New Jazz Releases – 02/02/2026
By Russell Perry
Martin Wind
Some outstanding releases this week. Alexis Marcelo is out with a solo piano work. One of the great 1970s records from Woody Shaw has been reissued. Bassist Martin Wind has released a new quartet disc with Anat Cohen, Kenny Barron and Matt Wilson. There is a new disc out from a big band from Chicago – Heisenberg Uncertainty Players and Joel Ross & Good Vibes is back with more nuanced and emotional performances.
You won’t hear much Jazz on the air this week as we are presenting our Folk Music Fundraising Marathon. Many of your favorite Jazz announcers will be presenting folk music this week in lieu of their normal programming. Please join the fun by listening and call in to 434-924-3959 or go on-line to WTJU.net to pledge your support.
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Nabou Claerhout – Indigo (Edition Records, release 01/30/2026). Nabou Claerhout – trombone, Gijs Idema – electric guitar, Trui Amerlinck – double bass, Daniel Jonkers – drums.
Belgian trombonist Nabou Claerhout and her quartet N∆BOU have released their third album, maintaining the trombone – guitar – bass – drums line-up from the previous release (You Know, 2021), but with only bassist Trui Amerlinck continuing in the ensemble. Claerhout’s playing is soft and warm spanning from elegiac to hopeful.
Review: UK Vibe
Alexis Marcelo – Solo Piano (Intakt Records, release 01/30/2026). Alexis Marcelo – piano.
In his solo-debut, Cuban-born New York-raised pianist Alexis Marcelo, expands on the Afro-Cuban jazz vocabulary in this rich set of groove-driven but lyrical pieces – nine originals plus Monk’s Eronel. This beautifully played and technically stunning set opens the door on so much of jazz piano history. Recommended.
Woody Shaw – Love Dance (Time Traveler Recordings, release 01/30/2026). Woody Shaw – trumpet, Steve Turre – trombone / bass trombone, Rene McLean – soprano saxophone / alto saxophone, Billy Harper – tenor saxophone, Joe Bonner – piano, Cecil McBee – bass, Victor Lewis – drums, Tony Waters – conga, Guilherme Franco – percussion.
Released in 1976, Love Dance is the fourth release from ground-breaking trumpeter Woody Shaw and one of only four he recorded for Muse, whose catalog is now in the midst of a reissue program by Time Traveller Records. Other than a late 90’s Japanese reissue and a twofer with 1965 unreleased tracks in 1997, this terrific piece has not been released since the 70s. Shaw is amazing and is richly supported by three percussionists, joining a front line of Steve Turre on trombone, Jackie McLean’s son Rene on soprano and alto and Billy Harper commanding the room on tenor. Take my advice, put on the 12:42 title track, silence your phone and put your life on hold. You know you have the time. You’ll thank me. Most highly recommended.
Review: London Jazz Collector, Something Else Reviews, The Vinyl District
Joe Chambers – Double Exposure (Time Traveler Recordings, release 01/30/2026). Larry Young – organ / synthesizer, Joe Chambers – piano / electric piano / tabla / cymbal / drums.
Joe Chambers is one of the more “musical” drummers and this 1977 release, one of two he recorded for Muse, features him on piano as well as drums and other percussion instruments. Larry Young plays organ throughout and the organ – drums duets that close the album are perhaps the strongest pieces in the set. This is yet another release from the legendary Muse label and many in the catalog, like this gem, have not been reissued in the CD era. This may be Larry Young’s last recording session as four months later he passed away.
Review: The Vinyl District
Martin Wind – Stars (Newville Records, release 01/30/2026). Anat Cohen – clarinet, Kenny Barron – piano, Martin Wind – bass, Matt Wilson – drums.
German-born, New York-based bassist Martin Wind has assembled a marvelous quartet with clarinetist Anat Cohen (Quartetinho, previewed 12/01/2025), pianist Kenny Barron (Songbook, previewed 11/17/2025) and drummer Matt Wilson (Good Trouble, 2023) for a warm and relaxed session of five originals and six covers (Duke Ellington, Aaron Bell, etc). Both the bassist and clarinetist have the woodiest of tones and when they join to state the melody together (as in Bud Powell’s Wail) the results are magical. Highly recommended.
Review: Downbeat, Jazz Views, AllAboutJazz
Heisenberg Uncertainty Players – Return To The Enchanted Forest (Self Produced, release 01/30/2026). Grace Mulvey, Jonathan McQuade, Bennett Heinz, Emily Kuhn – trumpets, Josh Torrey, Andrew Meyer, Dominic Gaietto – trombone, Dan DiCesare – bass trombone, Natalie Lande – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone / flute, Kelley Dorhauer – alto saxophone / clarinet, Sam Pilnick – tenor saxophone / bass clarinet, Matt Zmuda – tenor saxophone / flute, James Baum – baritone saxophone / tenor saxophone, Stuart Seale – piano, Chris Parsons – guitar, Dan Parker – bass, Ethan Bouwsma – drums.
If you have been following recent jazz from Chicago, you will likely recognize some of the players in this seventeen piece big band – eg. Emily Kuhn (Ghosts Of Us, previewed 07/24/2023) or Sam Pilnick (The Project, previewed 11/10/2025). These players have come together over the past fifteen years under the baton of John Dorhauer, who also contributes six of the eight tunes on the disc while arranging the two covers. Well-written, well-played, a real treat. Highly recommended.
Review: Paris Move
Joel Ross & Good Vibes – Gospel Music(Blue Norte Records, release 01/30/2026). Josh Johnson – alto saxophone, Maria Grand – tenor saxophone, Jeremy Corren – piano, Joel Ross – vibraphone, Kanoa Mendenhall – bass, Jeremy Dutton – drums.
In the insightful review by Michael West, the new release by vibraphonist Joel Ross ((Nublues, previewed 02/12/2024) is “contemplative, sometimes intricate, often moody 21st-century post-bop with subtle emotional colorings.” The latest edition of Ross’s band Good Vibes has altoist Josh Johnson (Makaya McRaven, Jeff Parker, Sara Gazarek) in for Immanuel Wilkins with tenorist Maria Grand (Reciprocity, previewed 02/13/2023) holding down the bottom. The rest of the band is intact from the last recording. Ross tell the biblical story in a series of compositions, but the more overtly “gospel” selections are clustered in the final third of the release. Highly recommended.
Review: Downbeat, AllAboutJazz
Alex Robinson – I Really Oughta Tell You (Self Produced, release 01/30/2026). Jeremy Siskind – piano, Marlon Martinez – bass, Charles Ruggiero – drums, Alex Robinson – vocals with Tony Guerrero – trumpet / flugelhorn, Steven Robinson – trombone, Doug Webb – tenor saxophone.
In this debut recording from vocalist Alex Robinson, a set of eleven standards and one original features a solid trio led by pianist Jeremy Siskind (Duo Tones with Tony Guerrero, previewed 07/15/2024). Several horn players, including trumpeter Tony Guerrero, guest on half of the selections. Robinson is a commanding presence with lots of emotion and swing readily at her disposal.
Review: Paris Move
The Dave Wilson Quartet – When Even Goes East (Dave Wilson Music, release 01/30/2025). Dave Wilson – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Jesse Green – piano, Evan Gregor – bass, Daniel Gonzalez – drums with Lenny Castro – percussion.
Pennsylvania-based saxophonist Dave Wilson has assembled a straight-ahead tenor quartet to record his arrangements of six 60s and 70s pop tunes plus four originals.
Review: Paris Move, Making A Scene
Red Norvo – The Secret Session (Dot Time Records, release 01/30/2026). Shorty Rogers – trumpet, Eddie Bert – trombone, Aaron Sachs – clarinet / alto saxophone, Hank Kahout? – piano, Red Norvo – xylophone, Clyde Lombardi – bass, Specs Powell – drums.
By 1942, xylophonist Red Norvo had played with everyone from Paul Whitman and Benny Goodman to Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, over the previous decade. In 1942, he had assembled a young band (Shorty Rogers – 18, Eddie Bert – 20, Aaron Sachs – 19) all of whom ran the serious risk of conscription in the new war effort. Yet, the American Federation of Musicians went on strike in August 1942 and members were prohibited from recording. To memorialize the band, Norvo persuaded a studio and engineers to record him in a strike-busting session – one that couldn’t be released at the time. The result is a quick, probably first-take only, session of swinging pre-bop.
Review: UK Jazz News
James Judson – Songs Of My Dreams (Persimmon Road Productions, release 01/30/2026).
Michael Campagna, Aaron Janik, Dan Fornero, Dave Richards, Mike Cordone – trumpets, Erik Hughes, Ryan Dragon, Joshua Brown, Todd Eames – trombone, Bob Sheppard, Anton Sushev, Bob Reynolds, Doug Webb, Jason Fabus – saxophones, Gary Matsumoto – piano, Tim Sonnefeld – Hammond B3 organ/Fender Rhodes, Tim Sonnefeld, Kelvin Holly – guitars, Mike Gurrola – bass, Charles Ruggiero – drums, Leddie Garcia – percussion, James Judson – vocals with Laura Cole – vocals, Max Haymer – piano, Anders Mouridsen – guitar, Steve Cotter – guitar, Dan Lutz – bass, Charles Gleason – bass.
This debut by singer James Judson owes more than a little debt to Frank Sinatra for his phrasing and to Tony Bennett for his vocal timbre. The program includes eleven originals and two covers, mostly with a big band backing.
The Jones Factor – Not Sure (Self Produced, release 01/20/2026). Kenny Herbs – trumpet / flugelhorn, Ben Kibbey – trumpet / flugelhorn, Janet Lantz – French horn, John Fumasoli – trombone, Jason Polise – alto saxophone, Bill Harris – tenor saxophone, Robert Aries – keyboard, Dave Anderson – bass, Tyger MacNeal – drums / percussion with Don Hayward – bass trombone, Anthony Pellegrini – baritone saxophone, Tony Cintron – percussion, Rich Zurkowski – vocals.
Connecticut-based ten-piece little big band (4-5 brass – 2-3 reeds, 3 rhythm) under the baton of founder and trombonist John Fumasoli plays a set of three cover and five compositions from the band. I love this lean format and in these hands it swings.
Thomas Clausen Trio with Singapore Symphony Orchestra – Symbiosis: Tribute to Bill Evans (Pentatone, release 01/16/2026). Samuel Phua – alto saxophone, Michellina Chan – alto saxophone, Luo Tianze – alto saxophone / tenor saxophone, Jeffrey Gao – alto saxophone / baritone saxophone, Thomas Clausen – piano, Thomas Fonnesbæck – bass, Karsten Bagge – drums with Anders Malta – trumpet, Evgueni Brokmiller – flute.
Pianist Thomas Clausen and his trio join the Singapore Symphony for a tribute to one of the more enduring pianists / composers / bandleaders in jazz history – Bill Evans. The program consists of three works: Palle Mikkelborg’s six-part Bill Evans Suite featuring Evans classics such as Waltz For Debbie and Time Remembered, Thomas Clausen’s Evans-inspired ballad Pi, and Symbiosis – Claus Ogerman’s collaboration with Evans.
Ron Rider – Compositions in Blue and Other Hues (Meson Records, release 01/01/2026). Yaure Muniz – trumpet, Mike Tucker – tenor saxophone, Maxim Lubarsky – piano, John Lockwood – bass, Mark Walker – drums.
Massachusettes composer Ron Rieder (Dia Precisoso, preview 05/26/2025) has released his third disc of jazz compositions, this time rendered by a trumpet – tenor quintet. Straight ahead and swinging.
Review: Paris Move
Doug MacDonald Trio – Live In Beverly Hills (Dmac Music, release 01/01/2026). Doug MacDonald – guitar, Lou Schoch – bass / vocals, Billy Paul – drums.
Excavated from the archives, the new release from southern California guitarist Doug MacDonald (Santa Monica Session, previewed 01/06/2025) was recorded live in 2012. MacDonald leads the trio through a mid-tempo set of two originals and five covers, emphasizing his warm tone and swing.
Review: Paris Move, Scope Magazine
Maybe we will finally start to thaw by this time next week.
Meanwhile, please listen to the Folk Marathon and call in to 434-924-3959 or go on-line to WTJU.net to pledge your support.
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
