New Jazz Releases – 07/13/2026
By Russell Perry
Chembo Corniel – Paul Carlon – Alex Ayala
Two Latin Jazz releases hijacked my ears this week – one from the trio of Paul Carlon – Alex Ayala – Chembo Corniel and the other from Conrad Herwig and his Latin Side Band. In addition, pianist Randy Ingram had a strong outing and the terrific debut of trumpeter Charles Tolliver has been reissued.
Paul Carlon Trio – Between Us Three (Truth Revolution Collective, release 07/17/2026). Paul Carlon – tenor saxophone, Alex Ayala – bass, Chembo Corniel – congas / güiro / guataca / chemboro.
Tenor saxophonist Paul Carlon (Blues For Vita, previewed 07/22/2024) has formed a tenor – bass – percussion trio for his latest release. Distinguishing this release from most tenor trios is the polyrhythmic contribution from one of my favorite congueros Chembo Corniel (Artistas, Músicos Y Poetas, previewed 03/20/2023). The leader is a powerful player with a big tone who’s sound one critic has perceptively compared to Gato Barbieri – I hear it too. Bassist Alex Ayala (David Schumacher & Cubeye) is equal parts melodic and rhythmic. Through six originals and covers of Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Heath and Woody Shaw the X-factor is tumbador Chembo Corniel – a selection of his discography is presented at the bottom of this post. The tenor trio format leaves no room for under-performance and these three pros nail it. Highly recommended.
Review: Jazz Weekly, New World ’n’ Jazz
Nils Petter Molvaer – Be Quiet (Edition Records, release 07/10/2026). Nils Petter Molvær – trumpet with Chang Jing – guzheng, Martux_m – electronics / synths, Miki Yui – field recordings / electronics, John Paul Jones – piano, Marilyn Mazur – percussion, Imogen Heap – voice / electronics, Jan Bang – keys / sampling, Soheil Shayesteh – kamancheh / electronics, Alva Noto – electronics, Anja Lechner cello.
In a remarkably intimate set, Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter Molvaer joins with eight avant jazz players and one vintage rock star for a set of duets. Surprisingly (to me), the rock star is John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) but on piano not bass. The results are uniformly quiet (as the title suggests) and the playing is personal and considered.
Review: AllAboutJazz, UK Vibe, Marlbank
Randy Ingram – Sound Within: A Celebration Of Bill Evans (Chill Tone Records, release 07/10/2026). Randy Ingram – piano, Rufus Reid – bass, Joe La Barbera – drums.
Bill Evans passed away 46 years ago and the stream of tributes from fellow pianists continues undiminished. Pairing with two players who collaborated with Evans – bassist Rufus Reid (briefly) and drummer Joe La Barbera (the final trio) – Ingram plays lyrically but without imitation. The program consists of six compositions by or associated with Evans and three strong originals. Recommended.
Review: Paris Move, UK Vibe, Papatamus Redux
Charles Tolliver All Starts – Right Now And Then (Mack Avenue / Strata East, release 07/10/2026). Charles Tolliver – trumpet, Herbie Hancock – piano, Ron Carter – bass, Joe Chambers – drums with Gary Bartz – alto saxophone.
Trumpeter Charles Tolliver co-founded Strata East Records in 1970, after he had established himself as a compelling young player on the strengths of recordings with Jackie McLean and Horace Silver AND this 1968 debut as a leader, originally on Black Lion Records. At 26 years old, he was a young phenom, backed here by 28-year-old Herbie Hancock, 31-year-old Ron Carter and 26-year-old Joe Chambers. Each of these players would live up to their early promise. This debut was not only strong, but one that has held up extremely well. It would be considered a great new release today, yet it was recorded 58 years ago! Recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Paris Move
Alternative Guitar Summit – Honoring Pat Martino, Vol. 2 (High Note Records, release 07/03/2026). Rez Abbasi, Cecil Alexander, Sheryl Bailey, Peter Bernstein, Paul Bollenback, Steve Cardenas, Ed Cherry, Nir Felder, Joel Harrison, Max Light, Pete McCann, Jeff Miles, Oz Noy, Howard Paul, Chico Pinheiro, Adam Rogers, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Dave Stryker – guitars with Laurence Hobgood – keyboards, John Lee – bass, Dezron Douglas – bass, Vicente Archer – bass, Chulo Gatewood – bass, Allan Mednard – drums, Karl Latham – drums, Tobias Ralph – drums.
A staggering number of prominent guitarists join with a bass / drums accompaniment in pairs or solo to perform works by the late guitar master Pat Martino. Conceived by guitarist Joel Harrison, this set was recorded in 2021, as was its predecessor Volume One. Together the two volumes form a heartfelt tribute to a much loved and deeply appreciated hard bop / soul jazz icon.
Conrad Herwig – The Latin Side of Chick Corea (Savant Records, release 07/03/2026). Alex Norris – trumpet / flugelhorn, Conrad Herwig – trombone, Craig Handy – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone / flute, Bill O’Connell – piano, Ruben Rodriguez – bass, Robby Ameen – drums, Mauricio Herrera – congas.
Chick Correa recorded with Mongo Santamaria in 1962 and Montego Joe in 1964 ,with an appearance on Sonny Stitt’s Stitt Goes Latin in between – his Latin influences are early and deep. It makes sense that Conrad Herwig brings in this Latin Side Band for a set of Correa compositions from all parts of Correa’s lengthy discography. This is the ninth recording in this distinguished Latin Side series and the spark is undiminished. Saxophonist Craig Handy (Brian Lynch, Richard Baratta, Mike Clark) and trumpeter Alex Norris (Altin Sencalar, Alexa Tarentino, Todd Marcus) complement Herwig beautifully in a fierce front line. Check out how they transform Crystal Silence! Recommended.
Review: Marlbank
Bria Skonberg – Indigo(Cellar Music, release 07/03/2026). Bria Skonberg – vocals / trumpet, Charles Pillow – bass clarinet, Kathleen Nester – alto flute, Gil Goldstein – piano / accordion, Eric Wheeler – bass, Darrian Douglas – drums / percussion with Antoine Silverman – violin, Entcho Todorov – violin, Yuko Naito-Gotay – viola, Emily Brausa – violincello.
As a partner to her last all-instrumental release (Brass, previewed 04/13/2026), trumpeter / vocalist Bria Skonberg brings us a disc of vocal performances with her trumpet playing in the back seat and with lots of strings swooning. She surely can swing and has a beautiful voice in a program of mostly ballads.
Review: Paris Move, Jazz Views
Bruce Williams – Solid Perspective (WJ3 Records, release 06/26/2026). Bruce Williams – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone, Brandon McCune – piano, Lonnie Plaxico – bass, Willie Jones III – drums.
There are some stirring moments in the new release from saxophonist Bruce Williams (Buster Williams, Altin Sencalar, Ted Chubb), especially the sweet ballad Everytime We Say Goodbye and the hard bop anthem Melody For Melonae. Elsewhere on the disc are some forays into a more soul jazz vein. Strong and diverse.
Cécile McLorin Salvant with Metropole Orkest & James Buckley – With Every Breath I Take (Nonesuch, release 06/26/2026). Sullivan Fortner – piano / celeste, David Wong – bass, Kush Abed – drums, Cécile McLorin Salvant – vocals, Darcy James Argue – arrangements, Dutch Metropole Orkest directed by James Buckley.
Cécile McLorin Salvant is undoubtedly the gold standard for jazz vocalists today. Arranger Darcy James Argue is only slightly less dominant from my perspective. So why doesn’t this release do more for me? Lush arrangements, sensuous vocals, elegant choice of ballads … but scarce swing. It should be noted that, despite my ambivalence, this is a critics’ favorite.
Review: AllMusic, Jazz Times
Bob Rutman with Ensemble Modern Orchestra – Heiner Goebbels: Walden (ECM, release 06/05/2026). Bob Rutman – voice,
Ensemble Modern Orchestra.
German composer Heiner Goebbels has composed an orchestral setting for passages from Henry David Thoreau’s Walden (a memoir curiously described in the liner notes as a “novel”). The vocalist, Bob Rutman, is a powerful and occasionally aggressive presence, at odds with my memory of Walden as a more pastoral and philosophical piece. Goebbels’s writing, on the other hand does capture a more peaceful and contemplative spirit most of the time.
Nuyorican conguero Chembo Corniel released one of my favorite discs of 2023 (Artistas, Músicos Y Poetas, previewed 03/20/2023). I met him in New York where he holds down the primary percussionist chair in the Birdland Latin Jazz Orchestra and he sent his new release with Paul Carlon (see above) and additional discs to expand his representation in our library:
Chembo Corniel Quartet – Land of Descendants (American Showplace, release 04/22/2016). Frank Fontaine – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone / flute, Darwin Noguera – piano, Ian Stewart – bass, Joel E Mateo – drums, Chembo Corniel – tumbadoras / bata/ cow bell / percussion with Kat Gang – vocals James Zollar – trumpet, Benjamin Sutin – violin, Victor Rendon – batá (Iya) / quijada, Cascadu – batá (Okonkolo), Yasuyo Kimura – cajón base, Kan Yanabe – cajón repicodor.
A swinging set from conguero Chembo Corniel, this time with Frank Fontaine singular in the saxophone chair. Trumpeter James Zollar makes a powerful guest performance as well. Vocalist Kat Gang joins for a lovely version of Lush Life and Sonny Stitt’s Night Letter celebrates an RnB tilt.
Review: Latin Jazz Net
Chembo Corniel – Afro Blue Monk (American Showplace Music, release 09/2012). Jimmy Owens – trumpet, Iván Renta – soprano saxophone / tenor saxophone, Frank Fontaine – flute / clarinet, Elio Villafranca – piano, Carlo DeRosa – acoustic bass, Vince Cherico – drums / guiro, Ogduardo Roman Díaz – batá, Diego López – batá, Wilson “Chembo” Corniel – congas / batá / percussion, Ileana Santamaría – vocals.
In perhaps the jazziest set of his back catalog, Chembo Corniel pays tribute to Monk and Mongo Santamaría with Afro Blue sung by Mongo’s daughter Ileana. Pianist Elio Villafranca is a revelation throughout!
Review: Latin Jazz Net, AllAboutJazz
Chembo Corniel – Things I Wanted to Do (Chemboro Records, release 06/29/2009). Iván Renta – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Elio Villafranca – piano / Fender Rhodes, Carlo DeRosa – acoustic bass, Vince Cherico – drums, Chembo Corniel – tumbadoras / Batá (Okónkolo) / percussion with Dave Samuels – vibes, Ludovic Beier – accordion, Jimmy Bosch – trombone, David Oquendo – guitar, John Di Martino – Fender Rhodes, Rubén Rodríguez – acoustic bass, Tino Derado – piano, Gennaro Tedesco – lead guitar, Octavio Kotan – rhythm guitar, Junior Rivera – tres, Frank Fontaine – flute, Marvin Diz – timbales, Pedrito Martínez – Batá (Itótele) / vocals, Ogduardo Román Díaz – Batá (Iyá) / vocals, Iliana Santamaria – vocals.
Anchored by the rhythmic pianism of Elio Villafranca and the powerful tenor of Iván Renta, Chembo Corniel engages with a host of fellow percussionist for a driving set of Latin jazz.
Review: Latin Jazz Net
Chembo Corniel – For The Rest Of Your Life (Chemboro Records, release 05/10/2007). Iván Renta- tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Tino Derado – piano, Ruben Rodriguez – acoustic bass, Vince Cherico – drums, Wilson “Chembo” Corniel – tumbadores / batá (okonkolo) / quinto / talking drum / cajón qiunto / shekere / clave / guataca / guiro / percussion with Grady Tate – vocals, Bobby Porcelli – alto saxophone, John Walsh – flugelhorn, John Dimartino – piano, Pedro Martinez -vocals, Lisa Maria Salb – vocals, Pedro Domech -vocals, Johanna Castaneda – vocals, Louie Bauza – batá (Iyá) / cajones / palitos / shakers, David Gómez batá (Itotele), Jorge Maldonado – güira.
In a masterful performance, conguero Chembo Corniel marries Latin rhythms to a stirring jazz set. For several tracks, additional percussionists join vocalists for a more folkloric presentation.
Review: AllAboutJazz
Chembo Corniel – Portrait In Rhythms (Chemboro Records, release 06/14/2005). Ray Vega – trumpet / flugelhorn, Iván Renta – tenor saxophone, Steve Wilson – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone, Rubén Rodríguez – acoustic bass / electric bass, Yunior Terry Cabrera – double bass, Vince Cherico – drums, Wilson “Chembo” Corniel, Jr. – congas, quinto, Batá / bongos / chekere / claves / guataca / tumbadora / percussion with Mario Rivera – flute / soprano saxophone, Willie Torres – vocals, Carla Cook – vocals, David Oquendo – vocals.
A strong debut from conguero Chembo Corniel with a thrilling front line of trumpeter Ray Vega, and saxophonists Ivan Renta and Steve Wilson.
Review: Latin Jazz Network
I hope you will enjoy these new releases and this selection of Chembo Corniel’s discography.
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
