New Jazz Releases – 04/07/2025
By Russell Perry
Branford Marsalis Quartet – Branford Marsalis, Justin Faulkner, Eric Revis, Joey Calderazzo
This week we celebrate rock music at the annual WTJU Rock Marathon, so please honor the excellence of our colleagues in the Rock Department, listen to the wonderful programming and please pledge.
On the jazz side, we have a sweet quintet / sextet set from trombonist Altin Sencalar, a long-awaited set from the Branford Marsalis Quartet, a trombone quartet led by Reggie Watkins, more music from Erik Jacobson – this time with Daggerboard and the Erik Jekobson Orchestra, and a reminder what we like about organ trios from Mitch Towne. This will all be waiting for you when you return from your rockin’ week.
Matthew Muñeses and Riza Printup – Pag-Ibig Ko Vol. 1 (Ibbrabagast Records, release 04/04/2025). Matthew Muñeses – saxophone, Riza Printup – harp.
This is a tender and mesmerizing look at traditional Philippine love songs from saxophonist Matthew Muñeses and harpist Riza Printup, both of whom grew up with these sounds. Coming from a duo, the music is very personal and vulnerable. Unusual and lovely.
Review: Jazz Views, Paris Move, UK Jazz News, Making A Scene
Mitch Towne – Refuge (Cross Towne Records, release 04/01/2025). Mitch Towne – organ, Tetsuya Nishiyama – guitar, Jeffery Johnson – drums.
The Hammond B3 organ has a storied past and, with players like Mitch Towne, continuing relevance. In a classic organ – guitar – drums trio (as made famous by, for example, Jimmy Smith, Kenny Burrell, and Grady Tate) Towne tackles six originals and a cover of Kenny Kirkland. Lots of blues and blues-feeling. Recommended.
Review: Paris Move, Contemporary Fusion Reviews, Making A Scene
Nnenna Freelon – Beneath The Skin (Origin Records, release 03/31/2025). Alan Pasqua – piano / keyboards, Keith Ganz – guitar, Jonathan Richards – bass, Steve Hass – drums , Nnenna Freelon – vocals with Evan Roberson – trombone, Shana Tucker – cello.
Vocalist Nnenna Freelon had a hiatus from recording starting with the 2016 ALS diagnosis of her husband, celebrated architect Phil Freelon (who I knew professionally). This is her third release since his death in 2019 and her first featuring exclusively her own writing. Much of the disc is upbeat, but when she confronts her grief (Widow Song), it is heartbreaking. The band is first rate, including guitarist Keith Ganz who was just in Charlottesville with Jenny Sheinman.
Review: Paris Move, Jazz Weekly
Daggerboard and Erik Jekabson Orchestra – The Axes Volume II, Summer Solstice (Wide Hive Records, release 03/30/2025). Erik Jekabson – trumpet / flugelhorn, Jeff Cressman – trombone, Wayne Van Lieu – French horn, Harvey Wainapel – clarinet / saxophone, Mary Fettig – flute, Dana Bauer – oboe, Paul Hanson – bassoon, Ian McArdle – piano, Jordan Samuels – guitar, Alisa Rose – violin, Mads Tolling – violin, Keith Lawrence – viola, Ben Davis – cello, Dan Feiszli – bass, Jon Arkin – drums, Kjell Nordeson – percussion.
Bay Area trumpeter and composer Erik Jekabson (Breakthrough, previewed 01/27/2025) seems to be ubiquitous these days, recording in the last two years with Jason Kaiser, Jacqui Naylor, Taj Mahal, Michael Echaniz, and Michael O’Neill in addition to his own projects. There is a thread of large ensemble composition that has emerged in his discography recently, this time with an orchestra assembled around the group Daggerboard, in many way the successor to the band Throttle Elevator Music. Jekabson is a strong soloist, as usual, but the star of this disc is his writing. Recommended.
Review: Paris Move
Reggie Watkins – Rivers (BYNK Records, release 03/28/2025). Reggie Watkins – trombone, Michael Bernabe – piano, Eli Naragon – bass, Jason Washington Jr. – drums.
Pittsburgh-based trombonist Reggie Watkins (Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band) has recorded with his working quartet. Watkins brings his gorgeous tone and lovely phrasing to a collection of 13 originals. Recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Paris Move
Satoko Fujii’s Tokyo Trio – Dream A Dream (Libra Records, release 03/28/2025). Satoko Fujii – piano, Takashi Sugawa – bass, Ittetsu Takemura – drums.
Pianist / composer Satoko Fujii was assembled a new trio and the music continues to be exhilarating, surprising and, from time-to-time, chaotic. Aficionados will likely find this a rewarding listen.
Review:” Paris Move
Myra Melford – Splash (Intakt Records, release 03/28/2025). Myra Milford – piano, Michael Formanek – bass, Ches Smith – drums.
Pianist / composer Myra Melford (The Lux Quartet – Tomorrowland, previewed 10/28/2024) has a new high-powered trio with Michael Formanek (Ingrid Lubrock, Thumbscrew, Jon Irabagon, Anthony Pirog) on bass and Ches Smith (Laugh Ash, previewed 02/12/2024) on drums and vibraphone. Melford has written a set of compositions inspired by the art of post-abstract impressionist painter Cy Twombly. This is expansive music from a powerful trio.
Review: Jazz Trail
Anouar Brahem – After The Last Sky (ECM, release 03/28/2025). Django Bates – piano, Anouar Brahem – oud, Anja Lechner – violincello, Dave Holland – bass.
Oud-player Anouar Brahem has brought back pianist Django Bates and bassist Dave Holland from his last release – Blue Maqams (2017). But this time instead of drummer Jack DeJohnette, the quartet is completed by Anja Lechner on cello, for a very different sound. The compositional cycle is Brahem’s response to the plight of the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Review: Jazz Trail, Jazz Views, UK Jazz News, A Green Man Review
Yelena Eckemoff – Scenes From the Dark Ages (L&H Productions, release 03/28/2025). Carlo Nicita – soprano flute / alto flute / bass flute, Yelena Eckemoff – piano / organ / clavichord / celesta / synthesizers, Riccardo Bertuzzi – electric guitar, Eloisa Manera – acoustic violin / electric violin, Riccardo Oliva – electric bass, Trilok Gurtu – drums / percussion.
Pianist / composer Yelena Eckemoff (Romance of the Moon, previewed 04/29/2025) is back with another thematic set, this time interpreting the Middle Ages – castles, monks, alchemy, questing, etc. Her progressive rock chops are even more on display on this outing.
Review: Paris Move, Making A Scene
Branford Marsalis Quartet – Belonging (Blue Note, release 03/28/2025). Branford Marsalis – saxophone, Joey Calderazzo – piano, Eric Revis – bass, Justin Faulkner – drums.
It has been six years since Branford Marsalis and his celebrated quartet released a disc (The Secret Between The Shadow And The Soul – 2019) and now they are back with their Blue Note debut covering Keith Jarrett’s 1974 masterwork Belonging in its entirely. Given his solo improvisational prowess and his longstanding Standards Trio, It is easy to forget that Jarrett is a composer of note. Several of the tunes are well-remembered and periodically covered, especially ‘Long As You Know You’re Living Yours and The Windup. Marsalis is on top of his game and the quartet continues to be a very effective partner for his explorations. This is a sweet idea for a disc and I suspect it will become a favored entry in his discography. Highly recommended.
Review: Jazz Trail, Marlbank, Paris Move, Jazzwise, AllAboutJazz
Altin Sencalar – Unleashed (Posi-Tone Records, release 03/28/2025). Altin Sencalar – trombone, Greg Tardy – tenor saxophone / clarinet, Bruce Williams – flute / alto saxophone / soprano saxophone, Behn Gillece – vibraphone, Boris Kozlov – bass, E.J. Strickland – drums.
For his fourth Posi-Tone release, trombonist Altin Sencalar has picked challenging material which he and his ensemble perform with skill. The rhythm section is, as usual, a Posi-Tone affair with vibraphonist Behn Gillece, bassist Boris Kozlov and drummer EJ Strickland. Gillece gives the session a shimmering quality, recalling so many Bobby Hutcherson dates. Greg Tardy plays mostly tenor, but unpacks his clarinet for a pair, including Dolphy’s 17 West. It’s always a treat to her Tardy on clarinet. Highly recommended.
Review: Making A Scene
Russ Spiegel – Nitty Gritty (Ruzztone Records, release 03/28/2025). Tim Armacost – tenor saxophone, Jim Gaslor – organ / piano, Russ Spiegel – electric guitar / acoustic guitar, Kurt Hengstebeck – electric bass, Lucas Apostoleris – drums.
Guitarist Russ Spiegel (Caribbean Blues, previewed 12/11/2023) brings back his trio with Jim Gasser on organ and Lucas Apostoleris on drums. This time out, he features tenor player Tim Armacost in a program of four originals and seven well-chosen covers (John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, Duke Ellington, Jimmy Giuffre).
Review: Contemporary Fusion Reviews, The Jazz Page
Chicago Jazz Orchestra – More Amor: A Tribute To Wes Montgomery (CJO Music, release 03/28/2025). Bobby Broom – guitar, Chicago Jazz Orchestra.
From 1960 – 1964, guitarist Wes Montgomery was celebrated as the next great hard bop jazz guitarist. For the following four years until his premature death, Montgomery played increasingly in pop settings with massed strings and a pop repertoire. Years later, this style of playing became known as smooth jazz and it is his late period that is celebrated by guitarist Bobby Broom (no stranger to smooth jazz) with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra.
Review: Paris Move, AllAboutJazz
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Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
