The Haas Company Vol 4 – Thirteen feat. Jerry Goodman - PR&T LLC
Alex Sipiagin – Reverberations - Criss Cross
On his 14th Criss Cross leader album, titled Reverberations, Alex Sipiagin booked a six-concert tour in November by a sextet of long-time friends and bandmates from several years of activity that constitute his thriving career. After a few days off, they convened at a well-appointed studio in Bassano del Grappa, the grappa capital of Italy, a 10-minute drive from Sandrigo, the village in the north Italian region of Vicenza, where Sipiagin resides with his wife. “My improvisations and compositions have more space, more air, more stopping to process what I feel,” Sipiagin, now 58, said, “Living here, you can breathe, create and practice.” On Reverberations you can feel that attitude suffusing the contributions of Will Vinson and John Escreet, both U.K.-born, the formidable Berlin-based Russian expat bassist Makar Novikov, and Donald Edwards, a son of Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana. “There’s nothing super-complicated except a few melody heads,” Sipiagin says. “We took our time and relaxed, played it in the same order as the concerts, and it came out quite spontaneously.”
Mark Winkler – Hold On - Café Pacifico
Vocalist MARK WINKLER, an acclaimed artist on the Los Angeles jazz scene, is a prolific recording artist and lyricist. His original songs have been sung and recorded by a cadre of top singers like Dianne Reeves, Randy Crawford, Claire Martin, and Dee Dee Bridgewater. Winkler is now releasing his 22nd album, HOLD ON, a collection of mostly original tunes with a few tasty standards for good measure. Despite his long tenure at the microphone, Winkler does not just sit on his laurels. Each new album builds on the previous one. According to JW Vibe, “Winkler is one of those rare artists who not only never misses but keeps getting better with time.” He continues to seek new and interesting ways of expressing himself through the creative energy he draws from collaborating with other like-minded artists. For HOLD ON, he worked with six stellar pianists. HOLD ON brings us into Winkler’s world where swing, humor, and even elegance coexist.
Lauren Scales, Mike Flanagan, Chris Grasso - Many Rivers - Truth Revolution Records
Many Rivers is the effervescent trio debut from vocalist Lauren Scales, saxophonist Mike Flanagan, and pianist Chris Grasso — three acclaimed artists from divergent backgrounds united by creative chemistry. Due August 8 on Truth Revolution Recording Collective, the album features a soul-stirring program of seven covers and two originals by Scales, brought to life with support from Grammy-winning bassist Luques Curtis and first-call drummers Richie Barshay and Grammy-nominee Charles Haynes. Scales, Flanagan & Grasso is a forward-thinking jazz trio defined by dynamic interplay, genre-blending repertoire, and a shared reverence for storytelling through music. With roots in Provincetown, MA, their collaboration emerged organically through residencies and live performance, evolving into a full-fledged creative partnership that has captivated audiences across the Northeast and beyond.
Etienne Charles - Gullah Roots - Culture Shock Music
Etienne Charles traverses an underexplored corner of the African American diaspora on Gullah Roots, set for a June 20 release on his own Culture Shock imprint. Helming an extraordinary sextet that includes alto saxophonist Godwin Louis, pianist Christian Sands, guitarist Alex Wintz, bassist Russell Hall, and drummer Harvel Nakundi (plus special guests), trumpeter/composer Charles immerses himself in the history, culture, and music of the Black ethnic group centered in the Lowcountry region of the southeastern United States. Follow jazz trumpeter, composer and educator Etienne Charles on a journey through Gullah-Geechee communities of coastal South Carolina and Georgia. His travels influenced the music he presents in his latest collection, Gullah Roots.
Tyreek McDole - Open Up Your Senses - Artwork Records
Rising jazz vocalist Tyreek McDole will release his much-anticipated debut album, Open Up Your Senses, on June 6 via Artwork Records. A rich baritone with a deep connection to the jazz tradition, McDole makes a bold and enthralling statement on this rich debut, establishing him as one of the most compelling young jazz vocalists of his generation. At just 25 years old, the Haitian-American, New York-based baritone has already earned significant acclaim, including winning the prestigious Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in 2023 — one of only two male vocalists to achieve this honor in the competition’s 12-year history. Jazz scholar Will Friedwald, who also contributes liner notes to the project, referred to McDole as “the leading jazz voice of his generation” and acclaimed DJ Gilles Peterson said “it is refreshing to hear a new voice that is so clearly connected to the tradition but also pushing it forward with such strong energy. This is a brilliant opening statement from someone I reckon will be around for some time.” Open Up Your Senses is a bold statement from a young artist who masterfully blends tradition with innovation. Featuring standout performances by pianist and arranger Caelan Cardello and saxophonist Dylan Band, McDole’s debut evokes the legacy of jazz greats while forging his own distinctive path.