Maiden Voyage Suite
"Best Big Band" -- 1 of 4 runners up in JazzTimes readers poll, Jan-Feb 2012
"Best Arranger, Mike Holober" --1 of 4 runners up in JazzTimes readers poll, Jan-Feb 2012
“Best of 2011” –AllAboutJazz
“Best of 2011” –Huffington Post
12 weeks on JazzWeek chart for national radio airplay, peaking at #8
#84 on JazzWeek's "Top 100 Jazz CDs of 2011"
WBGO-FM’s October 2011 selection for “CD of the Month Club”
“Pick of the Month” in Upbeat, WBGO’s magazine, November/December 2011
“nearly flawless”–DownBeat
WJO uses “the expanded orchestral format not merely for volume or sheer bigness, but for added tonal color and dynamics. The key soloists on the album…all play in such a way as to propel the craft forward.” –The Wall Street Journal
“Very few rise to the level of inspiration and excellence of The Westchester Jazz Orchestra's Maiden Voyage Suite, a top big band outing of the year.” – Dan McClenaghan, AllAboutJazz
"Hancock's masterwork is in the best of hands .... splendid." --Jack Bowers, Big Band Caravan, AllAboutJazz
"as near perfection as one could wish for. . . .One of the big band albums of the year." *****
--Ray Comiskey, Irish Times
“… the best we’ve had since those wonderful aggregations headed by Duke Ellington, Count Basie.” –Ric Bang, JazzScan
"a new jazz classic . . . . Each movement is both an homage to Hancock's original masterpiece and testimony to the WJO's creativity and innovation.” -- Bob Bernotas, WNTI-FM
"One of my favorite 2011 releases." -- James Hall, about.com
"A deep, ambitious recording . . . . hot stuff throughout." --Midwest Record, Chris Spector, Aug 6, 2011
"a high water mark for this fantastic ensemble. The playing, writing and recorded sound are all beautiful." – John Patitucci, multi-Grammy-winning bassist
"creating new worlds of possibilities from Herbie Hancock's original visions." --Step Tempest, Richard Kamens
“'WJO offers a whole new slant on Herbie Hancock's iconic compositions. World-class writing and playing!” -Randy Brecker, multi-Grammy-winning trumpeter
All In
All In was named among the Best CDs of 2007 by JazzImprov magazine and the Montreal Gazette and among WBGO's Plays of the Month from December 2007 through April 2008. All In had an amazing 13-week run on the JazzWeek chart, which tracks national radio airplay, from January into May of 2008, peaking at number 4 the week of March 10. The CD placed #50 in JazzWeek's Top 100 Jazz CDs of 2008. Here are links to and excerpts from selected reviews:
“All those chosen for inclusion … speak the same language: contemporary, vibrant, ‘contributing to the evolution of jazz,’ and they swing with erudition.” Jazz Times, Harvey Siders, January/February 2008
"hot soloing and tight arranging.... a balanced performance that excels." All About Jazz (print version), Jim Santella, January 2008
“inspires and enlightens without pretense or condescension….superlative charts, stellar soloists …. a dynamic and warmly recommended debut by a world-class orchestra.” --All About Jazz, Big Band Caravan, Jack Bowers, October 17, 2007
“an expertly woven and thrilling collection” The Toronto Star, Ashante Infantry (rated 3/4 stars)
“crackling-good,…a corker…. The band is first-rate, the solos world-class, the arrangements fresh and imaginative. This group is so exceptional that it’s beginning to reverse the usual commute: instead of suburbanites trekking southward to seek jazz in the Apple, urbanites are venturing north to hear the WJO.” --All About Jazz, Dr. Judith Schlesinger, October 12, 2007
“loaded with top-notch soloists…. Much to offer for the big-band fan.” Montreal Mirror, Len Dobbin, August 30, 2007 (rated 9.5/10)
“Keeping big band music alive in fine style…. killer chops on parade.” Midwest Record, Chris Spector, Sept 29, 2007
“a hugely impressive, swinging unit” The Irish Times, Ray Comiskey, October 19, 2007, (rated 4/5 stars)
“a real crowd-pleaser,” “a winner” Palo Alto Daily News, Oct 12, 2007
“Hot, super-professional big band charts” --David Adler’s blog
“The brass is sweet, mellow and packed with power when called on and the rhythm section never misses a beat. This is a strong performance.” O's Place Jazz Newsletter, D. Oscar Groomes (rated 4/4)
Huffington Post, October 5, 2011-- "You must make it your business to see ... WJO ... this year."
The New York Times, Sun, Sept 18, 2011 -- preview of our 2011-12 concert season
The New York Times, Sun, May 22, 2011 -- a reporter's inside look at the recording of Maiden Voyage Suite
The New York Times, Sun, Sept 19, 2010 -- "The Westchester Jazz Orchestra has built a reputation for deeply researched, strikingly executed performances that is reaching well beyond the orchestra’s home county to the country at large."
WAG, November 2011, profile of Executive Director Emily Tabin
The Gazette, Jan 20-26, 2011 -- WJO "has been operating in the jazz stratosphere."
Westchester County Business Journal, Aug 27, 2010
The New York Times, Sun, Mar 30, 2008
