New Jazz Releases – 01/27/2025

By Russell Perry


Jacob Wutzke

Some really stellar releases this week.  Canadian drummer Jacob Wutzke pays tribute to a primary influence – Tony Williams.  Singer Eugenie Jones mixes her compositions with a diverse set of covers. Brad Goode branches out with a big band set.  Ben Lackner brings us a stunning quintet with Mathias Eick, Mark Turner, Linda May Han Oh and Matthieu Chazarenc.


Dennis Mitcheltree / Johannes Wallmann Duo – Holding Space (Paradigm Records, released 01/27/2025).  Dennis Mitcheltree – tenor saxophone, Johannes Wallmann – piano with Russ Johnson – trumpet.

The three-decade-long relationship between tenor saxophonist Dennis Mitcheltree and pianist Johannes Wallmann is on full display in this lovely duet release.  While trumpeter Russ Johnson (Reveal, previewed 08/14/2023) joins in for three tunes, it is the sax – piano duet that defines this disc.

Review: Paris Move


Clemens Kuratle Ydivide – The Default (Intakt Records, released 01/24/2024).  Dee Byrne – alto saxophone, Elliot Galvin – piano. Chris Guilfoyle – guitar, Lukas Traxel – bass, Clemens Kuratle – drums.

Swiss drummer Clemens Kuratle leads an international quintet of English saxophonist Dee Byrne, Irish guitarist Chris Guilfoyle, Swiss bassist Lukas Traxel, and English pianist Elliot Galvin.  Edgy.

Reviews: Jazz Trail, Dimensions In Sound And Space


Hans Luchs – The Spell Is Broken (Fresh Sound New Talent, released 01/24/2025).  Daniel Berkey – tenor saxophone, Hans Luchs – guitar, Mike King – piano, Simón Willson – bass, Adam Arruda – drums.

Chicago guitarist Hans Luchs (Gustavo Cortinas) has released an unpretentious mainstream work that eschews pyrotechnics for rewarding ensemble playing.

Review: AllAboutJazz


Jacob Wutzke – You Better Bet (Cellar Music, released 01/24/2025).  Rachel Therrien – trumpet / flugelhorn, Lucas Dubovik – tenor saxophone,  Bryn Roberts – piano, Ira Coleman – upright bass, Jacob Wutzke – drums.

For his second release, Canadian drummer Jacob Wutzke teams with bassist Ira Coleman who anchored the last of Tony Williams’s trios and quintets (Native Heart – 1989, The Story of Neptune – 1991, Tokyo Live – 1993, Young At Heart – 1996).  Coleman still has the handwritten charts from his time with Williams and these provide the foundation for this work that features five tunes each by the leader and Williams.  The disc features a familiar 1960s Blue Note sound with a cooking front line of trumpeter Rachel Therrien (Mi Hogar previewed 01/30/2023) and tenor saxophonist Lucas Dubovik.  Highly recommended.

Review: Presto Music


Eugenie Jones – Eugenie (Open Mic Records, released 01/20/2025).  Gil DeFay – trumpet, Alex Dugdale – saxophone, Rico Jones – saxophone, Brandon McCune – piano, Darrius Willrich, Maliki Watanabe – piano, Michael Powers – guitars, Yoojin Park – violin, Jessica Wang – cello, Lonnie Plaxico – bass, Elliot Kuykendall- bass, Russell Carter – drums, Ronnie Bishop – drums, Kahill Bell – percussion, Ernesto Pediangco – percussion, Eugenie Jones – vocals.

Vocalist Eugenie Jones is a facile interpreter of melody, solidly in the tradition of the great jazz vocalists.  In this, her sixth release, she penned six tracks and covers some great ones – Sinner Man, Natural Woman, Work Song, etc.  Her writing is first rate, her presentation expressive and emotional, the arrangements soulful and elegant.  Highly recommended.

Reviews: AllAboutJazz, Paris Move, Dancing About Architecture


Brad Goode & Polytonal Big Band – The Snake Charmer (Origin Records, released 01/17/2025).  Brad Goode, John Lake, Sean Applebee, Emily Hartrampf, Hugh Ragin – trumpets, Sam Griffith, Grayson Stewart, Jack Bendure, Joanna Griffith – trombones, John Gunther,. Camden Johnson – alto saxophone, Carl Shultz, Jonas Shofler – tenor saxophone, Alexandra Loran – baritone saxophone, Victor Mestas-Perez – piano, Tim Wendel – guitar, Eddie Ness – bass, Paul Romaine – drums.

While we may think of trumpeter Brad Goode as primarily a leader of sextets (Chicago Red – 2013), quintets (That’s Right! – 2018, Polytonal Dace Party – 2009), and quartets (The Unknown – previewed 02/20/2023, Montezuma – 2014, Nature Boy – 2006), this big band release is remarkable and leaves one hoping for more large format work ahead.  Through six originals and one cover each of Charlie Parker (a delightful mid-tempo Ornithology) and Vernon Duke – John Latouche (Cabin In The Sky), this band hews a path through sinuous melodies, swinging rhythms and strong strong soloes.  Highly recommended.

Reviews: JazzWeekly, AllAboutJazz, Paris Move


Ben Lackner – Spindrift (ECM, released 01/17/2025).  Mathias Eick – trumpet, Mark Turner – tenor saxophone, Benjamin Lackner – piano, Linda May Han Oh – double bass, Matthieu Chazarenc – drums.

In his last release on ECM, Ben Lackner (Last Decade, previewed 01/23/2023) added warm-toned trumpeter Mathias Eick to his piano trio and this time out he supplements the piano – trumpet quartet with Mark Turner  (The Fury – Live in Brooklyn, previewed 12/09/2024 & M.T.B. – Solid Jackson, previewed 12/02/2024) on tenor.  Changing up the trio, he has enlisted wonderful bassist Linda May Han Oh (The Glass Hours, previewed 07/10/2023).  This ensemble is excellent in everything they do, but is especially touching when playing ballads.  Highly recommended!

Reviews: Jazz Views, AllAboutJazz, UK Vibe


Erik Jekabson – Breakthrough(Wide Hive, released 01/17/2025).  Erik Jekabson – trumpet / flugelhorn, Jeff Cressman – trombone, Jonathan Sieberlich – tuba, Jonathan Ring – french horn, Mary Fettig – flute / alto flute, Dana Bauer – oboe / english horn, Matt Renzi – clarinet / alto saxophone / tenor saxophone, Jamael Smith – bassoon, Dan Zemelman – piano, Dillon Vado – vibes, Jeffrey Burr – guitar, Max Brody – guitar, Mads Tolling – violin,  Anthony Blea – violin, Charith Premawardhana – viola, Ben Davis – cello, Dan Feiszli – bass, Jason Lewis – drums, Stan Muncy – percussion. 

In his first orchestral release, West Coast trumpeter / composer Erik Jekabson (Electric Squeezebox Orchestra, Throttle Elevator Music) has assembled 15 players from the Bay Area in a contemporary response to a Third Stream combination of classical and jazz.  Add in an influence from film music and you have a striking and well-conceived release that expands Jekabson’s musical range.

Review: Paris Move, Making A Scene


Koppel Blade Koppel – Time Again (Cowbell Music, released 05/31/2024).  Benjamin Koppel – alto saxophone, Anders Koppel – Hammond organ, Brian Blade – drums.

Saxophonist Benjamin Koppel and drummer Brian Blade have a long history in a trio with bassist Scott Colley.  Now they join forces with the saxophonist’s father, organist Anders Koppel, in another trio.  The Danish father and son contribute seven tunes with the eighth from Kenny Werner.  Some of the tracks are deeply swinging, some cinematic, some melancholy.

Reviews: Downbeat, AllAboutJazz, Making A Scene 


I hope you find something here to nurture your ears.

Russell Perry

Jazz at 100 Now!

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