New Jazz Releases – 08/11/2025
By Russell Perry
Sinne Eeg
A couple of singers caught my ear this week – newcomer (to me) Lauren Scales in an ensemble with altoist Mike Flanagan plus pianist Chris Grasso and Danish singer Sinne Eeg with pianist Jacob Christofferson. Chicago trumpeter Markus Rutz released a sextet set that includes altoist Sharel Cassity (more later). Finally the great tenor battle tradition continues with Cory Weeds and Jerry Weldon.
All Things Swamp – Dressed (Little Village, release 08/10/2025). Brian Switzer – trumpet, Tim Hockenberry – trombone / vocals, Dan Gordon – bass trombone, Luke Kirley – tuba, Dean Parks – tenor saxophone / guitar, Aaron Lington – baritone saxophone, Dillon O’Brian – piano / vocals, Jim Pugh – Hammond B3 organ, Gary Novak – drums.
A flock of both northern and southern California players have taken a break from their regular gigs to stretch out on New Orleans grooves. In addition to trumpet and tenor, the front line features four low horns (trombone / bass trombone / tuba / baritone) for a distinctive sound. Loose, funky, fun Juddermeister-fodder.
Review: Making A Scene
Markus Rutz – Many Moons (Third Coast Sounds, release 08/08/2025). Markus Rutz – trumpet, Brice Winston – tenor saxophone, Sharel Cassidy – alto saxophone, Greg Ward – alto saxophone, Adrian Ruiz – piano, Matt Gold – guitar, Christian Dillingham – bass, Samuel Peters – bass, Gregory Artry – percussion.
I read that this is the ninth release from Chicago trumpeter Markus Rutz, but this is the first one that I have heard (need to dig into the discography). Rutz has recorded with a straight forward trumpet / sax / piano / guitar / bass / drums sextet with the sax parts filled beautifully by tenorist Brice Winston (Peter Martin, Terence Blanchard) or altoist Sharel Cassity (Gratitude, previewed 07/14/2025). We will be hearing more from Cassity who starts soon as the Director of Jazz at the UVa McIntire School of Music. Highly recommended.
Review: Paris Move
Corina Bartra – Tribute to Santana (Blue Spiral Records, release 08/05/2025). Dave Morgan – tenor saxophone, Jerry Korman – piano, Richard Robinson – guitar, Dave Lowenthal – bass, Adam Weber – drums, Perico Diaz – percussion, Corina Barta – vocals
Peruvian vocalist Corina Bartra has released a six-song EP of the music of Carlos Santana. All the music comes from Santana’s first three releases (Santana – 1969, Abraxes – 1970, Santana III – 1971). Nice idea, some tracks more successful than others.
Lauren Scales – Mike Flanagan – Chris Grasso – Many Rivers (Truth Revolution Recording Collective, release 07/25/2025). Mike Flanagan – alto saxophone, Chris Grasso – piano, Luques Curtis – bass, Richie Barshay – drums, Charles Haynes – drums, Lauren Scales – vocals with Steve Davis – trombone.
Who are these players? Mostly new to me and this disc totally rocked me. Singer Lauren Scales has a powerful set of pipes, equally suited for ballads, vocalese and bop. She pairs marvelously with the sweet tone of alto saxophonist Mike Flanagan. The rhythm section is anchored by pianist Chris Grasso, an ace accompanist, and bassist Luques Curtis (Lisa Hilton, David Weiss, Zaccai Curtis) the only player on this release with whom I am familiar. Startlingly good and highly recommended.
Review: Making A Scene, The Urban Music Scene
Cory Weeds & Jerry Weldon – Cory Weeds Meets Jerry Weldon (Cellar Music, release 07/04/2025). Cory Weeds – tenor saxophone, Jerry Weldon – tenor saxophone, Miles Black – piano, John Lee – bass, Jesse Cahill – drums.
There is a rich, but perhaps languishing, tradition of tenor saxophone pairings highlighted by memorable battles between Dexter Gordon & Wardell Grey, Gene Ammons & Sonny Stitt and Eddie Lockjaw Davis & Johnny Griffin. Cellar Music founder Cory Weeds resurrects the sub-genre with a smokey and soulful outing of his tenor paired with fellow tenorist Jerry Weldon. Straight ahead and swinging. Recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz
Sinne Eeg / Jacob Christofferson – Shikiori (Stunt Records, release 06/27/2025). Jacob Christoffersen – piano / Fender Rhodes / vocals, Sinne Eeg – vocals.
Could this vocal – piano duet be more beautiful? I doubt it. Danish artists and long-term collaborators vocalist Sinne Eeg and pianist Jacob Christofferson have recorded a mix of covers (Gershwin, Bernstein, Strayhorn) and original compositions in a live setting in Japan. The result is tender and intimate. Highly recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Marlbank, Making A Scene
Oscar Rossignoli – Levitations (Self Produced, release 06/24/2025). Oscar Rossignoli – piano.
Honduran-born, New Orleans-based pianist has released a solo live performance in the form of a seven-part improvised suite. The release finished with El Mar, a track from fellow Honduran composer Guillermo Anderson. Quite beautiful.
Melissa Kassel & Tom Zicarelli Group – Moments (MKMusic, release 03/21/2025). Phil Grenadier – trumpet, Tom Zicarelli – piano, Bruce Gertz – bass, Gary Fieldman – drums, Melissa Kassel – vocals.
After a 25-year gap from her live debut (mostly standards), Boston singer Melissa Kassel is back, this time with a program of originals with her lyrics combined with music from pianist Tom Zicarelli.
Review: All About Jazz, Roots Music Report
George Burton – White Noise (Porge Records, release 09/20/2024). Marquis Hill – trumpet, Emilio Modeste – soprano saxophone, Dylan Band – tenor saxophone, Chris Lewis – tenor saxophone, George Burton – Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Modular Synths, MOOG Sub 37, Derrick Hodge – bass, Junius Paul – bass, Ty Allen – bass, Pablo Menares – bass, Joe Dyson – drums and percussion, Anwar Marshall – drums, Nazir Ebo – drums, Michael Piolet – drums, Corey Rawls – drums, James “Biscuit” Rouse – drums, Siya Makuzeni – vocals, Dante Clark – vocals, The Black Opera – vocals, Alexa Barchini – vocals.
Keyboardist George Burton spent a decade in Sun Ra’s Arkestra and now applies his talents to overtly subversive music reckoning with the struggles against racism. Melding jazz, electronic music, Xhosa music, and hip hop, this is mostly a solo effort with a player or two joining in on each selection, mostly one of four bassists, six drummers or four vocalists. The occasional horns stand out, enriching the proceedings, with Marquis Hill a standout on trumpet.
Review: Making A Scene, Post Genre
Lonnie Plaxico – Radiance (Plaxmusic, release 06/17/2024). Camille Thurman- vocals / tenor sax / flute. Lafayette Harris Jr. – piano / Rhodes, Lonnie Plaxico – bass, Douglas Plaxico – drums / vocals with Monte Croft – vibraphone, Philip Hamilton – background vocals, Jeff Hermanson – trumpet, Yayoi Ikawa – keyboard, Robin Eubanks – trombone, Mike McGinnis – tenor sax.
Bassist Lonnie Plaxico (Eugenie Jones, Lakecia Benjamin, Andrew Hill, Antonio Hart) has assembled an ensemble with great credentials, including multi-reedist / vocalist Camille Thurman (Confluence Vol. 1: Alhambra, previewed 02/03/2025), pianist Lafayette Harris Jr. (Swinging Up In Harlem, previewed 03/27/2023). While there is some satisfying playing throughout, the overall vibe is on the pop end of the soul jazz spectrum, which doesn’t interest me very much.
I hope you are having a lovely summer.
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
