Thad Jones - Live at the Montmartre, Copenhagen

Cornetist Thad Jones (pictured on the cover playing valve trombone) does not actually perform on this CD, and he is heard leading The Danish Radio Big Band rather than the orchestra he had co-led with Mel Lewis, but this is a highly recommended set. The 20-piece big band is superb, and they do an expert job of playing such Jones charts as his classic "Tip Toe" (which is given an interpretation as strong as the Jones/Lewis earlier version), "Kids Are Pretty People," "Old Folks" and "A Good Time Was Had By All." Not all of the lead voices are identified, unfortunately, but such top players as Jesper Thilo (heard on alto rather than his usual tenor), Bent Jaedig on tenor, trumpeters Idrees Sulieman and Allan Botschinsky, and trombonist Richard Boone (who takes a typically eccentric vocal on "I Got Rhythm") are among the many soloists. Read More