Lebanon Valley College Jazz Orchestra Releases Second Album Jungle Book
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Asia Tabb
AIRED; October 6, 2025
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The Lebanon Valley College Jazz Orchestra (VJO) has released its second commercial album, Jungle Book, showcasing the talent and dedication of student musicians under the direction of Dr. Jeff Lovell and Dr. Justin Morell. The album features four original compositions by Morrell and highlights guest performances from multi-Grammy-nominated trombonist Alan Ferber and New York-based saxophonist Hashem Assadullahi.
Reflecting on the album’s release, Lovell praised the students’ commitment to the project: “I think that speaks to the dedication of the students that believe in this. I’d like to think we try to create an environment… our students see that this is kind of a cool experience and want to be part of it. They get to hear themselves played back, participate with guest artists, and experience what it’s like to be in a recording studio — it’s motivating and educational.”
Morell, whose compositions make up the album, explained his approach to writing for the orchestra: “It’s helpful to have a band and a partner in this operation that’s willing to put my music in front of the band. It’s very little magic… it’s more like, ‘there’s a band I can write for, so I’ll sit down and start writing.’”
The recording process was equally educational for the students, particularly those involved in audio production. Morell highlighted the hands-on experience: “The students spend an incredible amount of time… figuring out how to get all the different technology to talk to each other. They do professional-level work and it’s a pretty rare opportunity to record a big band these days.”
The VJO aims to provide students with experiences that mirror professional jazz ensembles. Morell emphasized, “We hold them to a high standard. The music is challenging, and we want this band to know what it feels like to play the kind of music that people play in the jazz world today.”
Jungle Book will be available for streaming on September 15 via Bandcamp and all major streaming services. A limited-edition vinyl LP is set for release in late October, with the band celebrating during LVC Homecoming on Sunday, October 12 at 3 p.m. in Leedy Theater. The Fall VJO concert on December 4 at 7:30 p.m. will also feature the album and limited vinyl sales.
With Jungle Book, the Lebanon Valley College Jazz Orchestra continues to push the boundaries of collegiate jazz, giving students an opportunity to perform, record, and learn from world-class musicians while producing an album that resonates with contemporary jazz audiences.
