Salles, Felipe: Camera Obscura
They say : The imaginative saxophonist and composer Felipe Salles has recorded an ambitious and captivating project that melds jazz and chamber music. His expansive sonic palette is on display through his captivating original compositions, heard here with both his longtime quartet (pianist Nando Michelin, bassist Keala Kaumeheiwa, and drummer Steve Langone) along with The Cushman Quartet, featuring violinists Laura Arpiainen and Amanda Stenroos, violist Anton Boutkov and cellist Karl Knapp. (Tapestry Records)
Saluzzi, Dino: El Viejo Caminante
They say : Two guitars gently envelop the uniquely evocative bandoneon of Dino Saluzzi on “El Viejo Caminante”, (‘The Old Wanderer’). Here, Argentinean father and son team of Dino and José María Saluzzi are joined by Norway’s Jacob Young, in an album of musical depth and great charm. The programme touches upon tango, Argentinean folk music and jazz and includes originals by all three musicians, a song by Karin Krog plus two standards. (ECM Records 589798)
Sam, Magic: All Your Love – The Cobra, Chi
They say : Samuel Gene Maghett, known as Magic Sam, was an American Chicago blues musician. He was born in Grenada County, Mississippi, and learned to play the blues from listening to records by Muddy Waters and Little Walter. Credited as the King of Chicago’s West Side Blues, Magic Sam was a brilliant guitarist and a soaring and energetic singer. This collection, featuring sessions for labels Cobra, Chief and Crash gives proof of how he earned his reputation. (Blues Joint 8037 LP)
Sanders, Pharoah: The Complete Pharoah Sanders Theresa Recordings MD7-282
They say : This set captures the saxophonist in transition, brokering a compelling truce with the jazz tradition without mortgaging his avant-garde bona fides. Sanders embraces the blues imperative, melodic interpretations of the Great American Songbook and jazz standards. (Mosaic Records #282)
Santa Cruz: Roses
They say : Legendary Danish jazz fusion band Santa Cruz is set to release their new digital album, Roses, on May 16, 2025. Featuring a powerhouse lineup of five of Denmark’s most accomplished musicians, Frans Bak (keyboards), Poul Halberg (guitar), Bo Stief (bass), Hans Ulrik (saxophone), and Klaus Menzer (drums), the album showcases the band’s signature blend of rich harmonies, striking melodies, and Scandinavian sensibility – seamlessly fusing jazz, rock, funk, and classical influences. (Storyville Records, 1014367)
Schanzer, Jeffrey: The Past Is Present
They say : A jazz cantata about – and by – Holocaust survivors and their children. All of the text is taken from the oral testimony of members of Jeffrey’s family. Schanzer is a sideman for Leroy Jenkins and Joseph Jarman (Neuma 222)
Shore, Julian: Sub Rosa
They say : Sub Rosa is the second release for pianist Julian Shore’s profoundly intuitive trio with bassist Martin Nevin and drummer Allan Mednard. Their 2023 self-titled debut was a largely informal affair, an impromptu session motivated by the lifting of lockdown restrictions. Their follow-up reflects more than two years of camaraderie and evolution since that initial meeting, capturing the remarkable fluidity with which the three bandmates reshape the music in the moment. (Chill Tone)
Siereveld, Eric (Eric Siereveld’s Organic Quintet): Sweet William
They say : Eric Siereveld’s Organic Quintet returns with ‘Sweet William,’ featuring Siereveld on trumpet and Steve Snyder on B3 organ. New members Bill Todd, Tony Davis, and Carmen Intorre Jr. join the group, with special guest trombonist Steve Davis featured on six of the eight tracks. Sweet William proves that organ jazz can still be soulful, swinging, and elegant. (Shifting Paradigm Records SP 222)
Silver, Deborah: Basie Rocks!
They say : On Basie Rocks!, Silver bridges the worlds of rock and jazz and seamlessly swings classics. Basie Rocks! honours the legendary Count Basie Orchestra’s 90th anniversary. Featuring Special Guests: Peter Frampton, Kurt Elling, Steve Jordan, Arturo Sandoval, Pedrito Martinez, John Clayton, Monte Croft, Trombone Shorty, Bill Frisell, George Coleman, Wycliffe Gordon, Herlin Riley, Scotty Barnhart. Tracks include Paint It, Black, Benny & The Jets, Tainted Love, A Hard Days Night, Fly Like An Eagle and Every Breath You Take. (Green Hill GHIL168291.2) Sample here.
Sipiagin, Alex: Reverberations
They say : “I always try to create a story,” Alex Sipiagin says. “For me, the pieces are totally connected, even if they don’t sound that way – a standard could connect with some free composition or complicated odd meter. It’s a very logical line from the beginning until the end.” (Criss Cross 1426 CD)
Solborg, Mark: Confluencia
They say : Beautiful melodies, odd grooves and vast textures formulated with nerve and a certain friction by some of Scandinavia’s most innovative players. Guitarist and composer Mark Solborg and the TUNGEMÅL platforms continued journey feat. Susana Santos Silva, Simon Toldam and Ingar Zach. Out on the ILK label. Full press folder: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/lf231rp5dwfigicsl5okp/AIpez8SkKiN5-1KhPd36Fj8?rlkey=l0po8rsm3mu52s2awfs1s08gb&dl=0 (ILK366)
Stanek, Baptiste: Basel Smash
They say : This international quintet played together when going on the Focus Year Program in Basel and got coached by teachers like Chris Cheek, Kendrick Scott, and Lionel Loueke, to name a few. Baptiste Stanek (Tenor Sax, Bass Clarinet, France). Marta Wajdzik (Alto Saxophone, Poland) . Wes Georgiev (Piano, USA). Thiago Duarte (Double Bass, Brazil). Juan Ibarra (Drums, Uruguay) https://www.baptistestanek.com/basel-smash (Loumi Records LOU50)
Stavroulakis, George: The Mist
They say : Award-winning jazz guitarist George Stavroulakis pays tribute to the jazz forms along with bassist Kostas Patsiotis and drummer Chris Vigos on his debut “The Mist”. While exploring jazz standards using original contrafacts, George is also performing two original compositions, complementing the trio’s adventurous explorations on both the contemporary jazz language and the blend of acoustic and electric timbres. (Jazz Breeze Radio & Records, JBR039)
Stewart, Louis with John Taylor, Sam Jones, Billy Higgins: I Thought About You
They say : Irish guitar virtuoso Louis Stewart is joined by a superb rhythm section on this 1977 recording featuring numbers by Chick Corea, Jimmy Heath, Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. Long unavailable, it has been remixed and remastered to present possibly Stewart’s greatest studio recording. (Livia Records LRCD2501)
The Reddish Fetish: Llegue
They say : A tribute by drummer Jason T. Reddish to his father’s music of the late 1960s, Llegue is an adventurous mix of hard bop, fusion, and the avant-garde, all played with a great deal of spirit. The unrecorded music of Bill Reddish’s Reddish Fetish is brought back to life by a versatile octet led by his son. (F&F Records)
Tola, Roberto: Jazz Junction
They say : “Jazz Junction,” the new album by Roberto Tola, is a sophisticated journey through jazz, Latin influences, and elegant melodies. Featuring renowned guest artists and a talented ensemble, each track blends technical mastery with heartfelt emotion, inviting listeners to embrace freedom, optimism, and new horizons. This project stands out for its refined arrangements and vibrant energy. Style, Glam and Finesse: three words that perfectly capture the spirit and artistry of this remarkable musical experience. Please, you can get more info about the album by opening the following link (Album’s Sheet): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Tb2US4ISwjS2beUysGZpxKlb0M9xfNNV/view?usp=sharing (EBM)
Tonooka, Sumi and the Alchemy Sound Project: Under the Surface
They say : Pianist Sumi Tonooka has composed a striking and swinging new suite inspired by the way trees connect with each other underground – as well as her belief that “humans need each other to survive and thrive, just like trees.” She’s joined by Johnathan Blake (drums) and Gregg August (bass) as well as the Alchemy Sound Project. After years of orchestral work, it is a joyful return to Tonooka’s jazz roots. (ARC)
Transcendence: Music of Pat Metheny
They say : Transcendence, the trio comprised of pianist-keyboardist Bob Gluck, electric bassist Christopher Dean Sullivan, and drummer Karl Latham, pays tribute to the songs of Pat Metheny. Their adventurous yet often melodic interpretations of pieces by Metheny, Herbie Hancock, and Keith Jarrett cast new light on the compositions while giving each song a fresh treatment. (FMR CD 718-0125)
