New Jazz Releases – 03/10/2025
By Russell Perry
Shuffle Demons
Ella Fitzgerald has been gone from the bandstand for almost 30 years, but today we have a good quality live recording from 1967 to remind us of her jazz nobility. We have fine new discs by a trio of women artists – trumpeter Rachel Therrien, conductor Miho Hazama with a fifty-piece Danish ensemble, and pianist Claire Cope’s eleven-piece Ensemble C. Finally, from the streets of Toronto – get ready for the Shuffle Demons.
Ella Fitzgerald – The Moment of Truth, Ella At The Coliseum (Verve Records, release 03/10/2025). Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Herbie Jones, Cootie Williams – trumpets, Lawrence Brown, Chuck Connors, Buster Cooper – trombones, Harry Carney, Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope – reeds, Jimmy Jones – piano, Bob Cranshaw – bass, Sam Woodyard – drums, Ella Fitzgerald – vocals.
This 1967 live date was discovered in the archives of impresario Norman Granz, Ella Fitzgerald’s long-time manager. At the time, Ella was in the midst of a three-year tour with Duke Ellington and most of his band played on these recordings. She plays a range of material (and she had plenty to choose from) going back to Don’t Be That Way from the 1934 Chick Webb book and forward to Bacharach / David’s 1966 Alfie. Ella is celebrated as a model of consistency and this recording supports that sentiment – there isn’t an off-note to be heard. Highly recommended.
Review: Jazz Weekly,Everything Jazz
Green Mitchell Trio – Nature Channel (Queen Bee Records, releases 03/07/2025). Cory Wright – tenor saxophone / bass clarinet, Lisa Mezzacappa – acoustic bass,
Jason Levis – drums.
Led by saxophonist Cory Wright, the Green Mitchell Trio features the finest of the San Francisco creative music scene. Bassist Lisa Mezzacappa, a UVa Jazz Ensemble alumna, hosts the release on her Queen Bee label as part of a planned one-a-month release schedule to celebrate her 50th birthday.
Miho Hazama – Live Life This Day: Celebrating Thad Jones (Edition Records, release 03/07/2025). Danish Radio Big Band, Danish National Symphony Orchestra.
Since 2019, composer / arranger Miho Hazama has been the Chief Conductor of the Danish Radio Big Band, following in the footsteps of notable players like Thad Jones, Bob Brookmeyer, and Jim McNeely. This release brings new life to four Jones compositions plus the three-movement Hazama suite Live Life This Day, which incorporates a Jones original. With thirty strings from the Danish National Symphony Orchestra added to the twenty players in the Danish Radio Big Band, the palate is broad and full. Recommended.
Review: Marlbank
Ensemble C – Every Journey (Adhyâropa Records, release 03/07/2025). Freddie Gavita – trumpet, Mike Soper – trumpet / flugelhorn, Anoushka Nanguy – trombone, Matt Carmichael – tenor saxophone, Rob Cope – bass clarinet / baritone saxophone / flute, Claire Cope – piano, Ant Law – guitar, Gavin Barras – double bass, Jon Ormston – drums, Jack McCarthy – percussion, Brigitte Beraha – voice.
For the second release from Ensemble C, British pianist / composer Claire Cope has expanded from seven players to eleven giving her a richer palate by adding a second trumpet, trombone, second sax and percussion. Brigitte Berah is back contributing wordless vocals making six players in the front line. Timed to coincide with International Woman’s Day, the set of eight originals celebrates intrepid women. Cope takes inspiration from composer / bandleader Maria Schneider – a great place to start. Recommended.
Review: Jazz Views, Paris Move, UK Jazz News, Making A Scene
Shuffle Demons – Are You Real? (Alma / Universal, release 03/07/2025). Richard Underhill – alto saxophone / baritone saxophone / vocals, Kelly Jefferson – tenor saxophone, Matt Lagan – tenor saxophone, Mike Downes – acoustic bass / electric bass, Stich Wynston – drums / vocals.
All five members of the Toronto street band Shuffle Demons contribute tracks to this release timed to coincide with their fortieth anniversary. Three saxophones plus bass and drums conspire to create some lively, joyful and unique music. Just to spice things up a bit (and to audition for a feature on Jumpin’ on the Bed), the band adds vocals to register their concern about AI (Are You Really Real?) And they add a James Brown horn sound to their satire of consumerism (Money Is My Only Religion). Shuffle, funk, blues, swing and plenty of groove make for a fun ride. Highly recommended.
Review: The Jazz Word, Jazz Sensibilities, Jazz Weekly
Rachel Therrien Latin Jazz Project – Mi Hogar II(Lula World Records, release 03/07/2025). Rachel Therrien – trumpet / flugelhorn, Rafi Malkiel – trombone, Ivan Renta – saxophone, Nestor Rodriguez – saxophone, Manuel Valera – piano, Danae Olano – piano, Willy Soto Barreto – piano, Andy Rubal – piano, Elizabeth Rodriguez – violin, John Benitez – bass, Roberto Riveron – bass, Luis Izquierdo – bass, Alex Bellegarde – bass, Michel Medrano Brindis – drums, Lazaro Martinez – congas, Arturo Zegarra – bongos, Keisel Jimenez – congas / timbales, Carlos Maldonado – bongos / congas, Magdelys Savigne – batas / congas, Mireya Ramos – vocals, Andy Ramos – vocals.
Two years ago, Canadian trumpeter Rachel Therrien put out her seventh record (Mi Hogar, previewed 01/30/2023) and it was a career highlight. While not as fiery, the new record from her Latin Jazz Project features some of the best young stars of Afro-Cuban jazz: Puerto Rican saxophonist Ivan Renta (Tomás Martín López, Doug Beavers, Arturo O’Farrill) plus two Havana-born pianists Manuel Valera (Vessel, previewed 07/10/2023) and Danae Olano (Jane Bennett & Maqueque). The program is four solid originals plus three covers – one by Chucho Valdez and Paquito D’Rivera. Recommended.
Review: Paris Move, Making A Scene
Robert Papacica Trio – Reverse Migration (Pinch Records, release 03/04/2025). Anthony Paolini – tenor saxophone, Robert Papacica – guitar, Kanoa Mendenhall – bass, Mark Ferber – drums.
New York-based guitarist has released a set of seven originals recorded by his tenor – guitar – bass – drums quartet.
WDR Big Band Featuring Darol Anger and Mike Marshall – Bluegrass (MCG Jazz, release 02/28/2025). Mike Marshall – mandolin / guitar, Darol Anger – violin, Bob Mintzer – saxophone with WDR Big Band.
Genre-fluid acoustic string players Mike Marshall and Darol Anger front this live Cologne radio big band recording led by saxophonist Bob Mintzer (Yellow Jackets).
Elaine Dame – Reminiscing (Self Produced, release 02/21/2025). Art Davis – trumpet, Victor Garcia – trumpet, Chris Madsen – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Tom Vaitsas – piano / Hammond B-3 organ / Fender Rhodes, Neal Alger – guitar, Sam Peters – bass, Jon Deitmeyer – drums, Elaine Dame – vocals / flute, Alyssa Allgood – harmony vocals, Christy Bennett – harmony vocals.
Chicago-based vocalist Elaine Dame was surrounded herself with home-town talent for a disc of covers of 70s pop hits. Co-arranged by saxophonist Chris Madsen (Neal Alger, Clark Sommers, Alyssa Allgood), the set breathes new life into some very familiar tunes that do not usually find their way into the jazz rep.
Review: Chicago Jazz, Gina Loves Jazz, Making A Scene
The Reddish Fetish with The Jersey City All Stars – Llegue (Self Produced, release 02/15/2025). Indofunk Satiosh – trumpet, Ben Golder-Novich – tenor saxophone, Roy Suter – piano / keyboards, Jason Green – guitar, Sean David Cunningham – violin, Ian Kenselaar – double bass, Jason T Reddish – drums / percussion, Jose Yogui Rosario – congas, J Hacha De Zola – vocals.
Drummer Jason Reddish has released a set of modern jazz classics with a New Jersey-based nonet.
Bigger Badder Bones – Sliders (Summit, release 02/07/2025). Andre Hayward – lead trombone, Christopher Leach – trombone, Pete Madsen – trombone, Brett Stamps – trombone, Steve Wilson – bass trombone, Jeff Jenkins – piano, Bobby Scharmann – bass, Doug Montera – drums.
In 2020, a four trombone ensemble released Emergency Vehicle Blues under the name Big Bad Boines. Now with a similar but five-bone frontline, the band is called Bigger Badder Bones. The program includes eleven originals by one of the trombonists – Brett Stamps.
Review: Making A Scene
Marcus McLaurine – Tributes (Jade Elefant Productions, release 01/23/2025). John DiMartino – piano, Tomoko Ohno – piano, Russell Malone – guitar, Dave Stryker – guitar, Marcus McLaurine – bass, Malik Kiyoshi McLaurine – bass, Payton Crossley – drums, Samuel Martinelli – drums, Mala Waldron – vocal.
Bassist Marcus McLaurine has played with many of jazz giants (Abbey Lincoln, Clark Terry, Abdullah Ibrahim, Kenny Burrell). This time out the set is mostly piano – guitar – bass – drums quartets with the guitar chair held by either the late Russell Malone (Ben Wolfe, Rickie Lee Jones, Leon Lee Dorsey) or Dave Stryker (Goes To the Movies, previewed 01/06/2025). The tributes in question include Oscar Peterson, Clark Terry, Ray Brown, Ron Carter and NHOP.
Review: Paris Move
Chaco Ramirez – I Remember Bill (Self Produced, release 12/10/2024). Steve Catalanov – tenor saxophone, Carolyn Steinberg Ramirez – flute / alto flute, Carlos Cuevas – piano / clavinet / melodica, Hector Martignon – Fender Rhodes, Alex Blake – upright bass / electric bass, Chacho Ramirez – congas / bongos / timbales / drum set / hand percussion.
As a memorial to his friend and musical colleague, percussionist Chaco Ramirez has recorded a set of compositions by fellow percussionist Bill Jacobs.
UNLV Jazz Ensemble I – Let The Good Times Roll (Vegas Records, release 08/24/2024). David Torres, Brandon O’Donahue, Aries Harper, Surafael Tamre, Kurt Tumbagahan – trumpets, Dylan Musso, Giovanni Lacala, Zach Guzman, Tristan Selzler, Rob Harrover – trombones, Kirby Galbraith – bass trombone, Casey Davis – French horn, Chris Ellis, Owen Chichester – alto saxophone, Renzon Maballo, Joshua Alvarado – tenor saxophone, Cole Henriques – baritone saxophone, Tristan Selzler, Micah Smith – piano, Amy Crosley – vibraphone, Jaren Glick, Kayne Johnson – guitar, Edoardo Lacala, Lukas Hutchinson – bass, Andrés Montero, Mateo Hurtado De Mendoza, Zach Guzman – drums.
A fine record of the repertoire of the UNLV student Jazz Ensemble in the 2023 – 2024 school year. The selections and arrangements are very traditional – straight from the big band book, but the solos are fresh and the ensemble work tight and tidy. It takes a lot of guts for a student group to tackle Duke’s Braggin’ in Brass! Well done.
Review: Scope Magazine
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
