New Jazz Releases – 02/24/2025
By Russell Perry
Artemis: Allison Miller, Noriko Ueda, Renee Rosnes, Nicole Glover, Ingrid Jensen
Some reliably excellent players have new releases that meet our high expectations. The new Artemis release, their third, is another fine piece of work. From the East Lansing / Michigan State University world comes two fine discs – one from veteran bassist and Director of Jazz Studies Rodney Whitaker, and the other by trombone student Nanami Haruta with Whitaker and her mentor Michael Dease. Ben Markley has a new set that channels the classic Blue Note Sound but with a guitar and alto in the front line. James Brandon Lewis (whose presence in Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Ensemble was a highlight in their performance here in Charlottesville last week) has an exciting new release.
Okonski – Entrance Music (Colemine Records, release 02/28/2025). Steve Okonski – piano, Michael Montgomery – bass, Aaron Frazer – drums.
Pianist Steve Okonski (Magnolia, previewed 02/20/2023 has reassembled his trio for a second release on Colemine Records. Their presentation is heavy and straight forward. More Bad Plus or Go Go Penguin than Tord Gustavsen.
Review: Glide Magazine
Artemis – Arboresque (Blue Note, release 02/28/2025). Ingrid Jensen – trumpet, Nicole Glover – tenor saxophone, Renee Rosnes – piano, Noriko Ueda – bass, Allison Miller – drums.
Within the context of an ensemble featuring trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, pianist Renee Rosnes, bassist Noriko Ueda and drummer Allison Miller, Artemis has fielded shifting reed players, starting with Anat Cohen and Melissa Aldana on their first release and Alexa Tarantino and Nicole Glover for the second disc. Now, Artemis has trimmed to a quintet with Nicole Glover handling all the saxophone charts. Each of the five players penned one of the tunes and three covers (Donald Brown, Burt Bacharach, Wayne Shorter) round out the offering. No longer novel, this all-woman group is a powerful force in mainstream jazz and a consistent poll-winner. They will likely be a Grammy-contender and is highly recommended.
Review: Jazz Music Archives
Rodney Whitaker – Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill (Origin Records, release 02/28/2025). Terell Stafford – trumpet / flugelhorn, Tim Warfield – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Rick Roe – piano, Rodney Whitaker – bass, Dana Hall – drums.
Origin Records continues to provide a comfortable home for the faculty and students of the Michigan State University Jazz Studies program. Bassist Rodney Whitaker, head of the program, is back for his fourth release of the music of regional composer Gregg Hill. To his trio of pianist Rick Roe (Tribute: The Music of Gregg Hill, previewed 01/25/2025) and Chicago drummer Dana Hall (Andy Baker, Geoff Bradfield, Ben Waltzer), he has added a heavy-hitting front line of trumpeter Terell Stafford and saxophonist Tim Warfield. Mainstream and highly recommended.
Review: Paris Move, Making A Scene, AllAboutJazz
Nanami Haruta – The Vibe(Origin Records, release 02/24/2025). Nanami Haruta – trombone, Michael Dease – trombone / baritone saxophone, Xavier Davis – piano, Rodney Whitaker – bass, Ulysses Owens Jr. – drums.
Here is another strong release from the Michigan State axis with trombone student Nanami Haruta joining her mentor Michael Dease on trombone and baritone, plus faculty members bassist Rodney Whittaker and pianist Xavier Davis. Low tones prevail as the front line alternates between dual trombones and Haruta’s trombone plus Dease’s baritone. While the dual trombones call to mind the legendary pairing of JJ Johnson and Kai Winding, it is trombonist Curtis Fuller whose spirit floats over the proceedings as Haruta and Dease reprise the Fuller – Tate Houston roles on Algonquin, from Fuller’s Bone and Bari release (1957). The leader contributed three well-crafted originals, along with one each from Whitaker and Dease plus two from East Lansing’s ubiquitous Gregg Hill. Mainstream and highly recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Paris Move, The Urban Music Scene
Ben Markley – Tell The Truth (OA2 Records, release 02/24/2025). Will Swindler – alto saxophone, Ben Markley – piano, Steve Kovalcheck – guitar, Rodney Whitaker – bass, Kyle Swan – drums.
In recent years, pianist Ben Markley has recorded in a quartet with Greg Osby, in an MJQ inspired quartet (Live Edge Trio with Steve Nelson – Closing Time, previewed 05/20/2024) and with a big band in a tribute to Cedar Walton. Markley also wrote the definitive Walton biography. This time out, the format is a quintet with guitar and alto in the front line playing a set of originals by the leader recalling a classic Blue Note sound. Recommended.
Review: Paris Move, Contemporary Fusion Reviews
Mattias Eick – Lullaby (ECM, release 02/14/2025). Mathias Eick – trumpet / voice / keyboard, Kristjan Randalu – piano, Ole Morten Vågan – double bass, Hans Hulbækmo – drums.
Norwegian trumpeter Mathias Eick (Benjamin Lackner – Spindrift, previewed 01/27/2025) has released a disc that sounds just like we expect from ECM – crystal clear, hushed, contemplative. Eick’s playing is wistful, delicate, and haunting and this new quartet is well-synched.
Review: Jazz Views, UK Vibe
Eric Lilley Trio – Swing Set (Twin Goat Music, release 02/07/2025). Eric Lilley – piano, Mark Diamond – bass, Gabe Gravagno – drums, Jose Espino – percussion.
Pianist Eric Lilley (Three, previewed 03/27/2023) is back with another piano trio release, Lilley’s Bill Evans reverence is apparent once again.
James Lewis Brandon Trio – Apple Cores (Anti- Records, release 02/07/2025). James Brandon Lewis – tenor saxophone, Josh Werner – bass / guitar, Chad Taylor – drums / mbira with Guilherme Monteiro – guitar, Stephane San Juan – percussion.
Tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis appeared on five releases last year and continues to be one of the most exciting sax players on the scene (strong shades of David S. Ware and Joe Henderson). His star turn with Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Ensemble here in Charlottesville last week was outstanding! This new disc is a trio affair, all but one tune improvised in the studio (the exception is Ornette’s Broken Shadows), but with substantial structure emerging from the long-term collaborations among the primary trio. Highly recommended.
Review: Pitchfork, The Quietus, Marlbank
Steve Johns – Mythology (Steeple Chase, release 01/17/2025). Greg Murphy – piano, John Hart – guitar, Monte Croft – vibraphone / harmonica / vocal, Joris Teepe – bass, Steve Johns – drums.
Drummer Steve Johns has assembled a swinging quintet (piano – guitar – vibes – bass – drums) for an eleven-tune set that includes five by the leader, another four by band members and two covers (Make Me Rainbows, Compared to What).
Review: Marlbank
Darryl Yokley’s Sound Reformation – Un Mundo En Soledad (D Yokes Records, release 11/01/2024). Darryl Yokley – soprano saxophone / tenor saxophone / bass flute / Aztec death whistle, Zaccai Curtis – piano / Fender Rhodes, Luques Curtis – bass, Wayne Smith Jr – drums, Little Johnny Rivero – Latin percussion.
I know of Darryl Yokley’s saxophone work only through his collaboration with baritonist Dave Larsen (Cohesion, previewed 03/04/2024). Here, he has assembled a well-integrated band anchored by recent Latin Jazz Grammy-winner pianist Zaccai Curtis (Cubop Lives, previewed 05/27/2025) and his bassist brother Luques Curtis (Lisa Hilton, David Weiss, Diego Rivera). The twelve original compositions draw inspiration from the great Gabriel Garcia Marquez epic One Hundred Years of Solitude (Cien Anos de Soledad). Recommended.
Review: Making A Scene, AllAboutJazz, Paris Move
I hope you find something here to tickle your ears.
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
