New Jazz Releases – 07/28/2025
By Russell Perry
Gregory Tardy
Wow, what a week for tenor-led releases with fine new sets from Jimmy Greene, Sam Dillon, Gregory Tardy and Rico Jones. Trumpeter Etienne Charles as issued an epic celebration of thelow-countrry Gullah and drummer Eric McPherson has recorded with a double bass quartet. Lots of music worth spending time with.
Eric McPherson – Double Bass Album (Giant Step Arts, release 07/25/2025). David Virelles – piano, John Hébert- bass, Ben Street – bass, Eric McPherson – drums.
Legendary bassist Richard Davis is drummer Eric McPherson’s godfather and was present at his birth. Given this pedigree, It is not surprising that McPherson (Rez Abbasi, Borderlands Trio, Andrew Hill) has released a live recording on Giant Step Arts (see Rico Jones below) with the novel lineup of piano – bass – bass – drums, yes, both John Hébert (Marty Ehrlich, Angelica Sanchez, Jon Irabagon) and Ben Street (Billy Hart, Andrew Cyriille) on bass. While there is a short-list of double bass recordings out there, the only other ones that come to mind are saxophone-led (Trane, Pharaoh, Albert Ayler, Ornette Colemen.) On the other hand, the dominant melodic voice here is the always compelling and profoundly rhythmic Cuban pianist David Virelles (Johnathan Blake, Sara Serpa). Tunes by pianists Monk, Andrew Hill, Stanley Cowell and Jaki Byard plus Virelles, McPherson and John Hébert – recommended.
Review: Jazz Chill
Lafayette Chichrist and the New Volcanos – Move with Love (Morphius Records, release 07/25/2025). Leo Maxey – trumpet, Christian Hizon – trombone, Shaquim Muldrow – tenor saxophone, Lafayette Gilchrist – keyboard, Carl Filipiak – guitar, Anthony “Blue” Jenkins – bass guitar, Kevin Pinder – drum set, Bashi Rose – percussion with Ebban Dorsey – alto saxophone, Efraim Dorsey – tenor saxophone.
Baltimore pianist Lafayette Gilchrest plays in at least four different ensembles (including the Sun Ra Arkestra), of which the New Volcano’s is his more rock- and funk-oriented band. Driving funk with plenty of chops.
Review: Jazz Times, Paris Move
Rico Jones – Bloodlines (Giant Step Arts, release 07/25/2025). Rico Jones – tenor saxophone, Max Light – guitar, Joe Martin – bass, Nasheet Waits – drums.
Colorado-native saxophonist Rico Jones makes his leader debut as the next release in the Giant Step Arts series of live recordings (Jason Palmer, Nasheet Waits, Neta Raanan, Mark Turner). Coming from both Native and Latino roots, Jones brings a unique perspective to the music. Capped by a 30-minute suite, the program includes five original compositions with a distinctly spiritual face forward. Recommended.
Review: Paris Move, Jazz Chill Music, UK Vibe
Wild Iris Brass Band – Way Up (Ear Up Records, release 07/25/2025). Emmanuel Echem – trumpet, Ray Mason – trombone, Neil Konouchi – sousaphone, Jeff Coffin – soprano saxophone / tenor saxophone / baritone saxophone / electro-saxophone / clarinet / bass clarinet, Jovan Quallo – alto saxophone, Justin Amaral – drums / percussion, Ryoko Suzuki – tambourine with Bela Fleck – banjo, Steven Bernstein – electric slide trumpet, Bernardo Aguiar – Brazilian percussion, Bob Lanzetti – guitar, Weedie Braimah – djembe / congas, Yuko Bannai – additional vocals.
The Wild Iris Brass Band may be based in Nashville, but its heart is in New Orleans and they follow in that great city’s brass band tradition. WIBB is a project of Dave Matthews Band saxophonist Jeff Coffin and trombonist Ray Mason. There is a heavy second line groove throughout coupled with interesting lines and virtuosic playing. Our colleagues at Induced To Judder will have a field day with this one.
Review: Paris Move
Jimmy Greene – As We Are Now (Greene Music Works, release 07/25/2025). Jimmy Greene – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone / percussion, Aaron Goldberg – piano / Rhodes, Shedrick Mitchell – Hammond B3 organ, Mike Moreno – guitar, Deron Douglas – bass, Jonathan Barber – drums, Rogerio Boccato – percussion with Javier Colon – vocals, Gabriel Globus-Hoenich – congas, Nelba & Isaiah Marquez Greene – spoken word.
It has been 12 years since tenor saxophonist Jimmy Greene’s six-year-old daughter Ana was killed at Sandy Hook and this defining event still ripples through his music. This set of seven originals (plus Speak Low) follows Greene through a range of emotions from elation to melancholy to sorrow. Pianist Aaron Goldberg (Joshua Redman, 3 Cohens) has played with Greene for the past thirty years and continues to be an ideal partner, reinforcing the passion of the writing with beautiful support and stimulating solos. Solid from start to finish and highly recommended.
Review: Paris Move, Jazz Views
Sam Dillon – My Ideal (Cellar Music, release 07/25/2025). Sam Dillon – tenor saxophone, David Hazeltine – piano, Alexander Claffy – bass, Rodney Green- drums.
New York tenor Sam Dillon is a go-to section player, having contributed to the Jimmy Heath Big Band, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Mingus Big Band, and Steven Feifke Big Band. There was a time when he released quartet / quintet dates with some regularity – Out In The Open (2018), Force Field (2019), Idle Hands – Solid Moments (2019) and now after a six year wait, another excellent quartet date. He has assembled an excellent band with pianist David Hazeltinbe (Blues For Gerry, previewed 06/12/2025) and bassist Alex Claffy (Memento, previewed 06/24/2024). Dillon is a powerful player with great facility at speed and a warm ballad touch. I could listen to this all day. Highly recommended.
Steve Allee Big Band – Full Circle (Jazzville, release 07/13/2025). Steve Allee Big Band.
Indianapolis composer and bandleader Steve Allee has recently recorded with a big band (Naptown Sound, previewed 03/17/2025) and a quartet with supporting horns (Zebra Stories, previewed 11/11/2024). Now he is back with more from the large ensemble, including a four-part Naptown Suite. The set is cinematic in scope and rich in detail.
Review: Paris Move
Dom Salvador / Adrian Younge / Ali Shaheed Muhammad – Dom Salvador JID024 (Jazz Is Dead, release 07/11/2025). Tatiana Tate – trumpet, Khristian Foreman – trombone, Katisse Buckingham – flute, Ashley Jarmack – flute, Scott Mayo – alto saxophone, David Urquidi – baritone saxophone, Danny Janklow – baritone saxophone, Adrian Younge – electric guitar / electric sitar / marimba / guitorgan / vibraphone, Ali Shaheed Muhammad – electric bass guitar, Dom Salvador – Fender Rhodes / piano / vocals, Leo Costa – drums, Gibi dos Santos – percussion .
Dom Salvador is a Brazilian artist who blended jazz, funk and soul in the 60s and 70s. On the new release, he joins with the Jazz Is Dead folks and a sizable band to try and catch the magic again as is the MO of JID.
Antonio Adolfo – Carnival, The Songs Were so Beautiful (AAM Music, release 07/07/2025). Jesse Sadoc – trumpet / flugelhorn, Rafael Rocha – trombone, Idriss Boudria – alto saxophone, Marcelo Martins – tenor saxophone / flute, Antonio Adolfo – piano, Lula Galvao – guitar, Jorge Helder – bass, Rafael Barata – drums / percussion, Andre Siqueira – percussion.
Brazilian pianist Antonio Adolfo was released a series of discs celebrating his musical heroes – Love Cole Porter (2024), Bossa 65: Celebrating Carlos Lyra And Roberto Menescal (2023), Jobim Forever (2021), BruMa (mist) Celebrating Milton Nascimento (2020). All of these discs have merit and illustrate Adolfo’s arranging skills. Taking a slightly different tack, the new release covers the Carnival music Adolfo heard in his childhood. The songs bring catchy melodies, but don’t expect traditional sambas or Bossa Nova, this is another look into the deep well that is Brazilian music.
Review: AllAboutJazz
Darren Lyons Group – Live In NYC (Self Produced, release 07/01/2020). Chris Clark – keyboards, Chris Biesterfeldt – guitar, Michael O’Brien – bass, Darren Lyons – drums.
Drummer Darren Lyons and keyboard – guitar – bass – drums quartet bring a fusion-flavored set to this live recording. I don’t know any of these players.
Etienne Charles – Gullah Roots (Culture Shock Music, release 06/20/2025). Etienne Charles – trumpet / cajon / djembe / tambourine / congas, Godwin Louis – alto sax, Christian Sands – piano, Alex Wintz – guitar, Russell Hall – bass, Harvel Nakundi – drums with Axel Tosca – piano, Damien Sneed – organ, Ben Williams – bass, Quentin E. Baxter – big drum / tambourine / washboard, John Davis – drums, Samir Langus – guembri & castanets, Chris Anthony – vocals, Chenee Campbell – vocals, Charles Carter – vocals, Olanna Goodeau – vocals, Chelsea Green – vocals, Mykal Kilgore – vocals, Quiana Parler – vocals, Shay Rollerson – vocals,
Trinidadian trumpeter Etienne Charles (Creole Orchestra, previewed 06/03/2024) moves on from his Caribbean explorations to shine a light on the African-American Gullah tradition from the low country of the American southeast. To this effort, he brings an excellent quintet featuring altoist Godwin Louis (Psalms and Proverbs, previewed 08/12/2024) and pianist Christian Sands (Embracing Dawn, previewed 09/09/24). This release is an epic achievement, full of great playing, compelling lines and joy. Highly recommended.
Review: Post Genre, Jazz DeLaPena
Greg Tardy – Abide In Love (WJ3 Records, release 05/30/2025). Marcus Printup – trumpet, Greg Tardy – tenor saxophone, Keith Brown – piano, Sean Coney – bass, Willie Jones III – drums.
It’s always great to hear a new recording by saxophonist Greg Tardy (In His Timing, previewed 12/11/2023). His last featured his outstanding clarinet playing in the company of Regina Carter on violin making a unique sonic adventure. Now he is back with a traditional quintet, joined by Marcus Printup (Jazz At Lincoln Center, Ted Nash) on trumpet. The program is eight originals plus one by Joanne Tardy, mostly ballads, mostly around the theme of love. Come to this release for sweet, often contemplative music with spiritual power. Highly recommended.
Stay cool, Daddy-O.
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
