New Jazz Releases – 06/23/2025
By Russell Perry
Joshua Redman
A couple of veterans put out outstanding mainstream work this week – Joshua Redman with his road-tested quartet and Michael Dease in both a trio and quintet format. Sean Jones and Alicia Olatuja have a fine new disc out leading NYO Jazz – an orchestra of 16 – 19 year olds. Rounding out the highlights are a new disc from pioneering drummer Bob Moses and one from expressive singer Anita DonnDorff. Enjoy.
Mike Clark & Mike Zilber – Standard Deviations (Sunnyside Records, release 06/23/2025) Michael Zilbur – tenor saxophone, Jon Davis – piano, Alex Claffy – bass, Mike Clark – drums.
Drummer Mike Clark (A Letter To Bill Evans, previewed 03/04/2024) has teamed with saxophonist Mike Zilbur (Jason Keiser) for a date that promises to reinterpret a set of jazz standards (Ornette, Coltrane, Hoagy Carmichael, Sam Rivers, Wayne Shorter.). Jon Davis (Behn Gillece, Willie Morris) joins on piano and bassist Alex Claffy (Memento, previewed 06/24/2024) on bass.
Review: Paris Move, Jazzwise
Gaia Wilmer & Ra Kalam Bob Moses – Dancing With Elephants (Sunnyside Records Records, release 06/20/2025). Gaia Wilmer – alto & baritone saxophones, Yulila Musayelyan – flute, alto flute & bass flute, Gustavo D’Amico – soprano saxophone, Daniele Germani – alto saxophone, George Garzone – tenor saxophone, Neta Raanan – tenor saxophone, Leo Genovese – piano & keyboards, Leandro Pellegrino – electric guitar, Ra Kalam Bob Moses – drums / percussion, Song Yi Jeon – voice.
Memphis / Norway-based drummer Ra Kalam Bob Moses helped define jazz – rock fusion with Larry Cornell and Gary Burton in the 60s. He is still very active having recently recorded four albums including this one with Brazilian saxophonist Gaia Wilmer. There are six reed players on the date and all play on a pair of tunes. Keyboard and guitar play a minimal role on the date, sitting out altogether on several selections. There is a post-Coltrane vibe to most of the disc and little, if anything, you would identify as “Brazilian”. Recommended.
Review: Jazz Times
Ivo Perelman + Matthew Shipp String Trio – Armageddon Flower (Tao Forms, release 06/20/2025). Ivo Perelman – tenor saxophone, Matthew Shipp – piano, Mat Maneri – viola, William Parker – bass.
I read that saxophonist Ivo Perlman and pianist Matthew Shipp have recorded almost 50 records together over the past 30 years and Shipp’s musical association with bassist William Parker goes back maybe 40 years. To listen to this release is to hear how comfortable these players are in each others presence. The date is a record of four players composing together in real time.
Review: Paris Move, Post Genre
Michael Dease – City Life: Music of Gregg Hill (Origin Records, release 06/20/2025). Michael Dease – trombone, Nicole Glover – tenor saxophone, Geoffrey Keezer – piano, Linda May Han Oh – bass, Jared Beckstead-Craan – bass, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts – drums, Brooklyn Dease – voice.
I’ve lost count of how many discs have come out recently featuring the fine music of Michigan-based composer Gregg Hill, but this is the third from trombonist / baritone saxophonist Michael Dease (following Found In Space, 2024 & The Other Shoe, 2023). After several discs working out on the bari, Dease has come back home to the trombone for this release. This is a two-disc release with the first disc primarily a very open trio date with bassist Linda May Han Oh (The Glass Hours, previewed 07/10/2023) and drummer “Tain” Watts (Sarah Hanahan, Kurt Elling, Kevin Eubanks). The second disc adds saxophonist Nicole Glover (Plays, previewed 04/23/2025) and pianist Geoffrey Keezer (Gillian Margot & Geoffrey Keezer, previewed 05/26/2025). High quality musicianship, sensitive choice of material, excellent group dynamics in both formats. Highly Recommended.
Review: Paris Move, Jazz Trail, AllAboutJazz
Mark Guliana – Questions(Edition Records, release 06/20/2025). Mark Guliana – piano / marimba / vibraphone / pump organ / celeste / mellotron / synthesizers, Stu Brooks – bass / synthesizers / swarmatron.
Mark Guliana (Brad Mehldau, Avishai Cohen, Dave Douglas) eschews the drums for various keyboard instruments on this largely solo piece. Stu Brooks jumps in from time-to-time on bass and synthesizers but this is primarily a one-man effort. The topic is questions and Guilianba tackles nine of them (e.g. “what have we done?”, “how can you be sure?”). The set is quiet and pensive, very atmospheric.
Review: UK Vibe
NYO Jazz – with Sean Jones and Alicia Olatuja – Live in Johannesburg (Carnegie Hall, release 06/20/2025). Alex Hong, Theodore Peebles, Lucas Rivero, Preston Rupert, Skylar Tang – trumpets, Jordan Klein, Priyanka Magavi, Bishesh Paudel, Ava Siu – trombones, Miriam Goroff-Behel – alto saxophone, Isaac Hanson – alto saxophone, Gustavo Cruz – tenor saxophone, Paloma Ximena – tenor saxophone, Ethan Kasparian Weisman – baritone saxophone, Carter Bryan – piano , Jasper Zimmerman – piano, Vincent Maclauchlan – guitar, Miles Oppinger – guitar, Ruby Farmer – bass, Rayah Thomas – bass, Ethan Oliver – drums, Benjamin Schwartz – drums with Romy Brauteseth – bass, Linda Sikhakhane – tenor saxophone.
The Carnegie Hall National Youth Orchestra under the leadership of trumpeter Sean Jones (Orrin Evans, Marius Van Den Brink, Javier Nero) recorded this date while on tour in South Africa. There a couple of guests including South African saxophonist Linda Sikhakhani (Iladi, previewed 12/16/2024), but the sections and soloists, all 16 – 19 years olds, are the stars of the show. Recommended
Review: Paris Move, AllAboutJazz
Joshua Redman – Words Fall Short (Blue Note Records, release 06/20/2025). Joshua Redman – tenor saxophone, Paul Cornish – piano, Philip Norris – bass, Nazir Ebo – drums with Melissa Aldana – tenor saxophone, Skylar Tang – trumpet, Gabrielle Cavassa – vocals.
For his second Blue Note date, saxophonist Joshua Redman brings both his soprano and tenor to the session. The core of the music is the road-tested trio that has been touring with Redman and singer Gabrielle Cavassa in support of their last record (Where Are We, previewed10/09/2023) – pianist Paul Cornish (Jalen Baker), bassist Philip Norris (Emmet Cohen, Ulysses Owens Jr, Veronica Swift, Anthony Hervey) and drummer Nazir Ebo (Christian McBride, Tim Warfield). Melissa Aldana joins for a spirited tenor pairing and student trumpeter Skylar Tang joins with Redman to make a fierce hard bop front line. Solid start to finish – this would be a great band to keep together as these young players grow. Highly recommended.
Review: Post Genre, Jazz Trail
Van Morrison – Remembering Now (Virgin, release 06/13/2025). Richard Dunn – Hammond organ, Stuart McIlroy – piano, Pete Hurley – bass, and Colin Griffin – drums, Van Morrison – vocals + many others.
So the new Van Morrison effort, his first release of new material in several years, shows up in the new Jazz releases…. I guess he needs somewhere to land. Gone are the conspiracy-driven rants of the recent past and back are well-crafted pop songs from the Irish bard. Morrison’s voice is a wonder – powerful and supple in his early eighties. A worthy addition to a discography that has more recently sported some forgettable programs.
Review: Glide Magazine
Anita Donndorff – Thirsty Soul (Fresh Sounds Records, release 06/06/2025). Sergio Wagner – trumpet, Juan Canosa – trombone, Guido Baucia – tenor saxophone, Ramiro Penovi – guitar, Peter Bernstein – guitar, Dante Picca – piano, Paul Sikivie – bass, Felipe Arce – bass, Eloy Michelini – drums, Carolina Cohen – percussion, Sol Liebeskind – vocals, Anita Donndorff – vocals.
Argentina-born, New York-based singer Anita Donndorff has released a diverse set of covers and originals with an ensemble of mostly Argentine players with arrangements by bassist Paul Sikivie (Michael Weiss, Aaron Diehl, Cecile McLoren Salvant). Guitarist Peter Bernstein joins in for two duets with Donndorff. Recommended. Expressive singing, creative arrangements, good material. Recommended.
Review: The Concert Witness
Greg Murphy – Snap Happy (Whaling City Records, release 06/06/2025). Greg Murphy – piano, Mark Whitfield – guitar, Obasi Akoto – bass, Steve Johns – drums, Sy Smith – vocals.
Pianist Greg Murphy and his long-standing trio (You Remind Me, previewed 03/18/2024) are back with another set of three standards, six modern jazz classics and three original compositions. Mark Whitfield (Javon Jackson, Courtney Pine, Donald Harrison, Jr) guests on three tunes. Straight ahead with overtones of fusion.
Review: Making A Scene
Bobby West – Requiem For Mary Turner (Soulville Sound Recordings, release 06/04/2025). Tawnee Lillo – French horn, Nolan Shaheed – trumpet, Reggie Bullen – flugelhorn, Duane Benjamin – trombone, Michael Daigeau – bass trombone, William Roper – tuba, Cyril Carr – piccolo, Larry Kaplan – flute, Chuck Manning – cabinet, Myka Miller-ob, Thomas Stone – flute, Doug Webb – bass clarinet, Amber Syman – bassoon, Tytlana Enomoto – violin, Larann Estevez – violin, Yvette Holzwarth – violin, Chris Woods – violin, Shigeru Logan – viola, Peter Jacobson – cello, Bobby West – piano, Jarrell Ballard – dums, Maxayn Lewis – piano / vocals.
Of the estimated 4400 Black Americans who were lynched, it is estimated that 136 were women or girls. Mary Turner was one of these women. The requiem is a mix of symphonic music, gospel, jazz and ballads, seven of which are composed by pianist Bobby West (Big Trippin’, previewed 02/13/2023).
Review: Making A Scene
Ken Serio – Brooklyn Oasis (Tripping Tree, release 05/30/2025). Dave Mullen – saxophones, Tomoko Ohno – piano, Ron Carter – bass, Ken Serio – drums.
Journeyman drummer Ken Serio invited bass icon Ron Carter to this recording date on a whim and Carter accepted, making for some beautiful music. Among the highlights are tenor saxophonist Dave Mullen’s tribute to Michael Brecker, For Michael. As always, Ron Carter is a treasure.
Review: Indie Band Guru
Martina Pacowski – New Jazz Standards, Vol. 7: The Music of Carl Saunders (Summit Records, release 05/16/2025). Ron Stout – trumpet, Scott Whitfield – trombone, Rickey Woodard – saxophones, Josh Nelson – piano, Larry Koonse – guitar, John Clayton – bass, Ken Wild – bass, Roy McCurdy – drums, Marina Pacowski – vocals / piano with John Proulx – vocals, Ken Peplowski – clarinet.
Singer Marina Pacowski (Inner Urge, previewed 04/23/2023) is back with her second release, in the company of legendary Angelino rhythm section of pianist John Nelson (Jeffrey Gimble, Nancy Erickson, Doug MacDonald, Julie Kelly), guitarist Larry Koonse (The Silent Wish, previewed 03/24/2025), bassist John Clayton (Talk To Me About Mulgrew, previewed 06/09/2025) and drummer Roy McCurdy (Peter Smith, Ray Vega / Thomas Marriott, Art Farmer, The Jazztet). Pacowski presents a program of complex and interesting compositions by LA trumpeter / composer Carl Saunders who passed away in February
Review: Making a Scene, Jazz Weekly
Spike Wilner Trio Contrafactus – The Children & The Warlock(Cellar Music, release 04/25/2025). George Garzone – tenor saxophone, Spike Wilner – piano, Paul Gill – bass, Anthony Pinciotti – drums. 2024-0925 Spike Wilner-01
We know pianist Spike Wilner primarily for his contributions to two of New York’s small jazz venues – Smalls and Mezzrow. In additions to running these arts venues, Wilner is an accomplished pianist and trio leader (Contrafactus, previewed 03/25/2024). By adding tenor saxophonist George Garzone to his trio, Wilner brings a spiritual jazz edge to these proceedings.
Review: Paris Move, AllAboutJazz, Jazz Views
The Hemphill Stringtet – Plays The Music Of Julian Hemphill (Out Of Your Head, release 04/04/2025). Curtis Stewart – violin, Sam Bardfeld – violin, Stephanie Griffin – viola, Tomeka Reid – cello.
A first-rate string quartet, anchored by cellist Tomeka Reid, has recorded a set of compositors by adventurous saxophonist Julius Hemphill. A highlight of the set is their take on Hemphill’s arrangement for string quartet of three Charles Mingus compositions.
Review: AllAboutJazz, UK Jazz News, The Free Jazz Collective
It’s hot out there, stay inside and listen to music!
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
