The GRAMMY® nominated Dave Slonaker Big Band returns with their new album, SHIFTY PARADIGMS. Lead by composer and arranger, Dave Slonaker, the band includes a distinguished group of LA’s finest jazz and studio musicians. Slonaker has worked in Hollywood for over thirty-five years and is highly regarded as one of the top arrangers and orchestrators in film and television. Working in film and television has its rewards, but Slonaker has a compelling need to express himself through his own jazz compositions. The compositions and arrangements on SHIFTY PARADIGMS highlight his breadth of work and the shifting paradigms of writing for a large jazz ensemble.

Produced/Composed/Arranged/Conducted by Dave Slonaker   
Recorded/Mixed/Mastered by Rich Breen  
at The Village, Los Angeles, CA on June 10-11, 2025
Cover Photo: Craig Cochrane

DAVE SLONAKER BIG BAND:   
Bob Sheppard - alto sax, soprano sax, flute 
Brian Scanlon - alto sax, soprano sax, flute, clarinet   
Rob Lockart - tenor sax, clarinet   
Tom Luer - tenor sax, clarinet  
Adam Schroeder - baritone sax, bass clarinet, flute 
Wayne Bergeron - trumpet, flugelhorn   
Dan Fornero - trumpet, flugelhorn  
Clay Jenkins - trumpet, flugelhorn   
Ron Stout - trumpet, flugelhorn   
Alex Iles - trombone   
Charlie Morillas - trombone   
Ido Meshulam - trombone   
Bill Reichenbach - bass trombone, tuba 
Andy Waddell - guitar  
Ed Czach - piano   
Edwin Livingston - bass   
Peter Erskine - drums 
Brian Kilgore - (track 4,5,8) percussion
 

Convergency

Dave Slonaker Big Band

0:00/???
  1. 1
    Convergency (solos: Clay Jenkins, trpt; Adam Schroeder, bari. sax; Ed Czach,piano) 0:58
    0:00/0:58
  2. 2
    Uncommonly Ground (solos: Larry Koonse, gtr; Tom Luer, tenor sax) 1:19
    0:00/1:19
  3. 3
    Duelity (solos: Ron Stout, trpt; Bob Sheppard, alto sax; Ed Czach, piano) 0:51
    0:00/0:51
  4. 4
    A Gathering Circle (solos: Brian Scanlon, sop. sax; Larry Koonse, gtr; Peter Erskine, drums) 1:08
    0:00/1:08
  5. 5
    A Curve in the Road (solos: Clay Jenkins, trpt; Tom Luer, tenor sax; Brian Scanlon, alto sax) 1:07
    0:00/1:07
  6. 6
    Inner Voices (solos: Ron Stout, trpt; Rob Lockart, tenor sax) 0:52
    0:00/0:52
  7. 7
    Sometimes a Notion (solos: Alex Iles, trbn; Rob Lockart, tenor sax; Edwin Livingston, bass) 0:51
    0:00/0:51
  8. 8
    Vanishing Point (solos: Bob Sheppard, sop. sax; Peter Erskine, drums; Ed Czach, piano) 0:58
    0:00/0:58
  9. 9
    And Now the News (solo order: Charlie Morillas, Ido Meshulam, Bill Reichenbach, Alex Iles, trombones) 1:15
    0:00/1:15
  10. 10
    I Had the Craziest Dream (solo: Wayne Bergeron, trumpet) 0:56
    0:00/0:56

The Dave Slonaker Big Band, coming off its 2013 Grammy® nomination for Best Large Jazz Ensemble, returns with a dazzling collection of new music celebrating the tradition, but also pushing the possibilities of big band jazz. Featuring an all-star cast of West Coast jazz and studio legends, ‘Convergency’ brings together the lives, stories and extraordinary talents of these great musicians, with the music of veteran Los Angeles composer/arranger Dave Slonaker, to create what will certainly be another touchstone recording for fans of the large jazz ensemble tradition.

“His charts are immaculate, the playing impressive and the swing is undoubtable.  Class, classy and classic, this big band date is one for the record books.”   Chris Spector, Midwest Record

Produced/Composed/Arranged/Conducted by Dave Slonaker   
Recorded/Mixed/Mastered by Rich Breen  
at East West Studio One. Los Angeles, CA on October 20-21, 2021 
Cover Painting: Hyatt Moore, www.hyattmoore.com  

DAVE SLONAKER BIG BAND:   
Bob Sheppard - alto sax, soprano sax, flute 
Brian Scanlon - alto sax, flute, clarinet   
Rob Lockart - tenor sax, clarinet   
Tom Luer - tenor sax, clarinet  
Adam Schroeder - (track 1,4,5,7) baritone sax, bass clarinet 
Jay Mason - (track 2,3,6,7,8,9,10) baritone sax, bass clarinet 
Wayne Bergeron - trumpet, flugelhorn   
Dan Fornero - (track 1,4,5,7) trumpet, flugelhorn  
Ryan DeWeese - (track 2,3,6,7,8,9,10) trumpet, flugelhorn 
Clay Jenkins - trumpet, flugelhorn   
Ron Stout - trumpet, flugelhorn   
Alex Iles - trombone   
Charlie Morillas - trombone   
Ido Meshulam - trombone   
Bill Reichenbach - bass trombone, tuba 
Larry Koonse - (track 2,4) guitar  
Ed Czach - piano   
Edwin Livingston - bass   
Peter Erskine - drums 
Brian Kilgore - (track 2,4,9) percussion

Convergency Liner Notes

Intrada

Dave Slonaker Big Band

0:00/???
  1. 1
    Intrada 1:15
    0:00/1:15
  2. 2
    It's Only a Paper Moon 1:07
    0:00/1:07
  3. 3
    Night Lites 1:19
    0:00/1:19
  4. 4
    Nowhere Is A Sometime Thing 1:07
    0:00/1:07
  5. 5
    Point Of Departure 1:06
    0:00/1:06
  6. 6
    Timelessness 1:16
    0:00/1:16
  7. 7
    Labyrinth Suite Pt. 1: Labyrinth 1:06
    0:00/1:06
  8. 8
    Labyrinth Suite Pt. 2: Flight Time 0:47
    0:00/0:47
  9. 9
    If And Only If 0:57
    0:00/0:57
  10. 10
    Remembering 1:12
    0:00/1:12