New Jazz Releases – 08/04/2025
By Russell Perry
Dino Saluzzi
I’ve been travelling, so this week’s collection comes several days late. We have an international vibe this week with recommended releases from Australian singer Bonnie J Jensen, Argentine bandoneon master Dino Saluzzi, and London-based multi-reedist Giacomo Smith. Enjoy.
Nicole Zuraitis – Live At Vic’s (Self Produced, release 08/08/2025). Keyon Harrold – trumpet, Tom Scott – saxophone, Rachel Eckroth – organ / piano, Idan Morim – guitar, Sam Weber – bass, Dan Pugach – drums, Nicole Zuraitis – voice / piano with Carmen Grillo – guitar.
Singer Nicole Zuraitis’s debut (How Love Begins, previewed 06/19/2023) nailed her a Grammy. She is back now with a septet for a live recording from Las Vegas. I am going out on a limb here – I cannot remember a live jazz record from Las Vegas that did much for me. We may be witnessing some sidetracking of talent for showmanship. Or it could just be me…
Lauren Henderson – Sonidos (Brontosaurus Records, release 08/04/2025). Sullivan Fortner – piano, Joel Ross – vibraphone, Dezron Douglas – bass, Joe Dyson – drums, Lauren Henderson – vocals with Luisito Quintero – percussion, Eric Wheeler – bass.
Singer Lauren Henderson (Sombras, previewed 05/20/2024) is back with a new quintet, still featuring the lovely vibraphone of Joel Ross (Nublues, previewed 02/12/2024), but this time with hot pianist Sullivan Fortner (Tyreek McDole, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Lage Lund). Henderson brings her characteristic breathy attack and tightly controlled vibrato to this collection of eleven originals and five covers that, according to the artist, represents an exploration of how sound (“sonido”) connects us with our roots, identity, and development.
Review: Paris Move
Bonnie J Jensen – Rise (MGM Metropolitan Groove Merchants, release 08/01/2025). Ray Cassar – trumpet / flugelhorn, Graham Jesse – flute / alto flute / tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone / alto saxophone, Matt McMahon – piano / Fender Rhodes, Geoff Hughes – guitar, Brett Hirst – bass, Nord Nicholas McBride – drums / percussion, Bonnie J Jensen – vocal and with Big Band: Ray Cassar, James Power, Simon Ferenci – trumpets / flugelhorns, James Greening, Mike Raper, Dan Barnett – trombones, Andrew Robertson, David Theak, Tim Clarkson, Nick Bowd – saxophones / flutes, Ray Cassar – piano / Fender Rhodes, Peter Locke – Fender Rhodes, Sam Rollings – guitar, Greg Royal – double bass, Andrew Dickeson – drums, Bonnie J Jensen – vocals.
After four discs in the first decade of this century, Australian singer Bonny J Jensen has been silent of 15 years and now she is back. Lots going on here – three big band tracks, the balance with quintets and sextets; a pair of originals and covers of Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and James Taylor. Jensen has an authoritative delivery and a swinging band. Recommended.
Review: Rhythms Music Magazine, 2MBS Fine Music Sydney, Roots Music Report
Bob Schlesinger – Falling From Earth (Self Produced, release 08/01/2025). Bob Schlesinger – piano / keyboards, Mike Stern – guitar, Eddie Gomez – bass, Kevin Axt – bass, Billy Drummond – drums, Steve Hass – drums, Dean Oldencott – drums, Karl Latham – drums.
Pianist Bob Schlesinger has assembled a quartet of A-list players – guitarist Mike Sterns (Echoes And Other Songs, previewed 09/09/2024), bassist Eddie Gomez (Bill Evans, Emily Remler), and drummer Billy Drummond (Tessa Souter, Irv Grossman, Ilya Osachuk, Charles McPherson). Four originals, four by Stern plus covers of Thad Jones and Bob Dylan (It’s Alright Ma).
Review: Progressive Rock Central
Paloma Dineli Chesky – Memory (Audiophile Society, release 07/30/2025). Maxwell Barnes – tenor saxophone, Michael Hilgendorf – guitar, Chris Ramirez – bass, Danno Peterson – drums, Paloma Dineli Chesky – vocals
Brazilian-born, New York-based vocalist Poloma has a lovely voice with an attractive breathy delivery. The program on her latest includes six originals plus Summertime, Corcovado, and House Of The Rising Sun. Tenorist Maxwell Barnes (new to me) is a sweet soloist and provides satisfying obligatti.
Review: Making A Scene, AllAboutJazz
Dino Saluzzi – El Viejo Caminante (ECM, release 07/11/2025). Dino Saluzzi – bandoneon, Jacob Young – acoustic steel-string guitar / electric guitar, José María Saluzzi – classical guitar.
Of Argentine bandoneon master Dino Saluzzi’s latest, Mike Gates writes ”a gently evocative collection of chamber jazz, tango-infused memory sketches, and beautifully restrained improvisation – a quiet, spacious record full of warmth and delicate interplay.” Using the spare instrumentation of bandoneon and two guitars, Saluzzi captures a feel that channels chamber jazz and South American folk music. Lovely and recommended.
Review: UK Vibe, Marlbank, JazzWise
Giacomo Smith – Manouche (Stunt Records, release 06/06/2025). Giacomo Smith – clarinet / alto saxophone, Mozes Rosenberg – guitar, Remi Oswald – rhythm guitar, William Brunard – bass.
Clarinetist Giacomo Smith is Italian-born, New York-raised and London-based. He has earned a reputation for dazzling clarinet chops that garner comparison to Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw. His new record capures a Django Reinhardt-styled quartet with the Smith’s clarinet standing in for Stéphane Grappelli’s violin. What makes this work is the spectacular chops of Dutch Sinti guitarist Mozes Rosenberg – a distant relative of Reinhardt. The program of nine standards and two originals is a remarkable achievement in a very retro vein. Recommended.
Snorre Kirk – What A Day! (Stunt Records, release 10/25/2024). Giacomo Smith – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone, Joe Webb – piano, Anders Fjeldsted – bass, Snorre Kirk – drums with Alexander Honey Boulton – guitar.
Last time out (Top Dog, previewed 03/11/2024), Danish drummer Snorre Kirk captured the blues-infused small group swing sound of Duke Ellington, punctuated by the breathy Ben Webster-inspired tenor of Stephen Riley. He’s back with a sax – piano – bass – drums quartet fronted by the accomplished Giacomo Smith on alto and soprano, capturing a very Johnny Hodges vibe. It’s comfortable and familiar.
Review: Jazz Views, Jazz Journal
More in a couple of days.
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
