HighNote/Savant New Releases

[GA Russell]

On 1/17/2024 at 3:36 PM, mjzee said:

Release date February 16:

With his alto sound soaring over a sax trio format on For All We Know, Jim Snidero demonstrates why he is a critical link in the alto saxophone lineage. Snidero pares down the soundscape to it's essence, utilizing a selection of standards to illuminate a rare combination of virtuosity, musicality and depth along with jazz masters Peter Washington-bass and Joe Fransworth-drums. With a tone quality that's second to none-Stereophile cited his sound as "one of the richest and purest on the planet"-Jim Snidero has showcased an enviable resonance in myriad contexts over the better part of the past four decades and 25 previous releases. Now, placing himself in the most exposed setting he's ever inhabited, Snidero reaches the apex on the alto saxophone.

 

# Artist and Track Title Time       1. Jim Snidero - For All We Know 07:56       2. Jim Snidero - Naima 05:14       3. Jim Snidero - Love for Sale 06:21       4. Jim Snidero - Blackberry Winter 06:32       5. Jim Snidero - Parker's Mood 05:19       6. Jim Snidero - Willow Weep for Me 06:33       7. Jim Snidero - My Funny Valentine 07:58       8. Jim Snidero - You Go to My Head 07:32     New from Jim Snidero on Savant Records JIM SNIDERO - For All We Know Savant Records SCD 2215 Jim Snidero - alto saxophone Peter Washington - bass Joe Farnsworth - drums   Airplay Starts now   Suggested Tracks 3.  Love for Sale  6:21  •  4.  Blackberry Winter  6:32 5.  Parker's Mood  5:19  •  6.  Willow Weep for Me  6:33   Like our stuff?  Let’s hear from you. Record Company Contact Barney Fields • Savant Records, Inc. jazzdepo@ix.netcom.com • (212) 873-2020 • www.jazzdepot.com   2215 Savan... Jim Snider...

 

# Artist and Track Title Time       1. Black Art Jazz Collective - Black Heart 05:50       2. Black Art Jazz Collective - The Fabricator 06:16       3. Black Art Jazz Collective - Truth to Power 08:21       4. Black Art Jazz Collective - It's Alright 07:52       5. Black Art Jazz Collective - Coming of Age 05:30       6. Black Art Jazz Collective - Dsus 05:29       7. Black Art Jazz Collective - Code Switching 05:51       8. Black Art Jazz Collective - Soliloquy (for Sidney Poitier) 04:21       9. Black Art Jazz Collective - Lookin' for Leroy 06:46       10. Black Art Jazz Collective - Blues on Stratford Road 06:30     Just in Time for Black History Month BLACK ART JAZZ COLLECTIVE - Truth to Power HighNote Records HCD 7353 Wayne Escoffery – tenor saxophone • Jeremy Pelt – trumpet James Burton III – trombone Josh Evans, Wallace Roney Jr. – trumpets (track 3) Xavier Davis (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 9 & 10) - piano Victor Gould (tracks 3, 6, 7 & 😎 - piano Vicente Archer (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 9 & 10) - bass Rashaan Carter (tracks 3, 6, 7 & 😎 - bass Johnathan Blake (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 9 & 10) - drums Mark Whitfield Jr. (tracks 3, 6, 7 & 😎 - drums   Airplay Starts Now   Suggested tracks 6. Dsus  5:29   •   7. Code Switching  5:50 9. Lookin’ for Leroy  6:45   •   10. Blues on Stratford Road  6:30   For its 10th anniversary release, the Black Art Jazz Collective (BAJC), hailed by DownBeat Magazine as “a powerhouse of contemporary jazz talent,” offers ten exciting and unique works that speak to both artistic freedom and musical sensibility relative to the tenor of our times.  The band features an all-star line-up, including founding members Wayne Escoffery, Jeremy Pelt, James Burton III, Xavier Davis and Johnathan Blake who are joined by current members Victor Gould, Rashaan Carter and Mark Whitfield Jr.  Wayne Escoffery tells us, “I formed Black Art Jazz Collective as an ensemble of African American musicians, celebrating Black culture and the origins of the music through original compositions with unapologetic pride.” Like our stuff?  Let’s hear from you. Record Company Contact Barney Fields • HighNote Records, Inc. jazzdepo@ix.netcom.com • (212) 873-2020 • www.jazzdepot.com   BAJC DigiB... 7353 HighN...

[mjzee]

Release date May 24:

Music has a long history of cultural cross-pollination, where artists draw inspiration from various traditions leading to the evolution of rich and diverse musical genres. Conrad Herwig's current offering is just such a recording. The Latin Side of McCoy Tyner is the latest installment in a critically-acclaimed series that started in 1996 with The Latin Side of John Coltrane. It's the work of a musically gifted, bilingual artist, a master trombonist who grew up admiring jazz's greatest practitioners but, at the same time, cutting his Latin Jazz teeth with legends such as Mario Bauza, Tito Puente, Paquito D'Rivera and others. On the gig here with Herwig, giving the recording and, by extension, the entire "Latin Side of..." project his personal seal of approval, is the great pianist and composer, Eddie Palmieri. Palmieri is surrounded by some of the most respected names in Jazz / Latin Jazz, including Craig Handy, Bill O'Connell, Alex Norris, Robby Ameen and others, all playing imaginative and challenging arrangements by O'Connell and their fearless leader. Here, Conrad Herwig goes directly to the very core of Tyner's compositions and imbues them with the vibrant essence of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean traditions.

 

[mjzee]

Release date July 5:

NEA Jazz Master Louis Hayes certainly personifies the term "living history." Born in Detroit, Hayes packed up his drum set and caught a train east, arriving in New York City in 1956 to join the Horace Silver Quintet. In 1959 he joined the Cannonball Adderley band, finding himself, in his early 20s, at the nerve center of the jazz world. He would visit John Coltrane in his apartment and was to make several justly famous recordings with him. Over the next 60 years Hayes amassed an impressive body of work, playing and recording with Oscar Peterson, Dexter Gordon, Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, Cedar Walton, Sonny Rollins, Woody Shaw and countless others. His latest recording on Savant, Artform Revisited, may fondly recall some of Hayes' old friends, but it also stands on the summit of today's post-bop sessions. Surrounded by his recording band of choice, Hayes' vibrant and colorful drumming supports a carefully chosen set list. Two new compositions by Hayes are featured along with some Charlie Parker tunes, the John Lewis version of "Milestones" and the beautiful but seldom-heard Bobby Troup ballad, "You're Looking at Me." Through it all, Hayes proves himself to not just a great drummer, but also a gifted and charismatic leader, inspiring his players to give their best and delivering performances born of his vast experience and exhibiting the mutual respect of all those concerned.

[GA Russell]

On 3/24/2024 at 11:10 PM, mjzee said:

Release date May 24:

Music has a long history of cultural cross-pollination, where artists draw inspiration from various traditions leading to the evolution of rich and diverse musical genres. Conrad Herwig's current offering is just such a recording. The Latin Side of McCoy Tyner is the latest installment in a critically-acclaimed series that started in 1996 with The Latin Side of John Coltrane. It's the work of a musically gifted, bilingual artist, a master trombonist who grew up admiring jazz's greatest practitioners but, at the same time, cutting his Latin Jazz teeth with legends such as Mario Bauza, Tito Puente, Paquito D'Rivera and others. On the gig here with Herwig, giving the recording and, by extension, the entire "Latin Side of..." project his personal seal of approval, is the great pianist and composer, Eddie Palmieri. Palmieri is surrounded by some of the most respected names in Jazz / Latin Jazz, including Craig Handy, Bill O'Connell, Alex Norris, Robby Ameen and others, all playing imaginative and challenging arrangements by O'Connell and their fearless leader. Here, Conrad Herwig goes directly to the very core of Tyner's compositions and imbues them with the vibrant essence of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean traditions.

 

Conrad Herwig The Latin Side of McCoy Tyner Impacting June 5, 2024 Format: Jazz   # Artist and Track Title Time       1. Conrad Herwig - African Village 06:52       2. Conrad Herwig - Passion Dance 05:30       3. Conrad Herwig - Four by Five 06:07       4. Conrad Herwig - Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit 06:23       5. Conrad Herwig - Mellow Minor 05:31       6. Conrad Herwig - Search for Peace 06:08       7. Conrad Herwig - Peresina 05:44       8. Conrad Herwig - Fly with the Wind 06:53       9. Conrad Herwig - Blues on the Corner 05:56       10. Conrad Herwig - Reaching Fourth 04:36     Another Installment in Conrad Herwig's "The Latin Side of" Series CONRAD HERWIG THE LATIN SIDE OF McCOY TYNER Savant Records SCD 2216 Conrad Herwig - trombone Special Guest: Eddie Palmieri - piano (track 4) Craig Handy – tenor & baritone saxophone • Alex Norris – trumpet & flugelhorn Bill O'Connell – piano • Ruben Rodriguez – bass Robby Ameen – drums • Camilo Molina – congas & bata Airplay Starts Now • Suggested Tracks 2. Passion Dance  5:29  •  3. Four by Five  6:06 7. Peresina  5:44  •  8. Fly with the Wind  6:52   Like our stuff?  Let’s hear from you. Record Company Contact Barney Fields • Savant Records, Inc. jazzdepo@ix.netcom.com • (212) 873-2020 • www.jazzdepot.com   EPK.pdf OneSheet.p...

[mjzee]

Release date August 23:

Trumpet player, bandleader, composer, and arranger Tom Harrell picked up rave reviews for 2022's Oak Tree, and here he follows it up with another ambitious, hard-to-resist album, once again made up entirely his own remarkable compositions. Harrell is supremely regarded, not for playing loudly, fast, or high, but rather for his extraordinary talent at fashioning ravishingly beautiful auricular shapes with a wonderfully expressive tone and depth. He is also an exceptionally fine arranger, crafting scores embroidered with felicities of detail and an inevitability which are unique in jazz. Teamed here for the second time with Venezuelan-born pianist Luis Perdomo, featuring the tenor saxophones of Danya Stephens and Mark Turner, the guitar of Charles Altura and regular collaborators, German-Nigerian bassist Ugonna Okegwo and American drummer Adam Cruz, Harrell and his associates emphasize the diverse musical influences of the compositions with a versatility that vividly displays their common strength.

[mjzee]

Also August 23:

From the moment he picks up his guitar, Thom Rotella's passion for music is palpable. Every phrase is crafted with intuitive care and precision that reflect a total commitment to his art. Each performance is an intimate journey into the expressive potential of jazz, where every chord tells a story and every solo speaks directly to the listener. Beyond his solo work, Rotella's collaborations with legendary artists and contributions to various projects cover an extraordinarily wide spectrum of music and entertainment heavy-hitters including Stanley Turrentine, Tommy Tedesco, Frank Sinatra, Burt Bacharach, Bette Midler and countless others. His compositions and his playing have been featured in high-profile television and film projects such as Family Guy, Ellen DeGeneres, Sex and the City, Criminal Minds and Altos (2015), underscoring his ability to craft memorable and communicative music. Thom Rotella continues to inspire and innovate, as evidenced on his HighNote Records debut recording, Side Hustle. With the remarkable organist Bobby Floyd and the propulsive drumming of Roy McCurdy, Rotella swings, smolders and sizzles through a set of imaginative original tunes and standards, with HighNote regulars Eric Alexander and Jeremy Pelt on hand to welcome him to the label.

Edited June 22 by mjzee

[Eric]

The Harrell is a no-brainer …!

[mjzee]

On 1/27/2024 at 6:37 PM, felser said:

Great to see Nicole Glover get on a label with some real distribution and name-power.  She's a stunning player.

I just finished listening to the album.  She's a good, strong player, with a fine band.  I especially enjoyed the quartet tracks with Steve Nelson.  She should consider adding a chordal instrument role (piano or similar) to the band.  While the trio format focuses more attention on the players, a chordal accompanist would be more pleasant to the listener.  Still, I recommend "Nicole Glover Plays."

[jlhoots]

34 minutes ago, mjzee said:

I just finished listening to the album.  She's a good, strong player, with a fine band.  I especially enjoyed the quartet tracks with Steve Nelson.  She should consider adding a chordal instrument role (piano or similar) to the band.  While the trio format focuses more attention on the players, a chordal accompanist would be more pleasant to the listener.  Still, I recommend "Nicole Glover Plays."

So do I. 👍

[soulpope]

On 3/25/2024 at 4:10 AM, mjzee said:

Release date May 24:

Music has a long history of cultural cross-pollination, where artists draw inspiration from various traditions leading to the evolution of rich and diverse musical genres. Conrad Herwig's current offering is just such a recording. The Latin Side of McCoy Tyner is the latest installment in a critically-acclaimed series that started in 1996 with The Latin Side of John Coltrane. It's the work of a musically gifted, bilingual artist, a master trombonist who grew up admiring jazz's greatest practitioners but, at the same time, cutting his Latin Jazz teeth with legends such as Mario Bauza, Tito Puente, Paquito D'Rivera and others. On the gig here with Herwig, giving the recording and, by extension, the entire "Latin Side of..." project his personal seal of approval, is the great pianist and composer, Eddie Palmieri. Palmieri is surrounded by some of the most respected names in Jazz / Latin Jazz, including Craig Handy, Bill O'Connell, Alex Norris, Robby Ameen and others, all playing imaginative and challenging arrangements by O'Connell and their fearless leader. Here, Conrad Herwig goes directly to the very core of Tyner's compositions and imbues them with the vibrant essence of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean traditions.

Any impressions/experiences with this one .... ?

[GA Russell]

On 5/4/2024 at 10:18 PM, mjzee said:

Release date July 5:

NEA Jazz Master Louis Hayes certainly personifies the term "living history." Born in Detroit, Hayes packed up his drum set and caught a train east, arriving in New York City in 1956 to join the Horace Silver Quintet. In 1959 he joined the Cannonball Adderley band, finding himself, in his early 20s, at the nerve center of the jazz world. He would visit John Coltrane in his apartment and was to make several justly famous recordings with him. Over the next 60 years Hayes amassed an impressive body of work, playing and recording with Oscar Peterson, Dexter Gordon, Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, Cedar Walton, Sonny Rollins, Woody Shaw and countless others. His latest recording on Savant, Artform Revisited, may fondly recall some of Hayes' old friends, but it also stands on the summit of today's post-bop sessions. Surrounded by his recording band of choice, Hayes' vibrant and colorful drumming supports a carefully chosen set list. Two new compositions by Hayes are featured along with some Charlie Parker tunes, the John Lewis version of "Milestones" and the beautiful but seldom-heard Bobby Troup ballad, "You're Looking at Me." Through it all, Hayes proves himself to not just a great drummer, but also a gifted and charismatic leader, inspiring his players to give their best and delivering performances born of his vast experience and exhibiting the mutual respect of all those concerned.

Louis Hayes Artform Revisited Impacting July 16th, 2024 Format: Jazz   # Artist and Track Title Time       1. Louis Hayes - Tour de Force  05:27       2. Louis Hayes - Milestones  04:05       3. Louis Hayes - My Little Suede Shoes  05:21       4. Louis Hayes - You're Looking at Me  05:51       5. Louis Hayes - Ruby  05:43       6. Louis Hayes - Cheryl  03:35       7. Louis Hayes - Ray's Idea  05:20       8. Louis Hayes - A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing 04:24       9. Louis Hayes - Dewey Square 06:07       10. Louis Hayes - G  04:36     New from Savant Records Louis Hayes - Artform Revisited Savant Records SCD 2218 Louis Hayes – drums Abraham Burton – tenor saxophone (except track 😎 Steve Nelson – vibraphone  (except track 4) David Hazeltine – piano • Dezron Douglas – bass AIRPLAY STARTS NOW  •  SUGGESTED TRACKS 1. Tour de Force (5:29)  •  2. Milestones (4:05) 7. Ray’s Idea  (5:20)  • 9. Dewey Square(6:06)   Like our stuff?  Let’s hear from you. Record Company Contact Barney Fields • Savant Records, Inc. jazzdepo@ix.netcom.com • (212) 873-2020 • www.jazzdepot.com

[GA Russell]

On 6/21/2024 at 9:48 PM, mjzee said:

Release date August 23:

Trumpet player, bandleader, composer, and arranger Tom Harrell picked up rave reviews for 2022's Oak Tree, and here he follows it up with another ambitious, hard-to-resist album, once again made up entirely his own remarkable compositions. Harrell is supremely regarded, not for playing loudly, fast, or high, but rather for his extraordinary talent at fashioning ravishingly beautiful auricular shapes with a wonderfully expressive tone and depth. He is also an exceptionally fine arranger, crafting scores embroidered with felicities of detail and an inevitability which are unique in jazz. Teamed here for the second time with Venezuelan-born pianist Luis Perdomo, featuring the tenor saxophones of Danya Stephens and Mark Turner, the guitar of Charles Altura and regular collaborators, German-Nigerian bassist Ugonna Okegwo and American drummer Adam Cruz, Harrell and his associates emphasize the diverse musical influences of the compositions with a versatility that vividly displays their common strength.

Tom Harrell Alternate Summer Impacting August 27th, 2024 Formats: Jazz   # Artist and Track Title Time       1. Tom Harrell - Miramar 07:17       2. Tom Harrell - Peanut 03:43       3. Tom Harrell - Alternate Summer 04:17       4. Tom Harrell - Intermezzo 03:42       5. Tom Harrell - UV 06:54       6. Tom Harrell - Chalcedon 06:17       7. Tom Harrell - Heliotrope 04:12       8. Tom Harrell - Plateau 05:20       9. Tom Harrell - Wind 12:21       10. Tom Harrell - Radius 05:48     New from Trumpeter and Composer Tom Harrell Tom Harrell Alternate Summer HighNote Records HCD 7344 Tom Harrell – trumpet Dayna Stephens – tenor saxophone (tracks 4, 5, 6 & 😎 Mark Turner – tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 2, 3, 9 & 10) Luis Perdomo – piano, Fender Rhodes, B-3 organ Charles Altura – acoustic & electric guitar (tracks 2, 3, 5 & 7) Ugonna Okegwo – bass • Adam Cruz – drums Airplay Starts Now  •  Suggested Tracks 5. UV  6:53  •  6. Chalcedon  6:16 8. Plateau  5:20  •  10. Radius  5:47 Like our stuff?  Let’s hear from you. Record Company Contact Barney Fields • HighNote Records, Inc. jazzdepo@ix.netcom.com • (212) 873-2020 • www.jazzdepot.com   HCD 7344 T... Tom Harrel...

On 6/21/2024 at 11:07 PM, mjzee said:

Also August 23:

From the moment he picks up his guitar, Thom Rotella's passion for music is palpable. Every phrase is crafted with intuitive care and precision that reflect a total commitment to his art. Each performance is an intimate journey into the expressive potential of jazz, where every chord tells a story and every solo speaks directly to the listener. Beyond his solo work, Rotella's collaborations with legendary artists and contributions to various projects cover an extraordinarily wide spectrum of music and entertainment heavy-hitters including Stanley Turrentine, Tommy Tedesco, Frank Sinatra, Burt Bacharach, Bette Midler and countless others. His compositions and his playing have been featured in high-profile television and film projects such as Family Guy, Ellen DeGeneres, Sex and the City, Criminal Minds and Altos (2015), underscoring his ability to craft memorable and communicative music. Thom Rotella continues to inspire and innovate, as evidenced on his HighNote Records debut recording, Side Hustle. With the remarkable organist Bobby Floyd and the propulsive drumming of Roy McCurdy, Rotella swings, smolders and sizzles through a set of imaginative original tunes and standards, with HighNote regulars Eric Alexander and Jeremy Pelt on hand to welcome him to the label.

Thom Rotella Side Hustle Impacting August 27th, 2024 Format: Jazz   # Artist and Track Title Time       1. Thom Rotella - Who Dat? 05:09       2. Thom Rotella - Love For Sale 05:32       3. Thom Rotella - Pick Pocket 04:47       4. Thom Rotella - Side Hustle 03:19       5. Thom Rotella - Georgia on My Mind 06:06       6. Thom Rotella - Not So Much 05:07       7. Thom Rotella - Mr. Mootanda 04:46       8. Thom Rotella - Don't Mess With Mr T. 05:17       9. Thom Rotella - Roy's Groove 03:53       10. Thom Rotella - On a Misty Night 04:56       11. Thom Rotella - Alone Together 04:35       12. Thom Rotella - Three Views of a Secret / Goodbye Pork Pie Hat 09:28     Guitarist Thom Rotella Makes His HighNote Records Debut Thom Rotella Side Hustle HighNote Records HCD 7355 Thom Rotella – guitars Bobby Floyd – organ; Gregg Karukas – organ (track 12 only) Roy McCurdy – drums; Kendall Kay – drums (track 12 only) Lenny Castro – percussion (tracks 2, 3, 6, 8 & 12) With special guests Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone (tracks 4 & 6) Jeremy Pelt – trumpet (tracks 8 & 12) Airplay Starts Now • Suggested Tracks 1. Who Dat?  5:11  •  3. Pick Pocket  4:47 4. Side Hustle  3:19  •  6. Not So Much  5:07 And while you're here, check out track 12, “Three Views of a Secret / Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.”  This imaginative track has been get getting a lot of special attention from a lot of special people.  Here's just a few: “I love the track, a really interesting interplay between songs and players. Certainly deserving of awards consideration. Thoroughly enjoyable!” Peter Graves - Conductor, Jaco Pastorius Big Band "What a magical atmosphere interpreted by  the musicians with a deep Blues feeling! One of the greatest performances I've listened to in recent years!!” Antonio Adolfo - Pianist, Composer - 4-Time Winner of The Brazilian International Press Award "I’ve listen to Thom’s latest cd “Side Hustle" and I feel that he shines as one of our top modern day jazz musicians. I can definitely hear a lot Of Grant Green and Wes Montgomery in his playing and he is also a fantastic composer and arranger. Please take a listen to his arrangement of Jaco Pastorius', Three views of a secret and Charles Mingus', Goodbye Pork Pie Hat. You will definitely love the journey this takes you on." Alvin Queen - Drummer, Producer Like our stuff?  Let’s hear from you. Record Company Contact Barney Fields • HighNote Records, Inc. jazzdepo@ix.netcom.com • (212) 873-2020 • www.jazzdepot.com   7355 Rotel... 7355 Thom ...

[jazzbo]

My copy of the Harrell is due Thursday.

[David]

On 8/27/2024 at 3:39 PM, jazzbo said:

My copy of the Harrell is due Thursday.

Listened to this yesterday on Apple Music. EXCELLENT album. Different sound than I am used to hearing from Harrell.

[jazzbo]

Yes, I'm enjoying it a lot.

[mjzee]

Release date October 4:

As far as drummer Brandon Sanders is concerned, everyone should have a grandmother who runs a jazz club. It was at the Casablanca, his grandmother's nightspot in Kansas City, that he was first exposed to the music of such greats as Jimmy Smith, Grant Green, and Lou Donaldson. Sanders may be long removed from those formative days, but on this CD, his sophomore recording for Savant, he pays homage to the influence and memory of his grandmother, Ernestine Parker, in the the album's first track, "Miss Ernestine." With his understated, whispery light touch on the drums, Sanders breathes fresh life into favorites, such as Parker's "Moose the Mooche" and Monk's "Four in One." The group shifts into pop mode on the Michael Jackson hit "Human Nature," which features guest vocalist Christie Dashiell, who also delivers a sensuous version of Ellington's "Prelude to a Kiss." Featuring vibraphonist Warren Wolf, pianist Keith Brown, bassist David Wong and saxophonist Chris Lewis, "The Tables Will Turn" marks another important chapter in Brandon Sander's career.

Release date November 15:

Jazz legend George Cables celebrates his 80th birthday with a stunning new recording, showcasing the timeless artistry that has defined his illustrious career. Known for his flawless technique and unparalleled musicianship, he has established himself as a towering figure in the jazz world. With icons like Art Pepper, Dexter Gordon and Freddie Hubbard he solidified his reputation as one of the most versatile and sought-after pianists of his generation. This album does not just honor his storied past but, with tunes both old and new, it captures the essence of a musician who has not only shaped jazz history but continues to influence it's evolution. The recording features jazz standards by legends like Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, and Horace Silver, as well as a tribute to the next generation of jazz talent with a piece by Arcoiris Sandoval, an exciting female pianist making waves in the jazz scene today. Throughout, Cables bridges the past and future of jazz, crafting an album that is a must-listen for any jazz aficionado. Join in celebrating this milestone and the remarkable contributions of a true jazz giant.

 

[mjzee]

Release date October 4:

Though the term "visionary" is rather overused, it certainly applies to tenor saxophonist and composer JD Allen. A musical sponge of sorts, Allen is a remarkable amalgam of a wide variety of musical styles and influences, blurring the boundaries of contemporary jazz by creating a dynamic fusion of tradition and modernity. There is a decidedly "third stream" quality to Allen's compositions, combining as they do advanced classical compositional techniques, the incorporation of electronic sounds and the distillation of historic jazz genres such as call and response, field hollers and, of course, the blues. This type of music relies on the total dedication of all the performers and Allen's latest recording features three of his regular colleagues, the acoustic and electric basses of Gregg August and Ian Kenselaar and the remarkably expressive drummer, Nic Cacioppo. These men have worked with Allen on his previous Savant recordings, perhaps most notably on the unofficial trilogy of "Americana," "Americana Vol. 2" and "Barracoon," and can be considered kindred spirits with their leader. Together, they delve into themes of culture and history, offering moving narratives through their sophisticated approach and profound improvisational skills.

[GA Russell]

On 9/14/2024 at 7:33 PM, mjzee said:

 

Release date November 15:

Jazz legend George Cables celebrates his 80th birthday with a stunning new recording, showcasing the timeless artistry that has defined his illustrious career. Known for his flawless technique and unparalleled musicianship, he has established himself as a towering figure in the jazz world. With icons like Art Pepper, Dexter Gordon and Freddie Hubbard he solidified his reputation as one of the most versatile and sought-after pianists of his generation. This album does not just honor his storied past but, with tunes both old and new, it captures the essence of a musician who has not only shaped jazz history but continues to influence it's evolution. The recording features jazz standards by legends like Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, and Horace Silver, as well as a tribute to the next generation of jazz talent with a piece by Arcoiris Sandoval, an exciting female pianist making waves in the jazz scene today. Throughout, Cables bridges the past and future of jazz, crafting an album that is a must-listen for any jazz aficionado. Join in celebrating this milestone and the remarkable contributions of a true jazz giant.

 

George Cables I Hear Echoes Impacting November 20th, 2024 Format: Jazz   # Artist and Track Title Time       1. George Cables - Echo of a Scream 06:11       2. George Cables - Echoes 06:00       3. George Cables - So Near, So Far 05:16       4. George Cables - Morning Song 06:04       5. George Cables - Prelude To a Kiss 07:30       6. George Cables - Clockwise 06:54       7. George Cables - Like a Lover 05:44       8. George Cables - You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To 05:26       9. George Cables - Blue Nights 06:14       10. George Cables - Journey to Agartha 07:18       11. George Cables - Peace 02:44     From HighNote Records A Brand New Recording by George Cables   George Cables I Hear Echoes HighNote Records HCD 7356 George Cables – piano Essiet Essiet – bass (except track 11) Jerome Jennings – drums (except track 11) George Cables’ new album is featured in the Hot Box of Downbeat magazine’s January 2025 issue.  Here are just a couple of highlights. “You expect the grace that shoots from the pianist’s fingers, but his umpteenth album is also about dazzle.  And drive.  Rhythmic interplay carries the day…” – Jim Macnie “Cables, at 80, hasn’t lost a step; indeed, his left hand on ‘Echo of a Scream’ would humble players half his age.” – J.D. Considine These reviewers were mightily impressed with I Hear Echoes.  You will be too. Like our stuff?  Let’s hear from you. Record Company Contact Barney Fields • HighNote Records, Inc. jazzdepo@ix.netcom.com • (212) 873-2020 • www.jazzdepot.com   George Cab... George Cab...

[mjzee]

Release date January 31:

Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt's latest project, Woven, is a fascinating album that fuses more traditional aspects of 21st-century jazz with the myriad possibilities of electronic synthesized sound. This collection of mostly original compositions showcases Pelt's instrumental artistry together with his commitment to composing works that explore new dimensions in jazz. Each track on Woven is meticulously crafted, perfectly balancing innovation with communicative emotional depth. The full range of contemporary jazz can be found here, from neo-bop, hard-driving rhythms to touchingly intimate balladic utterances. But Pelt's trumpet can also weave through electronic textures, creating a sonic landscape where the group's kaleidoscopic tone colors become a fundamental part of the melodic content. Joined by an impressive ensemble of musicians, Pelt and his collaborators create a fluid interplay of acoustic and electronic sounds, displaying their skill in integrating bold, contemporary elements while simultaneously underlining the very essence of jazz.