New Jazz Releases – 06/08/2026
By Russell Perry
Tomeka Reid
Now that we are celebrating the amazing success of the First-Annual Charlottesville Jazz Festival, we can turn our attention instead to new releases. The mission of this weekly publication and the Jazz Fest share at least this in common – to celebrate living artists and promote the future of the music by connecting these artists to their audiences – existing and potential.
This week we have heard fine new sets from the Le Boeuf Brothers, Jan Harbeck, Christine Fawson, Emmet Cohen, Richard Baratta, Altin Sincalar, Tomeka Reid. Lots of music here – I hope you can engage with some of it.
Chuck Bergeron – Bass and Face (Summit Records, release 06/05/2026). Chuck Bergeron – bass, Janis Siegel, Pete McGuinness, Kate Reid, George Rabbai, Kevin Mahogany, Lisanne Lyons, Nicole Yarling, Sheila Jordan, Roseanna Vitro, Deborah Silver with Charles Pillow – saxophone, Phil Strange – piano, John Riley – drums, Phil Strange – piano, John Hart – guitar, Richie Bravo – percussion, George Rabbai — trumpet, Nicole Yarling — violin.
Bassist Chuck Bergeron (Kevin Mahogany) has recorded a set of (mostly) bass – vocals duets, with ten different vocalists. Most of the vocalists are unknown to me, except Shiela Jordan (at 95), Kevin Mahogany (who passed in 2017 – these two selections were recorded in 2005) and Rosanne Vitro. The bass – vocals duo is a favorite format of mine and Bergeron does it well.
Review: Jazz Views, Making A Scene, Paris Move
Steven Bernstein – ResoNation Trio (Royal Potato Family, release 06/05/2026). Steven Bernstein – trumpet / G Trumpet / flugelhorn, Scott Colley – acoustic bass, Nasheet Waits – drums
Scotty Hard & Steven Bernstein – Ultra Resonance (Royal Potato Family, release 06/05/2026). Steven Bernstein – trumpet / G Trumpet / flugelhorn, Scott Colley – acoustic bass, Nasheet Waits – drums with Jeremy Gustin – bass drum / floor tom / pandeiro / percussion, Scotty Hard – Roland 606 / Bias BS-2 / Akai MPC 2500 / Serato sampler / Hammond organ / Yamaha CS-50 / Moog Voyager / lap steel / feedback / percussion.
In an interesting experiment, slide trumpeter Steven Bernstein goes back to his valve trumpet for a set with bassist Scott Colley (Peter Erskine, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Lux Quartet) and drummer Nasheet Waits (Mark Turner, Rico Jones, Mart Ehrlich). This set is released under the title ResoNation Trio. The tapes were then passed on to producer Scotty Hard (Sex Mob, DJ Logic, Medeski – Martin – Wood) who recorded additional music and reconstructed the tapes into a second release, Ultra Resonance. As I wrote, “an interesting experiment”.
Gustavo Cortiñas – The Drum Also Sings (Desafió Candente, release 06/05/2026). Dave King – drum set, Isaiah Spencer – drum set, Gustavo Cortiñas – drum set with Angelina Suyul – spoken word, La Paula Herrera – vocals, Maryta de Humahuaca – vocals.
Chicago percussionist Gustavo Cortiñas (The Crisis Knows No Border, previewed 04/14/2025) visited Charlottesville a couple of years back with trumpeter Emily Kuhn and has most recently been heard on several recordings with the Chicago quartet Entre Amigos. The new release is a percussion trio playing rhythmically and melodically and supplemented on three tracks with vocalists. Joining Cortinas in the trio is Dave King of The Bad Plus and Isaiah Spencer.
Lakecia Benjamin – We Dream (Artwork Records, release 06/05/2026). Sean Jones – trumpet, Lakecia Benjamin – alto saxophone, Oscar Pérez-piano, Miki Hayama – piano/keyboard, Elias Bailey – bass, Jonathan Barber – drums with Terence Blanchard – trumpet, Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah – trumpet, Chris Potter – saxophone, Jeff “Tain” Watts – drums, Hiromi – piano, Bilal – vocals, Tarriona “Tank” Ball – vocals, Kassa Overall – drummer.
Young and charismatic alto saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin (Phoenix Reimagined (Live), previewed 07/01/2024) gained a lot of attention with her last three releases and is now a regular finalist in the polls. This time out she gets help from some serious players – trumpeters Terence Blanchard, Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, and Sean jones, saxophonist Chris Potter, drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts. Lots of funk, fusion and hip hop in this one. Her post-bop ecstasy with Potter and Jones is the most successful to these ears.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Jazz Trail, AllAboutJazz
Seth Kibel – Clarinet, Without A Net (Azalea City Recordings, release 06/05/2026). Seth Kibel – clarinet, Maximilian Jacobs – violin, Erin Murphy Snedecor – cello, Ahren Buchheister – dobro, acoustic guitar / mandolin, Tom Holtz – helicon (tuba), Rowan Corbett – percussion / bones and Marcel Penzes – trombone, Simone Baron – accordion, Tara Linhardt – mandolin, Eliot Seppa – double bass, Haroon Alam – tablas.
Baltimore clarinetist Seth Kibel has the most unusual ensembles that I heard this week. He recorded this release with two sextets – one is clarinet – violin – cell – dobra – tuba – percussion and the other is clarinet – trombone – accordion – mandolin – bass – tablas. Six originals and covers of King – Goffin, Jager – Richards, Big Bill Broozey. There is a very old throw-back sound to the proceeds with curveballs like the tabla or dobro. Enjoyable and bluesy.
La Boeuf Brothers – Off Center (Soundspore, release 06/05/2026). Remy Le Boeuf – alto saxophone / tenor saxophone, Dayna Stephens – tenor saxophone, Pascal Le Boeuf – piano, Linda May Han Oh – bass, Christian Euman – drums.
It is not uncommon to have jazz ensembles praised for the “telepathy” of the players. In this release from the Le Boeuf Brothers (Hush, previewed 05/01/2023), identical twins, we have that kind of sympathetic playing in spades. Each brother contributed compositions to the project, in a longer form than their previous release which tended to vignettes. Tenorist Dayna Stevens is paired with the alto saxophone playing brother, Remy, in an all-sax front line for a compelling sound. Jazz Journalist Association Bass Player of the Year – 2026 Linda May Han Oh (Strange Heavens, previewed 08/25/2025) plays beautifully as always. Recommended.
Review: Downbeat, Paris Move
Jan Harbeck Quartet – Conversation (Soundspore, release 06/05/2026). Jan Harbeck – tenor saxophone, Henrik Gunde – piano, Eske Nørrelykke – double bass, Anders Holm – drums.
Tenor-great Ben Webster died in Amsterdam in 1973, leaving a recorded legacy that is unmistakable for his breathy attack on ballads. Over half a century later, Danish tenor man Jan Harbeck (Balanced, previewed 07/29/2024) mines this legacy, making it his own in a set of seven originals with the tight and tidy quartet from his last two releases. I could listen to this all day. Highly recommended.
Doug MacDonald – Tribute To South Central (Dmac Music, release 06/01/2026). Wayne Cobham-tp/ flugelhorn, flugelbone, Doug MacDonald – guitar, Richard Turner, Jr. – EP / piano / organ / strings / per, Del Atkins – bass, Ronnie Kaufman – drums / percussion.
More clean picking and beautiful tone from Southern California guitarist Doug MacDonald (Santa Monica Session, preview 01/06/2025), this time in the company of a completely new set of players as he, once more, mixes it up.
Review: Jazz Views
Christine Fawson – It Could Happen to You (Self produced, release 06/01/2026). Christine Fawson – vocals / trumpet, Tim Ray – piano, Dave Zinno – bass, Casey Scheuerell – drums / percussion.
There are plenty of examples of trumpeters who sing (Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, Roy Eldridge, Benny Benack III) and we can add another name to the list – Christine Fawson. Maybe because she is also a instrumental player, her scatting is remarkably musical. Fine singer, fine trumpet player, delightful. Recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz, JW Vibe
The Guitar Renegades – How Many Guitarists Does It Take (Antidote Sounds, release 06/01/2026). Cristian Perez – guitar, Parker Speirs – guitar, Jan Knutson – guitar, Tommy Holladay – guitar, Connor Holdridge – guitar with John Lee – guitaR
Apparently the answer to the question in the title is five. This Northern Virginia-based guitar collective tackles covers from sources as diverse as Bach, Paul Simon and Bird. The arrangements and playing (mostly, possibly exclusively, electric) are top flight.
Emmet Cohen – Universal Truth (Mack Avenue, release 05/29/2026). Jeremy Pelt – trumpet , George Coleman – tenor saxophone, Tivon Pennicott – tenor saxophone, Emmet Cohen – piano, Yasushi Nakamura – bass, Ron Carter – bass, Joe Farnsworth – drums.
The latest from pianist Emmet Cohen (Vibe Provider, previewed 08/12/2024) is a nod to the centennials of Miles, Trane and Jimmy Heath (lets not forget this great master also born in 1926). The five covers are all associated with these giants, and My Funny Valentine includes Ron Carter on bass and George Coleman on tenor reprising their roles on this tune with Miles in 1964. In the center of the playlist is an exciting original suite from a quintet with Jeremy Pelt (Our Community Will Not Be Erased, previewed 03/09/2026) on trumpet and Tivon Pennicott (Gregory Porter, Jon Batiste) on tenor. Cohen has a deep appreciation for the history of the music and has honored many of the living players who tie us back to previous eras. Highly recommended.
Review: Glide Magazine, Downbeat, AllAboutJazz
Richard Baratta – Another Kind Of Bird (Savant, release 05/22/2026). Vincent Herring – alto saxophone, Bill O’Connell – piano, Paul Bollenback – guitar, Michael Goetz – bass, Richard Baratta – drums, Paul Rossman – percussion with Eric Alexander – saxophone, Abraham Burton – saxophone, Craig Handy – saxophone.
Charlie Parker’s music has been interpreted by hundreds of jazz musicians over the years, making arranger Bill O’Connell’s job that much harder. His focus here is to wrap the familiar melodies around Latin rhythms, a task that even Bird tackled with indifference. His Latin records (South of the Border – 1952 and Fiesta – 1951) are among his least successful as he didn’t evidence much commitment to the rhythms. Drummer Richard Baratta and his crack band, on the other hand, invest these familiar themes with a dedication to the Latin vibe. Six of the ten selections are performed by a sextet with a five-member rhythm section and Vincent Herring (Split Decision, previewed 08/25/2025) up front singing bebop on the alto. The other four tracks feature a robust front line with up to four saxophonists. Recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Jazz Views, UK Vibe
Altin Sencalar – Natural Rhythm (Posi-Tone Records, release 05/15/2026). Alex Norris – trumpet / flugelhorn, Altin Sencalar – trombone, Sharel Cassity – alto saxophone / flute / soprano saxophone, Art Hirahara – piano, Boris Kozlov – bass, Gary Kerkezou – drums, Alex Acuña – percussion with Michael Dease – baritone saxophone,
Posi-Tone Records stalwart trombonist Altin Sencalar has assembled a couple of his label mates (pianist Art Hirahara, bassist Boris Kazlov) plus Charlottesville’s saxophonist Sharel Cassity and (normally trombonist) Michael Dease on baritone for a set of Latin inflected covers (Wayne Shorter, JJ Johnson, John Coltrane) and six originals. Greek drummer Gary Kerkezou (Michael Dease) and veteran percussionist Alex Acuña keep the rhythms at the forefront. Cuban, Puerto Rican, Mexican influences abound, including an upbeat salsa-flavored version of Resolution (Part 2 of A Love Supreme). The new compositions are strong and varied. Recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz, PostGenre
Charlie Wood – Your Love Is My Home (Stunt Records, release 03/06/2026). James McMillan – trumpet, Robin Aspland – piano, Villads Littauer Bendixen – violin, Lara Biancalana – cello, Daniel Franck – bass, Laurence Cottle – bass, Ian Thomas – drums, Cornelia Nilsson – drums, Charlie Wood: vocal / piano / organ, Ayoe Angelica – choir, Sophie Ziedoy – choir.
Memphis-born, UK- based vocalist Charlie Wood has released a set of eight (mostly pop) covers and two originals featuring his warm vocals and (mostly) a piano trio for accompaniment with periodic additions of a strings and backing vocals.
Review: Jazz Views, UK Jazz News, Jazz Journal
Tomeka Reid Quartet – Dance! Skip! Hop! (Out Of Your Head Records, release 02/13/2026). Mary Halvorson – guitar, Tomeka Reid – cello, Jason Roebke – bass / cassette, Tomas Fujiwara – drums.
Three times in the past eleven years (3+3 – 2024, Old New – 2019, Tomeka Reid Quartet, 2015), cellist Tomeka Reid has assembled this quartet for a recording session. To my ears this, their fourth release, is the best of the lot, certainly the most accessible. The band stretches out on five compositions by the leader and the end of the fifty-minute set leaves one wanting more. This is first and foremost a string ensemble whose character is defined by the careful and collaborative interplay of guitar, cello and bass. Note that in the recent Jazz Journalists Association 2026 Poll, Tomeka Reid was named Strings Player of the Year and Mary Halvorson was named Guitarist of the Year. Highly recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Post-Trash, The Guardian
Malene Mortensen & Christian Sands – Malene & Christian (Stunt Records release 02/06/2026). Christian Sands – piano, Villads Littauer Bendixen – violin, Lara Biancalana – cello, Thomas Ovesen – bass, Rasmus Kihlberg – drums, Malene Mortensen – vocals with Eliel Lazo – congas / percussion, Mathias Heise – harmonica, Gabor Bolla – saxophone, Benny Benack III – trumpet.
Reprising their 2015 collaboration (Can’t Help It), pianist Christian Sands (Embracing Dawn, previewed 09/09/2025), Danish vocalist Malene Mortensen and their quartet have released a set of five originals and four covers straddling the gap between jazz and pop.
One more shout-out to the Charlottesville Jazz Festival! What a great gift to the community. Thanks to all the organizers, all the performers and all the folks that turned out!
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
