned Boston veterans. With standout solos from Mark Shilansky on piano, Bijon Watson on trumpet and Mike Caudill on tenor […]
Mike Thompson’s 6th Avenue is a confident debut from a young arranger steeped in the grand tradition of big band writing. Recorded live at Q Division Studios in Cambridge, Massachussetts with a 17‑piece ensemble of seasoned Boston veterans. With standout solos from Mark Shilansky on piano, Bijon Watson on trumpet and Mike Caudill on tenor sax, among others, Thompson balances a lush palette of brass harmonies and rhythm‑section vitality on both his four original compositions and six well‑chosen standards. The result is an album that feels both reverent and forward-looking. The album delivers a richly crafted, resonant journey, firmly rooted in the jazz tradition, hinting at even bolder work to come.
