New Album for Jazz Orchestra
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.
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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.