A mere selection of the new releases notified to JJ early summer 2021. The descriptive texts are edited from those supplied by promoters or musicians. See all new release lists.
Aarset, Eivind: Phantasmagoria (Jazzland Recordings) The Eivind Aarset 4-Tet are augmented by Jan Bang, Derek Bishop and Arve Henriksen. By turns straightforward, rhapsodic, quasi-ambient, expressionistic and improvisisational.
Allison, Mose: The Complete Atlantic / Elektra Albums 1962-1983 (Cherry Red) On six CDs, the 12 albums that Mose Allison issued on Atlantic Records and Elektra Musician between 1962 and 1982.
Altschul, Barry: Long Tall Sunshine (Not Two Records) New live performance by The 3Dom Factor, the trio led for the last decade by drummer/improviser Barry Altschul, featuring saxophonist Jon Irabagon and bassist Joe Fonda.
Antoine, Marc: Something About Her (Shanachie Entertainment) Guitarist Marc Antoine with David Benoit, Brian Simpson, Philippe Saisse and Marion Meadows.
Baker, Jalen: This Is Me, This Is Us (Outside In Music) This Is Me, This Is Us is the debut album from vibraphonist Jalen Baker. The Houston-based talent introduces nine original compositions, and one reimagined Stevie Wonder classic.
Bartz, Gary NTU Troop: Live In Bremen 1975 (Moosicus Records / M1315-2) Legendary saxophonist Gary Bartz (Art Blakey, Miles Davis etc.). On this live recording Bartz was joined by drummer Howard King, bassist Curtis Robertson and pianist Charles Mims.
Cables, George: Too Close for Comfort (HighNote Records HCD7335) Many will recall George Cables’ stalwart service with Freddie Hubbard, Art Pepper and others. Recorded September 2020, the pianist is joined by bassist Essiet Essiet and drummer Victor Lewis.
Calvaire, Obed; Franceschini, Bob; Hays, Kevin; Le Fleming, Orlando: Whole Lotta Love: The Music of Led Zeppelin (Chesky Records JD467) The quartet play jazz arrangements of some of Led Zeppelin’s most famous tracks like “Immigrant Song,” “Kashmir,” and “Whole Lotta Love”.
Colón, Willie & Blades, Rubén: Siembra (Craft Latino CR00406) Craft Latino presents an all-analog remastered vinyl reissue of Siembra, the transcendental album that caused a revolution in Latin music.
Coryell, Larry: Last Swing in Ireland (Angel Air Records Cat. No. SJPCD641) Last Swing In Ireland, a previously unreleased studio album from the late great American Jazz Guitarist Larry Coryell, is issued on CD through Angel Air Worldwide, 2021.
Davis, Maxwell: A Tribute to the Big Bands. Duke Ellington and Count Basie (Fresh Sound Records (FSRCD 1051) Tribute album. Orchestras arranged and conducted by Maxwell Davis with members from the Duke Ellington and Count Basie ensembles.
Ellis, Don: ‘Lost Tapes Vol. 3’ (Sleepy Night Records) Comprising entirely of previously unreleased material, based upon a treasure trove of recordings, photos, letters, video, scores and music supplied to Sleepy Night Records by the late Ken Orton.
Feldman, Victor: Four Classic Albums (On Vibes / Suite Sixteen / Latinsville! / Merry Olde Soul) (Avid Jazz) No details given.
Galper, Hal: Live at the Berlin Philharmonic 1977 (Origin Records ORIGIN82810) Captured during a pivotal period of his five decade career, “Live at the Berlin Philharmonic 1977” finds pianist Hal Galper with Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone), Randy Brecker (trumpet), Wayne Dockery (bass) and Bob Moses (drums). From the outset their mission is defined – jazz giants pushed to the limits by Galper’s facility and fertile imagination.
Ganelin – Kruglov – Yudanov: Access Point (Losen Records LOS 258-2) The Russian keyboard master Slava Ganelin who was in the forefront of Russian Jazz in the 60s and 70s (The Ganelin Trio) and the bass player Oleg Yudanov that played with The Jazz Group Arkhangelsk that were big in the 60s and the 70s as well, and the younger sax player Alexey Kruglov.
Gibbs, Mike: Revisiting Tanglewood 63: The Early Tapes (Jazz In Britain JIB-24-S-CD) Strictly limited to 500 copies. Digipak with extensive liner notes by Duncan Heining and bonus track ‘Country Roads’.
Gordon, Dexter: Dexter Gordon Quartet Willisau 1978 (TCB The Montreux Jazz Label TCB02452) Tenor giant Dexter Gordon’s return to the United States in 1976 was famously documented on the album Homecoming. This previously unreleased recording is from the triumphant period that followed and also features pianist George Cables, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Eddie Gladden – a band exquisitely road tight and brimming with a desire to play.
Gourley, Jimmy: The Cool Guitar of Jimmy Gourley (Fresh Sound Records (FSRCD 1101) A retrospective of his Quartet & Trio French recordings from 1953-1961.
Green, Grant: Gooden’s Corner (American Jazz Classics 90301) No details given.
Hagans, Tim and the NDR Bigband: A Conversation (Waiting Moon Records ) An all-new, original multi-movement concerto performed by the NDR Bigband. On A Conversation, trumpeter Hagans introduces a musical narrative that is meant to explore, to illuminate, and perhaps, to resolve an exchange of ideas. A Conversation is Hagans’ 17th recording as a leader, and his fourth recorded collaboration with the NDR Bigband.
Hodges, Johnny: Live in Paris 18 mars 1961 (Frémeaux & Associés FA5790) The Live in Paris collection by Michel Brillié allows listeners to hear previously unreleased recordings (made at concerts and private- or radio-sessions). These “live” takes, and the artists’ rapport with their audiences, gives these performances an additional soul and sensibility in counterpoint to the rigorous demands of studio recordings.
James, Etta: Etta James: The Montreux Years (BMG – BMGCAT460DCD) Collection of her Montreux Jazz Festival performances in 1977, 1978, 1989 1990 and 1993, including previously unreleased material.
Jeffries, Fran; Ray, Annita: Fran Can Really Hang You Up the Most – Slow Glow (Best Voices Jazz Forgot (FSR V133) Reissue of two obscure albums by singers Fran Jeffries and Annita Ray.
Joy, Samara: Samara Joy (Whirlwind Recordings – WR4776) Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition winner releases her debut of standards featuring jazz guitar virtuoso Pasquale Grasso and his trio (Ari Roland and Kenny Washington).
Lafertin, Fapy New Quartet: Atlantico (Frémeaux & Associés) New album by the Belgian gypsy jazz guitar maestro, recorded in 2017 in Belgium, with a brand-new quartet of exceptional, young musicians, and a repertoire of gypsy swing, jazz classics, Brazilian choro, Portuguese guittara pieces and their own original compositions.
LeDonne, Mike: It’s All Your Fault (Savant Records SCD 2183) On It’s All Your Fault, Mike LeDonne lays down some of his hippest organ licks, both as part of his Groover Quartet, and also an all-star big band with his preferred arranger, Dennis Mackrel. Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Mike uses the original Hammond C-3 played by Jimmy Smith et al.