New Album for Jazz Orchestra

Written By Clarence Hines

I’m thrilled to finally share this news: my debut large-ensemble album, Along the Way, will be released worldwide this October 2026, on Origin Records. This is a big band album at heart, one built on melody, reflection, and discovery. The eight tracks range from groove-driven tunes and swinging numbers to lyrical ballads and harmonically adventurous charts. It’s contemporary big band music that still remembers where it came from.

The Musicians

One of the things I’m proudest of is the roster of musicians who brought this music to life. Lead trumpet duties fall to Bijon Watson, with Jared Schonig anchoring the rhythm section on drums, and the great Clay Jenkins joining as a special guest soloist alongside Todd DelGiudice, Doug Stone, Joshua Bowlus, and Lenard Simpson. The album was mixed and mastered by David Darlington at Bass Hit Studios in New York City.

  • Todd DelGiudice — lead alto saxophone · soprano saxophone · flute
    Michael Emmert — alto saxophone · flute
    Lenard Simpson — alto saxophone (track 4)
    Doug Stone — tenor saxophone · clarinet
    Fernando Cruz — tenor saxophone · clarinet
    Karli Bunn — baritone saxophone · bass clarinet

  • Bijon Watson — lead
    Clay Jenkins — (tracks 3, 5 & 6)
    Mark Filsinger
    Dave Hart
    Ray Callender

  • Clarence Hines — lead
    Bernie Greenlee
    B. Walden Shaw
    Gina Benalcazar — bass trombone

  • Joshua Bowlus — piano
    Emiliano Lasansky — bass
    Jared Schonig — drums

What’s Next

Between now and October, I’ll be sharing more: stories behind individual tracks, glimpses of the recording process, and details on where you can hear this music live.

Clarence Hines

Clarence Hines is a trombonist, composer, and arranger who has performed with Bobby Caldwell, Maceo Parker, David Sanborn, and Diane Schuur. His festival performances include the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Rochester International Jazz Festival and the North Sea Jazz Festival. Recent commissions include works for the Ukrainian Chamber Orchestra and the Strings Festival Brass & Percussion Ensemble. Peña Amaya, his original composition for wind ensemble, was premiered in Valencia, Spain in 2019. His arrangement of Ellington’s Come Sunday was performed by members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra at the Tanglewood Music Festival in 2020. Clarence is an Associate Professor of Jazz Studies and the Director of the School of Music at the University of North Florida.

http://clarencehines.com
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