Opportunity & Freedom

Winner of the 2025 National Band Association Young Jazz Composers Prize

Recorded at The 79th Midwest Clinic, December 18th, 2025 The USAF Airmen of Note Directed by Chief Master Sergeant Brian MacDonald

Saxes: Master Sgt. Kristian Baarsvik | Master Sgt. Michael J. Cemprola Jr. | Master Sgt. Tedd C. Baker | Senior Master Sgt. Grant M. Langford | Technical Sgt. Seth Ebersole

Trumpets: Chief Master Sgt. Brian F. MacDonald | Senior Master Sgt. Lucas A Brandon | Master Sgt. Logan Keese Technical | Sgt. Fareed Simpson-Hankins

Trombones: Master Sgt. Kevin A. Cerovich | Technical Sgt. Matthew Hettwer | Technical Sgt. Brendan Lanighan | Senior Master Sgt. Benjamin F. Polk

Rhythm Section: Senior Master Sgt. Geoffrey C. Reecer | Master Sgt. Chris Ziemba | Master Sgt. Benjamin J. Thomas | Master Sgt. David M. McDonald

What You Don’t Know

What You Don't Know composed by Ricardo Arana

Recorded at Crystal Clear Studio in Dallas Texas

Performed by Counter Clockwise Collective

Saxes: Eric Crenshaw | Natalie Wagner | Aidan Schwarz | Kenyon Kremin | Aidan Sears

Trumpets: Isidoro Ramos | Alejandro Munioz | Jonathan Orellana Sanchez | Nathan Fisher | Craig Schroeder

Trombones: DJ Rice | Jason Schilling | Nick Mailes | Joseph Fremed | Paul Covert

Rhythm Section: Jack Good | Jacob Hanson | Kai Wagner | Colman Burks

Mixed by Kent Stump

Mastered by Gil Kaupp

Rain in the Desert

Rain in the Desert by Ricardo Arana Featuring Jacob Hanson and Nick Mailes

Recorded at Paul Voertman Hall - University of North Texas College of Music Studio Orchestra for Master's Recital

Onto the Next

Recorded at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Performed by the Ricardo Arana Jazz Orchestra

Saxes: Rick Keller | FJ Rodriguez | Eddy Sarabia | Robert Mitchell | Cole Henriques

Trumpets: Dan Foster | Aries Harper | Surafael Tamre | Gil Kaupp

Trombones: Randy Crawford | Nikko Lopez | Brian Kurtz | Scott Odou

Rhythm Section: Micah Smith | Ed Lacala | Andres Montero | Zach Mejia

Almost There

"The exquisite title track, another Arana original." — Ken Franckling, JazzTimes

Recorded at the UNLV Recording Studio

Performed by the UNLV Jazz Ensemble 1

EWI: Cole Henriques

Saxes: FJ Rodriguez | Chris Ellis | Eddy Sarabia | Max Marquis |

Trumpets: Dan Foster | Aries Harper | Harrison Collard |

Trombones: Gio Lacala | Brian Kurtz | Scott Odou | Kirby Galbraith |

F Horns: Casey Davis | Hannah Johnson

Rhythm Section: Micah Smith | Amy Crosley | Jaren Glick | Zach Mejia | Ed Lacala

Mixed by Ron George

Mastered by Gil Kaupp