Steve Johns – Mythology - Steeplechase
For his debut Steeplechase album under his own name as a leader, New York City veteran drummer/composer Steve Johns engaged a uniquely configured crew of versatile players he’s long known and often collaborated with. Johns teams up with guitar great John Hart, the amazing vibraphonist and vocalist Monte Croft, piano wiz Greg Murphy and the incomparable bassist Joris Teepe. Two of Steve’s compositions get the ball rolling, followed by his band mates’ songs, with a few classics sprinkled in. Steve says, he’s always enjoyed tales from ancient civilizations; mystical legends as depicted in the stories of Icarus, Perseus and Medusa. “Mythology” is an album full of imagination, stories and some fantastic playing by this amazing lineup of world-class musicians.
MTB (Mehldau, Turner, Bernstein) - Solid Jackson - Criss Cross
This second gathering of M.T.B. (titled for the surnames of Brad Mehldau, Mark Turner and Peter Bernstein, and to signify upon the late ’80s “young lion” band OTB) is an intense, focused recital that reinforces the exalted position each member holds in the 2024 jazz landscape. Everyone listens. No one overplays or goes for “house.” The ambiance is one of concentrated excellence. All in all, the session is, as the cliche goes, “all killer, no filler,” performed at a level that might have provoked Charlie Haden to respond with a hearty “Solid Jackson.” “There was a natural blend,” Bernstein says. “We all go way back, and everyone was very comfortable being around each other. One thing I like about making a record is that you’re able to spend a day with people you’ve been meaning to hang out with for a long time. It’s not just a party. You’re working, too. But that’s how we interact socially – by playing music. I was amazed. It’s 30 years after we did the first one, but everyone is relatively intact. It’s really a miracle. We’re all still here; we get to play together again.” Line up: Brad Mehldau (piano) – Mark Turner (tenor saxophone) – Peter Bernstein (guitar) – Larry Grenadier (bass) – Bill Stewart (drums).
Oz Noy - Fun One - Criss Cross
Oz Noy releases Fun One, his label debut, on Criss Cross is a creative, sophisticated and, shall we say, swinging trio encounter with pianist David Kikoski, bassist James Genus and drummer Clarence Penn. From 2017 until March 2020, when COVID shut down New York City, the group’s encounters transpired on Thursday nights at the 55 Bar, the Greenwich Village basement where high-level practitioners like alto saxophonist-composer (and frequent Criss Cross artist) Dave Binney and guitarists Mike Stern and Wayne Krantz held years-long weekly sinecures. After the Christopher Street landmark shut down two years later, Noy “moved our operation” to the Bitter End on Bleecker Street, a signpost venue in the development of comedy and various streams of second-half-of-the-20th-century popular music where Noy has played regularly with his power trios for more than two decades. From the beginning of 2024 until the end of July, when Noy recorded Fun One, he frequently workshopped this repertoire there “with some form of this band.”
Benjie Porecki - All That Matters - Funklove Productions
All That Matters showcases the versatile and distinctive pianist-organist Benjie Porecki performing melodic originals and covers in a jazz trio. Ranging from accessible grooves to thoughtful ballads, Porecki creates a program filled with variety and subtle surprises. In his prolific career, Benjie has enriched the music of a countless number of artists in such settings as jazz, pop, funk, R & B, urban, country, rock and mixtures of the above. Through it all, he is tastefully harmonious while adding his own lively musical personality and creativity to the music. Porecki has also recorded many sessions of his own. All That Matters features Benjie at the head of a trio that includes bassist Michael Bowie and drummer Mark Prince, performing six of his originals and four other beloved pieces. While mostly heard on piano, Porecki also adds organ to some of the more gospel-oriented numbers. While there is plenty of variety in moods and tempos, each of the ten selections on All That Matters fit into the themes of love, loss, and the things that truly matter in life. All That Matters is the latest accomplishment in Benjie Porecki’s career, a grooving and subtle trio outing that includes some of his most sensitive and inventive writing and playing.
Lisa Hilton - Lucky All Along - Ruby Slipper Productions
In her liner notes for her latest release entitled Lucky All Along, the acclaimed pianist/composer/band leader Lisa Hilton shares that the music is “Inspired by the history of cool jazz as well as the art of Impressionism.” Instead of paint, her compositional tools include “different harmonic palettes and rhythmic textures such as blues, swing, improvisation, free jazz, polyrhythms, bop, ragtime, early rock, the Latin tinge and traditional riffs.” Hilton hails from California, where many cool jazz creators previously lived for a period, including Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Stan Getz, as well as pianist Bill Evans. These “cool” and very expressive artists favored a moody style of playing with innovative harmonic explorations versus the more energetic “hot”, or free jazz styles. Percolating with ideas, the nine original compositions and three cover tunes are intimate, enthralling, and laced throughout with rich blue tones, swinging with Hilton’s expressive touch on the piano. Lucky All Along gracefully shares the spotlight with quartet mates Igmar Thomas on trumpet, Luques Curtis on bass, and Rudy Royston on drums and percussion.
Jazzmeia Horn - Messages - Empress Legacy
As Grammy nominated vocalist Jazzmeia Horn looks out the window of her 11th-floor hotel room in Tokyo, she describes the surrounding skyscrapers, the yellow and pink clouds floating by and Messages — her fourth project to date as a leader. In part, Messages is intended to be a word of encouragement to anyone making tough choices — a reminder that we all make sacrifices. Sometimes, the difficulties encountered along the way are worth it, though. The bandleader’s pared back her ensemble, eschewing the personnel of a big band, but retaining the avant-playfullness of the Sun Ra Arkestra. Ruminations on family, friendship and love all circulate among the 10 original compositions on the album.
Robin Simone - RSHO - Picturesque Records
Enter the new Robin Simone Hollywood Orchestra: 17 super musicians, a gifted conductor/arranger, and Robin all creating an electrifying take on songs of great motion pictures, and bringing new magic to the big band stage. Debut album produced by the esteemed Bill Appleberry at Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood. Robin Simone is a three-time Billboard charting singer-songwriter whose four-octave range and lifelong devotion to big band music have led to her performances on The Oprah Winfrey Show and for network TV show I Can See Your Voice. Robin has collaborated with artists including Prince, Barbara Morrison, and Debbie Allen and has performed throughout the United States and Europe. The moment legendary guitarist Kenny Burrell heard Robin sing, he immediately asked her to front his Jazz orchestra—that led to spell-binding shows together and confirmed for them both that Robin’s turn would come to carry the torch.
Frank Vardaros Jazz Orchestra - My Standards - New Vintage Music Media
Steeped in the rich tradition of a jazz orchestra, and guided by the legacies of Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Count Basie, and many others. Internationally renowned trumpeter Vardaros simulates the brilliance of this music and rivals his contemporaries while providing the modern reincarnation of the great jazz orchestras. My Standards showcases the orchestra on a journey through big band jazz.
Terry Gibbs Dream Band - From 1959 - Vol.7: The Lost Tapes - WCS
Most of us might consider relaxing while getting ready for our one-hundredth birthday, but Terry Gibbs has recently put together a remarkable new live CD by his six-time Grammy-nominated big band. “Vol. 7: The Lost Tapes, 1959” by the Terry Gibbs Dream Band, is a remarkable recording by an exciting band at the peak of its performance. These recently discovered tracks, recorded by legendary engineer Wally Heider in March and November of 1959, are from the same weeks with the same band as the previously available music, but these songs have never been available. Considered one of the best and most exciting big bands ever, the Terry Gibbs Dream Band was made up of stellar Los Angeles players and driven by the energetic and inventive solos of Terry and the force of drummer Mel Lewis. The songs consist of jazz standards and several big band classics, as well as some new numbers. This band had the unusual characteristic of original charts by an amazing array of the best contemporary arrangers, including Al Cohn, Bob Brookmeyer, Bill Holman, Marty Paich, and Med Flory.
Matt Panayides (pa-NEYE-dis) - With Eyes Closed - Pacific Coast Jazz
Matt Panayides is a guitarist who has long had his own style. His harmonically adventurous playing, at times a bit reminiscent of Jim Hall and Pat Martino, is filled with fresh and personal chord voicings. While his previous recording, Field Theory, put the focus on electronics, With Eyes Closed has more of an acoustic sound. This is not only Panayides’ first trio album, but his first to concentrate on jazz standards. Joined by bassist Steve LaSpina and drummer Anthony Pinciotti, Panayides digs into eight songs by six jazz composers (including two apiece by Cedar Walton and Wayne Shorter) plus reinvented versions of three standards. The emphasis is on close interplay between the three musicians with LaSpina and Pinciotti getting a generous amount of solo space and contributing inventive accompaniment behind the guitarist. The veteran songs are transformed into explorative post-bop while retaining the essence of their melodies. Throughout With Eyes Closed, Matt Panayides puts his stamp on jazz standards, showing just how innovative and fresh his playing has become.