New Jazz Releases – 09/08/2025
By Russell Perry
John Surman – Lucian Ban – Mat Maneri
Somewhat fewer releases this week as the summer winds down.
Lucian Ban / John Surman / Mat Maneri – Canticum Profana (Sunnyside Records, released 09/05/2025). John Surman – saxophones, Lucian Ban – piano, Mike Maneri – viola.
Lucian Ban / John Surman / Mat Maneri – The Athenaeum Concert (Sunnyside Records, release 09/05/2025). John Surman – saxophone, Lucian Ban – piano, Mike Maneri – viola.
Hungarian composer Bela Bartók was an ethnomusicologist and collector of folk music. Pianist Lucian Ban, who was raised in Transylvania, brings to life music found in the composer’s notebooks and field recordings, reinterpreting these melodies with the solid support of saxophonist John Surman and violist Mike Maneri, in a reprise of the collaboration that brought us Transylvanian Folk Songs: The Bela Bartók Field Recordings (2020). These two discs, released together, are a studio and a live record of this collaboration over the Bartók material. These fine improvisers make the most of the material, filling it with joy and retaining its simplicity.
Ned Rothenberg – Looms & Legends (Pyroclastic Records, release 09/05/2025). Ned Rothenburg – alto saxophone / clarinets / shakuhachi flute.
Technically-astounding multi-reed player Ned Rothenberg (Michael Mussillami, Bobby Previte, brings his amazing technique, full of overtones and multi-phonics to this solo set of original compositions on alto and various clarinets (mostly). The final track – the only cover – is a lovely version of Monk’s Round Midnight on the Japanese shakuhachi flute.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Paris Move
Paul Harrison – Encontros: The Music of Egberto Gismonti (Self Produced, release 09/05/2025). Laura MacDonald – alto saxophone, Paul Harrison – piano / melodica / synthesizer, Su-A Lee – cello, Mario Lima Caribe – double bass / cavaquinho, Stuart Brown – drums / percussion, Edmundo Carneiro – percussion, Rachel Lightbody – vocal, Fraser Fifield – whistle.
Glasgow-based pianist Paul Harrison has joined with Brazilian bassist Mario Caribe and fellow Glaswegian drummer Stu Brown to pay tribute to Brazilian composer Egberto Gismonti with a program of ten compositions from the maestro. There is a very joyful vibe to the proceedings which is enriched by guest saxophonist Laura Macdonald, wordless vocalist Rachel Lightbody and cellist Su-A Lee.
Review: UK Jazz News, Scottish Jazz Space
Harold López-Nussa – Nueva Timba (Blue Note, release 09/05/2025). Harold López-Nussa – piano, Grégoire Maret – harmonica, Luques Curtis – bass, Ruy Adrian López-Nussa – drums with José Angel Blanco AKA El Negro WADPRO – electronics / beats, Vincent Peirani – accordion.
For his second Blue Note release, composer / pianist Harold López-Nussa (Timba a la
Americana, previewed 08/21/2023) returns with Grégoire Maret on harmonica, Luques Curtis on bass, and brother Ruy Adrian López-Nussa on drums. The set was recorded live and then supplemented with additional material in the studio. The material ranges from familiar afro-Cuban rhythms to classical piano.
Review: Latin Jazz Network, Everything Jazz
Neal Miner – Invisibility (Cellar Music, release 09/05/2025). Chris Byars – tenor saxophone, Neal Miner – bass, Jason Tiemann – drums.
New York bassist Neal Miner (Rachael & Vilray, Ben Patterson, Luis Giraldo) makes his debut as a leader in a tenor – bass – drums trio playing a program of his original compositions. Miner also played on our own Stephanie Nakasian’s 2006 disc, I Love You. Miner is a capable composer ably supported by tenor saxophonist Chris Byars (John Lang) and drummer Jason Tiemann.
Trombone Shorty & The New Breed Brass Band – Second Line Sunday (Treme Records, release 08/29/2025). Alijah Jett – trumpet, Troy Andrews – trombone, Revon Andrews – trombone, Michael Brooks – sousaphone, Yirma Yisrael – saxophone, Orlando Gilbert – saxophone, Henry Green – guitar, Jenard Andrews – snare-drum, Roderick Andrews – bass drum.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the failed response to Hurricane Katrina, Trombone Shorty has written ten new tunes that radiate joy and resilience.
Miles Davis – Miles ’55(Craft / Concord Records, release 08/22/2025). Miles Davis – trumpet, John Coltrane – tenor saxophone, Red Garland – piano, Paul Chambers – bass, Philly Joe Jones – drums.
Miles Davis recorded for Prestige from 1951 through the two 1956 marathon sessions that produced the four discs that fulfilled his contract prior to his career defining move to Columbia (Workin’ with …, Relaxin’ with …, Cookin’ with …, Steamin’ with…). This new package includes all the tracks for his three 1955 Prestige releases (Miles Davis and Milt Jackson Quintet/Sextet, The Musings of Miles, Miles). The Quintet is legendary and these recordings form an important part of their legacy, although as they finished the Prestige era and proceeded into the Columbia years, the best was yet to come.
Frank Wess – Wheelin’ & Dealin’ (Prestige / Craft / Concord Records, release 08/22/2025). John Coltrane – tenor saxophone, Paul Quinichette – tenor saxophone, Frank Wess – tenor saxophone / flute, Mal Waldron – piano, Doug Watkins – bass, Art Taylor – drums.
In the 50s, Prestige frequently assembled bands from their roster of players and recorded them in rather unscripted jam sessions. Craft Recordings has reissued this one on 180-gram vinyl, although they have sent us a digital copy (?). While these players are amazing and the playing is good, Wheelin’ & Dealin’ won’t make anyone’s list of essential recordings for any of these fine musicians.
Josh Lawrence – Still We Dream(Posi-Tone Records, release 08/15/2025). Josh Lawrence – trumpet, Diego Rivera – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Art Hirahara – piano, Boris Kozlof – bass, Rudy Royston – drums.
Trumpeter Josh Lawrence (Measured Response, previewed 06/10/2023) imagined his new release as “a set of conversations—between Monk and Chopin, between past and present, between the real and the imagined.” Ambitious. The dozen tracks include five Monk tunes, three by Chopin and an additional four that I cannot quite fit into the concept. Lawrence has reprised the quintet from his last release (with Boris Kozlov subbing on bass for Luques Curtis) for a Posi-Tone Records all-star ensemble. Some fierce post bop and an abundance of lyricism.
Review: Post Genre, Sound In Review
I hope you find something of interest here.
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
