Ben Markley: Tuesday Morning Feeling

OA2 RECORDS (RELEASED MAY 1, 2026)

The perfect picture frame enhances the beauty of the artwork it surrounds much like the perfect big band arrangements enhance the beauty of the solos it contains. In that case, Ben Markley’s Tuesday Morning Feeling is truly a masterpiece — smart compositions and stirring solos framed in swinging arrangements. Having recorded the music of pianist Cedar Walton and drummer Ari Hoenig on past recordings, pianist and arranger Ben Markley showcases his own writing on this latest session. Each of the 11 pieces were composed and/or arranged to frame a specific person (or people) in the Ben Markley Big Band. Things start off with the straight-ahead swinger “Tell the Truth,” with solos from vibraphonist Steve Nelson, Markley on piano and trumpeter Terrell Stafford. The upbeat tempos continue with wonderfully framed solos on: “JIFE,” featuring saxophonist Remy Le Boeuf and drummer Kyle Swan; “Ben’s Tune,” featuring Davis and Markley; and Markley’s arrangement of Thelonious Monk’s “Off Minor.” Solos from Nelson, Stafford and Davis are perfectly framed in the second line blues “Snowy Range Blues.” The Willard Robinson standard “Old Folks” is the ideal ballad for Stafford framed by Markley’s lush horn arrangements. Stafford as well as Nelson and bassist David Wong add their colors to the bossa/swing groove of the title track, and a nicely arranged exchange between alto and trombone is the highlight of the churning “1300.” Drummer Kyle Swan sets up a funky/soulful groove to “NPS” and Steve Kovalcheck’s guitar is ideally suited for the groovy feel of “’Mon Back.” One of the foremost experts on the life, legacy and works of Cedar Walton, Markley concludes Tuesday Morning Feeling with his arrangement of Walton’s “Groundwork.” As Markley explains, “This recording is the culmination of my tunes, my arrangements and me playing piano all with my favorite people to play music with. It is certainly to be favorite for big band fans who enjoy perfectly framed solos!

BOTTOM LINE: Tuesday Morning Feeling is everything you want a big band recording to be — smart compositions, swinging charts and stirring solos. Pianist, composer and arranger Ben Markley presents eight originals, a standard, a Monk classic and Cedar Walton tune with a band that includes vibraphonist Steve Nelson, trumpeter Terrell Stafford and trombonist Steve Davis.