New Jazz Releases – 05/11/2026
By Russell Perry
Tumbao Bravo
Something for a wide range jazz fans this week. Tumbao Bravo brings a vintage mambo sound back to life, Schapiro17 offers top-notch big band charts, Satako Fujii & Myra Melford explore spirited piano duets, Ted Rosenthal revives the piano trio and adds Ken Peplowski on clarinet for a pair, and Judith Owen harnesses New Orleans energy with an emotional vocal set. Should keep you busy.
Chris Potter – Alive with Ghosts Today(Edition Records, release 05/08/2026). Zekkereya El-magharbel – trombone, Chris Potter – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Rane Moore – clarinet, Bill Frisell – guitar, Sara Caswell – violin, Burniss Travis – bass, Nate Smith – drums .
Saxophonist Chris Potter is one of the great improvisors in Jazz today, which leads me to find this release to be holding him back a bit. The eight original compositions are complex constructions with detailed arrangements. There is a three horn (sax – trombone – clarinet) front line with two additional improvisors in the rhythm section (Bill Frisell on guitar and Sara Caswell on violin). As a result, there is less room for Potter to explore that I would wish, especially as I love to sit back and hear where Potter takes the music when he is given free rein.
Review: Jazz Weekly, Something Else Reviews
Christopher Sánchez – Latin Jazz Meets Opera (Zoho Music, release 05/08/2026). Giovanni Siveroni – trumpet, Xito Lowell – trombone, Dayramir González – piano, Monica Davis – violin, Yesu Woo – violin, Angela Pickett – viola, Laura Metcalf – violoncello, Carlos Mena – upright bass, Keisel Jimenez – timbal, Edgar Martinez Ochoa – congas / bongo / percussion, Christopher Sánchez – baritone singer, Jazmine Saunders – soprano singer.
While the musical setting is convincingly Latin jazz, the vocals in the new release make no attempt at jazz – no bent notes, no singing ahead of or behind the beat, no interpreting the melody, no exploration with the phrasing. Not interesting to me.
Yvonne Rogers – The Button Jar (Pyroclastic Records, release 05/08/2026). Yvonne Roger – piano.
Maine-native, Brooklyn-resident pianist Yvonne Rogers makes her debut in a solo set of original compositions. This is highly personal music that spans from quite dense to sparse and quiet.
Review: Free Jazz Blog, AllAboutJazz, Paris Move
Tumbao Bravo with Paul Vornhagen – Joy Of The Mambo(Global Pulse Records, release 05/08/2026). Dave Rajewski – trumpet / flugelhorn / shaker, Paul Vornhagen – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone / flute / piccolo / ocarinas / Latin percussion, Kurt Schreitmueller – piano, Patrick Prouty – electric bass, Armando Vega – congas, Olman Piedra – timbales.
I’ve been listening to a lot of Latin Jazz recently and this new release from the south-eastern Michigan-based sextet Tumbao Bravo rings true to me. Driven by the masterful piano playing of Kurt Schreitmueller, coupled with Armando Vega on congas and Olman Piedra on timbales, this band will have you on your feet. The reeds / trumpet front line brings us one catchy melody after another. Recommended.
Schapiro17 – Best Laid Plans (Summit Records, release 05/08/2026). Bryan Davis, Andy Gravish, Eddie Allen, Noyes Bartholomew – trumpets, Alex Jeun, Deborah Weisz, Andrea Neumann, Brandon Moodie, Walter Harris – trombones, Ken Robinson, Nathan Bellott, Paul Carlon, Rob Middleton, Matt Hong – reeds, Simona Premazzi – piano, Sebastian Noelle – guitar, Bob Sabin – bass, Jon Wikan – drums.
For his third time out, composer / arranger Jon Schapiro leads his 17-piece big band through three originals and six lively (as opposed to tired) covers – covers of Herbie Hancock, Horace Silver, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins and surprisingly Scott Joplin. The New York-based band is full of players who are new to me, including several strong soloists. Recommended.
Review: Scope Magazine
Satoko Fujii & Myra Melford – Katahari (RogueArt, release 05/05/2026). Satoko Fujii – piano, Myra Melford – piano.
Twenty years ago, piano titans Satoko Fujii and Myra Melford recorded their only duo record until now – a fully improvised affair. Now they are out with a duo set for which they have split the composing responsibilities. This record sits atop the slender pile of recent jazz piano duet albums (Faye – Gehenot, Courvoisier – Symthe, Duran – Virelles, Elias – Corea) along with the wonderful Vijay Iyer – Craig Taborn effort of several years back. Highly recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Women In Jazz Media
Ted Rosenthal – The Good Old Days (TMR Music, release 05/01/2026). Ted Rosenthal – piano, Martin Wind – bass, Norika Ueda – bass, Tim Horner – drums, Quincy Davis – drums with Ken Peplowski – clarinet
Manhattan School of Music faculty member and pianist Ted Rosenthal has put out a fine trio disc. I am struggling to identify why this one rises to the top of piano trio discs that have encountered my ears recently. Perhaps it is Rosenthal’s clear respect for the history of the music without being slavish. I also appreciate the relentless positivity and joyfulness. This is music I am happy to spend time with. He works with a pair of bassists (Martin Wind! Norika Ueda!) and a pair of drummers in various combinations, spicing things up on two tracks with the clarinet of Ken Peplowski (who passed away at 66 in February). A joy start to finish. Highly recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz
Judith Owen – Suit Yourself (Twanky Records, release 04/24/2026). Kevin Louis – cornet, Ashlin Parker – trumpet, Andrew Baham – trumpet, Emily Mikesell – trumpet, John Zarsky – trumpet, Charlie Halloran – trombone, Stephen Tenney – trombone, Glennon Stanton – trombone, Ethan Santos – bass trombone, Ricardo Pascal – tenor saxophone, Amari Ansari – alto saxophone, Connor Stewart – alto saxophone, Miles Berry – tenor saxophone, Tim Sullivan – baritone saxophone, David Torkanowsky – piano, David Blenkhorn – guitar, Lex Warshawsky – bass, Maz Moran – bass, Pedro Segundo – drums / percussion, Jamison Ross – drums, Judith Owen – vocals with Davell Crawford – piano / organ / vocals,Joe Bonamassa – guitar.
Last time out Welsh-born, NOLA-based vocalist Judith Owen (Unapologetically, previewed 05/29/2023) gave us a set that was joyful and a little naughty. Now she brings us a bluesy set with far more emotional nuance and the change is welcomed as she dives into life and relationships. She has smokey chops that work well in the small group settings that dominate the set, and she totally nails it when a full big band assembles for two tracks (Moanin’ and Evil Gal Blues). The four original tracks are strong and powerful and the band is full of solid NOLA cats (David Torkanowsky is wonderful on piano). I love when players cover Mose Allison! What’s not to love? Highly recommended.
Review: Mundane Mag, Soundville
Pete Mills – This Is Now (Self Produced, release 04/03/2026). Pete Mills – tenor saxophone, Kenny Banks – piano, Pete McCann – electric guitar / acoustic guitar, Martin Wind – bass, Matt Wilson – drums.
In his latest, Toronto-based saxophonist Pete Mills has expanded his quartet to a quintet by trading the B3 for a piano and bass. The program is eleven originals and a cover of Strayhorn’s UMMG in a relaxed and confident mainstream production.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Paris Move
A good week!
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
