Ben Bailey & the Nashville Big Band - Bird in the Hand - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Recorded at the Brussels World's Fair in 1958, The Bay Big Band consisting of some of Europe’s finest jazz musicians perform the music of Stan Kenton, Pete Rugolo, Rodgers & Hart and others. The versatile musician and arranger Francis Bay organized the Bay Big Band in 1954 to become the first regular Radio Dance Band after the end of World War II. The band consists of Jean Evans (piano); Clement De Mayer (bass); Armand Van De Walle (drums); Freddy Saunder (guitar); Benny Couroyer, Francis L'Eglise, Guy Dossche, Jef Verhaegen, Pres Creado (saxophone); Albert Mertens, Paul Annee (trombone); Charlie Knegtel, Edmond Harnie, Jean Cortois, Louis De Haes (trumpet). All selections have been newly remastered.

The list of musicians trumpet player Bunny Berigan and trombonist Jack Teagarden played with in the 1930s includes a vast array of jazz performers, from Tommy Dorsey to Louis Armstrong. Both musicians were equally at home with large and small ensembles, and this fine recording reflects their flexibility and musicianship.

The album Moods was recorded in the legendary Jet Studio, Brussels, with it's unique and impeccable acoustic sound in September 2020. This album demonstrates their happiness of meeting and playing again in order to finally record their work, with the energy of a lion just freed from his cage. This recording features nine original tunes composed and arranged by some of the band's members, such as Stéphane Mercier, François Decamps, Steven Delannoye and Jean Paul Estiévenart. One of the advantages of having several composers in the band is the diversity achieved in the repertoire.