Michael Palin’s Other Orchestra

Michael Palin is the bassist and task-master of this adventurous 18-piece group that tackles all kinds of ‘difficult’ music, from Frank Zappa’s “The Grand Wazoo” and Billy Cobham’s “Crosswinds” to the Brecker Brothers’ “Sponge,” Weather Report’s “Man in the Green Shirt” Miles Davis’ “It’s About That Time,” Herbie Hancock’s “Hang Up Your Hangups” and Jaco Pastorius’ “Three Views of a Secret,” along with tunes by Steely Dan, David Bowie, Van Morrison, Snarky Puppy and obscure gems like Charlie Brent’s ultra-funky “Rice Pudding” (from Jaco’s time during the early ’70s with Wayne Cochran & The C.C. Riders).

The Other Orchestra brings a dedication and professionalism to the bandstand that is admirable and ultimately appealing to the casual jazz fan or the jazz-curious. Die-hard jazzers will no doubt be captivated by their inherent sense of swing and dynamism, whether they’re attacking an uptempo Buddy Rich chart or settling into a beautiful, harmonically rich ballad like Joe Zawinul’s “A Remark You Made” (a serene gem from Weather Report’s 1977 classic album, Heavy Weather).