Jazz Standard welcomes the electrifying Michael Leonhart Orchestra (MLO) back to our bandstand for another evening of genre–crossing big–band modernism following on the release 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 the leader’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. “There’s a certain abandon and freedom in all the material,” says Michael Leonhart of his latest release. “A lot of it has a backbeat, which the first album really didn’t. This album is more muscular in many ways. It reflects what we’re doing live: less of the pastoral, transcendent mood pieces, the sonic baths, and more of the groove interaction.” NPR's annual Toast of the Nation New Year's Eve jazz party will broadcast a live recording of Michael Leonhart Orchestra's December 10th Jazz Standard concert. Join us for the live recording Dec 10 or tune in to NPR Dec 31! Michael Leonhart – trumpet, leader Keyon Harrold – special guest trumpeter Jordan McLean, Dave Guy, Scott Wendholt – trumpets Ray Mason – trombone Jeff Nelson – bass trombone Dave Pietro, Jason Marshall, Ian Hendrickson-Smith, Sam Sadigursky – saxes/woodwinds Sara Schoenbeck – bassoon Claudia Chopekm, Ludovica Burtone – violins Nathan Koci – accordion Robbie Mangano – guitar Joe Martin – bass Kevin Raczka – drums Elizabeth Pupo Walker – percussion