New Jazz Releases – 06/30/2025
By Russell Perry
Jane Ira Bloom
We have a wide range of excellent releases this week capped by vocal recordings from Tessa Souter and Antonia Bennett, a strong debut from tenor saxophonist Jeff Walton, and more great music from veterans Rez Abbasi, Fred Hersch and Jane Ira Bloom. In addition, look for a fine set from drummer Vladimir Kostadfinovic, and an international fusion take on Gregg Hill’s compositions from the Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet & Elden Kelly.
Syndee Winters – Sings Lena Horne (Self Produced, release 06/30/2025). Freddie Hendrix – trumpet, Noah Agraz – trumpet, Noah Bless – trombone, Paul Carlon – saxophone, Michael Eckroth – keyboards / piano, Alexis Lombre – piano Warren Wolf – vibraphone, Jason Ennis – guitar, Brad Allen Williams – guitar,Gabriel Otero – bass, Edward Perez – bass, Alex “Apolo” Ayala – bass, Allan Medford – drums, Keita Ogawa – percussion, Marcelo Wolosk – percussion, Carlitos Padron – percussion, Manny Assis – percussion, Syndee Winters – vocals.
Mid-Twentieth Century diva Lena Horne may be best known today for her late career star turn as Glinda in The Wiz, but her story is much deeper, having been a civil rights leader and a glamorous concert star. Singer Syndee Winters has released a set of songs associated with Horne over her career that have become the basis of a touring show. A fine collections of standards.
Sumi Tonooka – Under The Surface (ARC, release 06/27/2025). Samantha Boshnack – trumpet, Michael Ventoso – trombone, Erica Lindsay – tenor saxophone, Salim Washington – tenor saxophone / bass clarinet / flute, Sunni Tonooka – piano, Gregg August – bass, Johnathan Blake – drums.
Philadelphia pianist / composer Sumi Tonooka brings her formidable trio with Gregg August on bass (JD Allen) and Johnathan Blake on drums (Passage, previewed 08/14/2023) to a project with the longstanding composer collaborative Alchemy Sound Project. The result is a thoughtful, complex and knotty set inspired by the underground connections between the trees in a forest.
Review: Jazz Views, Paris Move, Making A Scene
Rez Abbasi – Sound Remains(Whirlwind Recordings, release 06/27/2025) Bill Ware – vibraphone, Rez Abbasi – acoustic guitars, Stephan Crump – acoustic bass, Eric McPherson – drums, Hasan Bakr – percussion.
Guitarist Rez Abbasi brings back his acoustic quartet for the third time, now augmented by an added percussionist. The vibe is chill, but not unchallenging, characterized by grooves of unusual meters. Recommended.
Review: Jazz Views, Jazz Trail
Tessa Souter – Shadows and Silence: The Erik Satie Project (Noanara, release 06/27/2025). Nadje Noordhuis – trumpet / flugelhorn, Steve Wilson – soprano saxophone, Luis Perdomo – piano / percussion, Yasushi Nakamura – bass, Billy Drummond – drums / cymbals, Tessa Souter – vocals, Pascal Borderies – spoken word.
New York vocalist Teresa Souter just released a remarkable collection of songs that started primarily as melodies from the composer Erik Satie to which the singer has added lyrics. Her lyrics and presentation of these songs bring to mind Patricia Barber for the cool intelligence of the writing. Starting with a world-class trio of Luis Perdomo on piano and arrangements (Miguel Zenon, Brian Lynch, Tom Harrell, Jamie Baum) plus bassist Yasushi Nakamara and drummer Billy Drummond, soprano saxophonist Steve Wilson (Zack Adelman, Miho Hazama) joins for two tunes and trumpeter Nadje Noordhuis (Darcy James Argue, Maria Schneider) for another pair. Highly recommended.
Review: Paris Move, UK Jazz News, AllAboutJazz
Jeff Walton – Pack Animals (Jules Records, release 06/27/2025). Jeff Walton – tenor saxophone, Santiago Leibson – piano, Eli Heath – bass, Chase Elodia – drums.
This is the debut recording for Massachusetts-native, LA-based tenorist Jeff Walton in a traditional tenor quartet. The highlight of the gig is a three-part suite, Pack Animals / Orange Away / Ceilings. These artists (new to me) have made a first-rate post-bop set. Recommended.
Review: Jazz Weekly, Making A Scene
Fred Hersch – The Surrounding Green (ECM, release 06/27/2025). Fred Hersch – piano, Drew Gress – bass, Joey Baron – drums.
Pianist Fred Hersch has been playing with bassist Drew Gress since the 80s and with drummerJoey Baron since the 90s although they have not, until now, recorded as a trio. They make an ideal piano trio with sensitive interaction characterizing every elegant moment. As Michael Toland says, “Though clearly capable of virtuoso solos and cheekily complicated compositions, Hersch would rather use his impressive technique in service to the song, letting the audience in without much effort required. The Surrounding Green brings Hersch’s melody-first approach to an accessible and satisfying peak.” Highly recommended,
Review:AllAboutJazz, The Big Takeover
Benny Benack III – This Is The Life (Bandstand Presents, release 06/27/2025). Benny Benack III – trumpet / vocals, Benny Benack, Jr – tenor saxophone, Mathis Picard – piano, Russell Hall – bass, Joe Peri – drums.
Trumpeter / vocalist Benny Benack III (Third Times A Charm, previewed 07/03/2023) gets a lot of props as a rising trumpeter and vocalist. This live date from the Blue Llama in Ann Arbor does not make the case to me for this kind of recognition. The star of this date is Benny Benack, Jr., the saxophone-playing father of the bandleader.
Review: Making A Scene
Vladimir Kostadinovic – Iris (Criss Cross Jazz, release 06/27/2025). Alex Sipiagin – trumpet, Ben Wendel – saxophone, Geoffrey Keezer – piano, Joe Locke – vibraphone, Matt Brewer – bass, Vladimir Kostadfinovic – drums.
Vienna-based drummer Vladimir Kostadinovic was assembled an amazing New York
sextet with Alex Sipiagin on trumpet (see Reverberations below) Ben Wendel on tenor (Understory, previewed 09/30/2024), Geoffrey Keezer on piano (Gillian Margot & Geoffrey Keezer, previewed 05/26/2025), Joe Locke on vibes (Makram, previewed 02/20/2023) and Matt Brewer on bass (The Fury Live in Brooklyn, previewed 12/09/2024). And if this wasn’t an amazing-enough band, guest tenor saxophonist Chris Potter rocks two titles. Straight ahead and swinging. Highly recommended.
Review: UK Vibe
Alex Sipiagin – Reverberations(Criss Cross Jazz, release 06/27/2025). Alex Sipiagin – trumpet, Will Vinson – alto saxophone, John Excreet – piano, Makar Novikov – bass, Donald Edwards – drums, Aubrey Johnson – vocals.
Trumpeter Alex Sipiagin (Horizons, previewed 06/03/2024) has collected a quintet of regular collaborators for a straight-up hard bop program of four originals and four well-chosen standards. Vocalist Aubrey Johnson joins in with her wordless vocal on Sipiagin’s Mish-Mash.
Jane Ira Bloom – Songs In Space (Outline, release 06/26/2025). Jane Ira Bloom – soprano saxophone, Dominic Fallacaro – piano, Mark Helias – bass, Bobby Previte – drums.
Jane Ira Bloom has one of the most satisfying soprano sax sounds in the jazz world – rich, full, clear, pure. For her latest set, she returns in the comfort of familiar collaborators – Dominic Fallacaro on piano (from Sixteen Sunsets, 2013), and Mark Helias on bass / Bobby Previte on drums (from Early Americans, 2015). The program is eight strong originals plus I Could Have Danced All Night and My Foolish Heart, both highlights. Bloom is an annual contender for Soprano Saxophonist of the Year from Jazz Journalists Association, having won in 2024. Strong player, strong compositions, strong band – highly recommended.
Review: UK Jazz News
Antonia Bennett – Expressions (Self Produced, release 06/13/2025). Christian Jacob – piano / keyboards, Larry Koonse – guitar, Kevin Axt – bass, Kendall Kaye – drums, Antonia Bennett – vocals with Randy Brecker – trumpet / flugelhorn, David Thomas – vocals.
Tony Bennett’s daughter, yes, but Antonia Bennett is her own jazz singer, with a light and delicate voice that brings Blosson Dearie (or even Betty Boop) to mind. She’s got the elastic timing that comes from a life steeped in the highest achievements of jazz singing. Add a top-flight LA-based band with deep chops supporting singers and you have a winning combination, especially of the satisfying bench of standards that provide the highlights of this release. Recommended.
Review: Jazz Views
Gary Burton & Kirill Gerstein – Chick Corea’s The Visitors (ECM, release 06/12/2025). Kirill Gerstein – piano, Gary Burton – vibraphone.
ECM has dug into the vaults and released a duet composed by Chick Corea for pianist Kirill Gerstein and vibraphonist Gary Burton. Commissioned by Gerstein, the piece was debuted in 2012 and, luckily, a recording has been found from this performance. The piece runs from classically-inspired composed passages to improvised jazz sections. Sweet.
The Hot Toddies Jazz Band – Live From Somewhere Nowhere (Prohibition Productions, release 05/21/2025). Alphonso Horne – trumpet, Jake Handelman – trombone / vocals, Josh Holcolm – trombone, Linus Wyrsch – reeds, Luther Allison – piano, Justin Poindexter – guitar / vocals, Ian Hutchison – bass, Brandi Disterheft – bass, Patrick Soluri – drums, Dewitt Fleming Jr – tap dancer, Hannah Gill – vocals, Queen Esther – vocals.
While Queen Ester’s vocals are remarkable, as always, the new live recording of The Hot Toddies Jazz Band (Triple Step, previewed 09/16/2024) follows closely in the footsteps of their previous recordings, bringing little new to the table. Prepare for an abundance of good time swing, blues, and hot jazz.
Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet & Elden Kelly – Catalyst: The Music of Gregg Hill (Cold Plunge Records, release 05/16/2025). Elden Kelly – fretted guitar / fretless guitar / guitar synthesizer / bass, Igor Houwat – oud, Henrik Karapetyan – violin, Dave Sharp – bass, Mike List – percussion.
Guitarist Elden Kelly joins bassist Dave Sharp’s oud – violin – bass – percussion quartet, blending international rhythms with jazz improvisation in the most unique recording of Michigan composer Gregg Hill’s work yet. Recommended.
Review: Paris Move, Jazz Weekly, Making A Scene
While we wait for cooler weather, 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
