Chicago Jazz Orchestra ft. Bobby Broom - More Amor - CJO Records
Acclaimed guitarist Bobby Broom is the featured soloist on a new recording by the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, More Amor: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery, due for release March 28 on Chicago Jazz Orchestra Records. The brainchild of CJO musical director/conductor Jeff Lindberg and Broom, the recording began with a seed planted in 2004, after Broom’s successful Montgomery retrospective concert performance with the big band and strings. “I was thrilled when Jeff contacted me about finally getting to work on this recording,” says Broom. “Seeing this vision through was an important collaboration for both of us.”
Bob James & Dave Koz - Just Us - Just Koz
Rooted in their decades-long friendship and driven by an adventurous spirit of creative camaraderie, contemporary jazz icons Bob James and Dave Koz mark a unique milestone in both their careers with the aptly titled duo album Just Us. A piano and saxophone only collection of fresh originals and colorful re-imaginings of Great American Songbook standards, its inspired format-free from the usual complementary support of a traditional rhythm section – liberates both to venture spontaneously beyond the trademark sounds that fueled their superstardom and years of Billboard chart-topping successes – and into a more spontaneous, organic soundscape ripe with dynamic new possibilities.
WDR Big Band - Bluegrass - MCG Jazz
In this extraordinary concert project by the WDR big band, two musical genres are ‘married’ which, despite their many similarities, have so far led an isolated existence: bluegrass and large orchestral jazz. Anyone familiar with the bluegrass folk style, which originated in Kentucky and Tennessee in the late 1930s and early 1940s, will recognize elements of swing, blues and gospel alongside country influences. Bluegrass also impresses with its vitality and danceability. So, what could be more obvious than trying a fusion with big band jazz? Enthusiastic comrades-in-arms were quickly found. Bob Mintzer, chief conductor of the WDR Big Band, wrote the arrangements and two high-caliber virtuosos of modern bluegrass were recruited for the solo parts: mandolinist Mike Marshall and violinist Darol Anger. The result is an unusual mix of styles with many unheard and surprising moments.
Fernando Ferrarone - Now Til Forever - Independent
On his debut album, Now Till Forever, composer and multi-instrumentalist Fernando Ferrarone explores the sounds of the world through a blend of jazz, catchy soulful melodies, and a touch of Latin rhythms. With warm trumpet playing, tasteful saxophone lines, and an incredible band supporting him, the album paints images of peace and healing, leaving listeners immersed in a deeply personal sonic landscape.
Jonah David - Waltz For Eli - Swish Tap Records
Drummer and U.S. Navy musician Jonah David releases his debut jazz album, Waltz for Eli, on February 28 via Swish Tap Records. Produced with pianist Joel Sanford, bassist Joe Bussey, and co-producer/co-composer Ettienne Stadwijk, the album features an impressive array of special guests, including Jeremy Pelt, Bryan Carrott and Anna Perkins. Recorded in 2024 while David was a percussion instructor at the Naval School of Music, Waltz for Eli showcases infectious straight-ahead jazz tunes accessible to both connoisseurs and casual listeners. The album highlights David’s “military precision” and the musicians’ deep connection, featuring both original compositions and fresh takes on jazz standards.
Pasquale Grasso - Fervancy - Sony Masterworks
Pasquale Grasso, a virtuoso guitarist hailed by Pat Metheny as “the best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my life,” unveils Fervency—a bold new trio album showcasing his unmatched artistry and deep respect for jazz history. With his long-standing collaborators, bassist Ari Roland and drummer Keith Balla, Grasso explores a rich repertoire that masterfully bridges the past and future of jazz. On Fervency, Grasso reimagines tunes by some of jazz’s greatest icons and delivers a thrilling and heartfelt tribute to jazz’s golden age while forging his own path forward. This album is a must-listen for anyone passionate about jazz guitar, timeless melodies, and masterful musicianship.
Alan Chaubert - Just The Three Of Us - Pacific Coast Jazz
Just The Three Of Us showcases the melodic jazz talents of Alan Chaubert, who masterfully plays both muted trumpet and piano simultaneously. This unique approach results in a captivating album that features nine carefully selected tracks, ranging from the works of Charlie Haden and Bill Evans to Thelonious Monk and Norah Jones. Chaubert is accompanied by bassist Belden Bullock and drummer Jon Di Fiore, with percussionist Luis Quintero guesting on two tracks. The album, recorded live without overdubbing, emphasizes relaxed tempos, allowing Chaubert’s lyrical trumpet to shine alongside Bullock’s concise and inventive bass solos. The set is Chaubert’s finest work to date, highlighting his swinging style and showcasing his exceptional talent on both trumpet and piano.
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.”