Columbus Jazz Orchestra Releases New Recording With Artistic Director Byron Stripling

Columbus, Ohio--The Columbus Jazz Orchestra (CJO), under the direction of trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling, has released The Colors of Jazz, the CJO's first recording since Stripling became Artistic Director of the orchestra in 2002. The Colors of Jazz is available for purchase online at jazzartsgroup.org and CDBaby.com. The recording will also be available in the coming weeks on iTunes and other digital music stores.

The Columbus Jazz Orchestra is presented by the Jazz Arts Group, America's oldest not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to the presentation of jazz, and the third-largest performing arts organization in Columbus, Ohio. CJO Artistic Director Byron Stripling is an internationally-known performer; a former lead trumpet with the Count Basie Orchestra, he is a favorite at jazz festivals around the world and as a soloist with orchestras throughout the country. The CJO performs nearly 50 concerts each year in Columbus, one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, with the 7th-largest economy in the country.

The Columbus Jazz Orchestra is considered one of the world's finest jazz orchestras, and has one of the largest subscription bases for jazz in the country. The CJO has performed with many of the biggest stars in jazz, including Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Doc Severinsen, Clary Terry, Maynard Ferguson and Tito Puente. Guests in the last year have included Branford Marsalis, Debby Boone, Chuck Mangione, John Clayton, Jeff Hamilton, and Wycliffe Gordon.

“With The Colors of Jazz I wanted to create an image of the big band in the 21st century," remarked Stripling. “The different moods of the CD reflect my feeling that the genre of big band jazz is constantly evolving." The Colors of Jazz pays tribute to the past while exploring new ground. Underlying it all remain the CJO's hallmarks: its bold sound, tight ensemble playing and accomplished soloists, all led by jazz trumpet star Byron Stripling.

Featuring timeless jazz standards and new compositions, dynamic arrangements, and even a tinge of gospel, the orchestra demonstrates with every track the art of the big band. “As we do in our live performances, we tried to embrace the styles that naturally felt good," says Stripling. “From blues and gospel to ballads and bebop, we wanted to use any vehicle that would get folks to pop their fingers and pat their feet."

The Colors of Jazz was recorded at the historic Southern Theatre in Columbus in May 2006, and produced by New York-based Grammy-winning producer Joel Moss. In his 35+ years in the music industry, Moss has worked on jazz, rock, classical and Broadway cast recordings. His recent credits include Ray Charles' Grammy-winning recording Genius Loves Company, the cast recording of the Tony-nominated new musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, and several recordings for Tony Bennett, including the recent Grammy-winning Playin' with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues and Bennett Sings Ellington -- Hot & Cool. Moss has also worked with Harry Connick, Jr., Herbie Hancock, Cissy Houston, Audra McDonald, Shirley Horn, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Little Richard, Rod Stewart, Boz Skaggs and Dawn Upshaw, among many others.

Moss remarked that, upon receiving a call from Stripling to work on the CD, “Little did I know that it would be the beginning of an enlightening and thoroughly delightful journey. The CJO is part of an endangered species, the sadly diminishing large jazz ensemble. To discover such a fine example of this rare animal ... it was almost too good to be true."

The record's title track is the three-movement suite commissioned by the CJO from John Clayton, called “The Color of Jazz." Clayton is one of the foremost composers and arrangers in jazz today, and premiered the suite with the CJO in April 2005. “The piece that I wrote for them ... has grown beyond its premiere with the band," remarked Clayton. “It now has the edge and perfection that comes from repeated playing and rehearsing. It is not often enough that I can experience that as a composer, and I am grateful to the orchestra."

Other highlights on the recording include Chad Eby's arrangement of the Wayne Shorter ballad “Infant Eyes," “Something To Live For" featuring Dwight Lenox on vocals, and “I Found A New Baby," showcasing a traditional big band sound and innovative playing from soloists.

“Our producer Joel Moss made sure that the ensemble sound on the record reflected the excitement of a live CJO performance. He also made sure that the earthy down-home feeling of our blues tunes would stand in contrast to our ballads," explained Bryon Stripling. “The result is an incredible recording that is our best work to date!"