Almost Big Band
From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
The Almost Big Band was a 13 piece jazz band formed by Ernie Wilkins in 1980 after his permanent move to Copenhagen, Denmark. Members included expatriate American such as Kenny Drew and Ed Thigpen as well as prominent Danish jazz musicians such as Jesper Thilo and Bent Jaedig.
Mainly an arranger, Wilkins created the band so he could write for a band of his own formation. In America the band remained underrated and overlooked. [1]
Former Members
Among the key soloists has been
- Jesper Thilo, tenor saxophone
- Jens Winther, trumpet
- Erling Kroner, trombone
- Bent Jædig tenor saxophone
- Tim Hagans, trumpeter
- Kenny Drew, piano
- Ed Thigpen, drums
Members Today
- Benny Rosenfeld, leadtrumpet
- Mårten Lundgren, trumpet
- Gerard Presencer, trumpet
- Vincent Nilsson Lead trombone
- Kim Aagaard, trombone
- Jan zum Vohrde, Lead alto
- Pernille Bévort, tenorsax
- Jan Harbeck, tenorsax
- Jesper Løvdal, Barythone sax, and Bandleader
- Nikolaj Bentzon, piano
- Jesper Lundgaard, bass
- Aage Tanggaard, drums
Discography
- Ernie Wilkins & the Almost Big Band (Storyville Records, 1980)[1]
- Almost Big Band Live (Matrix Music Marketing, 1981)[2]
- Montreux (Steeplechase, 1983)[3]
- On the Roll (SteepleChase Records, 1984)[4]
