The Road Less Traveled Knoxville Jazz Orchestra

• 1 Rhythm-a-Ning 04:49
• 2 Grew's Tune 07:38
• 3 What the World Needs Now 05:11
• 4 The Peacocks 08:38
• 5 Tumbling Tumbleweeds 05:49
• 6 The Road Less Traveled 07:31
• 7 Back Down in Lu Easy Anna 06:36
• 8 The Tennessee Waltz 04:07
• 9 Woody'n You 06:45
• 10 Monk's Mood 04:01
• 11 Ask Me Now 04:57
• 12 At Last 04:21
• Total Runtime 01:10:23

Info for The Road Less Traveled

The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra (now in its twentieth year), releases an incredible album produced by Donald Brown and Vance Thompson titled, "The Road Less Traveled". Featuring guest performances by Carmen Bradford, Eric Reed, Gregory Tardy, and Michael Dease.

The music on this album represents the entire journey. “Back Down In Lu Easy Anna” dates back to the original batch of arrangements, while “The Road Less Traveled” was written this year specifically for this recording. “Woody’n You” was created for a 2003 performance with saxophonist James Moody. We performed with Mulgrew Miller that same year and arranged the chart on “Grew’s Tune” as a result. “The Tennessee Waltz” and “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” were done for a concert we called, “Country and Bluegrass Meet the Big Baand” in 2019. “Ask Me Now”, “Rhythm-A-Ning” and “Monk’s Mood” came from a 2012 Thelonious Monk tribute concert featuring pianist Eric Reed and “At Last” was commissioned by Doc Severinsen at the end of a hour tour that we played with him in 2015. In 2018, we performed with guitarist Bill Frisell, leading to the orchestration of his beautiful take on “What The World Needs Now”. And a 2019 performance with Jazzmela Horn spawned the chart on Jimmy Rowle’s’ haunting ballad “The Peacocks”.

The guest soloists each have unique connections to the journey as well. Eric Reed, Michael Dease, Carmen Bradford, and Gregory Tardy have each performed with the band on one or more occasions over the years. They made stunning contributions and we are grateful for their willingness to participate with us in this effort.

Mark Tucker, lead alto, soprano, flute, clarinet
Michael Wyatt, lead trumpet
Tom Lundberg, lead trombone
Knoxville Jazz Orchestra
Vance Thompson, director

Produced by Donald Brown and Vance Thompson

The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra
was founded in 1999 by trumpeter, arranger and composer Vance Thompson. Since that time, the band has appeared on jazz festivals in the United States and Europe, released four critically acclaimed CD recordings and presented scores of concerts, many featuring world renowned guest artists.

Vance Thompson, founder and prime motivator of this ambitious endeavor, received a Master of Music degree from DePaul University with emphasis on jazz trumpet. He has recorded and performed with Stefon Harris, Donald Brown, Greg Tardy, and many others. Somewhere along the way Mr. Thompson developed the skills to market and budget events as well as write grants, making it possible for the band to always move forward in its quest to promote great jazz.

The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra performs well over a dozen concerts each year and does its fair share of touring. Their home concerts are well known for featuring internationally acclaimed artists such as Christian McBride, Monty Alexander, Hank Jones, Mulgrew Miller, James Moody, and Marvin Stamm to name a few. Vance Thompson and The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra , with their passion, energy, and wherewithal to endure, have turned Knoxville, Tennessee into a mecca for jazz musicians and jazz lovers. Check out the Official KJO Website for upcoming concerts.

Both of their albums released on Blue Canoe “The Road Less Traveled”and “Blues Man From Memphis” where produced and co-produced by Art Blakey veteran and artist, Donald Brown.

This album contains no booklet.