Unexpected Guests (Tall Man Productions)
Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine
Released August 19, 2025
All About Jazz Five-Star Review
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kXZ1LCQS7V_7pqMByqc5aZUn5tUFKNEeQ
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About:
Two jazz artists, big band leader IRA B. LISS and composer/arranger DAN RADLAUER, have come up with a truly unique and thrilling album concept. They invited 11 world-class musicians not associated with big band jazz – and many not associated with jazz at all — to perform with the Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine. The album is titled UNEXPECTED GUESTS, and the music, like the musicians, is both unexpected and first rate. Well known in Southern California, the Big Band Jazz Machine is a 17-piece jazz orchestra that Liss formed in 1979. He is the band’s producer, conductor, artistic director, and overall guiding light. Liss produced six previous albums with the band starting in 1994, his most recent offering being 2021’s Mazel Tove Kocktail!. The album featured a high-energy, crowd-pleasing selection of tunes. Roots Music Report said, “The big band is tight, soloists shine, and the album has a consistency full of musical presence and bountiful rewards.” Radlauer has had a long and varied career. A multi-instrumentalist, he has composed for television, feature films and over 1,000 commercials for companies that include Coke, Nissan, Pizza Hut, Lexus, Microsoft, Denny’s, Mattel and many others. He has written scores for several indie features and received numerous BMI TV Music Awards. His music is heard internationally from theme parks in Asia, to commercials in Australia, Europe and Russia, to the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Liss and Radlauer have been friends and musical compatriots for 40 years, with Radlauer contributing original compositions and arrangements to several of Liss’ big band albums. The genesis for UNEXPECTED GUESTS began with a phone call during the Covid lockdown. With free time on their hands, they decided to co-produce an album when things returned to normal and ruminated about a theme that would be different and compelling to fans of big band jazz and beyond. After settling on the concept, they spent weeks researching musicians from different genres. Although it was often difficult to contact many artists on their wish list, things fell into place after country music superstar VINCE GILL agreed to sign on. Gill had always wanted to work with a big band, and once Gill heard their music, he was all in for the recording. Liss and Radlauer made a video of the recording session (https://bit.ly/Gillsession) to help recruit artists on their list. Because the musicians they chose are truly world-class, Liss and Radlauer wanted each musician’s own unique voice to shine. So, they gave the artists the choice of either bringing their own music to the project or having Radlauer compose new pieces for them. Working closely with each musician, Radlauer wrote six new compositions for the album and arranged all 11 tunes.
They open the album with a Radlauer composition, “Renaissance Woman,” featuring TALI RUBINSTEIN, a Los Angeles based jazz recorder player and composer with an international following. She has performed at storied venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and Birdland. Rubinstein overdubs four different recorders in the soli section, making it seem almost effortless. “I’m Counting on You” was written by Gill. A country music icon with 65 hit records on Billboard’s country music charts, Gill has also won 22 Grammy awards (out of 48 nominations). His warm, tenor voice is the perfect vehicle for Radlauer’s swinging arrangement that’s reminiscent of tunes by mid-Century crooners. Mandolin player EVA SCOW wrote “San Joaquin.” Although the mandolin is most often associated with bluegrass and country music, Scow is equally at home in the classical, folk and jazz idioms. She has appeared on many recordings in a range of styles, including albums by Bluegrass Hall-of-Famer Dave Grisman and renowned jazz guitarist Anthony Wilson. “Knock on Wood,” by Radlauer, features WADE CULBREATH on marimba. A first call session musician in Los Angeles, Culbreath has worked on hundreds of film and television soundtracks. The principal timpanistpercussionist with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, he has been praised for his virtuosity and has recorded with artists ranging from Steve Reich to Lyle Mays to the English rock band The Who. An expert on all the mallet instruments, he chose the marimba for UNEXPECTED GUESTS. Vocalist and songwriter ROCKY DAWUNI composed “Extraordinary Woman.” Dawuni hails from Ghana and spends half his time in Africa and half in the U.S. His music is a cross-cultural mashup of African, Caribbean, and American styles. He has received four Grammy nominations and is a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador for Africa and is a Global Ambassador for the U.N. Foundation’s Clean Cooking Alliance along with film star Julia Roberts and Chef José André. Jazz violinist NORA GERMAIN wrote “Violinspiration.” Germain released 12 jazz albums of her own and has appeared on over 150 recordings. She has performed with Jon Batiste, Postmodern Jukebox, Jacob Collier, and Dee Dee Bridgewater, to name a few. LEO MANZARI is probably the only tap dancing rapper to ever perform with a big band. “Tapped Out,” composed by Radlauer, features a rap written by Manzari and a tap dance routine with intricate rhythms. PAUL HANSON, a classical bassoonist and jazz saxophonist, has been praised for his ability to combine deep improvisational skills with funk, classical and world music influences. On “Reeds Between the Lines,” Hanson amazes with his brilliant technique. Ukulele virtuoso DANIEL HO hails from Hawaii. His composition “Pineapple Mango” is redolent with Hawaiian sounds. He uses a three-string ukulele, which he invented for this recording. Listening to this performance, it is hard to imagine he created such a complex sound with only three strings. The final section features a choir of six Hawaiian vocalists. TINA GUO is one of the most recorded solo cellists of all time in film, TV, and game soundtracks. Although she had never performed with a jazz band before, her dynamic performance on Radlauer’s composition “Strings in the Wind” shows why legendary film composer Hans Zimmer has chosen to collaborate with her for over 15 years. The album closes with Radlauer’s “French Fries” featuring CHRIS CASTELLANOS, a top call French horn player on the Las Vegas Strip and a member of the prestigious Boston Brass, touring the world over 180 days per year. The IRA B. LISS BIG BAND JAZZ MACHINE features musicians whose ensemble playing and solo work is sophisticated and compelling. Under the direction of conductor and producer Ira B. Liss, and with new compositions and arrangements by Dan Radlauer plus a surprising and delightful slate of featured artists, UNEXPECTED GUESTS offers an unexpected joy ride.
Track Listing:
1. Renaissance Woman (Dan Radlauer) 4:25
2. I’m Counting On You (Vince Gill) 4:08
3. San Joaquin (Eva Scow) 4:11
4. Knock On Wood (Dan Radlauer) 4:31
5. Extraordinary Woman (Rocky Dawuni) 3:57
6. Violinspiration (Nora Germain) 4:05
7. Tapped Out (Dan Radlauer) 4:19
8. Reeds Between The Lines (Dan Radlauer) 4:25
9. Pineapple Mango (Daniel Ho) 4:55
10. Strings In The Wind (Dan Radlauer) 4:33
11. French Fries (Dan Radlauer) 4:00
Personnel:
The Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine
The Rhythm Section
Steve Sibley: piano
Oliver Shirley: acoustic & electric bass
Charlie “Stix” McGhee: drums
Dan Radlauer: guitar (also co-leader, arranger, and composer)
Bruce Carver: percussion
Saxophones & Reeds
Tyler Richardson: Alto Saxophone
Nicholas Hoo: Alto Saxophone
Josh Smitley: Tenor Saxophone
Greg Armstrong: Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, and Flute
Rob Elinson: Baritone Saxophone
Trumpets
Doug Meeuwsen
Mark Nicholson
Dr. Michael Schmidt
Jack Houghton
Trombones
Gary Bucher
Rob Clark
Carly Ines
Tim Hall (Bass Trombone)
Guests:
Vince Gill: vocals & Composer (on “I’m Counting On You”)
Daniel Ho: ukulele (on “Pineapple Mango”)
Tina Guo: cello (on “Strings In The Wind”)
Tali Rubinstein: recorder player (on “Renaissance Woman”)
Rocky Dawuni: vocals (on “Extraordinary Woman”)
Leo Manzari: tap dancing & Rap Vocals (on “Tapped Out”)
Nora Germain: violin (on “Violinspiration”)
Eva Scow: mandolin (on “San Joaquin”)
Paul Hanson: bassoon & saxophone (on “Reeds Between The Lines”)
Wade Culbreath: marimba / percussion (on “Knock On Wood”)
Chris Castellanos: french horn (on “French Fries”)
Vocal Ensemble:
Hâlau Hula Keali’i o Nâlari, Keali’I Ceballos, Kanani Toji, Kaleomakamaeokealoha Knight, Nanea Divinagracia, Ka’ iulani Kimura & Daniel Ho
Additional musicians:
Jeff Blanco, Paul Cook, Billy Edwall, Louis Fasman, Tommy Griffith, Joe Luna, Roff Olsen, Bob Payne, Ed Spillane & Mike Zelazo.
Recorded October 2024 – May 2025, at Studio West in San Diego, California
Producers: Ira B. Liss & Dan Radlauer
Review:
Unexpected Guests is the seventh recording by Ira B. Liss’ southern California-based Big Band Jazz Machine since Liss formed the ensemble in 1979. His guests on this radiant and high-energy studio date are “unexpected” in more ways than one, as only one of their 11 names can be found anywhere on the album aside from the playlist. That would be Daniel Ho, who solos on ukulele on the flavorful “Pineapple Mango” but is listed only as a member of that selection’s seven-member vocal group.
The others, from singers Vince Gill and Rocky Dawuni to seven instrumentalists and even a tap dancer (Leo Manzari) who also raps, simply appear without fanfare (or any advance notice). The album’s lone constant is Dan Radlauer, who wrote half a dozen of the album’s handsome themes and arranged all of them. Apparently, Radlauer is not a die-hard fan of ballads, as you will find none here. The mood and tempo are invariably brisk and upbeat, which suits Liss, the Machine and its guests, “unexpected” or otherwise, like the proverbial glove.
Those visitors who do not sing play cello, mandolin, bassoon, violin, French horn, marimba and even jazz recorder—and every one of them is strong and impressive. Tali Rubinstein, she of the nimble recorder, starts the session with a bang, leaning hard into Radlauer’s opening pitch on the high-stepping “Renaissance Woman” and knocking her marvelous solo out of the park. Gill, who earns his bread singing country music, is next up, slipping comfortably into the jazz idiom on his own engaging composition, “I’m Counting on You,” to which tenor saxophonist Greg Armstrong appends a strong solo.
The guests keep on coming, each one as awesome and inspiring as the last: Eva Scow (mandolin) on her own saucy “San Joaquin,” Wade Culbreath (marimba) on Radlauer’s rhythmic “Knock on Wood,” Dawumi, singing (with sharp solos by Armstrong on flute and Doug Meeuwsen on flugelhorn) on the vocalist’s groove-heavy “Extraordinary Woman.” Yet another visitor, violinist Nora Germain, ushers the session through its midway point, soloing eloquently on her suitably named “Violinspiration,” after which Leo Manzari, one-half of the tap-dancing Manzari brothers, dazzles with his feet and voice, following his delightful tap with an evocative rap on Radlauer’s lively “Tapped Out.” While that is a tough act to follow, bassoonist Paul Hanson gives it the college try and passes with honors on Radlauer’s bright and congenial “Reeds Between the Lines.”
Ho’s lyrical “Pineapple Mango” is next, featuring its author on ukulele, Armstrong on tenor sax and the aforementioned chorale. Guest cellist Tina Guo is stellar on the stylish “Strings in the Wind,” as is Armstrong on flute. The band’s last visitor is Chris Castellanos, whose sunny French horn solo on the tasty “French Fries” serves as icing on this special cake. As impactful as its guests are, the Big Band Jazz Machine is equally intense and outspoken, chaperoning its talented visitors stride for stride, while adding luminosity and firepower to the mix. The Machine’s rhythm section, anchored by hard-working drummer Charlie McGhee, is especially assured and efficient.
In sum, this is contemporary big-band jazz at its pinnacle. The Jazz Machine is seamless and powerful, and while its guests may be “unexpected” they are no less welcome and pivotal to the album’s success. Liss’ seventh album as leader of the Big Band Jazz Machine is a charm, one in which he, Radlauer, the Machine and its guests readily sidestep every obstacle to create a masterful and timeless treasure.
Jack Bowers (All About Jazz)
