MacDonald, Doug: Santa Monica Session
They say : The Prolific Jazz Guitarist Doug Macdonald Gives Five Standards And Three Originals A Strong Latin Feel On Santa Monica Session (Dmac Music DM27)
Manby, Glen: When Sunny Gets Blue
They say : Following his quintet first album, alto saxophonist Glen Manby’s second album, this time as a quartet, sees him teamed with Guy Shotton piano, Olly Blanchflower bass, and John Gibbon drums, playing a lyrical set of mostly standards, along with a couple of originals, in a straight ahead hard bop style. (33 Jazz Records 33JAZZ305)
Manington, Dave: Weightless
They say : Dave Manington’s Riff Raff’s new album, Weightless, showcases a decade of collaboration with intricate compositions, dynamic improvisation, and evocative lyrics, all-star line-up. (Lamplight Social Records LSRDL35)
Manson, Bevan: Talking to Trees
They say : Bevan Manson’s tribute to the natural world featuring acclaimed vocalist Tierney Sutton and the Hollywood Studio Orchestra, with a total of 76 musicians, combining his classical and jazz roots. (Tiger Turn)
Marek Pospieszalski Octet & Zoh Amba: Now!
They say : Brand new studio album from Marek Pospieszalski Octet featuring Zoh Amba. “This band turned out to be an effective working unit from day one,” Pospieszalski admits. “Its musical concepts leave a lot of space for creative playing and that’s why I decided to use the Octet as a platform open for outside participation. One of the musicians I considered for this purpose was Zoh who is well recognized for her direct and limitless approach to music. And this opportunity came on the occasion of our concert at NOSPR concert hall in Katowice. The next day we visited Emil Berliner Studios where the album was recorded,” he explains. (Instant Classic CLASSIC099LP)
Martin, Rebecca: She
They say : Over the last three decades, Rebecca Martin has shaped a singular career devoted to the beauty and possibility of pure creative discovery. After getting her start as co-founder of the pioneering jazz-pop duo Once Blue (a widely beloved act that toured with the likes of Emmylou Harris and Squeeze), the New York-based singer/songwriter went on to release a series of acclaimed solo albums animated by the quiet force of her captivating vocals, and collaborating along the way with luminaries like Argentine pianist Guillermo Klein and legendary jazz drummer Paul Motian. In one of her boldest turns to date, Martin’s new album SHE marks her first body of work made entirely on her own—a profoundly rewarding leap she perceives as something of an artistic awakening. “It was time to strip everything away and to present the sound of my voice,” says Martin, who also works as an educator and community organizer and penned the new songs for SHE over the course of seven years. “I was ready to take this on now.” (Sunnyside Records)
McCabe, Nicole: A Song to Sing
They say : LA saxophonist Nicole McCabe visits Pete Min’s Lucy’s Meat Market studio for a collaborative release on Min’s Colorfield Label, all pieces created by improvising in the studio. McCabe has otherwise performed and recorded with Ari Hoenig, Dan Weiss, David Binney, Sasha Berliner, Amy Aileen Wood, Genevieve Artadi, Dave Harrington, and 10.4 Rog, to name a few. Dolphin Hyperspace’s new album features frequent collaborators Louis Cole and Justin Brown. McCabe’s constellation grew further with a 2023 residency at Los Angeles improvised music hub ETA in its final months, and she is a regular presence at Altamira Sound, where she recorded Mosaic and 2022’s Improvisations, a solo work for saxophone and pedals. Earlier this year, Fresh Sound released McCabe’s Live at Jamboree, a performance in Barcelona with Kane, Iannis Obiols and Ramon Prats. (Colorfield Records CF019)
McCreeth, Sue: No Evil
They say : Sue McCreeth, 10 highlights from her 2014 ‘live’ release, ‘No Evil’, remastered for 2024 by Abbey Road Studios, bringing the music and voice into clarity and focus never heard before. With Steve Waterman – trumpet, Jim Mullen – guitar, Andrew Cleyndert – double bass. Recorded over just two days, completely live. All jazz standards. Full Press Release available at sue@suemccreeth.com … this is part of Sue McCreeth’s full catalogue being re mixed and/or mastered for digital release on 33 Jazz Records throughout 2024/2025. New music also being recorded for release during 2025. (33 Jazz Records digital release)
McLaughlin, Alex: A Brand New State
They say : Bassist McLaughlin’s debut of all originals featuring top West Coast players, featuring trumpeter Jeremy Pelt (Self Released)
Miller, Allison: Big & Lovely
They say : Nothing. (Royal Potato Family RPF 2502)
Miller, Nicola: Living Things
They say : Canadian saxophonist/ composer Nicola Miller’s debut album features an unflinchingly singular, approach to music-making and an all-star cast — Frank Gratkowski: Bass Clarinet/ Alto Saxophone, Doug Tielli: Trombone etc., Nicholas D’Amato: Bass and Nick Fraser: Drums. Her work emerges from her jazz background, while thoroughly exploring texture, timbre and form. (Cacophonous Revival (CRR-025))
Mingus, Charles: Reincarnations
They say : Nothing. (Candid – CAN33132)
Molley, Brian Quartet with the Asing Langa Ensemble: Journeys
They say : Glasgow-based saxophonist Brian Molley has been one of the Scottish scene’s quiet wonders of the past decade, consistently producing excellent music and intriguing collaborations. This latest album pitches his quartet alongside one of the leading groups in the Rajasthani tradition. (BGMM 005)
Montgomery, Wes & Cannonball Adderley: The Poll Winners
They say : Nothing. (20th Century Masterworks 350273 LP)
Mooney, Davy & Ko Omura: The Word
They say : The world of jazz music has become an ideal place for collaborations between musicians from different lands and cultures. The practices of songwriting and improvisation reach beyond barriers of different languages. Guitarist Davy Mooney has long embraced having a global community in music, finding musical homes in Brazil and Japan. It was in Japan where he met a favorite musical foil, drummer Ko Omura. After his first Sunnyside release over a decade ago, Mooney looked to expand his touring horizons by looking toward Japan. Omura was recommended by a friend and joined the guitarist on his tour. The duo formed a tight bond and began a musical partnership, which led to their 2018 recording, Benign Strangers. Though the pandemic slowed their work together, the two made sure to keep the spirit alive, capturing it on their new recording, The Word. Ft. John Ellis, Glenn Zaleski & Matt Clohesy (Sunnyside Records)
Mulelid, Kjetil: And Now
They say : These compositions balance energetic interplay, rhythmically complex and harmonically rich music, with melodic and atmospheric tunes. With an exploratory approach to music, they evoke further layers, tones, and textures through improvisational interplay, aiming to create musical magic. (Grappa GRCD4816)
Mullov-Abbado, Misha: Effra
They say : Multi-award-winning double bassist, composer and arranger Misha Mullov-Abbado’s new album of original compositions features trumpet and flugelhorn player James Davison, alto saxophonist Matthew Herd, tenor saxophonist and bass clarinettist Sam Rapley, pianist Liam Dunachie, and drummer Scott Chapman. (Ubuntu Music – UBU0185)
Music Soup (Karlafti, Evgenia Dimoupolous, Nestor): Upbeat Mood
They say : Greek organ trio featuring Evgenia Karlafti (B3) and Nestor Dimopoulos (guitar) swing their way through a joyous, danceable set of originals (Chicken Coup/Summit Records CCP7032)
Noulet, Ornella: Promise of Faithfulness
They say : The debut album of Ornella Noulet. Promise of Faithfulness was created during a winter in Brussels, between the search for new sounds and the interest of what we might call spirits in music. This debut solo album is a tribute to the last words of Albert Camus’s speech for the Nobel Prize : “It remains for me to thank you from the bottom of my heart and to make before you publicly, as a personal sign of my gratitude, the same and ancient promise of faithfulness which every true artist repeats to him/herself in silence every day.” (Relative Pitch Records RPRSS035)
Number Junky: Birak
They say : The follow up album of the lyrical and rhythmically inventive Danish/Australian guitar led trio from Perth with guest appearance by UK saxophonist Will Vinson. The acclaimed trio dives into a varied selection of contemporary jazz compositions by Danish guitarist Kristian Borring, taking the listener on a holistic and lyrical journey through complex musical meter and feel. (Cool It! Records)
O’Connell, Bill: Touch
They say : Touch finds pianist Bill O’Connell returning to the trio format for the first time since his debut album Searching in the late 1970s. Accompanied by longtime collaborators, bassist Santi Debriano and drummer Billy Hart, and recorded at the storied Rudy Van Gelder Studio, O’Connell crafts a rich and intimate musical experience that shines with his unmistakable artistry. (Jojo Records)
Oh People: Part Time Elegance
They say : Featuring several of Denmark’s finest young composer, instrumentalists and improvisers, brand new quintet Oh People’s debut is a joyous celebrating of the styles, idioms and tropes of the Golden Age of jazz, blending the sounds of the 20’s and 30’s with a playful modern spirit. (April Records APR140)
Okimoto: Noel
They say : The legendary Hawaiian drummer Noel Okimoto performs a wide range of modern jazz originals on Hō`ihi. Utilizing a septet filled with talented players, Okimoto plays music ranging from Jazz Messengers-type hard bop to a fast odd meter samba, tributes to Gabe Baltazar and Wayne Shorter, and a grooving organ-driven piece. (Ho IHI)
Ono, Ryoko: The Days
They say : Ryoko Ono is an energetic, dynamic, and highly versatile sax player and composer from Nagoya, Japan. She is well known for her series of duo records with international musicians and renowned as a collaborator with Sax Ruins and Acid Mothers Temple. About this solo record she writes. “We are living through the same time. The worst day ever for someone might be a happy day for someone else. “THE DAYS” are solo saxophone pieces of drama from someone’s life.” (Relative Pitch Records RPRSS034)