THE NEW YORK ALL-STARS FEAT. DICK OATTS, GARY SMULYAN, JOE MAGNARELLI »THAD JONES CENTENNIAL«

In the organizer's words:

Thad Jones would have celebrated his 100th birthday in 2023, reason enough to dedicate a special sextet program to this giant with proven connoisseurs of his music. Joe Magnarelli (trumpet), Dick Oatts (alto saxophone) and Gary Smulyan (baritone saxophone) are among the outstanding musicians on the New York jazz scene. Joe Magnarelli has been one of the world's leading trumpeters for three decades, working with the Lionel Hampton Big Band, organist Brother Jack McDuff, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Harry Connick, Jr., the Buddy Rich Band, Maria Schneider, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and Ray Barretto, among others. Dick Oatts and Gary Smulyan have been part of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band, now the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, since the late 1970s and have also worked with musicians such as Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Chick Corea, Tito Puente, B.B. King, Diana Ross and many others.

The rhythm section consists of three perfectly attuned musicians: pianist Oliver Kent, bassist Aldo Zunino and drummer Bernd Reiter are among the most booked sidemen in Europe and have been working with all the greats of the scene for more than 30 years. This sextet brings the classic Thad Jones compositions back to the stage and presents energetic and swinging music at the highest level with professionalism and enthusiasm, simply "Jazz at its Best"!!!

Line-Up:
Joe Magnarelli (USA) - trumpet
Dick Oatts (USA) - alto sax
Gary Smulyan (USA) - baritone sax
Oliver Kent (AT) - piano
Aldo Zunino (IT) - bass
Bernd Reiter (AT) - drums

The current album: Thad Jones Centennial / Live at Bird's Eye
will be released by Ubuntu Music on October 11, 2024.