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 (in Eb)
Recorded at the University of North Texas Lab West
Performed by the Ricardo Arana Jazz Orchestra
Saxes: Eric Crenshaw | Christian Mojica | Tito Charneco | Aidan Schwarz Aidan Sears
Trumpets: Richie Thaller | Isidoro Ramos | Jonathan Orellana Sanchez | Nathan Fisher | Alex Billingsley
Trombones: Nick Mailes | Alex Parker | Eric Weaver | Jeremy Kvale Joseph Fremed
Rhythm Section: Wes Case | Isaiah Nygard | Spencer Paulsen | Parker Sibley
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
Onto the Next (Studio Orchestra)
Recorded at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Performed by the UNLV Studio Orchestra, Kenny Rampton (Jazz at Lincoln Center) and Ricardo Arana
Saxes: | FJ Rodriguez | Eddy Sarabia | Chris Ellis | Robert Mitchell | Cole Henriques
Trumpets: Dan Foster | Aries Harper | Harrison Collard | Ricardo Arana
Trombones: Gio Lacala | Kirby Galbraith | Zach Mejia | Scott Odou
Rhythm Section: Micah Smith | Ed Lacala | Andres Montero | Keegan Carter
Dawnbird
Dawnbird composed Mike Nock, arr by Ricardo Arana
Recorded at Paul Voertman Hall - University of North Texas College of Music UNT One O'Clock Lab Band with Vincent Herring
Saxes: Natalie Wagner | Cristian Mojica | Jonathan Arcangel | Brian Lawrence | Aidan Sears
Trumpets: Tyler Jones | Richie Thaller | Jonathan Orellana Sanchez | Alex Billingsley | Nathan Fisher
Trombones: Nick Mailes | Alex Parker | Eric Weaver | Jeremy Kvale | Joseph Fremed
Violin: Ysaura Merino
Rhythm Section: Wes Case | Isaiah Nygard | Kai Wagner | Parker Sibley
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
Rain in the Desert (Studio Orchestra)
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