Metropole Orchestra: ‘Arakatak'

The marvellous Metropole Orchestra are soon to release their 80th anniversary album ‘Arakatak’ featuring compositions by Louis Cole, Donny McCaslin, Vince Mendoza, Miho Hazama and more.

Arakatak is a brand new collection of music - eight pieces by eight prominent composers, shedding light on the Metropole Orchestra of the past, present and future. 

Conducted by one of the Orchestra’s regular guest conductors, composer and arranger Miho Hazama, Arakatak features compositions by Vince Mendoza, Donny McCaslin, Tineke Postma, Mark Guiliana, Shai Maestro, and Louis Cole.

The title track was composed and arranged by horn player Morris Kliphuis, with a huge orchestral arrangement that we recognise as the signature of the Metropole Orchestra. Beginning in 1945, Metropole has evolved into an extraordinary ensemble, working with many of the very best pop and jazz artists.

Alongside the stunning orchestral composition, arrangements and playing, Arakatak includes many beautiful improvised and scored solos.

Trumpet fanfare lines begin the celebratory Vince Mendoza tune Bright Lights and Jubilations. One of my favourite sax players around right now is Donny McCaslin (who I first heard on David Bowie’s final album, Blackstar: McCaslin’s Luminosity is followed by conductor and composer Miho Hazama’s Splash the Colors.

This is a fine album from start to finish until the rather brilliant Doesn’t Matter by Louis Cole brings the collection to a close. Cole makes use of the whole ensemble, with strings and some lovely oboe which finishes all too soon.

‘Arakatak’ from the Metropole Orchestra will be released on 6 March 2026