New Jazz Releases – 03/09/2026
By Russell Perry
Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra
With the change of the weather has come the most qualitatively substantial set of discs that we have seen yet this year. Charlottesville-regular Monika Herzog is out with a quartet disc. Eval Vilner brings us a retro-big band. Chris Madsen and Joshua Achiron continue Calligram Records string of excellent issues. Entre Amigos joins forces with Justin Copeland. Jeremy Pelt brings us another lyrical set. The Georgelet / Zelnik / Chesnel Trio pay homage to Bill Evans.
And, finally, a new, albeit short, release from Maria Schneider.
Monika Herzig – Transparent (Key of B Records, release 03/06/2026). Monika Herzig – piano / keyboard / organ / bells / spoken word, Peter Kienle – guitar / bandoneon, Jeremy Allen – bass, Karina Colis – drums / percussion with Tom Clark – tenor saxophone / flute, Joe Donnelly – tenor saxophone / flute, Ted Nash – saxophones.
Charlottesville-favorite pianist Monika Hertzig is out with a new release that wrestles with the the issues with parenting a transgender child. Herzig’s recent releases have spot-lighted her ground-breaking all-woman band Sheroes and a vocal work-out over Joni Mitchell tunes. By contrast, this release features her compositions performed by a piano – guitar -bass – drums quartet featuring her husband Peter Kienle on guitar with several guest (notably, altoist Ted Nash) on sax and flute. Obviously very personal, this writing sparkles. Recommended.
Eyal Vilner Big Band – Big Apple Stomp (Self Produced, release 03/06/2026). John Lake, Brandon Lee – trumpet, Ron Wilkins – trombone, Eyal Vilner – alto saxophone / clarinet / flute, Julieta Eugenio – tenor saxophone, Josh Lee – baritone saxophone, Jon Thomas – piano, Martha Kato – piano, Ian Hutchison – bass, Eran Fink – drums, Imani Rousselle – vocals and Bryan Davis, Michael Sailors, Brandon Lee, James Zollar – trumpets, Robert Edwards, Mariel Bildsten, Ron Wilkins – trombones, Eyal Vilner – alto saxophone / clarinet / flute, Bill Todd, Jordan Pettay – alto saxophone, Evan Arntzen, Michael Hashim – tenor saxophone, Eden Bareket – baritone sax, Jordan Piper – piano, Ian Hutchison – bass, Eran Fink – drums, Brianna Thomas – vocals.
More swinging fun from bandleader Eyal Vilner and his rocking big band (Swingin’ Uptown, previewed 06/03/2024). Most of the sections date to the first quarter century of the great jazz experiment, although Vilner sneaks in two Horace Silver selections. The band consists mostly of New York players of the highest quality (Julieta Eugenio, Brandon Lee) although perhaps younger than most of the dozen or so New York big bands (Vanguard, Mingus, Birdland, Arturo O’Farrill’s Afro-Latin, Maria Schneider, Darcy James Argue, Christian McBride, Orren Evans’ Captain Black et al.). Depending on your point of view, this is a loving embrace of spirited dance music from the soft focussed mists of the past or an unnecessary retro excursion. I come down on the side of former and recommend this to your ears.
Review: Making A Scene
Daggerboard, The Skipper And Mike Clark(Wide Hive Records, release 03/06/2026). Erik Jekabson – trumpet / flugelhorn, Matt Clark – piano / Rhodes, Dave MacNab – guitar, Henry “The Skipper’ Franklin – acoustic bass, Mike Clark – drums with Dillon Vado – vibraphone, Dave Ellis – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Ross Howe – guitar, Gregory Howe – percussion, Mads Tolling – violin, Anthony Blea – violin, Charith Premawardhana – viola, Ben Davis – cello, Jonathan Ring – French horn, Matt Renzi – oboe / alto saxophone, Sheldon Brown – clarinet / flute / bass clarinet, Mike Rinta – trombone.
Daggerboard (The Axes Volume II, Summer Solstice, previewed 04/07/2025) is a collaboration between Bay Area trumpeter Erik Jekabson and Wide Hive Records owner and multi-instrumentalist Gregory Howe. For this disc, they have paired with the veteran rhythm section of bassist Henry “The Skipper” Franklin (Mike Clark, Pierre Chambers, Freddie Hubbard), and drummer Mike Clark (Itai Doshin, previewed 10/13/2025). The rhythm section plays a major role in defining the groove, but it is Jekabson whose lovely tone and lyrical playing dominates the release.
Review: Paris Move
Chris Madsen – Threefold(Calligram Records, release 03/06/2026). Chris Madsen – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Clark Sommers – bass, Dana Hall – drums / cymbals.
The Chicago cordless trio of saxophonist Chris Madsen, bassist Clark Sommers and drummer Dana Hall (The Trio Book, 2023) returns, this time with a set of four originals each from the leader and Sommers. Madsen is a fine player who mines the format for one compelling moment after another, well supported by a wide range of emotional responses from his bandmates. Recommended.
Review: Paris Move, Making a Scene
Joshua Achiron – Climbing(Calligram, release 03/06/2026). Geof Bradfield – tenor saxophone, Joshua Achiron – guitar, Clark Sommers – bass, Dana Hall – drums / cymbals.
With a set of seven originals and one Ellington cover, Chicago guitarist Joshua Achiron has made his debut with Calligram Records denizens Geof Bradfield on tenor (Colossal Abundance, preview 09/09/2026), bassist Clark Sommers (Feast Ephemera previewed 06/19/2023) and drummer Dana Hall (Rodney Whitaker, Andy Baker, Ben Waltzer). While the date belongs to Achiron, it is Bradfield whose playing makes the disc for me. The leader is lyrical and possesses a sweet tone of which we can expect to hear more. Recommended.
Review: Paris Move
Entre Amigos – Joyful Foundation: The Music Of Justin Copeland (Entre Amigos Records, release 03/03/2026). Justin Copeland – trumpet, Roy McGrath – tenor saxophone, Hana Fujisaki – piano, Kitt Lyles – bass, Gustavo Cortiñas – drums.
Formerly of Chicago, now Portland, Oregon, Justin Copeland (Geoffrey Dean, Gustavo Cortiñas) has brought four compositions and his trumpet to the third release from the collective Entre Amigos. The four members of the band each bring a composition and the result is a stirring set of post-bop performances. I’ve liked the two previous quartet efforts, but the addition of another front-line horn takes the music to a new level. I love this. Highly recommended.
Adonis Rose – Unusual Suspects With Phillip Manuel (Moocha Music, release 02/27/2026). Stephen Lands – trumpet, Ricardo Pascal – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Seth Finch – piano / Fender Rhodes, Max Moran – bass, Steve Masakowski – guitar, Adonis Rose – drums, Phillip Manuel – vocals.
New Orleans drummer Adonis Rose has delivered a pop-adjacent vocal set featuring Phillip Manuel. There are several tracks that move into a scat / vocalese zone with references to Eddie Jefferson (Bop Be, The Unusual Suspects, Party Time) and some nods to Treme.
Jeremy Pelt – Our Community Will Not Be Erased (HighNote Records, release 02/27/2026). Jeremy Pelt – trumpet / piano, Orrin Evans – piano, Buster Williams – bass, Lenny White – drums with Lasse Corson – keyboards.
Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt (Woven, previewed 02/07/2025) has assembled a A-list quartet with Orrin Evans (The Red Door, previewed 06/19/2023) on piano, Buster Williams (Unalome, previewed 02/20/2023) on bass and Lenny White (Steve Turre, Gerald Cannon, Eddie Henderson) on drums for a set of nine originals in a serious and restrained release. While not as fiery as Pelt can be, the easier pace suits his lyrical side like a glove. Recommended.
Triple Blind – Cold Walk (Self Produced, release 02/27/2026). Kyle Nasser – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone / bass clarinet / wooden flute / whistling, Dov Manski – Rhodes / Prophet 10 / Mellotron / analog synth / percussion, Nick Jost – bass / percussion / organ, Peter Kronreif – drums / percussion.
After recording their last release (Triple Blind, 2021) remotely, the trio added keyboardist Doc Manski and put down the tracks that make the new disc live in in the studio. Modern jazz sensibilities stitched to indie rock and funk chops.
Review: Something Else Reviews
Bill Frisell – In My Dreams (Blue Note, release 02/27/2026). Bill Frisell – guitar, Jenny Scheinman – violin, Eyvind Kang – viola, Hank Roberts – cello, Thomas Morgan – bass, Rudy Royston – drums.
Guitarist Bill Frisell (Breaking the Shell, previewed 12/23/2024) continues to mine his personal vision of Americana, folk, orchestral jazz and modern harmony, this time in the company of four other string players (plus Rudy Royston) all of who have long histories with the leader, but in a sextet that has never recorded together. In a departure, the tracks were laid down live then taken into the studio for additional re-orchestration. The listener may find more of a string chamber ensemble feel to the music and less “jazz.” No blues to speak of, or swing, for that matter, nor do we hear any touch points of modern jazz (bebop, post bop, free improvisation). What we do hear is Frisell’s personal musical vision executed by a bunch of friends and collaborators to celebrate his 75th birthday.
Review: Pop Matters, AllAboutJazz
Maria Schneider – American Crow (Artist Share, release 02/03/2026). Tony Kadleck, Greg Gisbert, Nadje Noordhuis, Mike Rodriguez – trumpets, Keith O’Quinn, Ryan Keberle, Marshall Gilkes – trombones, George Flynn – bass trombone / contrabass trombone, Steve Wilson – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone / alto flute / flute, Dave Pietro – alto saxophone / clarinet / piccolo, Rich Perry – tenor saxophone, John Ellis – tenor saxophone, Scott Robinson – baritone saxophone / bass clarinet / contrabass clarinet, Gary Versace – piano, Julien Labrow – accordion, Jeff Miles – guitar, Jay Anderson – bass, Johnathan Blake – drums.
It has been five years since we last heard new music from heroic composer and bandleader Maria Schneider. Her Data Lords project won every imaginable award in 2020 / 2021 (Downbeat and Jazz Journalists Association Album of the Year / Composer of the Year, Grammy, etc.). Her latest is a short EP. As we have learned to expect, Schneider mixes a wide range of emotions with exceptional ensemble and solo playing. The EP includes two versions of the title tune and a reimagining of A World Lost from Data Lords. This leaves me wanting more. Highly recommended.
Review: Downbeat, Jazz Times, Arts Fuse
Georgelet / Zelnik / Chesnel Trio + Thierry Lhiver – Live For Gil (Petit Label 2026, release 01/29/2026). Thierry Lhiver – trombone, François Chesnel – piano, Yoni Zelnik – bass, David Georgelet – drums.
Between 1957 and 1967, Miles Davis and Gil Evans collaborated on six landmark releases (Miles Ahead, Porgy and Bess, Sketches of Spain, etc.) During this period, Gill Evans recorded one of his most important works as a leader, The Individualism of Gil Evans. Pulling from this repertoire, expanded to include Miles Ahead, the Georgelet / Zelnik / Chesnel Trio has joined with sweet-toned and fluid trombonist Thierry Lhiver for a live set celebrating Evans’ important work. Well arranged and played. Recommended.
Review: Couleurs Jazz
This will keep you busy for a while.
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
