For those unaware, the jazz world welcomes a new landmark with the release of San Francisco 1948, the latest album by the Steve Rosenbloom Big Band.

This expansive, meticulously crafted project reaffirms Rosenbloom’s status as a composer and arranger – with assistance from Chris Smith and Michael Johncsik) who channels the vibrant spirit of the big band tradition while infusing it with contemporary freshness and thoughtful nuance.

A native of Montreal and a committed voice in Canadian jazz, Steve Rosenbloom has long been recognized for his compositional depth and dedication to the big band idiom. With San Francisco 1948, he assembles a stellar 16-piece ensemble to deliver a record that is as much a celebration of history as it is a bold statement of artistic vitality.

1. Samba for Esther (5:48)
2. In a Boppish Sort of Way (4:43)
3. Mosley (5:17)
4. Call from the Orient (7:05)
5. Light and Easy (5:00)
6. Fiesta for Paquito (5:01)
7. San Francisco 1948 (6:00)
8. Mexican Holiday (5:56)
9. Asher’s Song (4:35)

This wondrously crafted new recording opens on the spirited Samba for Esther and then brings us the furtively skilled In a Boppish Sort of Way, the easy going, veritably cinematic, creeping Mosley and then we get the melodiously free-flowing Call from the Orient brought forth.

Up next is the atmospherically charged Light and Easy and the upbeat and joyfully sculpted Fiesta for Paquito and they are in turn backed seamlessly by the languishing beauty found within the titular San Francisco 1948, the set rounding out on the drum and horn-tastic collaboration on Mexican Holiday, coming to a close on the elegantly laid back Asher’s Song.

San Francisco 1948 is a testament to Rosenbloom’s commitment to sustaining and evolving the big band tradition. It embodies the grandeur, complexity, and emotional depth that define the genre, offering a listening experience that appeals to seasoned jazz aficionados and new audiences alike.

This album marks a significant chapter for Rosenbloom and the Montreal jazz scene, highlighting the city’s wealth of talent and the continuing relevance of large ensemble jazz in the 21st century.

Samba for Esther - Steve Rosenbloom Big band [Official Music Video]