S-E-A: Places And Other Stories
They say : Gentle, contemplative, and melancholic best describes the music on this excellent debut by the S-E-A Trio, an album of contemporary jazz akin to much of what we expect to hear from piano trios across Scandinavia, Norway in particular. The trios of pianist Espen Berg and Tord Gustavsen are obvious points of reference when listening to the S-E-A Trio. Comparisons are marginal though – Skjelbred, Enger and Asmundsen (S-E-A Trio) have their own distinctive and unified sound. Skjelbred’s beautiful compositions are the perfect antidote to today’s troubled times. Bjørn Bolstad Skjelbred – piano, Tine Asmundsen – bass, Terje Engen – drums. Recorded November 2024 at Musikkloftet Studio, Asker, Norway. (Losen Records LOS3242 – CD)
Sanders, Brandon: Lasting Impression
They say : Brandon Sanders returns to Savant Records, and his new recording is something to get excited about. After turning critics’ heads with two previous recordings, Brandon is stepping it up with his new project that’s all energy and heart. Part of the buzz comes from the stellar lineup. Joining the session is pianist Eric Scott Reed, certainly a name that carries serious weight in jazz today. (Savant Records SCD2228X) Hear Brandon Sanders
Saugstad, Hege: Randy’s Home
They say : ‘Randy’s Home’ is the debut jazz album from popular Norwegian vocalist Hege Saugstad – an ambition that existed since her teens but held in abeyance for years because of successful career centered around pop music. Jazz has never been far from Hege and this genre debut has been well worth the wait, not only for her exceptional voice and interpretations of some iconic standards, but also for the incredible supporting rhythm section of brothers Hans and Per Mathisen whose work alone is worth the album’s price. In a crowed world of vocal albums, Randy’s Home’ is an exceptional production. Hege Saugstad – vocals, Hans Mathisen – guitar, Per Mathisen – bass. (Losen Records LOS3202 – CD)
Schifrin, Lalo: Insensatez
They say : Best known for his film and TV scores (Dirty Harry, Enter The Dragon, Mission Impossible, The Eagle Has Landed, to name just a few) Lalo Schifrin (1932-2025) began as a jazz pianist who worked with some of the most important musicians of his day. The Insensatez session was cut during Schifrin’s involvement in Dizzy Gillespie’s band, which explains the participation of musicians from that aggregation. (Jazz Samba 709108 – LP)
Scott, Don & Jean Martin: Doing Science
They say : Doing Science is the sound of two restless musical minds – guitarist Don Scott (Peripheral Vision) and producer/engineer Jean Martin (Barnyard Records, Tanya Tagaq) – inviting you into their laboratory. The pulse of jazz and improvisation runs beneath layers of electronics, guitars, and manipulated textures, grounding their sonic experiments in something deeply human. From intentional moments of rhythmic disorientation to lengthy meditations on minimalist patterns, Doing Science thrives on the friction between chaos and control. (Elastic Recordings ER 021)
Seabrook, Brendan’s Quartet: Hellbent Daydream
They say : Inventive guitarist, banjoist and composer Brandon Seabrook explores dream logic and surreal storytelling with his audaciously imaginative new album. This is the recorded debut of Seabrook’s unconventional new quartet with pianist/synth player Elias Stemesder, bassist Henry Fraser and violinist Erica Dicker. (Pyroclastic Records)
Shaw, Woody: Love Dance
They say : Zev Feldman’s Time Traveler Records continues its exploration of the gems found in the catalog of the renowned Muse label. The second batch of Muse reissues includes “Love Dance,” the 1976 masterpiece by legendary trumpeter Woody Shaw. The date featured a stellar ensemble: saxophonists Billy Harper and René McLean, trombonist Steve Turre, pianist Joe Bonner, bassist Cecil McBee, drummer Victor Lewis and percussionists Guilherme Franco and Tony Waters. (Time Traveler Recordings)
Shelby, Gene: Melton
They say : Melton is a shot of high-octane jazz fusion, featuring guitarists Mike Stern & Frank Gambale. Drummer, creator and lead musician Gene Shelby blends the precision of a seasoned drummer with the instincts of a multi-instrumentalist. Australian-born Shelby grew up in a musical family, started drumming at age 10 and earned a scholarship to Berklee College of Music. He signed with Warner/Chappell and spent several years performing original material and working with producer Mark S. Berry. (Jenus Records)
Smith, Kathy: Kathy Smith 2
They say : Originally released in 1971, Kathy Smith 2 was her most daring and accomplished creation, an innovative fusion of psychedelic folk and jazz. Highlighted by Kathy’s own exquisite compositions like ‘Fly off with the Wind’ and ‘For Emile’, it also includes her unique interpretations of songs by Jimmie Spheeris and Jackson Browne. (Elemental Music 140012 – LP)
Smith, Wes: We The Funky (Volume 1)
They say : Los Angeles-based saxophonist, composer, and producer Wes Smith has spent his career at the crossroads of soul, jazz, and pop, performing live with icons including Stevie Wonder, Booker T. Jones, Poncho Sanchez and recorded for some of the biggest names in popular music. Now, with We, the Funky (Vol. 1), Smith steps forward as a bandleader, bringing together an all-star lineup to celebrate the people, places, and stories that have shaped his journey. (Independent)
Smoczyński, Mateusz: Fallen Angel
They say : “Fallen Angel” is an eight-part concerto for violin, piano, and symphony orchestra that blends jazz improvisation with symphonic drama. Inspired by John Adams and the biblical arc of fall and redemption, Smoczyński fuses influences from Chopin, Brahms, Szymanowski, and contemporary rock. Recorded with pianist Dominik Wania, the Polish Radio Orchestra in Warsaw, and conductor Michał Klauza, the album marks Smoczyński’s second release of original symphonic music, affirming his evolution from jazz violinist to genre-breaking composer. Premiere date: 12 December 2025 (Warner Music Poland) Hear Mateusz Smoczyński
Spectaculous: Spectaculous
They say : Spectaculous is the collision of Atlanta and Madison — the explosive meeting point between Dequadray White, an Atlanta-based vocalist, producer, and community advocate, and the Madison trio Mr. Chair: pianist Jason Kutz, bassist Ben Ferris, and percussionist Mike Koszewski. Their debut album fuses hip-hop’s narrative power with jazz’s improvisational fire, creating a sound that’s cosmic, theatrical, and unafraid to confront liberation head-on. White’s background in poetry, theater, and digital production — rooted in Afrofuturism, queer expression, and community-driven storytelling — powers the group’s lyrical depth. Kutz, Ferris, and Koszewski bring a mix of classical fluency and boundary-pushing experimentation; collectively they’ve performed with professional orchestras, composed for ballet and chamber ensembles, collaborated across disciplines, and led education initiatives throughout the Midwest. Together in Spectaculous, these four artists deliver a fearless, orchestral hip-hop vision built on freedom, precision, and imagination — music with teeth, heart, and a wide-open future. (Independent )
Stryker, Dave: Blue Fire – The Van Gelder Session
They say : “This recording was a longtime dream for me. I had always wanted to record at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio but never got the chance when he was alive. Thankfully, Rudy’s assistant Maureen Sickler and her husband Don have taken over the operation to keep it preserved. When you walk into this amazing space, the history, not to mention the incredibly warm sound of the huge room, are palpable. Given the story of Van Gelder’s—all the Blue Note and CTI records and of course Coltrane’s A Love Supreme—it would’ve been easy to be overwhelmed. However, with my 20-year working trio of Jared Gold (playing the original Jimmy Smith/Larry Young Hammond organ) and McClenty Hunter on drums, we were inspired and captured some of the magic. We can now add Blue Fire to the long list of albums recorded at this legendary temple of jazz.” (Strike Zone 8828)
Summers, Blue: Colonel Strawberry’s Milky Mindblast
They say : In his daring new release Colonel Strawberry’s Milky Mindblast, Britain’s leading jazz composer Blue Summers enters bold territory: a kaleidoscopic suite of jazz-inflected compositions that fuses big-band flourishes, gamelan orchestras that meld into western orchestral sections, and psychedelic flourishes in equal measure. Clearly a statement piece, it confirms Summers’s position at the vanguard of contemporary British jazz. (Grandmaster Bean Records)
Sun Ra: Jazz By Sun Ra
They say : Jazz by Sun Ra was Sun Ra’s debut album, recorded in Chicago and produced by Tom Wilson for his Transition Records label. Although announced as a debut, Sun Ra had previously recorded and released various other sessions dating back to 1949 on his own Saturn label. The LP features original compositions by Sun Ra plus contributions from Arkestral bassist Richard Evans, and composer Harry Revel (1905 -1958) who wrote for movies and musicals: ‘Lullaby For Realville’ and ‘Possession’, respectively. (Jazz Wax JWR4645LP – LP)
Sundstøl, Geir with Whyte, Joe Harvey: Langeleik
They say : On Langeleik, two pioneers of alternative pedal-steel meet across oceans, time, and temperament. Norwegian multi-instrumentalist Geir Sundstøl and London-based pedal-steel player Joe Harvey-Whyte merge the instrument’s ghostly resonance with field recordings, ambient drones and vintage synths to create a sound that feels as fluid and alive as the rivers that inspired it. (HubroCD2674)
