New Jazz Releases – 09/07/2026
By Russell Perry
Marty Ehrlich
Prepare your ears – the Jazz Marathon is coming to WTJU Monday, September 28 – Sunday, October 4. Great music 24 hours a day* for seven days with a number of programs celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. We will also honor the memory of our departed radio brother, Dave “Professor Bebop” Rogers.
This week we have a new trio set from pianist Roberto Magris, a record of all of Julius Hemphill’s saxophone quartet compositions performed by Marty Ehrlich and friends, a lovely set from Cuban guitarist Pedro Luis Ferrer, the third volume of boleros from Miguel Zenon & Luis Perdomo, a sparkling bebop set from saxophonist Greg Abate, and a remarkable trio set from Henry Threadgill – Vijay Iyer – Dafnis Prieto. So much great music.
Roberto Magris Trio – Live In Mexico City (JMood Records, release 09/01/2026). Roberto Magris – piano, Roberto Aymes – bass, Luis Martinez – drums.
After a series of strong larger ensemble recordings, pianist Roberto Magris recorded a lovely solo set last time out (Lovely Day(s), previewed 09/15/2025). Filling out the roster, he is with a straight-up piano trio this time, in a live recording with what seems to have been a pick-up band with Mexican players. I don’t know the bassist and drummer but the ensemble gels from the first note. The mix of three originals and covers from McCoy Tyner and Don Pullen to Tadd Dameron and Jerome Kern covers a lot of ground, and does so with style. Recommended.
TechnoCats – Passionata: The Music of Gregg Hill, Featuring Chris Glassman (Cold Plunge, release 08/31/2026). Skylar Tang – trumpet, Chris Glassman – bass trombone, Walter Blanding – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Bryn Roberts – piano, Nathan Borton – guitar, Javier Enrique – bass, Keith Hall – drums.
TechnoCats are back with their second release featuring the compositions of Michigan’s Gregg Hill (The Music of Gregg Hill, preview 08/21/2023). The core of the group is guitarist Nathan Bolton and bassist Javier Enrique both graduates of the jazz program at Michigan State. The only other player common to both releases is Chris Glassman – another MSU trombone student of Michael Dease. Going from a quintet in their first release to a septet this time out gives them two more horns up front and a much richer sound, especially with the addition of saxophonist Walter Blanding (Wynton Marsalis, JALC).
Review: Paris Move, Jazz Weekly
Marty Ehrlich – OPEN AIR: The Complete Saxophone Quartet Compositions of Julius Hemphill (Out Of Your Head Records, release 08/28/2026). Marty Ehrlich – soprano saxophone / alto saxophone / tenor saxophone / clarinet / flute / alto flute, Rob DeBellis – soprano saxophone / tenor saxophone / baritone saxophone / clarinet / alto clarinet / bass clarinet / flute, Lisa Parrott – soprano saxophone / alto saxophone, Jeff Lederer – tenor saxophone, Andy Laster – baritone saxophone, Brian Landrus – tenor saxophone / baritone saxophone / bass clarinet / flute, Allan Chase – soprano saxophone / alto sax, Jason Robinson – tenor saxophone, Sam Furnace – alto saxophone, Andrew White – tenor saxophone, Alex Harding – baritone saxophone.
Saxophonist Julius Hemphill (1939 – 1995) was a founder of the ground-breaking World Saxophone Quartet and played with the band from 1977 – 1988. Two-thirds of the tracks in this set were written for and recorded by the WSQ. The balance have been discovered through research by fellow saxophonist Marty Ehrlich in the Julius Hemphill Archive at NYU. Ehrlich is a tireless advocate for Hemphill’s music leading the Julius Hemphill Sextet dedicated to presenting his compositions. This release is a catalog of all known saxophone quartets by Hemphill, recorded with five different quartets. The music is lush and captivating; the playing is inspired and the reference back to the WSQ is gratifying. Highly recommended.
Review: UK Jazz News
Frank London & The Loisaida Fife and Drum Corps – Touzle Your Kurchy (Adhyâropa Records, release 08/28/2026). Frank London – trumpet, Reut Regev – trombone, Ron Caswell – tuba, Elijah Thomas – piccolo, Charlie Burnham – violin, Brian Chase – snare drum, Kenny Wollesen – bass drum, Newman Taylor Baker – washboard with Martin Shamoonpour – Jew’s harp.
For his tribute to the American Revolution on its 250th anniversary, klezmer trumpeter Frank London (The Klezmatics) enlists many of the denizens of the New York Jazz scene to form a fife and drum band. The band is called the Loisaida Fife and Drums Corp, after the nickname for the Lower East Side. The contrast of the piccolo and violin on the high end and the tuba and trombone on the low makes for a rich musical experience. The music of the British Isles blends with African American influences in this unusual collection of music for marching band (sort of). London writes, “The Loisaida Fife & Drum Corps’ interpretations make this music and New Orleans-style collective improvisation branches of the same tree; the meeting place where European folk melodies and African polyphony become one.”
Review: Klezmer Shack
Pedro Luis Ferrer – La Bunga (Dot Time Records, release 08/28/2026). Pedro Luis Ferrer – lead vocals / harmony vocals / batá drums / timbales / keyboards / lute / tres / guitar / bass guitar / strings / brass / piano, Lena Ferrer – harmony vocals / marímbula / cajón / hand claves / pedal claves / güiro / güirón / maracas / keyboards / piano.
Cuban multi-instrumentalist / vocalist Pedro Luis Ferrer has joined forces with his daughter Lena Ferrer for a delightful, rhythmically powerful take on traditional Cuban song forms. Through multi-tracking, the pair make up a full band with multiple string and percussion instruments spiced with piano, brass and strings. I was filled with pleasurable recollections of the Buena Vista Social Club. Recommended.
Punkt.Vrt.Plastik – Kompress (Intakt Records, release 08/28/2026). Kaja Draksler – piano, Petter Eldh – bass, Christian Lillinger – drums.
In their second release (Draksler/Eldh/Lillinger – Punkt.Vrt.Plastik, 2019), the trio of Swedish bassist Petter Eldh, Slovenian pianist Kaja Draksler and German percussionist Christian Lillinger continue to present a mysterious and personal version of the traditional piano trio from the avant end of the musical spectrum.
Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo – El Arte del Bolero Vol. 3 (Miel Music, release 08/28/2026). Miguel Zenón – alto saxophone, Luis Perdomo – piano.
Alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón and pianist Luis Perdomo have released the third in their series El Arte del Bolero, the second having won the 2024 Grammy for the Best Latin Jazz Record (Volume 2, previewed 08/14/2023). This edition is every bit as rapturous and personal as its predecessors. Zenon makes his alto sing with romance and melancholy as the duo bring the old repertoire to life again. Highly recommended.
Review: Paris Move, Jazz Views, Jazz Chill
Henry Threadgill / Vijay Iyer / Dafnis Prieto – Fifteen (Nonesuch Records, release 08/21/2026). Henry Threadgill – alto saxophone / flute, Vijay Iyer – piano, Dafnis Prieto – drums.
The collective of altoist / flutist Henry Threadgill (Cut You Where You Was, previewed 08/31/2026) pianist Vijay Iyer (Fieldwork – Thereupon, previewed 09/15/2025) and percussionist Dafnis Prieto (3 Sides of the Coin, previewed 09/30/2024) has been a touring unit from time-to-time for the past fifteen years, but this is their first recording(!). The composing credits are spread among the three players. This is chamber jazz from the avant-jazz end of the spectrum, with excellent playing by all three artists. Recommended
Review: The Guardian, JazzWise, AllAboutJazz
Greg Abate Quartet – In The Moment (Summit, release 08/08/2026). Greg Abate – alto saxophone / tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone / flute, Bill O’Connell – piano, Harvie S – bass, Steve Johns – drums.
Bebop Lives! Multi-reedist Greg Abate (Greg Abate / Paul Del Nero Quartet – Reunion, previewed 07/17/2023) brings a top-flight quartet to his latest record – pianist Bill O’Connell (Live In Montauk, previewed 07/17/2023), bassist Harvie S (Bright Dawn, previewed 03/23/2026) and drummer Steve Johns (Mythology, previewed 02/24/2025). Abate plays with scorching commitment and facility, bringing the tempo down for some tender ballads. The set includes nine originals and one by pianist O’Connell. Recommended.
Review: Marlbank
Dawn Lambeth – I Get Ideas (Self Produced, release 05/21/2025). Danny Tobias – trumpet / Eb alto horn, Jacob Zimmerman – alto saxophone / clarinet, Chris Dawson – piano, Luca Pino – guitar, Sam Rocha – bass, Josh Collazo – drums, Dawn Lambeth – vocals.
Vocalist Dawn Lambeth has recorded a straight-forward set of selections from the Great American Songbook in the company of a swinging septet. Hers is a warm and elegant presentation of these familiar treasures and songs that seem familiar even if you’ve never heard them before. It’s tempting to think of this set as a throwback (including using the clarinet as the lead reed) and, in fact, there isn’t much new to the delivery or content, yet this is more that a little ingratiating in a 1940s Jo Stafford vein.
* The Jazz Marathon brings special programming 24 hours a day?
Really?
Really. This year (again), I am pre-recording the overnight programming for the Jazz Marathon featuring music from the 2026 centenarians – Ray Brown, Jimmy Heath, Tony Bennett, Randy Weston with Melba Liston, Brother Jack McDuff, Bud Shank and Sweet Poppa Lou Donaldson – plus my own contributions to the Miles and Trane-O-Thon.
Sleep is over-rated. Please stay up all night and join me.
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
