Judith Owen - Suit Yourself - Twanky Records
Suit Yourself, extraordinary new album from vocal provocateur Judith Owen, set for release on April 24th, features Judith’s band, the Gentlemen Callers, along with the J.O. Big Band and special guests Davell Crawford, Joe Bonamassa and the Tonya Boyd-Cannon Choir. Continuing on her critically-acclaimed journey into Jazz and Blues, Suit Yourself, resumes her trajectory of exploring and mining the lesser-known gems of these genres and turning them into musical powerhouses. Recorded at New Orleans’ Esplanade Studios, Suit Yourself can only be described as the full Judith Owen experience, celebrating all of her strengths and everything that has brought her joy throughout her last three releases. A beautiful blend of jazz, blues and big band it may be, but above all it shows off her inimitable sound and personality that seamlessly unite all the tracks into one outstanding oeuvre.
Javon Jackson - Jackson Plays Dylan - Solid Jackson Records
Tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson embarks on a new project paying tribute to one of America’s most revered songwriters, whose own work has been hailed for its intricate poetry and outspoken politics. Jackson Plays Dylan finds the saxophonist delving into songs spanning more than three decades of the legendary songwriter’s career, from still-poignant folk anthems to incisive and timeless love songs. Jackson is joined on the album by pianist and keyboardist Jeremy Manasia, bassist Isaac Levien, drummer Ryan Sands, and Grammy-winning guest vocalists Lisa Fischer and Nicole Zuraitis. “I have a deep respect for Bob Dylan’s musicianship and his commitment to the craft,” Jackson says. Jackson’s fandom is not a lifelong one, however. The jazz-focused saxophonist had grown up with almost no awareness of rock music, unfamiliar with even a cultural icon on the level of Bob Dylan. That didn’t change until he was in his 20s and joined the ranks of the final incarnation of the Jazz Messengers. “Art Blakey’s attorney was a big, big fan of Dylan,” Jackson recalls. “So he shared a lot of his music with me. Then I became even more aware of him when the film The Hurricane came out.”