SAMARA JOY - LINGER AWHILE
Linger Awhile proves that Samara Joy is no flash in the pan. Her first album took the jazz world by storm last year, and this one solidifies her place as a top jazz vocalist. It is her Verve records debut.
Music video by Samara Joy performing Guess who I Saw Today from the album Linger Awhile, a Verve Records release.; © 2022 Verve Label Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
The official studio video for Can't Get Out of the Mood by Samara Joy. Samara is accompanied by Ben Patterson on piano, David Wong on bass and Kenny Washington on drums and is produced by Matt Pierson.
MARK WINKLER - LATE BLOOMIN' JAZZMAN
Because singer/songwriter/educator, Mark Winkler has 20 albums under his belt, you can indeed call him a veteran. With his latest offering, he's opted for: Late Bloomin' Jazzman. Admittedly, it's a pretty cool moniker.
The title track features a cold blooded bass intro by Gabe Davis and a tasty trumpet solo by Brian Swartz. When it comes to that Late Bloomin' Jazzman, one thing's very clear: His finest flower's finally here.
Bassist John Clayton's arrangement of the Gershwin's Ain't Necessarily So features Bob Sheppard on Tenor saxophone and David Benoit on piano.
SWR BIG BAND/MAGNUS LINDGREN/JOHN BEASLEY - BIRD LIVES
John Beasley and Magnus Lindgren, both accomplished composers and arrangers, have combined their talents with the Stuttgart, Germany based SWR Big Band for the Charlie Parker tribute - Bird Lives.
It's a fresh approach to Parker's music featuring guest musicians including Chris Potter, Tia Fuller, Joe Lovano, Miguel Zenon, Charles McPherson, Camille Bertault, Martin Auer, Pedrito Martinez and Munyungo Jackson.
Magnus and John talk about their approach to arranging the music of the "Mozart of Jazz" in their homage to Charlie Parker.
This Afro Cuban arrangement of Scrapple from the Apple, features Martin Auer on trumpet, Magnus Lindgren on saxophone, John Beasley on piano and Pedrito Martinez on percussion.
Saxophonist Charles McPherson is the featured soloist on Laura, while Joe Lovano does the honors on I'll Remember April, both with strings.
MATTHEW WHITTAKER - CONNECTIONS
Connections is Matthew Whittaker's new release on Resilience Music Alliance. At age 20, he has already become one of the brightest new stars in jazz.
Matthew is featured on all keyboards and is joined by GRAMMY-winning producer Derrick Hodge. Featured artists include Jon Batiste, Regina Carter, Alvester Garnett, Otis Brown III, Johnathan Blake, Endea Owens, Karim Hutton, Isaiah Johnson, Nêgah Santos, Marcos Robinson and Steve Oquendo.
One of the album's 16 tracks is Stop Fighting, which musically deals with the injustice, tension and conflict of recent times.
SONGS FROM MY FATHER - GERRY GIBBS THRASHER DREAM TRIOS
Bandleader and drummer Gerry Gibbs was driven to complete his latest project, Songs From My Father. Driven is the key word because he crisscrossed the country in his car to make this recording due to COVD-19 restrictions last year.
The result is the top rated jazz album on Jazzweek as of this posting.
Gerry's inspiration came from his soon to be 97 year young father; bandleader and vibraphonist, Terry Gibbs. To flesh out the arrangements, Gerry enlisted the services of some of the top musicians around including the great Chick Corea in what turned out to be his final recording.
Here's a documentary describing the making of the album.
Songs For My Father on Whaling City Sound is a 2 disc, 19 song affair, featuring 4 distinct Thrasher Dream Trios with Gerry Gibbs at the helm. See America AND make a great jazz album. Who knew?
ROY HARGROVE & MULGREW MILLER - IN HARMONY
New release from two Jazz greats!
The Jazz world lost two of it's brightest stars with the passing of Roy Hargrove and Mulgrew Miller in 2018 and 2013. The newly released In Harmony, on Resonance Records, features the duo in rare form
The music lives on.
The music was recorded live in 2006 at Merkin Concert Hall, New York and in 2007 at Lafayette College in Easton, PA.
Here's the mini-documentary featuring the people who made this recording happen and those who loved these two jazz giants. It's available now on LP and CD.
NELSON RIVEROS - THE LATIN SIDE OF WES MONTGOMERY
Guitarist Nelson Riveros' new release, The Latin Side of Wes Montgomery, has been placing high on the jazz charts for several weeks. This tribute album features some of Montgomery's best known songs as well as a couple of original tunes.
Nelson talks about the album's concept using the music of Wes Montgomery and the formation of the band.
Inside the studio with Nelson and the band as they perform their version of the Montgomery classic, "Road Song."
ALLaN HARRIS - KATE'S SOULFOOD
Vocalist and guitarist Allan Harris takes a photo of his Brooklyn and Harlem neighborhoods and his Aunt Kate's restaurant, then serves up generous portions of soulful jazz.
In Kate's Soulfood, The Experience, Allan gives you some background into the making of the album and you are introduced to the participants.
The song Run Through America is inspired by the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.
Allan and the band perform Open Up from the the album "Kate's Soulfood," available on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify and www.allanharris.com.
YOKO MIWA TRIO - SONGS OF JOY
Women's History Month
March is Women's History Month and were celebrating with the latest release from pianist Yoko Miwa on Unbuntu Music.
Songs Of Joy
The Yoko Miwa Trio is: Yoko - piano, Scott Goulding - drums and Will Slater - bass. Brad Barrett plays bass on "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You."
ERIC REED - FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
For pianist Eric Reed, there was plenty of time to conceive his next album, due to the inability to travel because of the Coronavirus. Additionally he was affected by the unrest and political climate in the U.S. The result is a wonderfully arranged and thoughtful effort: For Such a Time as This.
The album was produced by Paul Stache and Damon Smith and recorded live at Tritone Recording Studio in Glendale, CA.
Available on Smoke Sessions Records.