New Jazz Releases – 09/02/2025
By Russell Perry
Miguel Zenón Quartet
Hans Glauwischnig, Miguel Zenón, Henry Cole, Luis Perdomo
We have a wide range of highlighted sets this week. Christian McBride brings us a rollicking big band, There are a couple of terrific piano trios out from Caelan Cardello (his debut) and Alberto Pibiri. George Coleman is the latest horn player to explore recording with strings. It was a great week for Latin Jazz – Miguel Zenón and his celebrated quartet recorded live, Irving Flores recorded with a number of Eddie Palmieri alumni and Conrad Herwig has released a trio set with Luques Curtis and Eddie Palmieri himself. Enjoy.
Paxton Spangler Band – Trick Bag (Eastlawn Records, release 09/01/2025). Charlie Miller – trumpet, John “Bone” Paxton – trombone / vocals, Alex Calista – alto saxophone, Goode Wyche III – baritone saxophone, Matt LoRusso – guitar, Trevor Lamb – double bass, Sean Perlmutter – drums, RJ Spangler – congas / tambourine.
Bluesy set from an octet whose players inhabit the Detroit-based Planet D sphere. Four horns plus four in the rhythm section perform mostly covers like Ode To Billy Joe and Sitting in Limbo.
Aruán Ortiz – Creole Renaissance, Piano Solo (Intakt Records, release 08/29/2025). Aruán Ortiz – piano.
For his second solo effort, we have a somber and meditative set from free jazz Cuban-born, New York-based pianist Aruán Ortiz. Don’t look for high-velocity pyrotechnics or Afro-Cuban rhythms, this is quiet and purposeful.
Review: Jazz Trail, Post Genre
Miguel Zenón – Vanguardia Subterránea (Miel Music, release 08/29/2025. Miguel Zenón – alto saxophone, Luis Perdomo – piano, Hans Glawischnig – bass, Henry Cole – drums.
Alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón has worked steadily with his remarkable quartet for 20 years, interspersed with other ventures like his big band, his nonet, the SFJazz Collective and duets with Luis Perdomo and Dan Tepfer. But when it comes to his first live recording, he returns to his quartet. Of course, this is not just any live recording but a recording from the Village Vanguard, the premier name in live jazz recordings. Zenón rises to the occasion with a wonderful recording, spiced by moving rhythms, triumphs of individual expression and extra-ordinary group synergies. This jumps onto my shortlist for Jazz Album of the Year. Take a listen. Highly Recommended.
Review: Jazz Views, AllAboutJazz, UK Vibe
Christian McBride Big Band – Without Further Ado Vol. 1 (Mack Avenue, release 08/29/2025). Frank Greene, Freddie Hendrix, Brandon Lee, Nabate Isles – trumpets, Michael Dease, Steve Davis, James Burton – trombones, Doug Purviance, Max Seigel – bass trombones, Justin Mullen- French horn, Steve Wilson – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone, Todd Bashore – alto saxophone / flute, Ron Blake, Dan Pratt – tenor saxophone, Carl Maraghi – baritone saxophone / bass clarinet, Janet Axelrod – flute, Alan Kay – clarinet, Xavier Davis – piano / electric piano / clarinet, Rodney Jones – guitar, Christian McBride – acoustic bass /electric bass. McClenty Hunter – drums with Sting – vocals, Andy Summers – guitar, Jeffrey Osborne – vocals, Samara Joy – vocals, José James – vocals, Cecile McLorin Salvant – vocals, Dianne Reeves- vocals, Antoinette Henry – vocals.
If ever there was an all-star big band for 2025, this is it. Bassist Christian McBride’s A-list ensemble is supplemented by a suite of prominent vocalists, including terrific work from Samara Joy, José James and Cecile McLorin Salvant. The band can gently coast through standards like Old Folks (with Samara Joy) and then double time its way through All Through The Night (with Cecile McLorin Salvant). McBride (But Who’s Gonna Play The Melody, previewed 03/11/2024) also includes a self-penned instrumental. Is there anything this player cannot do? Highly recommended.
Caelan Cardello – Chapter One (Jazz Bird Records, release 08/29/2025). Caelan Cardello – piano, Jonathon Muir-Cotton – bass, Domo Branch – drums with Chris Lewis – tenor sax.
In his debut, New York-based Spanish pianist makes a strong case that we should keep an ear open as he works to become a major player. Straight-ahead piano trio. Recommended.
Eric Byrd Trio – Echoes Of Arrival (Ambassador, release 08/29/2025. Eric Byrd – piano / Fender Rhodes / vocals, Will Hazel – acoustic bass, Alphonso Young, Jr – drums.
Soulful piano – bass – drums trio with occasional vocals by the leader – pianist Eric Byrd. With five tunes by the band members plus a handful of standards, the balance of the selections are mostly not well known.
The Waitiki 7 – Exotica Reborn: In Studio and Live at House Without A Key (Aloha Got Soul, release 08/29/2025). Tim Mayer – flute / saxophone, Zaccai Curtis – piano, Jim Benoit – vibraphone, Helen Liu – violin, Randy Wong – bass, Abe Lagrimas Jr – drums, Augie “Lopaka” Colón Jr – percussion / birdcalling.
Born in the Hawaii of the 50s, “Exotica” is a nebulous genre of Afro-Cuban rhythms, Asian scales and European impressionism among other influences. Several of the young players on this new release have connections to the original scene via relatives or mentors. Prominent among the band members is pianist Zaccai Curtis whose Cubop Lives release (previewed 05/27/2024) won a Grammy last year. Not a hard edge or sharp corner on this one.
Review: Paris Move, UK Jazz News
George Coleman – George Coleman With Strings (High Note, release 08/29/2025). George Coleman – tenor saxophone, David Hazeltine – piano, John Webber – bass, Joe Farnsworth – drums, Cafe Da Silva – percussion with Bill Dobbins String Orchestra.
Horn players recording with strings is a sub-genre of jazz that was popular in the 50s and may have peaked in Stan Getz’s 1961 release Focus. Some might take that as far as Art Pepper’s 1981 Winter Moon, but at any rate, I’d be hard pressed to find a great example in the past 40 years. Veteran tenor player George Coleman, he of endlessly impeccable credentials, may have broken that curse. Luscious and sensuous, this release benefits from tasteful string arrangements by Bill Dobbins and lovely accompaniment by piano David Hazeltine. Recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Jazz Chill
Conrad Herwig – Reflections: Facing South (Savant, release 08/29/2025). Conrad Herwig – trombone, Eddie Palmieri – piano, Luques Curtis – bass.
Recorded in 2020 and just now coming out, this is a trio set of the recently deceased (08/06/2025) pianist Eddie Palmieri, trombonist and Palmieri-disciple Conrad Herwig and bassist Luques Curtis (Harold López-Nussa, Lisa Hilton, brother Zaccai Curtis). Those who appreciate the Latin music of these major purveyors will note that there are no drummers, congueros or other percussionists here. The stripped down trio makes one appreciate the rhythmic intensity of Palmieri himself. I’ve never heard him in a setting remotely like this and it is well worth giving it some of your ear time. Highly recommended
Review: Jazz De La Pena, Jazz Chill
Irving Flores – Armando Mi Conga (Amor de Flores, release 08/26/2025). Brian Lynch – trumpet, Norbert Stachel – tenor saxophone / baritone saxophone / clarinet / flute, Irving Flores – piano, John Benitez – bass, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez – drums, Giovanni Hidalgo – congas.
Mexican-born pianist Irving Flores has recorded a driving Latin Jazz set of originals with an excellent band. Flores brings in several ringers from past Eddie Palmieri efforts – trumpeter Brian Lynch (7 X 7 X 7, previewed 11/24/2024), drummer Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez (also Roy Hargrove, Hilario Durán) and conguero Giovanni Hidalgo (also McCoy Tyner, Hilton Ruiz) then adds Latin-focussed bassist John Benitez (Rachel Therrien, Oscar Hernandez, Anthony Branker) and saxophonist Norbert Stachel. Rhythm heavy and always moving, I like this a lot. Recommended.
Review: Making A Scene
Kelly Green – Corner Of My Dreams (La Reserve / Green Soul Studios, release 08/22/2025). Kelly Green – piano / vocals, Ludovica Burtone – violin 1, Tomoko Akaboshi – violin 2, Kayla Williams – viola, Maria Figueroa – cello, Luca Soul Rosenfeld – upright bass, Evan Hyde – drum set, Andromeda Turre – percussion, Michael Mayo – bass voice, Jimmy Kraft – tenor voice, Tahira Clayton – alto voice, Emily Braden – soprano voice, Kelly Green – soprano voice.
Pianist / vocalist Kelly Green (Seems, previewed 03/18/2024) retains the trio format that has served her well in the past and has added a string quartet for much of the new release. There are also several tracks with a choir of singers. The songs are all original and deal with the loss and memory of her mother – very personal.
Review: Paris Move
Pino Palladino & Blake Mills – That Wasn’t A Dream (Impulse Records, release 08/22/2025). Sam Gendel – saxophone, Blake Mills – guitar, Pino Palladino – bass, Chris Dave – drums.
Welsh bassist Pino Palladino and Southern California guitarist Blake Mills mostly toil in the pop vineyard, but get together from time-to-time to record their own idiosyncratic music. Melodic, electronic and played with skill.
Review: Marlbank, NPR, Pitchfork
Alberto Pibiri – A New World (Self Produced, release 08/11/2025). Alberto Pibiri – piano, Jim Robertson – double bass, Kevin Congleton – drums.
There is more than a little African-American church in the playing of Italian pianist Alberto Pibiri (check out Billy Taylor’s I Wish I Knew How It Would Be To Be Free). He also covers Jobim (Double Rainbow), Burt Bacharach (What The World Needs Now) and David Mann (In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning) and contributed six originals. Interestingly enough, he is working from New York due to an Artist Visa sponsored by the recently deceased Shiela Jordan. Beautiful playing with a lot of range. Recommended.
Steve Rosenbloom – San Francisco 1948 (Music Glory, release 05/30/2025). Lex French, Andy King, Benjamin Cordeau, Cameron Milligan – trumpets, Mathieu Van Vilet, Thomas Morelli-Bernard, Taylor Donaldson, Chris Smith – trombones, Jules Payette – alto saxophone / flute, Allison Burik – alto saxophone / bass clarinet, Steve Rosenbloom – alto saxophone, Michael Johancsik – tenor saxophone / clarinet, Alex Francoeur – tenor saxophone / clarinet, Benjamin Deschamps – baritone saxophone / clarinet, Eric Harding – piano, Mike De Masi – bass, Jim Doxas – drums.
Montreal saxophonist / composer / educator Steve Rosenbloom has assembled an all-star group of Canadian players for a set of nine original compositions. Straight-ahead big band writing, well-played.
Review: Orca Sound, Canadian Beats
Lots to hear!
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
