New Jazz Releases – 06/09/2025
By Russell Perry
Isaiah J Thompson
Another overwhelming week of music, from artists across the realm of ages. 28-year old Isaiah J Thompson goes deeper into his spirituality. 38-year old Julian Shore thrilled me with his latest trio release. 43-year old Behn Gillece continues the strong Posi-Tone Records string, this time with Willie Smith. 57-year old Kurt Elling indulges in some guilty pleasures. 68-year old Mark Masters leads big bands featuring 82-year old Billy Harper in sets of Harper’s music and compositions of Sam Rivers. Finally posthumous releases from Mulgrew Miller with 72-year old John Clayton and from Art Pepper in 1980. Whew!!
Fil Caporali & Tom Borgeois Moanin’ Birds- Prophets & Profits (Hypnote Records, release 06/06/2025). Tom Borgeois – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone / bass clarinet, Fil Caporali – bass.
Belgium-based reeds – bass duo ranges from freely improvised performances to counterpoint to folk-like melodies, all composed by the two players, except for a single Cole Porter cover. On five tracks piano and drums are added.
Review: Downbeat
Julian Shore – Sub Rosa (Chill Tone Records, release 06/06/2025). Julian Shore – piano, Martin Nevin – bass, Allan Medford – drums.
Pianist Julian Shore (Noah Preminger, Caroline Davis, Dave Stryker) has been releasing records as a leader for a dozen years and I am late to the party. After listening to this stunning piano trio release, I need to dig back into his discography and see what I have missed, especially a 2023 record with this same trio (Trio). The trio captures a very mysterious vibe, appropriate for a disc entitled Sub Rosa. There are so many piano trio discs out, I sometimes struggle to appreciate each one’s uniqueness, but this one immediately captured my ears. Highly recommended.
Review: Jazz Views, Jazz Times, Paris Move
Isaiah J. Thompson – The Book of Isaiah: Modern Jazz Ministry(Mack Avenue, release 06/06/2025). Julian Lee – tenor saxophone / vocals, Isaiah J Thompson – piano / vocals, Marty Jaffe – bass / vocals, Miguel Russell – drums / vocals with Vuyo Sotashe – vocals, Herlin Riley – tambourine / vocals, Kaitlin Obien-Thompson – vocals.
Two years ago, pianist Isaiah Thompson released a memorable set (The Power Of The Spirit, previewed 03/20/2023) introducing tenor saxophonist Julian Lee. Both players sparkled with virtuosity. They are back together in what is mostly a quartet affair with vocals added on half the compositions. Thompson refers to the set as an “8-song autobiographical musical statement exploring faith, musicianship, race and humanity.” Each in their own way, Thompson and Lee wear their spirituality on their sleeve: Lee channeling Coltrane and Pharaoh, Thompson in deep gospel mode as a player and lyricist. Powerful work. Highly recommended.
Felipe Salles – Camera Obscura (Tapestry, release 06/06/2025). Felipe Salles – soprano saxophone / tenor saxophone / piccolo / flute / alto flute / bass flute / clarinet / bass clarinet, Nando Michelin – piano, Keala Kaumeheiwa – bass, Steve Langone – drums with The Cushman Quartet: Laura Arpiainen – violin, Amanda Stenroos – violin, Anton Boutkov – viola, Karl Knapp – cello.
Brazilian-born multi-reed player Felipe Salles (Home Is Here, previewed 05/15/2023) has written a set of ten compositions for saxophone quartet plus string quartet. Nuanced and gentle, there is a strong classical overlay on an improvising jazz quartet.
Review: Paris Move
Dan Weiss Quartet – Unclassified Affections (Pi Recordings, release 06/06/2025). Peter Evans – trumpet, Patricia Brennan – vibraphone, Miles Okazaki – guitar, Dan Weiss – drums.
Drummer Dan Weiss released one of the best records last year (Even Odds, previewed 03/18/2024) in a trio and has expanded the format to a quartet this time with Peter Evans on trumpet, Patricia Brennan on vibes and Miles Okazaki on guitar. Weiss plays in all kinds of setting and a myriad of jazz styles, although tending to the edgy fringes. Here he has focussed on the melodic and lyrical with the shimmering sounds of Patricia Brennan in the foreground.
Review: Jazz Trail, AllAboutJazz
Tyler Henderson – Love Endures (Cellar Music, release 06/06/2025. Tyler Henderson – piano, Caleb Tobocman – bass, Hank Allen-Barfield – drums.
Pianist Tyler Henderson (Ilya Osachuk, Jacob Chung) has recorded a trio set of five originals and five covers on his debut outing.
Peter & Will Anderson – The Best Of Berlin (Arbors Records, release 06/06/2025. Wycliffe Gordon – trombone, Peter Anderson – saxophones / clarinet, Will Anderson – saxophones / clarinet, Rossano Sportiello – piano, Neal Miner – double bass, Chuck Redd – drums / vibraphone.
Brothers and fellow saxophone players Peter and Will Anderson have recorded a set of 13 selections from the pen of Irving Berlin (1888 – 1989). Stylistically, the record serves as a catalog of 20th century jazz styles. Trombonist and singer Wycliffe Gordon enlivens the proceedings including vocals on Cheek To Cheek & Puttin’ On The Ritz.
Mark Masters Ensemble featuring Billy Harper – Sam Rivers 100 (Capri Records, release 06/06/2025). Ryan DeWeese, Mike Cottone, Nathan Kay, Tim Hagans – trumpet / flugelhorn, Les Benedict, Fred Simmons, Dan Woodley – trombone, Billy Harper – tenor saxophone, Jerry Pinter – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Nicole McCabe – alto saxophone, Tom Luer – baritone saxophone, Jeff Colella – piano, Chris Colangelo – bass, Kendall Kay – drums)
To celebrate the centennial of the birth of tenor saxophonist Sam Rivers, arranger / bandleader Mark Maters has assembled a 14-piece ensemble featuring the legendary tenor
Billy Harper. Typically, we would think of Rivers as a free-jazz hero and Billy Harper as one who hews a mighty hard bop axe. In Masters’s hands the compositions of Sam Rivers are made more approachable and Harper fits right in. Fans of Rivers’s masterwork (and debut as a leader) Fuchsia Swing Song (1964) will delight that all of its six tracks are covered on Sam Rivers 100 (plus four others.) Highly recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Paris Move
Mark Masters Ensemble featuring Billy Harper – Dance, Eternal Spirits, Dance! (Capri Records, release 06/06/2025). Dan Fornero, Jamie Hovorka, Aaron Janik, Tim Hagens – trumpet / flugelhorn, Francisco Torres, Ido Meshulam, Lemar Guillary – trombone, Jullian Gralle – bass trombone, Billy Harper – tenor saxophone, Jerry Pinter – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone / alto flute, Kirsten Edkins – tenor saxophone / clarinet, Adam Schroeder – baritone saxophone, Brian Walsh – bass clarinet, Francesca – piano, Chris Colangelo – bass, Kendall Kay – drums
Nine months after the Sam Rivers set (above), arranger / bandleader Mark Masters brought some of the same players back together for a set of compositions by 82-year old Billy Harper, who returns as the honored guest. Masters brings a gentle touch to Harper’s writing, enriching the sound with the full power of 16-piece ensemble (eight brass, five reeds, three rhythm). You may recall that after recording for Strata-East in ’73, Harper recorded the first disc for the Black Saint label in Italy in ’75 (called Black Saint, of course) and the great mid tempo swinger Croquet Ballet from that release is covered here. With Harper also participating in the all-star group The Cookers, we are hearing more from him here in the 20s than in recent decades. Let’s hope this increased exposure continues. Highly recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Paris Move
The Mighty Mocombos – A Higher Frequency (Self Produced, release 06/06/2025). Sebastian Drescher – trumpet / flugelhorn / electric piano, Ben Greenslade-Stanton – trombone, Bernhard Hummer – baritone saxophone / tenor saxophone, Daniel Kimaz – flutes, Guillaume Metenier – grand piano / organ / clavinet, Bjorn Wagner – guitar, Victor Kohn – bass, Sascha Weise – drums, Nichola Richards – percussion / vocals.
This seems to be the sixth release by the German funk outfit The Mighty Macambos (although they are new to me.) There are lots of groove, blazing horns, passionate vocals and soulful guitars reminding me of the old-school Daptone vibe.
Noah Haidu – Standards III (Infinite distances, release 06/06/2025). Steve Wilson – alto saxophone, Noah Haidu – piano, Gervis Myles – bass, Buster Williams – bass, Peter Washington – bass, Charles Goold – drums, Billy Hart – drums, Lewis Nash – drums.
Now for the third time, pianist Noah Haidu has brought a piano trio to the “standards” well (Standards, previewed 06/12/2023 & Standards II, previewed 04/01/2024). There are some very familiar (overexposed?) tunes here like Yesterdays and Alone Together, but also some less often covered tracks like Thad Jones’s A Child Is Born or Duke’s Things Ain’t What They Used to Be. Solid start to finish.
Freedom Art Quartet – First Dance (Outside In Music, release 06/01/2025). Omar Kabir – trumpet / flugelhorn / sea shells / didgeridoo, Alfredo Colon – alto saxophone, Adam Lane – bass, Lloyd Haber – drums / muitiple percussion.
Founded in 1991 by brass player Omar Kabir with drummer Lloyd Haber, the current edition of the Freedom Art Quartet continues to be edgy and very interesting. The combination of Kabir and alto player Alfredo Colon is rich and active with a lot of simultaneous improvisation, but throughout the band keeps a solid and driving pulse.
Review: Paris Move
Danny Grissett – Travelogue (Savant Records, release 05/30/2025). Danny Grissett – piano, Vicente Archer – bass, Bill Stewart – drums.
Pianist Danny Grissett has a reputation for anchoring ensembles for trumpeters, having played that role for Tom Harrell, Jim Rotondi and Jeremy Pelt. He is here is a trio setting letting us experience his lovely touch and phrasing with a lot more space.
Review: New Releases Now
Dena DeRose – Mellow Tones (High Note Records, release 05/30/2025). Ed Neumeister – trombone, Dena DeRose – vocals / piano, Martin Wind – bass, Matt Wilson – drums.
Singer Dena DeRose charts a course through a familiar set of standards in true jazz club fashion. Simple trio arrangements, for the most part, supplemented with Ed Neumeister on trombone for a few tracks.
Review: Marlbank
Behn Gillece – Pivot Point (Posi-Tone Records, release 05/23/2025). Willie Morris – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Jon Davis – piano, Behn Gillece – vibraphone, Boris Kozlov – bass, Rudy Royston – drums, Jason Tiemann – drums.
There are more fine vibraphone players today than at anytime in the history of this music (I boldly assert with absolutely no proof) and Behn Gillece (Stick Together, previewed 05/06/2024) stands among the best. He is back with a set of straight-ahead music as befits Posi-tone Records. The ensemble is enlivened by a relative newcomer to the label, Willie Smith (Unbound Inner, previewed 03/03/2025)on tenor and soprano. Gillece, Smith and pianist Jon Davis contributed seven of the eight tunes and they prove to be fine vehicles for some terrific playing. Highly recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz
Rob Clearfield – Voice In The Wilderness (Jazz & People, release 05/23/2025). Itamar Borochov – trumpet, Rob Clearfield – piano, Joe Sanders – double bass, Fred Pasqua – drums.
Chicago native, Marseille-based pianist Rob Clearfield has been a regular sideman for Makaya McRaven. Here he teams with bassist Joe Sanders (Parallels, previewed 10/14/2024) with whom he has played since they were teenagers. On three tunes, the trio is expanded with trumpeter Itamar Borochov (Arba, previewed 01/08/2024) who brings his highly vocalized playing to the tracks.
Review: Jazz News
Art Pepper – An Afternoon In Norway, The Kongsberg Concert (Elemental Records, release 05/09/2025). Art Pepper – alto saxophone, Milcho Leviev – piano, Tony Dumas – bass, Carl Burnett – drums.
Alto saxophonist Art Pepper is one of those players who late career work stands tall. After serving time in four stretches during the period 1954 – 1965 and a subsequent stint at Synanon, Pepper began to record again in 1975, influenced by John Coltrane and playing the most emotional music of his career. This live performance at a Norwegian jazz festival in June 1980, is yet another gig to emerge in what has been a steady stream for several years. Great sound, legendary playing. Highly recommended.
Review: JazzWise, AllAboutJazz, UK Vibe
Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter – Superblue: Guilty Pleasures Vol. 2(Big Shoulders Records, release 05/09/2025). Jon Lampley – trumpet, Chris Ott – trombone, Dan White – saxophone, Kiefer – keyboards, Charlie Hunter – hybrid guitar, Marcus Finnie – drums, Kurt Elling – voice, Victoria Victoria – background vocals.
Singer Kurt Elling and hybrid-guitar master Charlie Hunter are back with a second short set of jazzy versions of 70s and 80s pop hits. Normally this wouldn’t excite me much but the arranging and performance is so strong, I thoroughly enjoyed this. I recently saw a version of this band and they were having a lot of fun with this material to supplement Elling’s typical uber-hip jazz material. Recommended.
John Clayton – Talk To Me About Mulgrew (ArtistShare, release 11/22/2024). Mulgrew Miller – piano, John Clayton – bass.
In 2007, bassist John Clayton (Marina Pacowski, Craig Davis) initiated an impromptu recording session with the late Mulgrew Miller (1955 – 2013), a pianist of incomparable swing and subtle touch. The result is a loving response to a set of commonly revered tunes from Monk, Duke, Benny Golson, Thad Jones, Ray Brown, and more. It is great to hear from Miller again, a dozen years after his passing. Highly recommended.
Now that’s a strong playlist!
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
