Jazz Standard welcomes the electrifying Michael Leonhart Orchestra (MLO) back to our bandstand for another evening of genre–crossing big–band modernism – and a celebration of the MLO’s new album Suite Extracts Vol. 1 (Sunnyside). This surprising collection finds the MLO playing other people’s material but in the Leonhart way — with widely disparate compositions ranging from Fela Kuti to Spinal Tap to Howlin’ Wolf to Ornette Coleman curated into suites, forming anarchic yet coherent thoughts on many of Leonhart’s chief musical passions. Suite Extracts Vol. 1 features notable guests Chris Potter, Nels Cline, Donny McCaslin, John Ellis, Erik Friedlander and many others in the context of a vibrant and unclassifiable 20–piece ensemble. “I realized a long time ago that it’s not even about the music you play, it’s the spirit with which you approach it. To me that breaks down the barrier between pop, rock, funk, jazz, classical, abstract, musique concrète — it’s all expression.” (Michael Leonhart) Michael Leonhart — trumpet, conductor JSWISS — voice/rap Scott Wendholt, Carter Yasutake, Jordan McLean, Dave Guy — trumpet Ray Mayson — trombone Jeff Nelson — bass trombone Brandon Wright, Dave Pietro — flutes, saxophones Ian Hendrickson Smith — tenor saxophone Jason Marshall — baritone saxophone Sara Schoenbeck ​— bassoon Ludovica Burtone — violin Erik Friedlander — cello Tim Allen, Luke O'Malley — guitar Nathan Koci — accordion Richie Goods — bass Kevin Raczka — drums Elizabeth Pupo-Walker — percussion