New Jazz Releases – 08/18/2025
By Russell Perry
Ron Blake
A couple items jumped out of the pile this week. Bassist Bruce Gertz has recorded with a straight ahead two-horn quintet. Saxophonist Ron Blake had joined with bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer John Hadfield for a lovely set of duos and trios. Enjoy.
Jorge Garcia – Still Crossing (SDG Company, release 08/18/2025). Paul Banman – piano, Jorge Garcia – guitar, Ryan Kijanka – bass, Justin Watt – drums with Nicky Orta – bass, Abel Pabon – piano, Rey Monroig – drums, Ludwig Alfonso – drums, Richard Bravo – percussion, Andy Carlson – violin, Matt Williams – violin, Datrjan Johnson – vocal, Rachel Waterhouse – vocals.
I was intrigued to see the set list for this disc with classic rock monuments like Whiter Shade of Pale, Little Wing, Piece of My Heart, etc. I can’t say my expectations were met. Perhaps smooth jazz is your thing – it doesn’t do much for me.
Review: Paris Move
Marc Seales – People & Places (Origin Records, release 08/18/2025). Ernie Watts – tenor saxophone, Marc Seales – piano / keyboards, Bruce Lett – acoustic bass, Moyes Lucas Jr – drums.
Veteran Seattle pianist Marc Seales brings in LA tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts (Charlie Haden) for a quartet set of seven originals and a cover of Wayne Shorter’s Palladium.
Review: Paris Move, AllAboutJazz
Mike Pope – The Parts You Keep (Origin Records, release 08/18/2025). Geoffrey Keezer – piano / Fender Rhodes, Mike Pope – bass, Nate Smith – drums with Randy Brecker – trumpet / flugelhorn, Roxy Coss – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Amaury Cabral – guitar, Ann Almond Pope – classical piano, Yu-Ting Wu – violin1, Jennifer Houck – violin 2, Ivan Mendoza – viola, Peter Kibbe – violoncello.
Bassist Mike Pope has recorded with pianist Geoffrey Keezer (On My Way To You, 2018) who joins a trio completed by bassist Nate Smith (Sachel Vasandani, Michael Mayo) for a mix of originals, modern jazz classics (Giant Steps, Steeplechase) and standards. Completing the ensemble are tenor saxophonist Roxy Cross and Randy Brecker on several tunes and a string quartet. Thoughtful arrangement and solid playing.
Review: Paris Move, Jazz Weekly
Gregg Belisle-Chi – Slow Crawl: Performing the Music of Tim Berne, Vol. 2 (Intakt Records, release 08/15/2025). Gregg Belisle-Chi – guitars.
Guitarist Gregg Belisle-Chi (Tim Berne) has released a solo acoustic guitar set of compositions by alto saxophonist Tim Berne, with whom he has recently collaborated on Yikes, Too.
Dara Starr Tucker – Time Wouldn’t Wait (Green Hill Records, release 08/15/2025). Rod McGaha – trumpet, Gary Versace – piano / organ, Larry Goldings – piano, Simon Moullier – vibraphone, Vicente Archer – bass, Greg Bryant – bass, Marcus Finnie – drums / cymbals, Christian Euman – drums / cymbals, Dara Starr Tucker – vocals.
When I opined on vocalist Dara Starr Tucker’s last release (Dara Starr Tucker, previewed 05/08/2023), I wrote ”Although she records with jazz players, Dara Starr Tucker has released a mostly pop vocal record. Her lyrics are often compelling dealing with significant issues facing the world and her voice is beautiful, I just don’t find much jazz here.” Now she has a new release out. Like I said…
Review: Paris Move
Bruce Gertz – Octopus Dreams (Open Mind Jazz OMJ—17-D, release 08/15/2025). Phil Grenadier – trumpet / flugelhorn, Rick DiMuzio – tenor saxophone, Gison Schachnik – piano, Bruce Gertz – bass, Gary Fieldman – drums.
New England bassist Bruce Gertz has enlisted a fine front line of trumpeter Phil Grenadier (Jerry Bergonzi) and saxophonist Rick DiMuzio for a set of originals that includes moody ballads (Octopus Dreams) and mid-tempo romps in a Jazz Messenger vein (I’m Busy). The compositions are the stars of this program – swinging, memorable melodies with careful counterpoint. Sweet. Recommended.
Review: Bass Musician
Jim Witzel – Very Early: Remembering Bill Evans (Joplin & Sweeney, release 08/11/2025). Phil Aaron – piano, Jim Witzel – guitar, Dan Feiszli – bass, Jason Lewis – drums.
Last time out California guitarist Jim Witzel (Feelin’ It, previewed 01/23/2023) paid tender homage to the classic Blue Note sound with a reeds – organ – guitar – drums quartet. He’s back with a piano – guitar – bass – drums quartet with a very different sound although his guitar retains a Kenny Burrell vibe. A lovely tribute that captures some of the Evans spirit.
Ron Blake – SCRATCH Band (7tēn33 Records, release 08/08/2025). Ron Blake – baritone saxophone / soprano saxophone / tenor saxophone, Reuben Rogers – bass, John Hadfield – drums.
Puerto Rican saxophonist Ron Blake (Mistaken Identity, previewed 10/23/2023), known primarily for his tenor work, brings his baritone to this spare duo and trio set. Four of the tunes are duos with soulful Virgin Islands’ bassist Reuben Rogers (John Ellis, Walter Smith III, April Varner, Edward Simon), including a beefy baritone turn on Body and Soul. Blake’s soprano also gets a turn on Appointment and he presents it without the standard Coltrane homage. Eight of the nine tunes are taken at mid-tempo or slower with some at a near crawl. Blake’s Caribbean roots are featured on a couple of tracks (Bassman, La Conga De Juana). This may be my favorite appearance yet by Reuben Rogers! Highly recommended.
Review: Post Genre, Papadamus Redux, AllAboutJazz
Shout Section Big Band – Tatum’s Swingin’ Session!!! (UFO Records, release 08/05/2025). Tatum Langley – vocals
Chicago-land big band with a roaring big sound and spirited vocals from Tatum Langley. Period standards.
Chris Wabich – 1978 (steep) (ADW, release 08/01/2025). Josh Nelson – piano, Dan Lutz – acoustic bass, Chris Wabich – drums.
Drummer Chris Wabich (Kirsten Edkins), along with his trio-mates pianist Josh Nelson (Marina Pacowski, Jeffrey Gimble, Nancy Erikson, Doug MacDonald) and bassist Dan Lutz (Jeffrey Gimble) have brought us a lovely soft-focussed trio set. Nelson, much in demand in the LA scene, especially as an accompanist for vocalists, is particularly strong. Mainstream, haunting and quiet.
The music keeps coming, eh?.
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
