The Minnesota Chamber Jazz Orchestra is a scaled-back version of the Minnesota Jazz Orchestra, but with nine pieces, it still produces a big sound. The group plays the Ames Auditorium in Bloomington, 7PM on New Year’ Eve with the theme “An Evening with Ella,” and that is Fitzgerald of course. Phil Nusbaum talked to Craig Thrane and Courtney Burton of the group and first asked Craig, Why a little big band?