Renowned Nevada-based Floridian composer, author, and teacher, Henry Wolking follows up his recent In Sea, with a Big Round Records re-release of Powell Canyons: And Other Orchestral Jazz Works. This stunning and effervescent album of orchestral jazz compositions is a quintessential key to understanding Wolking’s work and nature inspired aesthetic...

This album was originally released on CD via MCC Recordings in 2000, but is long out of print and is hard to find (without having to part with a lot of money). Big Round Records reissue allows music lovers the chance to buy this without breaking the bank.

Featuring the London Symphony Orchestra, Warsaw National Philharmonic, the Slovak Radio Symphony, as well as collaborations with trumpeter, John Harbaugh, and Steinway artists, Susan Duehlmeier and Bonnie Gritton, Powell Canyons beautifully mixes the genres of Classical, Big Band and Jazz.

There truly is something here for everyone... and it might convert you to genres you would have otherwise have shied away from. The album is made up of three works and consists of seven tracks (1 hr, 03 min, 46 sec).

I'm first and foremost a lover of Classical music, I like the odd bit of Big Band and don't mind certain styles of Jazz, but this is so well constructed that the seamless blend of all three genres had me listening to this over and over again. It's an album you'll get many years of pleasure out of.

Track listing:

Powell Canyons, for jazz trio & orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra |  Madeline Schatz (conductor)
John Harbaugh (trumpet)
01 - Dirty Devil
02 - Dark Canyon
03 - White Canyon

04 - Forests, for orchestra
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra |  Robert Black (conductor)

Letting Midnight out on Bail, jazz paradigms for 2 pianos & orchestra
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra  |   Jerzy Swoboda (conductor)
Bonnie Gritton & Susan Duehlmeier (piano)
05 - I.
06 - II.
07 - III.
08 - IV.
09 - V.

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Darren Rea