Credits:

Michael Leonhart Orchestra

Description:

New York's most advanced jazz large ensemble, led by Michael Leonhardt, releases its latest album! Costello, Frisell and other guests! Michael Leonhardt, a gifted trumpeter, leads an orchestra in the release of his new album! New jazz large ensemble with guests including Elvis Costello, Nels Cline, Bill Frisell, Danny McCaslin, Chris Potter, Joshua Redman, and other big names! Born in New York City in 1974, he is a member of the prestigious Leonhardt family (father is bass player Jay Leonhardt, mother is singer Donna Leonhardt, sister is singer Caroline Leonhardt, wife is singer Jamie Leonhardt, and brother-in-law is saxophonist Wayne Escoffery), In 1996, he began touring and recording with Steely Dan (Donald Fagen, Walter Becker), and in 2009 he joined Yoko Ono's Plastic Ono Band. Since the release of his first leader album "Aardvark Poses" in 1995, Michael has released a number of high-profile albums on Sunnyside. This is his first orchestral album since "The Painted Lady Suite" (2006) and "Suite Extracts Vol. 1" (2007).The Jazz Standard jazz club in New York City, where Michael Leonhardt was based, has closed due to the Corona disaster, but the Michael Leonhardt Orchestra's drive to create music has not waned; it has only grown. Normyn" in "The Normyn Suites" is the name of Michael's female miniature dachshund. The liner notes of the album say that the title "The Normyn Suites" expresses both the loss of a beloved dog that had been Michael's companion for 15 years and the desire to live on despite the loss. The song "Shut Him Down," co-written with Elvis Costello, is included in two versions, M-1 and M-14. Costello appears on both, but on M-1, Joshua Redman plays his father Dewey Redman's estate saxophone for the first time on the recording, and Chris Potter's bass clarinet, heard on M-14, is also a major highlight. M-16 "Kenny Dorham" and M-17 "WayneShorter," both named after historical jazz giants, are combo numbers with organ, and Danny McCaslin, known for his participation on David Bowie's last album "★ (Black Star)," plays with fire. Danny McCaslin, known for his participation in David Bowie's last album "★ (Black Star)," plays with fire.