New Jazz Releases – 5/8/2025
By WTJU
Disclaimer: The opinions/descriptions that follow are intended in no way to represent or substitute for the usual erudite reviews typically expressed by Russ Perry. Accept no substitutes, except for this week you’ll have to. Any and all errors are completely my own, except for where I can blame Wikipedia. None of the following was written by AI. Proceed at your own risk. – David Soyka
Ed Palmero Big Band – Prog vs Fusion: A War of the Ages (Sky Cat release 4/18) Ed Palmero – arranger, bandleader, The Ed Palmero Big Band comprising a whole bunch of folks too numerous to list, plus special guests, but if you really want to know, they are listed here.
David Eisenman put this on the top of pile for me to review for good reason. I’m probably one of the few people on staff (and I’m not even a jazz DJ) who are actually going to like this, and even play it on air (which I did on last Saturday’s Jumpin’ on the Bed). What a hoot! It’s a Zappa-like big band battle between progressive rock and jazz fusion staples! Who wins, who cares? Even the album design is hilarious. Check out the way those little clips that hold the CD in the case serves as Ed’s sunglass lens. Hard to pick a favorite, but here’s the video for Long Distance Runaround.
Eric Alexander – Chicago to New York (Cellar Music Group release 5/28) Eric Alexander – saxophone, Mike LeDonne – piano, Dennis Carroll – bass, George Fludas – drums
Not a battle of the bands so much as an integration. As Andrew Scott describes it in the liner notes, this disc “pays tribute to the [the] intersection and to the interplay that still exists between Chicago and New York,” with Alexander and LeDonne representing Chicago and the rhythm section New York. Though New York pizza is still better (though not as good as Dr. Ho’s). Recorded at Van Gelder Studios in Englewood, NJ, so a slight edge to the East coast. Can’t go wrong with either of the Coltrane cuts, or really anything else here.
Atlantic Jazz Collective – Seascape (Alma Records, release 5/25) Norma Winstone – vocals, Mike Murley – saxophone, Florian Hoefner – piano and accordian, Jim Vivian – bass, Joe Labarbera – drums
Debut album of this collaboration between English vocalist Winstone and Canadian musicians, recorded in Newfoundland. No tariffs imposed, eh! Great musicianship, pleasant enough overall.
Bill O’Connell – Touch (Jojo Records release 5/25) Bill O’Connell – piano, Billy Hart – drums, Santi Debriano – bass
O’Connell’s 19th album as a leader and a return to the jazz trio format playing originals and modern post boppers. As one review puts it, “I find something compelling about his original music that draws me into this trio production like children to an ice cream shop.” Be sure to take a couple of licks yourselves and see if you melt in appreciation.
CCCN Jazz Orchestra & Hendrik Meurkens – Big Band Brasil (Height Advantage release 5/25) Hendrik Meurkins – harmonica and vibraphone, plus the orchestra and a cast of thousands; see here for the complete musician credits,
Another big band extravaganza. I like a little Jobim as much as the next guy, but this is not really my kind of thing. Which isn’t to say it couldn’t be yours. Highlights are here.
Cyrus Chestnut – Rhythm. Melody and Harmony (High Note release 5/25) Cyrus Chestnut – piano, Scott Dillard – saxophone, Gerald Cannon – bass, Chris Beck – drums
The title explains it all. Mostly Chestnut compositions. One that isn’t is There is a Fountain (Chestnut sanitizes here, omitting the full title of There is a Fountain Full of Blood) by English poet and Anglican hymnwriter (and clinically depressed) William Cowper. Perhaps not surprising given Chestnut’s avowed Christianity, but without the original’s lyrics (e.g., “There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel’s; and sinners plunged beneath that flood). Sinners can still enjoy the tune.
Doctor Professor Leonard King/Planet D Nonet – In Tribute to Joe Williams (Eastlawn, release 5/25) Leonard King – vocals and cowbell, RJ Spangler – congas, tambourine and bandleader, Alex Colista – alto sax, Christopher Tabaczynski – tenor sax, Tre Smith – baritone sax, James O’Donnell – trumpet, Charlie Miller – trumpet and flugelhorn, John T-Bone Paxton – trombone, Michael Zaporski – piano, Matt LoRusso – guitar, Trevor Lamb – double bass, Sean Perlmutter – drums
This is my second favorite release of the week next to the Ed Palmero Big Band. King’s vocals combined with the Planet D Nonet band covering Joe Williams tunes adds up to one great big sounding record. From the liner notes: “Albums like this are rare and bold. They are acts of reverence and of risk. This one deserves a place in the collection of every jazz and blues lover alike; a return to the source, a musical homecoming that will fill your heart with joy. Without a doubt.” If you’re looking for a little political commentary on the sad state of the nation (or if you are looking to avoid any political commentary), take note of track 7, It’s the Same Old Story.
Galactic & Irma Thomas – Audience with the Queen (Tchoup-zilla Records, release 4/11) digital only. Irma Thomas – vocals, Stanton Moore – drums, percussion, Robert Mercurio – bass, guitar, Ben Ellman – saxophone, Jeff Raines – guitar
File under Induced to Judder. The Queen (more formally The Soul Queen of New Orleans). of course, is Irma Thomas. The New Depression review notes that the collaboration “goes so smoothly that it’s hard to believe they haven’t been collaborating for decades.” Check out Lady Liberty.
Geoffrey Dean Quartet – Conceptions (Cellar Music, release 5/25) Geoffrey Dean – piano, Harish Raghaven – bass, Eric Binder – drums, Justin Copeland – trumpet
As noted by Gary Funston, “Geoffrey Dean is semi-local (Fredericksburg) and plays from time to time with Dhara on Mondays at Oakhurst Inn. Excellent pianist well worth checking out.” All original compositions, relaxed swing vibe. According to Jazz Weekly, “The album feels like an up to date rendition of albums led by soft tones trumpeters like Kenny Dorham or Blue Mitchell, with the emphasis here on lyricisms and style. Some of Dean’s tunes have a Kenny Rankin feel, missing jazz with folk.” If I had to pick one to play, track 6 – Song for Hannah or track 8, Prism. But any of them are fine.
Hard Bop Messengers – Jazz Interpretations of the Grateful Dead (Hard Bop Messengers, release 5/25) John Covelli – trombone and arrangements, Austin Cebulski – tenor sax, Drew Weiss – drums. Patrick McLelland – piano, Chris Meschede, Matt Krieg – vocals
As someone who can cheerfully go to the grave without ever again needing to listen to Friend of the Devil, I can say with a couple of exceptions I’m not overly familiar with the covers here, which for a decidedly non-Grateful Dead (unGrateful Dead?) fan such as myself is a good thing. Deadheads may rejoice more. Non-deadheads may also rejoice because, well, it’s not the Grateful Dead. But it’s not that far off, either. There’s evidently a plan by the band to release more tracks in June; it’s unclear whether this is a “deluxe” download of tracks that for one reason or another aren’t on the CD, or this is another session recorded live at the Old Rock House in St. Louis. Whether this is too much of a good (or bad) thing is of course a matter of personal taste and your state of mind, and whether that state of mind is being altered by any drugs. As Jerry might say, “Far out man.” Maybe for some of us far out of sight and sound, the better.
Jed Levy – Faces and Places (A Life in Music, release 5/25) Jed Levy – tenor sax, Luis Perdomo – piano, Alvester Garnett – drums, Peter Slavov – bass
All originals from veteran New York-based saxophonist Jed Levy. Jed expounds on his compositions here. Oh, the places you will go…If you can figure out why the first track is called Email (and without reading the liner notes) you’ve earned your jazz DJ wings and a bell will ring.
Thomas Marriott – Screen Time (Imani Records release 5/25) Thomas Marriot – trumpet, Orrin Evans – piano and Fender Rhodes, Robert Hurst – bass, Mark Whitfield Jr. – drums, Shedrick Mitchell B3 organ
You guessed it…mostly covers of movies and television shows. But not the kind of covers you might expect. Love Theme from the movie Predator? Haven’t seen the movie, don’t need to, because anyone who covers this as well as Fred Rogers is my kind of guy.
Well, my work here is done. Next week, another guest reviewer. Better luck next time.
