CLARENCE HINES JAZZ ORCHESTRA

ALONG THE WAY

OA2 Records

Clarence Hines, trombone/composer/arranger/bandleader.

Rooted in the rich personal influence of modern-day large ensemble tradition, but speaking in a very contemporary voice, Clarence Hines is stepping forward with his debut as a bandleader.  Meet the Clarence Hines Jazz Orchestra.

Clarence Hines is an accomplished trombonist, arranger, composer and educator.  His orchestra is grounded by the lead trumpet of Bijon Watson and super drummer, Jared Schonig.  Additionally, Hines has invited several featured guests to solo. The bandleader has composed six of the eight songs presented on this album.

They open with “In Transit.”  Doug Stone is featured with a tenor saxophone solo that grabs my ear and pulls me into the song. Joshua Bowlus is the pianist, adding bluesy “chops” to the production, while Clarence Hines offers his talents on the trombone.

A tune Lynne Arriale composed is called “Carry On” and struts across space with a slow swing swagger. The horn section introduces this memorable melody. It features a stellar solo by alto saxophonist, Todd Delgiudice.

This is followed by “A Tad of Thad” (probably celebrating the great Thad Jones) who has been heralded as an American jazz trumpet master, composer and bandleader. Clay Jenkins is the trumpet soloist on this tune with Jared Schonig showing off his amazing drum skills at the top of the tune and throughout. The arrangement is solid and grandly features Schonig’s powerhouse drums. When Doug Stone enters on tenor saxophone, I am mesmerized.

Although this sounds like the full ensemble was all together during their recording, I was surprised to learn that every part, including the rhythm section, was recorded remotely in each musician’s home studio, with no recording engineers involved.

“I handled assembly and the rough mixes myself, at my home studio in Jacksonville, Florida, from May 2025 to May 2026,” explained Clarence Hines.

The final mixing and mastering is credited to Dave Darlinton at Bass Hit Studios in New York.

This is an example of the new technology era of big band music that can offer a tight cohesive sound, even if the musicians are miles apart from each other, both in distance and time. This orchestra is fire, with music that sounds warm and full of camaraderie, even if they aren’t in the same room, the same time zone, the same state, the same moment!  Amazing!!

THE CLARENCE HINES JAZZ ORCHESTRA: RHYTHM: Joshua Bowlus, piano; Emiliano Lasansky, bass; Jared Schonig, drums. WOODWINDS: Todd Delgiudice, alto & soprano saxophones/flute; Michael Emmrt, alto sax/flute; Lenard Simpson, alto saxophone; Doug Stone & Fernando Druz, tenor sax/clarinet; Karli Bunn, baritone sax/bass clarinet. TROMBONES: Clarence Hines, Bernie Greenlee, B. Walden Shaw, & Gina Benalcazar (bass trombone). TRUMPETS/FLUGELHORNS; Bijon Watson, Clay Jenkins, Mark Filsinger, Dave Hart & Ray Callender.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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