New Jazz Releases – 06/22/2026
By Russell Perry
Leigh Pilzer
Some terrific music again this week with releases by Mark Turner and The Phoenix Trio, a vintage release from Mick Goodrick & Fred Hersch, Michael Dease Big Band, Leigh Pilzer, and Jun Iida. Enjoy.
Jon Batiste – Black Mozart (Decca Records, release 06/19/2026). Jon Batiste – piano.
This is the second of pianist Jon Batiste’s solo releases in his Batiste Piano Series, following last year’s Beethoven Blues. Batiste is a remarkable player and a great talent. This release skews heavily to the classical side as the pianist interprets Mozart’s compositions through the lens of Black American music.
The Phoenix Trio – Tomorrow Is Today(Giant Step Arts, release 06/19/2026). Mark Turner – tenor saxophone, Joe Martin – bass, Marcus Gilmore – drums.
New York tenor saxophonist Mark Turner (Patternmaster, 03/30/2026) has reassembled 3/4 of his quartet from Lathe of Heaven (2013) for a live trio date. Sometimes a tenor trio sounds spare, but not this one, especially given the active participation of drummer Marcus Gilmore (Trio of Bloom, Jason Palmer, Patricia Brennan). Mark Turner is one of the great tenor players of his era and he continues to play at the highest levels. Bassist Joe Martin composed four of the tunes with the balance of the release comprised of one each from Turner and Gilmore. Terrific. Highly recommended.
Review: Paris Move, Jazz Views
Mick Goodrick & Fred Hersch – Feebles, Fables and Ferns (ECM, release 06/19/2026). Fred Hersch – piano, Mick Goodrick – guitar.
In 1988, pianist Fred Hersch (The Surrounding Green, previewed 06/30/2025) and under-recorded guitarist Mick Goodrich (Gary Burton, Steve Swallow, Charlie Haden) recorded a set of duets that have been unreleased until now. The players contributed four of the compositions (including Hersch’s sweet Heartsong) and add three covers. Its a shame that these players didn’t record again. They sound wonderful together. What a treat. Recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz, UK Vibe
OM – Suedpol (Intakt Records, release 06/19/2026). Urs Leimgruber – soprano saxophone, Christy Doran – electric guitar / devices, Bobby Burri – double bass / devices, Gerry Hemingway – drums / percussion, Tony Buck – drums / percussion.
Fifty years after the founding of OM in 1972, drummer Fredy Strider passed away and for their latest release they have added two drummers. Always looking at music from the outside, OM can be quiet and contemplative or aggressively in-your-face.
Michael Dease Big Band – Return Trajectory (Origin, release 06/19/2026). Scott Belck – trumpet, Joel Reaves – trumpet, Eli Rachlin – trumpet, Andrew Brown – trumpet, Aidan Clark – trombone, Miles Cole – trombone, Eli Howell – trombone, Elisabeth Shafer – bass trombone, Mason Reinhardt – alto & soprano sax, Stephen Michaels – alto sax, Paloma Ximena – tenor sax, Shane Karas – tenor sax, Andrew Wittmer – bari sax, Max Gage – piano, Zach Sommerfeld – guitar, Jonathan Hilliard – bass, Sam Melkonian – drums with Erena Terakubo – alto saxophone, Dennis Adu – flugelhorn.
A decade and a half ago trombonist / baritone saxophonist Michael Dease ran a big band in a monthly residency at the long closed Greenwich Village venue – the Garage. Now Dease is firmly ensconced at Michigan State University where he is influencing a new generation of players, including recording trombonists Altin Sencalar, Eli Howell, and Nanami Haruta. This edition of his big band is mostly students, although Charlottesville’s Sharel Cassity makes a lovely guest appearance. There is some remarkable playing on this release and the arrangements are first class. Recommended.
Review: Paris Move
CentoThreeo – Halfway To Mellowtown (Second Bridge Records, release 06/19/2026). Don Cento – guitar, Phil Spencer – bass, Norm Bergeron – drums.
Austin guitarist Don Cento’s trio is self-described as a Jazz / Americana trio, fittingly. Theirs is a spare and airy sound characterized by stately crystalline single note runs from the leader. This is a strong debut bringing us ten originals by the leader plus one by bassist Phil Spencer.
Review: Jazz Journal, Glide Magazine
Leigh Pilzer – Keep Holding On (Strange Woman Records, release 06/19/2026). Leigh Pilzer – baritone saxophone, Paul Bratcher – Hammond B3, Greg Holloway – drums with Jen Krupa – trombone, Kenny Rittenhouse – trumpet, Ally Hany Albrecht – trumpet, Joe Jackson – trombone.
Baritone saxophonist Leigh Pilzer (Leigh Pilzer’s Seven Pointed Star – Beatin’ The Odds, 2024) is one of the best on the scene on the big horn. The format for this release is a baritone – organ – drums trio supplemented by four different brass players, all of whom played on Pilzer’s previous record. In fact, the only player not on that disc is the organist Paul Bratcher, who also contributes the only track not written by Pilzer. Pilzer is a player of great warmth who is not out to floor us with her facility, but seems more interested in joining us for an comfortable stroll. Recommended.
Review: Paris Move, AllAboutJazz
Mike Eckroth Minas Messengers – New Paths (Truth Revolution, release 06/19/2026). Michael Eckroth – piano / keyboards / synthesizers, Eneias Xavier – acoustic bass / electric bass, Magno Alexandre – acoustic guitar / electric guitar, Toninho Horta – acoustic guitar / electric guitar, Cyrano Almeida – drumset / percussion with Talles Bibiano – percussion / voice, – voice, Sachal Vasandani – voice, Natália Coimbra – voice, David Fernandez – soprano saxophone / clarinet / flute, Mauro Rodrigues – bass flute / flute, Vincius Mendes – soprano saxophone, Bernardo Fabris – tenor saxophone, Breno Mendonça – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone.
Drawing from rural musical traditions in Minas Gerais, Brazil, pianist Michael Eckroth has composed a set of nine original tracks for a piano – guitar – bass – drums quartet supplemented with various reeds, percussion and voices. I’d have to have a better knowledge of the music that inspired this work to be able to recognize the infuences – there is little that reaches my ears saying “Brazil.”
Ben Patterson – Stretch (Origin, release 06/19/2026). Ben Patterson – trombone, Harry Appelman – piano / Fender Rhodes / Hammond B-3 organ, Shawn Purcell – guitar, Miles Brown – bass, Todd Harrison – drums.
Following up his big band release (Mad Scientist Music, previewed 03/24/2025), trombonist Ben Patterson is back with an organ – guitar quintet. As we expect from Patterson, this release has more strong writing – all originals. The vibe is more funky and fusion-influenced than with the last disc. Most memorable to me is the strong, fluid trombone playing.
Review: Paris Move
Jun Iida – Bellflower (OA2, release 06/19/2026). Jun Iida – trumpet / vocals, Chris McCarthy – piano / Rhodes, Masami Kuroki – guitar, Giulio Xavier Cetto – bass, Jongkuk Kim – drums with Takafumi Nikaido – congas, Zelda Harris – vocals.
For his sophomore release, trumpeter Jun IIda (Evergreen, previewed 01/29/2024) mostly changes up his band (except Masami Kuroki on guitar) but brings back his sweet tone and strong sense of melody. Iida wrote nine of the ten tracks and they are every bit as elegant and lyrical as we discovered on the first release. Recommended.
Review: Paris Move, JW Vibe
Charles Chen – The Long Way Home (Cellar Music, release 06/19/2026). Charles Chen – piano, Félix Lemerle – guitar, Bill Crow – bass, Steve Little – drums.
Bassist Bill Crow and drummer Steve Little, both in their nineties, have a weekly gig on Sunday afternoon at Smalls in Greenwich Village after long careers involving stints with everyone from Duke to Gerry Mulligan. Their latest is this collaboration with pianist Charles Chen (Charles, Play, previewed 01/15/2024) and guitarist Félix Lemerle. In addition to eleven musical tracks (standards), both the veterans have recorded reminiscences of their years of playing.
Review: Contemporary Fusion Reviews
Robyn Spangler – The John Beasley Project (WIIFM Music, release 06/04/2026). John Beasley – piano / keyboards, Robin Spangler – vocals with John Michael Bradford – trumpet, Bob Sheppard – soprano saxophone / tenor saxophone / flute / piccolo, George Doering – guitar, Larry Koonse – guitar, Dan Lutz – bass, Edwin Livingston – bass, Christian Euman – drums / percussion, Gary Novac – drums / percussion.
Vocalist Robyn Spangler tackles a program of primarily pop covers with rich arrangements by John Beasley (John Beasley & Frankfurt Radio Big Band – Returning To Forever, previewed 09/16/2024).
Eve Cornelius – Again … Naturally (TonEveJa Records, release 05/27/2026). Lynn Grissett – trumpet, Robin Trowers – trombone, Dr. Ira Wiggins – saxophone, Anthony Wolsey – piano, Will Lyle – bass / conga, Larry Q. Draughn Jr – Drums set / triangle, Eve Cornelious – vocals.
Soulful North Carolina-based vocalist Eve Cornelious puts a very personal stamp on a program of eight covers and one original.
John Pachnos – John Pachnos (Avgonyma Music, release 05/15/2026). Carter Vames – saxophone / flute, Caleb Heinze – guitar, Frankie Midnight – piano / keyboard, John Pachnos – bass, Justin Vedovelli – drums
New Jersey bassist John Pachnos has released his debut in the company of players with whom he went to college. The program consists of seven originals. On one track the leader plays bouzouki as a nod to his Greek heritage.
Airto Moreira – Ricardo Bacelar – Maracanós (Jasmin Music, release 04/24/2026). Ricardo Bacelar – voice / acoustic piano / Fender Rhodes / Hammond organ / percussion / electric guitar / samples / modular synthesizer, Airto Moreira – percussions, with Flora Purim – vocals and cast of thousands.
There was a time when Airto and Flora Purim brought magic to recording projects…
Review: Latin Jazz Net, UK Vibe
Tobin Mueller & Tomás Martínez – Blue Side, Vol. 1 & 2 (ArtsForge, release 04/2026 & 06/2026). Tomás Martinez – alto saxophone / tenor saxophone, Tobin Meuller – piano / bass with Juan Torres Fernández – alto saxophone / tenor saxophone, Shahar Haziza – drums, Ruben De Ruiter – finger cymbals / chimes / bodhran
Pianist and bassist Tobin Mueller has enlisted Argentine tenor and alto saxophonist Tomás Martínez for a two-CD set of mostly original duets. Spare and often lovely.
Review: Dancing About Architecture
David Penn – Next Step (Self Produced, release 02/25/2026). Fareed Mahluli – saxophone, Joel Stewart – piano, David Penn – bass, Tracy Williams – drums with Raquel Lozano – vocals.
Former bassist for Betty Carter, David Penn has released a saxophone quartet date for his sophomore effort. He composed all but one of the tunes.
Review: New World ’n’ Jazz, Illustrate Magazine
I hope you hear something you enjoy.
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
