Danish Radio Big Band

Thad Jones blossomed as a writer during the 1960s and 1970s and was rightly praised as one of the best in the business. After leaving the big band he co-founded with Mel Lewis, he worked with the Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra (also known as the Danish Radio Band) after moving to Europe in the 1970s, so it isn't surprising that the band recorded a tribute to him, recording nine of his compositions. They skip most of his better-known compositions but offer lively treatments of his charts. The brisk blues "Backbone" features a trio of trombone soloists. "The Biddle-De-Bop-Samba" showcases flugelhornist Henrik Bolberg Pedersen and alto saxophonist Jan Zum Vohrde to good effect. Their updated version of Marian McPartland's "Ambiance" (retaining sideman Jerry Dodgion's score for the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra) opens with a stunning solo by pianist Nikolaj Bentzon and also features Zum Vohrde's haunting flute. Recommended. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide