New Jazz Releases – 09/15/2025
By Russell Perry
Jamile
Veteran Eric Alexander is out with his third release this year! Brazilian singer / songwriter Jamile joins the Miki Yamanaka trio for a strong set with Steve Wilson.
After a long hiatus Vijay Iyer, Steve Lehman and Tyshawn Corey are back as the Fieldwork trio. And pianist Roberto Magris has issued a delightful solo set. Enjoy.
Michael Wolff – Sunny Day (Sunnyside Records, release 09/12/2025). Michael Wolff – piano, Ben Allison – bass, Allan Mednard – drums)
Pianist Michael Wolff brings back his trio of bassist Ben Allison and drummer Alan Mednard for the third time (Swirl, 2019 / Memoir, 2024). This time out he finds himself infatuated with beat-making and looping software, a fascination I don’t share, regrettably. Fortunately, he mostly uses the tools in developing the music and it doesn’t interfere with the music (too much).
Review: Paris Move
Lili Maljik – The Nearness Of You: In Loving Memory Of Jim Rotondi (Pacific Coast Jazz, release 09/12/2025). Jim Rotondi – trumpet, Oliver Kent – piano, Milos Colovic – bass, Mario Gonzi – drums, Lili Maljik – vocals.
Serbian-born, Vienna-based vocalist Lili Malik makes her debut in the company of trumpeter Jim Rotondi (One For All – Big George, previewed 03/04/2024 & Finesse, previewed 10/19/2024). Rotondi, who passed two months after these session in July, 2024, arranged and played on six of the ten tracks. He was a strong player from the hard bop tradition. The program, all familiar standards from the Great American Songbook, is delivered with very flexible timing and swing.
Review: Jazz Views, Making A Scene
Billy Lester Trio – High Standards (Ultra Sound Records, release 09/12/2025). Billy Lester – piano, Marcello Testa – bass, Nicola Stranieri -drums.
I guess we shouldn’t be too surprised that, having studied with Sal Mosca, a Lennie Tristano-disciple, Billy Lester’s piano trio set leans to the abstract. While you will recognize the titles of the songs from the setlist, your ears will likely not recognize the tunes themselves. Lester uses the underlying harmonies as a foundation for improvising, but never (that I hear) acknowledges the melodies themselves. One can find this perplexing or maybe invigorating, depending on your point of view.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Papadamus Redux
Aki Rissanen – Imaginary Mountains (Edition Records, 09/12/2025). Aki Rissanen – piano & electric grand piano, Antti Lötjönen – bass, Teppo Mäkynen – drums.
With now a decade together, Finnish pianist Aki Rissanen’s trio is even more rhythmically-grounded than ever. Nine tracks are original compositions and the remaining three are credited to all three players. The sound is crisp and driving.
Review: AllAboutJazz, UK Vibe
Jonathan Karrant – Live In Concert With The Joe Alterman Trio (Virtuoso Music, release 09/12/2025). Joe Alterman – piano, Mike Garrola – bass, Kevin Kasnner – drums, Jonathan Karrant – vocals.
At the risk of feeding stereotypes, singer Jonathan Karrant is more of a cabaret song-stylist than a jazz singer.
Eric Alexander – Like Sugar (Cellar Music, release 09/12/2025). Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, David Hazeltine – piano, Dennis Carroll – bass, George Fludas – drums.
This is the third release this year for tenor monster Eric Alexander (Eric Alexander & Vincent Herring – Split Decision, previewed 08/25/2025 & Chicago to New York, previewed 05/08/2025) in addition to appearing as a side man on Eric Scott Reed’s Out Late. Alexander is back in a tenor quartet setting and clearly in his comfort zone. The repertoire is selected to honor 60s / 70s tenor great Stanley Turrentine, mostly through tunes that Turrentine recorded or wrote, but also a few that Alexander feels would have been a good fit. Tight and tidy hard bop. Recommended
Review: Padatamus Redux
Jamile – Pursuit Of A Pulse (Cellar Music, release 09/12/2025). Steve Wilson – alto saxophone / alto flute, Miki Yamanaka – piano, Pablo Menares – bass, Jimmy Macbride – drums, Jamile – vocals / guitar.
Brazilian-born New York-based vocalist Jamile Stevie Ayres has joined forced with pianist Miki Yamanaka’s trio (Chance, previewed 10/07/2024) and saxophonist Steve Wilson (Rachael & Gilroy, Christian McBride Big Band, Zach Alderman) for a program of three originals plus covers of Herbie Hancock, Geri Allen and several Brazilian standards. Although primarily a quartet / quintet date, Jamile accompanies herself on guitar on one solo track and on duets with Yamanaka and Wilson. Jamile has a unique, very attractive voice and she uses it with abandon, unbelievably convincing at speed.. The more I hear, the more I like this. Recommended.
Review: Paris Move, Progressive Rock Central
Weslie Brown – Theatrical Jazz, Too (Barton Avenue Records, release 09/08/2025). Jim Donica – upright bass, Weslie Brown – vocals.
A very slight but theatrical 22-minute package of four originals plus covers of George & Ira Gershwin, Harold Arlen & Ted Koehler and (perhaps surprisingly) Ray Davies. The players are a bassist Jim Donica and singer Weslie Brown, players who are new to me.
Fieldwork – Thereupon (Pi Recordings, release 09/05/2025). Steve Lehman – alto saxophone, Vijay Iyer – piano / Rhodes, Tyshawn Sorey – drums.
Fieldwork is back after a seventeen year layoff, with a full set of knotty music, more academic than emotional to my ears, but thrilling none-the-less. The trio burns through nine compositions split between Lehman and Iyer. Edgy and recommended.
Review: Jazz Trail, AllAboutJazz, Avant Music News
Roberto Magris – Lovely Day(s) (J Mood Records, release 09/01/2025). Roberto Magris – piano.
I have come late to the Robertto Magris party. The pianist (Love Passing Through, previewed 03/11/2024 & Freedom Is Peace, previewed 12/30/2024) has been recording for 35 years, but I only recently began to hear of his excellent work, much in larger ensembles. The latest release is a very thoughtful set of solo recordings with one original, two covers each of Monk and Andrew Hill, as well as Strayhorn, Bernstein, Steve Kuhn and Billy Gault. Powerful work, bebop by way of McCoy Tyner and Art Tatum. Recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Papadamus Redux
Brad Mehldau – Ride Into The Sun (Nonesuch Records, release 08/29/2025). Brad Mehldau – piano, Daniel Rossen – lead vocals / acoustic guitar / electric guitar / backing vocals. Chris Thile –-mandolin, backing vocals, lead vocals, John Davis – acoustic bass / electric bass, Felix Moseholm – acoustic bass, Matt Chamberlain – drums / percussion / backing vocals.
Prompted by a depressive episode four years ago, pianist Brad Mehldau (M.T.B. – Solid Jackson, previewed 12/02/2024) has returned to a muse from a couple of decades ago, the late singer / songwriter Elliott Smith. Mehldau wrote and recorded Sky Turning Grey (For Elliot Smith) on his 2009 disc Highway Rider and has now recaptured that melancholic strain with a widely varied program of solo piano, string accompaniments, piano trios, finger-picked guitar and vocals. The elegy continues with one Nick Drake cover and one from Alex Chilton.
Review: Jazz Times, The Gig
Colin Hancock’s Jazz Hounds With Catherine Russell – Cat & The Hounds (Turtle Bay Records, release 08/15/2025). Colin Hancock – cornet / C-melody saxophone, Dion Tucker – trombone, Kerry Lewis – tuba, Evan Christopher – clarinet / soprano saxophone / alto saxophone, Jon Thomas – piano, Jerron Paxton – banjo / guitar / vocals / harmonica, Ahmad Johnson – drums, Catherine Russell – vocals with Vince Giordano – bass saxophone.
When it comes to interpreting pioneering jazz and blues from the 20s, few have shown the commitment, resourcefulness and dedication to the music as singer Catherine Russell. Of course, as is well-known, she comes to this place via her father, Luis Russell, an early recording artist and band leader for Louis Armstrong. She has found a comfortable home with cornet / C Melody saxophone player Colin Hancock who has assembled a period-appropriate mid-sized ensemble – four or five horns / piano / banjo / drums / vocals. The band blurs any lines we may carry around separating blues and jazz, as any careful study of pop music from the 20s would reinforce. Retro to the max.
Jaleel Shaw – Painter Of The Invisible (Changu Records, release 07/11/2025). Jaleel Shaw – alto saxophone / soprano saxophones, Lawrence Fields – piano / Fender Rhodes, Ben Street – bass, Joe Dyson – drums with Sasha Berliner – vibraphone, Lage Lund – guitar.
Philadelphia alto / soprano saxophonist Jaleel Shaw (Roy Haynes, Tom Harrell, Nate Smith) is out with only his fourth release and the first in over a dozen years, this time with eleven originals focused on topics of Black history and identity. Thoughtful, melodic, and straight ahead. six of Shaw’s compositions are performed by a standard alto quartet, augmented by guitarist Lage Lund on two tunes and vibraphonist Sasha Berliner on one. Rounding out the set are two duos – one each with Berliner and pianist Lawrence Fields. The elegy for Tamir Rice (Tamir) is particularly strong and emotional.
We can look forward to a push in releases over the fall!
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
