New Jazz Releases – 04/06/2026
By Russell Perry
NOLATET: Brian Haas, Mike Dillon, Johnny Vidacovich, James Singleton
The pace of new releases ebbed a bit this week (perhaps in advance of Record Store Day – 04/18/2026). Saxophonist Ben Flocks put out a set of trios, quartets and quintets. NOLATET continues to present vibes – piano lead chamber jazz. Atlantic Road Trip trims down to a trio from the US, Scotland and Holland. Jasper Høiby’s 3Elements brings us another fine piano trio.
Ben Flocks – Moonshades (West Cliff Records, release 04/06/2026). Ben Flocks – saxophones, Garret Lang – bass, Jay Bellrose – drums / percussion with Will Graefe – guitar, John Fatum – guitar / voice.
Using trios, quartets and a quintet, for his third release saxophonist Ben Flocks interprets six standards and six new compositions related to the moon (eg. Moonlight In Vermont, Old Devil Moon, Midnight Sun). The quartets with Will Graefe on acoustic guitar and Flocks on soprano are particularly delightful as are the ballads from the tenor – bass – drums trio. Recommended.
NOLATET – Something To Relax With (Royal Potato Family, release 04/03/2026). Brian Haas – piano, Mike Dillon – vibraphone / percussion / tabla, James Singleton – acoustic bass, Johnny Vidacovich – drums / cymbals.
That the NOLATET has the same instrumentation as the Modern Jazz Quartet is not overlooked by the attentive listener, in fact the gentle chamber feel of the legendary group also characterizes this NOLA supergroup. It has been eight years since their last release and the cool and relaxed feel of the band is still front and center. Recommended.
Review: Something Else!
Jim Robitaille – Sonic (Whaling City Sound, release 04/03/2026). Jim Robitaille – guitar, Tom Casale – bass, Chris Poudrier – drums.
Massachusetts-based guitarist Jim Robitaille and his guitar – bass – drums trio explores the sonic range of the guitar and guitar synthesizer in his appropriately-named new release. Robitaille’ writing (eight of ten tracks) tends to the atmospheric.
Gary Versace – Three Track Mind (Sunnyside communications, release 04/03/2026). Gary Versace – keyboards, Francis Moutin – bass, Rudy Royston – drums.
In the past several months, we have heard keyboardist Gary Versace on releases from artists as diverse as Marie Schneider, Ingrid Jensen, and John Ellis & Double Wide. His discography also includes accompanying vocalists like Kate McGarry and Kurt Ellington. To this music, he now brings us a piano trio set in company of old friends bassist Francois Mouton and drummer Rudy Royston. Half covers and half originals, the music maintains a sense of surprise and discovery.
Steve Kovalcheck – Buckshot Blues(OA2 Records, release 04/03/2026). Steve Kovalcheck – guitar, Jon Hamar – bass, Jeff Hamilton – drums.
Guitarist Steve Kovalcheck brings a great fat tone and a bluesy sensibility to a trio set featuring eight originals and five covers. Veteran drummer Jeff Hamilton (A New Chapter, previewed 03/30/2026) and his regular colleague bassist Jon Hamar keep it swinging.
Review: Making A Scene, Jazz Weekly
Tierney Sutton & Tamir Hendelmann – Spring (BFM Jazz, release 04/03/2026). Tamir Hendelmann – piano, Tierney Sutton – vocals.
Singer Tierney Sutton (one of my favs) brings us a spare vocal – piano duet take on a slice of the Great American Songbook (plus a Paul Simon tune) themed around songs of spring. The gentle set was recorded live with minimal arrangements.
Review: Making A Scene, The JW Vibe
Radwan Ghazi Moumneh & Frédéric D. Oberland – Eternal Life No End (Constellation, release 04/03/2026). Radwan Ghazi Moumneh – voice / buzuk / rababa / synthesizers / drum machines / percussion, Frédéric D. Oberland – Buchla & modular synths / drum machines / synthesizers / alto saxophone / clarineau / bells.
Hypnotic duets from overlaid instrumentation and vocals in Arabic capturing the artists outrage over the injustice in the SWANA region.
Atlantic Road Trip – Watch As The Echo Falls (Calligram Records, release 04/03/2026). Chad McCullough – trumpet / flugelhorn / synthesizers, Paul Towndrow – alto saxophone / flute / whistles, Miro Herak – vibraphone.
For their second release, Atlantic Road trip trims down from a quintet to a trumpet – alto / flute – vibraphone trio, while continuing to explore folk idioms. Many musical streams intersect in the playing and composing of Chicago-based brass player Chad McCullough (Calligram Records founder), Scottish reedist Paul Towndrow and Dutch vibraphonist Miro Herak. Reed player Paul Towndrow Towndrow notes that the music “explores the natural tension between Balkan rhythmic signatures and the Celtic and jazz traditions that shaped our upbringing.” Rich, engaging and recommended.
Review: Paris Move
Jasper Høiby’s 3Elements – Conversations of Hope (Edition Records, release 03/27/2026). Xavi Torres – piano, Jasper Høiby – bass, Naíma Acuña – drums.
Danish-born, London-based bassist Jasper Høiby brings a new trio for the third release of 3Elements, this time joined by two Spanish players – pianist Xavi Torres (who was with Høiby in his band Fellow Creatures) and drummer Naíma Acuña. While definitely a bass-forward effort, all members of the trio contribute to the rhythmic intensity and improvisational excitement. Recommended.
Review: Modern Jazz Today, AllAboutJazz
Paul Keller Orchestra – Thank You Notes: The Music Of Gregg Hill (Cold Plunge, release 03/28/2026). Mike Williams – trumpet, Paul Finkbeiner – trumpet, Joe Palmer – trumpet, Lucas Stickley-Miner – trumpet, Chris Smith – trombone, Terry Kimura – trombone, Willie Wang – trombone, Chris Glassman – trombone, Keith Kaminski – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone, James Hughes – alto saxophone, Steve Wood – tenor saxophone, Chris Tabaczynski – tenor saxophone, Mark Kieme – baritone saxophone, Adam Mosley – piano, Cary Kocher – vibraphone / bongos, Paul Keller – string bass, Pete Siers – drum set, Sarah D’angelo – vocals / clarinet.
More compositions by Michigan-based composer Gregg Hill whose work has been featured on perhaps a dozen discs in the past few years. This time, the tunes are interpreted by an Ann Arbor-based big band lead by Paul Keller.
Review: Jazz Weekly, Paris Move
Dianne Marino – Live At Vitellos(M & M Records, release 01/30/2026). Rickey Woodard – tenor saxophone / flute, Diane Marino – piano / vocal, Frank Marino – bass, Clayton Camer – drums with Harry Kim – trumpet.
Nashville-based pianist / vocalist Dianne Marino has recorded a live disc in LA with local players to supplement her and her bassist (and husband) Frank Marino.
Julian Davis Reid – Vocation (Self Produced, release 10/03/2025). Lenard Simpson – alto saxophone, Julian Davis Reid – piano, Micah Collier – bass, James Russell Sims – drums, Tramaine Parker – vocals with Narykcin – vocals.
Chicago based pianist has released his debut album, a jazz and gospel mix with an intimate perspective.
I hope you find some new music to enrich your life.
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
