How To Record A Big Band in Five Hours – Bob Mintzer & The USC Thornton Jazz Orchestra

What could be more fun and challenging than recording a big band in five hours? In this video by Bret ‘Jazz Video Guy’ Primack we bear witness to the recording process thanks to a true musical genius, Bob Mintzer, who in addition to leading his own big band and twenty year run with the Yellowjackets, is Professor of Jazz Studies at USC, where he leads the USC Thornton Jazz Orchestra. In April, after winning the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Gen competition for best college big band, this group of remarkably talented young musicians, went into the studio to record with veteran engineer Bruce Botnick. Thanks to Bret’s documentation, we are witness to the session, 10 tunes recorded in just over five hours!