The Jazz Composers' Showcase, Vol. 2: Daniel Jamieson, Scott Ninmer, and Miho Hazama

This past September, The Jazz Gallery began a new series showcasing the big band works of up-and-coming composers. This Thursday, January 8th, 2015, we will present the next concert in this series, featuring works by Daniel Jamieson, Scott Ninmer, and Miho Hazama. All three composers are alumni of the Manhattan School of Music and have  participated in the prestigious BMI Jazz Composers' Workshop. This concert is a chance to check out the next generation of exciting and progressive big band writing.Miho Hazama has become a regular at The Jazz Gallery, presenting both traditional big band works and pieces for her string-tinged group, m_unit. Her 2013 debut album Journey to Journey (Sunnyside) was critically acclaimed, finding spots in The 2013 NPR Music Jazz Critics Poll and Downbeat’s Best New Albums of 2013. Last January, we spoke with Hazama about the joys and challenges of writing for these different kinds of groups.Over the past several years, Scott Ninmer has established himself as an in-demand arranger, most recently becoming the staff arranger for "The President's Own" United States Marine Band. His music has been performed around the world, and recorded by both the University of Illinois Concert Jazz Band and the Cal State Long Beach Concert Jazz Orchestra. You can check out some of Ninmer's evocative and stylistically-diverse music on his website.A native of Ontario, Canada, Daniel Jamieson has been making waves in the New York jazz scene since his days at the Manhattan School of Music. He's worked with jazz luminaries including Kurt Elling and Joe Lovano (providing arrangements for Lovano's Coltrane Ballads project), in addition to leading his own groups, the Daniel Jamieson Tentet and the Danjam orchestra. His 2011 debut album Sudden Release (OA2) established himself as a "...new vital force in the big band world," according to legendary arranger Jim McNeely. In addition to his work as a composer and arranger, Jamieson is an accomplished woodwind player and was featured as the lead alto saxophonist on drummer Bobby Sanabria's Latin Grammy-nominated album, Tito Puente Masterworks Live (Jazzheads).The Jazz Gallery is proud to present the diverse work of these composers, and we hope you can join us in checking out what are going to be the next big things in big band jazz.The Jazz Composers’ Showcase will feature the compositions of Miho Hazama, Daniel Jamieson, and Scott Ninmer thisThursda, January 8th, 2015, at The Jazz Gallery. The band will feature John O’Gallagher, Ben Kono, Jason Rigby, John Lowery, and Andrew Gutauskas on saxophones; Mark Patterson, Matt McDonald, Noah Bless, and Max Seigel on trombone; Nathan Eklund, Jon Challoner, Dave Smith, and Matt Holman on trumpet; Arco Sandoval on piano, Olli Hirvonen on guitar, Aidan O’Donnell on bass, and Jared Schonig on drums. $22 general admission ($12 for members). Purchase tickets here.