New Jazz Releases – 09/22/2025
By Russell Perry
Baltimore Jazz Collective
Alex Brown, Quincy Phillips, Kris Funn, Brinae Ali, Sean Jones, Todd Marcus
My favorite discs this week are all assemblies of familiar players of substance – Johnathan Blake Quintet with Dayna Stephens, Fabian Almazan, Jalen Baker and Dezron Douglas; Baltimore Jazz Collective – Sean Jones, Todd Marcus, Alex Brown, Kris Funn, Quincy Phillips and Brinae Ali; Richard D Johnson Quintet with Gregory Tardy, Jeremy Boettcher, Gret Artry, Alyssa Allgood; and Todd Herbert Quartet with David Hazeltine, John Webber and Louis Hays. Keep your ears open.
Johnathan Blake – My Life Matters (Blue Note Records, release 09/19/2025). Dayna Stephens – EWI / soprano saxophone / tenor saxophone, Fabian Almazan – piano / electronics, Jalen Baker – vibraphone, Dezron Douglas – bass, Johnathan Blake – drums / cymbals, DJ Jahi Sundance – vocals, Bilal – vocals.
Drummer Johnathan Blake has recorded a very personal response to racial injustice with a quintet that includes saxophonist Dayne Stephens (Closer than We Think, previewed 04/23/2024 & Lux Quartet – Tomorrow Land, previewed 10/28/2024), pianist Fabian Almazan (Anthony Branker, Melissa Aldana, Lind May Han Oh), vibraphonist Jalen Baker (Be Still, previewed 07/10/2023) and bassist Dezron Douglas (Jimmy Greene, Lauren Henderson, Louis Hayes). Consisting of all original compositions, the traclks alternate between full quintet tracks and solo or duet tracks featuring all members of the band. Recommended.
Review: Jazz Trail, The List
Shawn Purcell – Oblivity (Origin, release 09/19/2025). Ben Patterson – trombone, Walt Weiskopf – tenor saxophone, Chris Ziemba – piano, Fender Rhodes, Shawn Purcell – guitar, guitar synth, Jeff Reed – acoustic bass, Steve Fidyk – drums & cymbals, percussion, Darden Purcell – voice. DC-based guitarist Shawn Purcell is married to GMU faculty vocalist Darden Purcell and played a major role on her last release (Love’s Got Me In A Lazy Mood, previewed 10/09/2023). She returns the favor on four of the ten tracks of this release, all of which are original compositions. Six of ten tunes feature a guitar – keyboard – bass – drums quartet or a quintet adding Walt Weiskopf (John Fedchock, Behn Gillece, Michael Dease) on tenor. I favor the balance that include Darden Purcell on wordless vocals, especially the two tracks that also add Ben Patterson (Mad Scientist Music, previewed 03/24/2025) on trombone. The larger ensembles have a richer and more robust sound to my ears.
Review: Jazz Weekly, Jazz Sensibilities
Milan Verbist – Time Change (Origin, release 09/19/2025). Milan Verbist – piano, Toon Rumen – double bass, Jens Meijer – drums.
Belgian pianist Milan Verbist has released a tender debut with his piano trio. This disc is my introduction to these three players from the Antwerp scene. Verbist is a talented composer, giving us five of the tunes in this program with the balance from Tomasz Stanko, Ornette Coleman, Gary Peacock and JS Bach (!).
Review: Making A Scene, Jazz Weekly, Paris Move
Jahari Stampley – What A Time (Everlove Music Recordings, release 09/14/2025). Keyon Harrold – trumpet, Stephane Clement – trumpet, Stefan Haerle – tenor saxophone, Nicola Caminiti – alto saxophone, Morgan Guerin – saxophone, Jahiri Stampley – piano / bass / synthesizers / drums / organ / harp, Derrick Hodge – bass, D’Erania Stampley – bass, JongKuk Kim – drums, Luke Titus – drums, Mike Mitchell – drums, Miguel Russell – drums, Elton Aura – vocals, India Carney – vocals, Michael Blume – vocals, MOE – vocals.
Pianist Jahiri Stampley, the Herbie Hancock International Jazz Institute Competition winner in 2023 brings his prodigious chops to a set of originals that fuse jazz, gospel, classical, hip-hop, and R&B.
Heather McKay – Life Got In The Way (Self Produced, release 09/13/2025). Peter Fraize – saxophone, Campbell Charshee – keyboards, Attila Molnar – keyboard, Heather McKay – guitar, Leonardo Lucini – bass, Leland Nakamura – drums, Bruno Lucini – percussion.
Veteran Washington DC area guitarist Heather Kay has released her debut as a leader with a set of eight originals plus one by bassist Leonardo Lucini. The program has a Latin groove throughout.
Review: Paris Move
Baltimore Jazz Collective – Baltimore Jazz Collective (Blue House Productions, release 09/12/2025). Sean Jones – trumpet, Todd Marcus – bass clarinet, Alex Brown – piano, Kris Funn – bass, Quincy Phillips – drums, Brinae Ali – tap dancing / vocals.
Inspired by his time with the SFJAZZ Collective, trumpeter Sean Jones has formed a leaderless collective of Baltimore players resident at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins and at home in Todd Barkan’s Keystone Korner, based on the premise that everyone contributes music. The new disc adds to the original repertoire compositions by other Baltimore-associated artists (Cyrus Chestnut, Eubie Blake, “Baby” Lawrence). Raging hard bop, spiritual explorations, blues, ballads and groove – I love this record. Highly Recommended.
Review: Jazz Times, The Urban Music Scene
On Saturday September 27th at 7:30 pm, The Charlottesville Jazz Society and WTJU present bass clarinetist Todd Marcus (of the Baltimore Jazz Collective) in concert at The Front Porch.
Carmen Bradford with the Compass Jazz Orchestra – Carmen Sings Carmen (Artist Alliance, release 09/09/2025). Derek Watson, Jared Crider, Hudson Adams, Kate Williams, Alec Bell – trumpets, James Standish, Thomas Call, Joe Ricard, Troy Rowlands – trombones, Jared Cathey, Ted Davies, David Benoit, Christian Longoria, Riley Payton – saxophones, Gavin Allen-Dunn – piano, Denin Stage-Koch – guitar, Sarah Off – violin, Ken Kuo – violin, Russell Guyver – viola, Romina Monsanto – cello, Nathan Borton – guitar, Jase Conley – bass, Ian Spillman – drums, Carmen Bradford – vocals.
Carmen Bradford was the vocalist on the Grammy-winning 2024 release Basie Swings The Blues. She comes from a family of musicians, including, most memorably for me, the LA cornetist Bobby Bradford, known for his work with James Carter, Vinny Golia and Ornette Coleman. Following up a successful guest appearance in concert, Bradford was invited to make this recording with the University of Northern Colorado student jazz ensemble – The Compass Jazz Orchestra. Bradford is a tremendous singer with power and the band supports her well.
Enrique Haneine – Conceivable Directions (Elegant Walk Records, release 09/05/2025). Thomas Heberer – trumpet, Kirk Knuffke – cornet, Christof Knoche – bass clarinet, Jay Anderson – acoustic bass, Enrique Haneine – drums / cymbals / tambourine.
Drummer Enrique Haneine has released a set of original compositions performed by an unusual chordless ensemble: cornet – trumpet – bass clarinet – bass – drums. Neither the leader nor bass clarinetist Christof Knoche are familiar to me, but trumpeter Thomas Heberer (Angelica Sanchez, ICP Orchestra) and cornetist Kirk Knuffke (Jeff Lederer, Todd Sickafoose, James Brandon Lewis) make a habit of appearing when the going gets avant. Bassist Jay Anderson (Jeremy Monteiro, Brian Landrus, Tim Lin) has a somewhat wider stylistic brief. The three horns make a slightly off-kilter unison presence and each has plenty of space within the angular compositions to solo in a trio setting over the bass and drums.
Review: Paris Move, Jazz Sensibilities
Richard D. Johnson – Warm Embrace (Shifting Paradigm Records, release 09/05/2025). Gregory Tardy – tenor saxophone, Richard D. Johnson – piano / Fender Rhodes, Jeremy Boettcher – acoustic bass, Gret Artry – drums / cymbals, Alyssa Allgood – vocals.
Baltimore-based pianist Richard D. Johnson (Sharel Cassity), ably assisted by warm-toned vocalist Allysa Allgood (From Here, previewed 04/23/2024) and big-toned tenor saxophonist Greg Tardy (Abide In Love, previewed 07/28/2025) for an eleven-tune set split between originals and covers (including two by Monk). This band sounds great together. Highly recommended.
Review: New World ’n’ Jazz, Jazz Weekly
Jay D’Amico – Ginevra: A Portrait Of Little Girl Blue (Consolidated Artists Productions, release 09/02/2025). Jay D’Amico – piano, Greg D’Amico – bass, Michael Fox – drums.
A strong classical feel and precision saturates this piano trio date from a set of players of whom I have been unfamiliar until now.
Pete Mills – For The Record (Self Produced, release 09/01/2025). Pete Mills – tenor saxophone, Jon Eshelman – B3 organ, Tom Davis – guitar, Zach Compston – drums.
On his new disc, Toronto-born, Columbus-based tenor saxophonist Pete Mills leads a classic tenor – B3 – guitar – drums quartet (think Staley Turrentine – Jimmy Smith – Kenny Burrell – Donald Bailey). Expect plenty of sly Latin grooves and shuffle blues. The tunes were composed by the different band members with all contributing.
Review: Paris Move, The Jazz Word
Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet – El Muki (Saponegro, release 08/15/2025). Gabriel Alegría – trumpet / flugelhorn / vocals, Laura Andrea Leguía – saxophones, Jocho Velásquez – guitars, Mario Cuba – double bass / electric bass / fretless bass, Hugo Alcázar – drums, Freddy “Huevito” Lobatón – cajon / quijada / batallones with JF Maza – saxophone, Marco Lucioni – cello.
Gabriel Alegria’s Afro-Peruvian Sextet has celebrated their twenty years together with their seventh recording, a synthesis of Peruvian rhythms, Afro-Cuban beats, jazz compositions / improvisation and the occasional (unnecessary) shredding guitar. The compelling compositions are split between the trumpet-playing leader and lead saxophonist Laura Andrea Leguía.
Review: Downbeat, Jazz Views, AllAboutJazz
Todd Herbert – Captain Hubs (TH Productions, release 08/01/2025). Todd Herbert – tenor saxophone, David Hazeltine – piano, John Webber – bass, Louis Hays – drums.
Once again New York-based tenor saxophonist Todd Herbert has assembled a top-flight group of New York players for a set of seven originals by members of the band, plus one each by Trane and Wayne, and one standard. The band includes David Hazeltine on piano (Eric Alexander, George Coleman and Sam Dillon so far this year), John Webber on bass (George Coleman, Eric Alexander – Vincent Herring, One for All) and the venerable 88-year-old Louis Hayes on drums (Artform Revisited, previewed -7/22/2024), The vibe is Blue Note in the 60s, which is fine with me and the tenor quartet is one of my favorite formats. Good writing, well played, Highly Recommended.
Review: Paris Move
Lizzy & The Triggermen – Live at Joe’s Pub: April 6, 2024 (Self Produced, release 04/18/2025). Gordon Au – trumpet, John Allred – trombone, Nate Ketner – alto saxophone / clarinet, Ricky Alexander – tenor saxophone / baritone saxophone / clarinet, Chris Dawson – piano, Luca Pino – guitar, Bobby Hawk – violin, Gary Wicks – upright bass, Anthony Ty Johnson – drums, Lizzy Shaps – vocals.
Bi-coastal ten-piece little big band fronted by singer Lizzy Shaps, presents a live recording of the most retro swing flavor. Although mostly show tunes, Shaps can exercise her inner Cab Calloway on demand. The band has plenty of chops, especially when Shaps duets with Nate Ketner on a clarinet duet from Sidney Bechet, rendered as a vocal – clarinet duet. I am reminded of the several records out recently from Hannah Gill / Queen Esther and the Hot Toddies.
Ravita Jazz – Alice Blue (Ravita Jazz, release 04/12/2025). Paul Carr – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Greg Small – piano, Phil Ravita – electric bass / acoustic bass, Nucleo Vega – drums, Mark Leppo – percussion, Deirdre Jennings – vocals.
The sophomore release for this Mid-Atlantic based quartet / sextet (Oriana, previewed 05/22/2023) mixes bebop, lilting Bossa Nova, Afro-Cuban beats and gentle R&B (I Can’t Stand The Rain).
Review: Baltimore Jazz, Roots Music Report
In addition to the recent releases, we have received several discs from back catalogs. The 2013 disc from Jaleel Shaw just showed up in the mail. Richard Johnson, pianist and husband of new UVa Director of Jazz Performance Sharel Cassity brought us two releases that we didn’t have in the collection to add to to the new release previewed above.
Jaleel Shaw – The Soundtrack of Things To Come (Change Records, release 03/12/2013). Jaleel Shaw – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone, Lawrence Fields – piano, Boris Kozlov – bass, Johnathan Blake – drums. I’m sorry I missed this the first time around. Strong post-bop.
Richard D. Johnson – First Glance (AFAR Music, release 08/27/2021). Sharel Cassity – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone / tenor saxophone, Richard D. Johnson – piano, Alex Claffy – bass, Mark Whitfield, Jr. – drums.
Richard D. Johnson – Here I Am (RJJazz, release 11/12/2023). Richard D. Johnson – piano, Dezron L. Douglas – acoustic bass, Neal Smith – drums with Brandon Lee – trumpet, Christian Winther – clarinet, Antoinette Lee Henry – vocal, “Hot Lips” Johnson – vocal.
The Jazz Marathon runs 24 hours a day from Monday morning, September 29, for a week. 58 special jazz programs from announcers across all of our genres, 42 hours of overnight programming, and 7 daily live performances. We are working hard to provide a memorable week of programming to encourage you to support community radio in Charlottesville. Please donate at WTJU.net – the “Donate” button is on the upper right hand corner of the home page.
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
