New Jazz Releases – 07/20/2026
By Russell Perry
John Clayton
This week we heard a lovely duo / trio date from bassist John Clayton with his son pianist Gerald Clayton and singer Rene Marie, the debut of a Boston composer’s orchestra – the New England Jazz Collaborative, and a reissue of guitarist Mick Goodrick’s only ECM date as a leader. We also received a handful of releases from New York’s Adhyâropa Records.
New England Jazz Collaborative – Tributaries (ACP Records, release 07/16/2026). Allan Chase – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone, Sam Spear – alto saxophone, Temidayo Balogun – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone / talking drum / auxiliary percussion, Ian Buss – tenor saxophone / clarinet, Brian Landrus – baritone saxophone / bass clarinet / flute, Felipe Salles – soprano saxophone / flute / piccolo / flute, Bijon Watson, Mark Tipton, Doug Olsen, Jason Palmer – trumpets, Chris Gagne, Randy Pingrey, Joey Dies – trombones, Rob Krahn – bass trombone, Ellie Pruneau – piano, Mitch Selib – guitar, Bob Nieske – upright bass / electric bass, Lumanyano Mzi – drums / auxiliary percussion with Angel Subero – bass trombone, Eric Hofbauer – guitar.
The New England Jazz Collaborative is an artist-led non-profit formed to give composers access to a big band with which to realize their compositions. In their debut recording, the NEJC features the work of four composers, all of whom are new to me. This is symphonic jazz at its best. A wide variety of richly detailed, multi-movement compositions played with skill by top New England Players. Love this. Highly recommended.
Review: Paris Move
Mick Goodrick – In Pas(s)ing(ECM, release 07/10/2026). John Surman – soprano saxophone / baritone saxophone / bass clarinet, Mick Goodrick – guitar, Eddie Gomez – bass, Jack DeJohnette – drums.
Just last month, we heard a newly released (and wonderful) set from pianist Fred Hersh and guitarist Mick Goodrick recorded in 1988 (Feebles, Fables and Ferns, previewed 06/22/2026). Now, ECM is issuing Goodrick’s only leader date on that label as part of its Luminescence series. Recorded in 1978, the set includes a band of ECM stalwarts – John Surman on reeds, Eddie Gomez on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums. This is a delicate and subtle affair with lovely interplay between the players, especially Goodrick and Surman. Highly recommended.
Review: The Big Takeover, AllAboutJazz, UK Vibe
La Lucha – Tides (Fuzzy Water Music, release 07/10/2026). John C O’Leary III – piano / keyboards / percussion, Alejandro Arenas – upright bass / electric bass / synthesizer / percussion, Mark Feinman – drums / percussion with Jeff Coffin – saxophone, Guianna – vocals, Wycliffe Gordon – trombone, Allison Nash – vocals.
La Lucha is a Tampa Bay-based piano trio from different places in the music spectrum. Pianist John C O’Leary is a classically trained Mexican pianist, Alejandro Arenas is a Columbian heavy-metal bassist and Mark Feinman is a Florida punk drummer. Together they tackle a program of vintage pop tunes (Wichita Lineman, Golden Slumbers), jazz standards (Body & Soul, Polka Dots and Moonbeams) and four originals.
Brent Birckhead – Exchange (Birkhead Music Group, release 07/10/2026). Brent Birckhead – alto saxophone / flute / bass clarinet, Noble Jolly – piano / keyboards, Jose Andre – piano / keyboards, Romeir Mendez – acoustic bass / electric bass, Eliot Seppa – acoustic bass / electric bass, Devron Dennis – drums, Themba Mkhatchwa – percussion with Brandon Woody – trumpet, Chelsey Green – violin, Imani Grace-Cooper – vocals, Sean Jones – trumpet, Warren Wolf – vibraphone.
Baltimore-based saxophonist Brent Birckhead has recorded a set of soulful percussion-rich tunes live at Baltimore’s Keystone Korner. Hometown players, such as vibraphonist Warren Wolf and trumpeter Sean Jones (terrific as always), add to the set.
Ralph Alessi – A Sun That Never Sets(ECM, release 07/03/2026). Ralph Alessi – trumpet, Joseph Alessi – trombone, Matt Mitchell – piano, John Hébert – double bass, Ches Smith – drums / vibraphone.
Trumpeter Ralph Alessi (It’s Always Now, 2023) records most frequently in a trumpet – piano – bass – drums quartet but has added his brother Joseph Alessi on trombone for this mostly gentle release. Brass playing runs in the family as the Alessi brothers’ father and grandfather both were principal trumpeter in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. There is always a sense of precision to Alessi’s work and pianist Matt Mitchell fits this model well. Percussionist Ches Smith excels, especially when his vibraphone playing merges with Mitchell’s keys.
Review: The Big Takeover, UK Vibe, The List
John Clayton – Two-O-Duo (Artist Share, release 07/03/2026). Gerald Clayton – piano, John Clayton – bass, René Marie – vocals.
The collaboration of LA bassist John Clayton, his son pianist Gerald Clayton and his friend vocalist Rene Marie is open, straight-forward, and unaffected. The father son duos are alternately touching and playful. Clayton père and Marie duet on Billy Joel’s The Longest Time remaking the song into their own personal statement. As a trio, they breathe new life into Duke Ellington’s Come Sunday. Powerful and personal. Highly recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Paris Move, Jazz Weekly
Rebecca Rafla – Fundamentally Unfinished (Rebecca Rafla Music, release 06/22/2026). John Raymond – trumpet, Brian Pattison – trombone, Rob Dixon – saxophone, Steve Allee – piano, Patrick Wright – guitar, Kathryn Hershberger, Yoonhae Swanson, Anna Czerniak, Rachel Patrick – strings, Jesse Wittman – bass, Kenny Phelps / Richard “Sleepy” Floyd – drums, Rebecca Rafla – vocals and flute.
Indianapolis singer Rebecca Rafla brings us a confident debut with six original compositions and four familiar covers. Rafla has an expressive and intimate delivery.
Review: Paris Move, NUVO
After an introduction Pete Marshall, by our folk announcer colleague, multi-genre New York record label Adhyâropa Records has sent us a set of recent releases to catch us up to their remarkable output.
Mathias Kunzli – Boundless Reasons to Admire the Moon (Adhyâropa Records, release 06/29/2026). Mathias Kunzli – drums / percussion with Spotlight Floodlight – modular synths.
New York / LA-based Swiss drummer Mathias Kunzli brings a surprising amount of diversity and variety to a solo percussion recording. Using a mixture of acoustic and electric percussion instruments / effects, Kunzli proves to be precise and rhythmic throughout.
Review: Indie Tapes
Chris van Voorst van Beest – Bye Design (Adhyâropa Records, release 06/19/2026). Zach Lapidus – piano, Chris van Voorst van Beest – bass, Nathan Ellman-Bell – drums.
Brooklyn-based bassist Chris van Voorst van Beest has put out a trio set of 10 original compositions. Characterized by unusual time-signatures and a subtle chamber jazz vibe, this trio of players (with whom I am unfamiliar) brings us carefully constructed compositions and close listening.
Review: Jazz Trail
Lenny Pickett & John Hadfield – Heard By Others II (Adhyâropa Records, release 06/06/2026). Lenny Pickett – saxophones / E-mu synthesizer, John Hadfield – drums / percussion / Teenage Engineering OP1 / EP 133 K.O. II.
SNL Music Director (for over 30 years) and saxophonist Lenny Pickett has joined with percussionist John Hadfield for a short four-track EP, that has only two players but a lot of overdubbing. The result resonates with memories of the World Saxophone Quartet on the two rocking numbers penned by Pickett. The two Hadfield compositions are more etherial and cinematic. The time of just over 11 minutes is not close to enough, but I enjoyed what there was.
Review: Take Effect
Ben Ferrell – Sextet (Adhyâropa Records, release 06/05/2026). Will Evans – trumpet, Reginald Chapman – bass trombone / bass trumpet, Atley King – vibraphone, Nick Rousseau – electric guitar, Ben Ferrell – double bass, Rintaro Mikami – drums.
Bassist Ben Ferrell brings his sextet to a set of six originals and three covers. The band includes the shimmering playing of vibraphonist Atley King (Unconditional, previewed 11/06/2023) and Charlottesville-native Will Evans on trumpet. Evans is paired with the low brass (bass trombone / bass trumpet) of Reginald Chapman in the front line. Much of the set is taken at a stroll, but the highlights for me come when the band picks up the pace. Recommended.
Review: AllAbout Jazz
Rachel Eckroth & John Hadfield – Speaking In Tongues (Adhyâropa Records, release 02/28/2025). Rachel Eckroth – vocals / Juno 106 / Sequential Prophet 6 / Korg Minilogue / Wurlitzer 200A / Steinway Grand Piano / Korn Monologue / Moog Subsequent 25 / Vintage Vibe Electric Piano / Mellotron M4000D, John Hadfield – drums / OP1 / Ableton Live / Roland TR-808 / drum programming / kalimba / crotales / Morfbeats / Gamelan Strips / Myanmar Bells.
Keyboardist Rachel Eckroth (Humanoid, previewed 03/25/2024) mixes a staccato approach to her acoustic and electric keyboards with the chattering percussion of John Hadfield (Ron Blake).
Review: Paris Move, AllAbout Jazz, Jazz Weekly
9 Horses – Strum (Adhyâropa Records, release 06/07/2024). Joe Brent – acoustic mandolin / electric mandolin / acoustic guitar / electric guitar / resonator guitar / baritone guitar / Nashville guitar / violin / bağlama / tenor banjo / vihuela / lyre / piano / celesta / synths / synth programming / kalimba / glockenspiel / percussion, Sara Caswell – violin, hardanger d’amore, Andrew Ryan – acoustic bass with Blair McMillen – piano, Glenn Zaleski – piano, Michael Bellar – Fender Rhodes / Hammond organ / Moog One / Solina String Ensemble / Juno-106 / synth programming, Sam Sadigursky – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone, Anna Urrey – flute / piccolo, Hsuan-Fong Chen – oboe, Kaoru Watanabe – shinobue / koto / taiko, Brandon Ridenour – Bb trumpet / piccolo trumpet, Mike Robinson – pedal steel guitar, Justin Goldner – electric bass / cümbüş, Joe Brent, Ben Russell, Claudia Chopek – violins, Claudia Chopek, Beth Meyers – violas, Emily Hope Price – cellos, John Hadfield, Victor Otoniel Vargas, Jason Treuting, Kevin Garcia – drums / percussion, Mike List – tabla, Jhair Sala – timbales, Samuel Torres – conga, Kate Steinberg – vocals, Lola Brullman – sampled vocal percussion.
The third release from electro-acoustic string trio 9 Horses leans fiercely into pizzicato as they explore influences from jazz, folk and classical music. This release, augmented by numerous guests, adds keyboards, percussion and reeds, but the sound is more often than not defined by the interplay of the strings, especially the fluid and thrilling fretwork of violinist Sara Caswell (Chris Potter, Ryan Truesdell, Chuck Owen) and the picking of Joe Brent on multiple guitars and mandolins.
Review: Strings Magazine, World Music Report
9 Horses – Omegah (Adhyâropa Records, release 08/06/2021). Joe Brent – electric mandolin / acoustic mandolin /synths / glockenspiel / MiniMoog, Sara Caswell – violin / hardanger d’amore, Andrew Ryan – double bass / electric bass with Dallin Applebaum – vocals, Damien Bassman – drums, Michael Bellar – Hammond B3 / Fender Rhodes / Contempo / Wurlitzer, Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf – cello, Kevin Garcia – drums / percussion, Justin Goldner – electric bass, Nathan Koci – piano, Kristine Kruta – cello, Mark Marshall – acoustic guitar, Nadje Noordhuis – trumpet / flugelhorn, Marco Paguia – piano, Rebecca Pechefsky – harpsichord, Emily Hope Price – cello, Mike Robinson – electric guitar, Ben Russell – violin, Jared Schonig – drums, Nuiko Wadden – harp, Glenn Zaleski – piano.
9 Horses, in their second release, is an electro-acoustic trio of mandolinist Joe Brent (composer of the eight tracks), violinist Sara Caswell (The Way To You, previewed 02/27/2023) and bassist Andrew Ryan. This release is augmented by a bevy of performers including trumpeter Nadje Noordhuis (Nick Finzer, Darcy James Argue, Maria Schneider). Its both edgy and lyrical in a cinematic post-genre fashion with Caswell as the most consistently dominant voice and she plays beautifully. Give this a listen. Recommended.
Review: Strings Magazine, Short and Sweet NYC
I hope you are having a relaxing summer.
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
