Kenny Barron - Songbook - Artwork Records
NEA Jazz Master and 14x GRAMMY nominee Kenny Barron announces Songbook, arriving November 14 on Artwork Records. This album represents the fulfillment of a decades-long dream for the 82-year-old piano master, showcasing 13 of his original compositions reimagined with lyrics by gifted songwriter Janice Jarrett and interpreted by an extraordinary ensemble of established and emerging vocalists. Joined by his long-standing trio featuring Kiyoshi Kitagawa on bass and Johnathan Blake on drums, Barron unveils a collection that seamlessly blends lyrical sophistication, harmonic depth, and rhythmic vitality. When asked why he decided to venture into this new direction at this point in his amazing career, the 82-year-old Barron laughs, “Because I’m getting old. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. This project had been running through my head for more than three decades. So, I decided that this would be the perfect time.” The album features a remarkable cast of vocalists, including jazz luminaries Cécile McLorin Salvant, Kurt Elling, Ann Hampton Callaway, Catherine Russell, and Jean Baylor, alongside three exceptional emerging artists: Kavita Shah, Ekep Nkwelle, and label-mate Tyreek McDole. Songbook marks Barron’s first album to fully feature vocals. The project showcases the enduring resonance of his compositional catalog, with each song revealing new facets through Jarrett’s evocative lyrics and the distinctive interpretations of each vocalist.
Gregory Groover Jr - Old Knew - Criss Cross
Old Knew is Gregory Groover Jr’s follow-up to his 2024 Criss Cross debut, Lovabye. On Old Knew, Groover addresses similarly inspired repertoire from a different angle, eliciting collective kineticism and creative spirit from a pan-generational A-list quintet, comprising Ross, the nonpareil 30-year-old vibraphonist; Paul Cornish, the 20-something pianist; and the glorious drummer Kendrick Scott and bass provocateur Harish Raghavan. There’s also a theme on this record, but I wanted the energy to feel different, less about the written composition and the mood, and more about the interaction and my playing.” Towards that aspiration, Groover wrote or arranged another 11 pieces tailored to the idiosyncratic tonal personalities of his bandmates, who color and characterize the music.
Nat Adderly Jr. Trio - Took So Long – Independent
Nat Adderley Jr., renowned pianist, keyboardist, composer, musical director and arranger, steps into the spotlight with Took So Long, his first album as a leader. Best known for his four decades shaping the music of Luther Vandross, Adderley now steps out front with a trio project. The album offers a pleasing mix of standards and reimagined classics. Across the record Adderley’s joined by longtime friends, bassist Belden Bullock and drummer Steve Johns, as well as bassist Chris Berger and drummers Tommy Campbell, Dwayne Cook Broadnax and Vince Ector. Adderley’s version of “Superstar,” first arranged for Vandross on Busy Body in 1983 and later Live at Radio City Music Hall, shifts from its moody aura into a festive Brazilian samba.
Steven Oquendo Latin Jazz Orchestra - A Centennial Salute To Tito & Tito - Truth Revolutions
For more than a decade, the Steven Oquendo Latin Jazz Orchestra (SOLJO) has been one of the most precious hidden treasures of the Bronx, New York City’s majority Hispanic borough. The trumpeter-educator Steven Oquendo founded SOLJO while working as a music instructor at Harlem School of the Arts. The orchestra performed alongside Celia Cruz, Rubén Blades, and Eddie Palmieri, initially as a rehearsal band. At the behest of impresario David Maldonado, the ensemble soon found itself working regularly with a weekly residency across the river. This recording finds the band tearing it up, celebrating the centennial of Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club, located just a few blocks uptown from the old Palladium Ballroom, where the two Titos made history at the home of the mambo.
Eli Yamin - Squeeze In Tight - Jazz Power Initiative
Jazz Power Initiative (JPI) co-founder, Managing and Artistic Director Eli Yamin, better known as Dr. E., got together with some of his favorite musicians and friends to make an album under the JPI label some months ago. The album, Squeeze In Tight, set for release on September 1st, is meant as a tribute “…to the joy that jazz and blues inspire,” said Dr. E. But with the sudden passing of the phenomenal drummer, and educator, Philadelphia’s David F. Gibson — this, his last release will be as much a tribute to this inspirational human being, who enjoyed playing as much as he loved teaching. Dr. E. master jazz pianist, songwriter/composer and educator said this about his friend and music partner, “Dave had a beat that could shake the earth, and I am grateful to have shared a strong musical bond with him for over 25 years. It’s hard to accept he is gone but I will do my best to live up to his example of pure devotion, concentration and groove.” Personnel: Zaid Nasser (alto saxophone), Elias Bailey (bass), David F. Gibson (drums), Guest appearances include trumpeter Nicole Davis, vocalist Clover St. Hubert, and rising young talents Amelia Thomas, Dylan Rodriguez, and Gigi Leon—all alumni or current students of Yamin’s jazz education programs.
Lili Maljic - The Nearness of You: In Loving Memory of Jim Rotondi - Pacific Coast Jazz
Austrian-based jazz vocalist Lili Maljic steps boldly into the spotlight with The Nearness of you – In Loving Memory of Jim Rotondi, her highly anticipated debut album. With a voice that evokes the timeless essence of vocal jazz and a sensibility rooted in deep musical storytelling, Lili Maljic presents ten carefully chosen standards – each reimagined with distinctive arrangements, emotional insight, and an impressive supporting cast. The record features acclaimed trumpeter and arranger Jim Rotondi, pianist Oliver Kent, bassist Miloš Čolović, and drummer Mario Gonzi, forming a powerhouse quartet that brings her vision to life. With The Nearness Of You – In Loving Memory of Jim Rotondi, Lili offers more than a collection of standards—this is a cohesive artistic statement that reveals her voice as both interpreter and innovator. Her sensitivity to the material, collaborative spirit, and musical curiosity place her firmly among the most exciting new jazz vocalists to emerge from Europe.
Richard D. Johnson - Warm Embrace - Shifting Paradigm
Pianist, composer, and U.S. Musical Ambassador Richard D. Johnson returns with Warm Embrace, a vibrant and emotionally rich vocal jazz album born out of a unique residency in Shanghai, China. Over three weeks of nightly performances—two to three sets each night— Johnson and his ensemble developed a deep musical chemistry, exploring a rotating series of thematic performances that emphasized spontaneity, connection, and joy. The album features a stellar lineup with DownBeat Rising Star vocalist Alyssa Allgood, tenor saxophonist Gregory Tardy, acoustic bassist Jeremy Boettcher, and drummer Gregory Artry. While the core repertoire remained consistent, each performance brought fresh arrangements and evolving interplay. The result is a collection of live recordings that capture a spirit of creativity, warmth, and unity—qualities that reflect the album’s title and message.
Jen Allen - Possibilities – Truth Revolution
Possibilities, Jen Allen’s latest album, unfolds with her signature introspection and melodic richness, inviting listeners into a soundscape where curiosity, truthfulness, and transformation take root. The album explores what becomes available when we soften our grip on certainty and lean into the unknown. Possibilities offers a deeply personal yet universally resonant meditation on change, resilience, and the quiet power of choosing openness over fear. Jen Allen is a dynamic pianist, composer, and educator whose vibrant musical voice has resonated across stages throughout North America and Europe. With performances at notable festivals such as the Winnipeg Jazz Festival and the Greater Hartford Monday Night Jazz Series, Jen’s presence is marked by emotional depth and compelling artistry. She has performed alongside jazz greats like Don Braden, Jimmy Greene, and Camille Thurman, solidifying her reputation as a standout leader and collaborator.
Adegoke (Ah-day-go-kay) Steve Colson & Iqua Colson - Glow: Music For Trio...Add Vocals - Silver Sphinx
Pioneering artists and AACM stalwarts Adegoke Steve Colson and Iqua Colson return with their most personal and thematically resonant release in years: GLOW: Music for Trio…Add Voice, out August 22, 2025 on their longtime imprint Silver Sphinx Records, now distributed worldwide by The Orchard. Blending original compositions with wordless vocals, poetic resistance, and intimate improvisation, the album is both timely and timeless—reflecting a lifetime of creative integrity shaped by struggle, joy, and love. The trio on GLOW features Adé on piano, the legendary Andrew Cyrille on drums, and acclaimed bassist Mark Helias with Iqua performing on four tracks. Together, they deliver music that moves fluidly between structure and freedom, language and abstraction, present urgency and historic depth. “This record wasn’t conceived as a protest album,” says Iqua, “but when the world turns as it has, the music bears witness.
The Haas Company Vol 4 – Thirteen feat. Jerry Goodman - PR&T LLC