Manhattan School of Music Jazz Orchestra

Manhattan School of Music Jazz Orchestra: Contemporary Jazz Composition

by Jack Bowers
June 21, 2005

There are some genuinely absorbing contemporary jazz compositions on this concert recording from four years ago by the Manhattan School of Music Jazz Orchestra conducted by Justin DiCioccio; a shame there aren't more of them. Judging from the 31:43 playing time, I'd presume the disc wasn't intended for commercial release but designed more as a teaching/listening apparatus for students (but I could be wrong about that).

The album is dedicated to composer/arranger Manny Albam who was still alive when the ...