The group’s album features bass great Nathan East. A recording with country-music star and Eagles’ member Vince Gill is also in the offing

We hope that your big band will go on for another 40 years to bring joy and swing in these dark times...

“Big Band Jazz Machine has been a constant, a jovial, swinging ensemble that packs a punch. They are a tight unit with crisp, punchy accents over 12 selections including 6 vocals… We also enjoyed “Gimme That” written by saxophonist Andrew Neu, and “Bass: The Final Frontier” featuring guest Nathan East on bass.”

This is the sixth release by the Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine, which has been based in southern California for the past 40 years. I reviewed their last CD, Tasty Tunes, in the June 2018 issue of Jazz Journal (Tall Man Productions 005). As Bob Mintzer pointed out at the time, ”Ira Liss is one of those special folk who keep the big band idiom alive and kicking.”

A well-oiled group of musicians that will certainly appeal to fans of big band music!

Veteran Big Band leader Ira B. Liss puts together a hard swinging album with his 23+ member team along with some fun guests.

This is a fantastic big band jazz album with a swing-feel coming from a thick ensemble and you can enjoy without any need for convincing.

"Mazel Tov Kocktail" delivers everything any big band fan would be looking for. The sound is always tight, the Arrangements are fresh and new and the execution by the seasoned members of this Band is perfect.

Despite the dire situation [coronavirus pandemic], musicians nonetheless give the rest of us hope. Despite the lack of gigs, many of them have stayed busy, among them Ira B. Liss and his Big Band Jazz Machine. Ira and his crew recorded and have just released Mazel Tov Kocktail!, a CD worthy of the congratulation as well as the exclamation mark.