Tuesday Morning Feeling

...classic big band sounds, an upbeat take on the format, full of adept arrangements and intricate soloing...
DownBeat

First transforming the iconic music of Cedar Walton into stellar big band arrangements, followed by a dive into the idiosyncratic rhythmic mastery of Ari Hoenig, pianist and composer Ben Markley's two big band albums displayed a formidable voice, always searching for challenges while reveling in surprise. With Tuesday Morning Feeling, Markley steps decisively into his own voice, delivering seven originals and several new arrangements of Thelonious Monk and Cedar Walton. He balances authority and openness, pairing strong melodic ideas with flexible frameworks that invite conversation, risk, and momentum. The band itself is a blend of long-standing Front Range collaborators and world-renowned guest artists, including Terell Stafford, Steve Nelson, Steve Davis, Bijon Watson, and David Wong, whose presence adds both fire and depth to the ensemble sound. Solos burn, the ensemble breathes as one, and the rhythmic engine never loses sight of swing. Tuesday Morning Feeling captures a big band in its stride: grounded, evolving, and driven by the joy of making music.

"...a depth of melodicism and harmonic sophistication at work amidst rhythmic brilliance..." DownBeat

Production Info:

Produced by Dana Landry
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Colin Bricker
at Mighty Fine Productions, Denver, CO
Recorded May 31 - June 1, 2025
Photographs by Marlon Rissatto
Cover design & layout by John Bishop