Jazz Appreciation Month! April 07 2014, 0 Comments

April is Jazz Appreciation Month, and here at Altissimo! Recordings, we are celebrating America’s classical music by promoting the amazing work of America’s military bands, and their respective jazz ensembles.

Each branch of The United States military has at least one jazz band or ensemble. These groups feature some of the most virtuosic musicians in the land, performing a wide range of jazz styles and subgenres better than anyone else. Below are the military jazz ensembles featured in the Altissimo! catalog.

The US Air Force Band Airmen of Note The US Navy Band Commodores The US Army Blues The US Coast Guard Dixieland Jazz Band The US Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors The US Air Force Band of the Rockies Falconaires The US Air Force Reserve Jazz Ensemble The US Army Blues Swamp Romp

We Can Do It! is a compilation of jazz charts from several of the ensembles above, and one of our best-selling albums from 2013. This compilation features the greatest hits from the swing era of jazz, which took place during the 1930’s and 40’s. This specific style of jazz was designed with dancing in mind, and was often performed in enormous dance halls. Famous jazz songs like Sing, Sing, Sing, Take the “A” Train, and In The Mood, were all written during this time, and all remain as standards of jazz repertoire. We Can Do It! is a great way to hear some of the most famous jazz standards of the time, performed by some of the best jazz artists in the country.

The US Air Force Airmen of Note is the oldest of America’s military jazz bands. They formed in 1950 as a dance band, following the tradition of Major Glenn Miller’s Army Air Force Band. Since then, The Airmen of Note continue to carry the tradition of big band jazz, and have branched into different styles as well. 60 Years of The Airmen of Note is a collection of classic recordings of the group, going back to 1953. With this album, you can listen to the progression of the band over time with classics like Shiny Stockings, Loch Lomond, and God Bless the Child.

While listening to jazz records and albums is an excellent way to experience the genre, nothing beats a live performance. Altissimo! carries several live albums, including Commodores Live! On a live album, all the improvisation and grooves feel so natural, as if the band were performing in front of you. It’s the best listening experience you can achieve aside from seeing a live concert. Commodores Live! features charts like Caravan, Blue and Sentimental, Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, and many other classics.

Jazz is genre truly unique to American culture. I’m happy to say that Altissimo! Recordings is celebrating this music by offering special deals on all jazz albums at militarymusic.com. You can also check out all of the albums above on iTunes.

Finally, here is playlist via Spotify highlighting some of the amazing recordings you can find in our jazz collection.