New Jazz Releases – 10/07/2024

By Russell Perry

Jeff Lederer

Thanks to all our volunteer announcers, musician friends and supporters who came together to make the 2024 Jazz and Blues Fundraising Marathon a week of great music and successful fundraising.  Well done, everyone.

Firing on all musical cylinders this week!  Jeff Lederer wears his heart on his sleeve for a pre-election statement.  Charles Ruggerio and Music Soup Organ Trio keep the classic Blue Note spirit alive.  Andy Baker and Ben Waltzer continue an unbroken string of first-rate music from Calligram Records.  And John Fedchock becomes the latest trombone player to honor JJ Johnson’s Centenary.  Jump In!!


Jeff Lederer – Guilty!!! (Little (I) Music, released 10/07/2024). Kirk Knuffke – cornet / slide trumpet / vocals, Bob Stewart – tuba / vocals, Jeff Lederer – tenor saxophone / alto saxophone / piccolo / vocals, Matt Wilson – drums / vocals, Curtis Hasselbring – electronics / trombone, Mary Larose – vocals. 

A lot of great playing and some pretty direct politics characterize saxophonist Jeff Lederer’s latest titled Guilty!!! – a statement made 34 times on the cover.  Max Roach and Charles Mingus are recalled for their uncompromising music of the 60s.  In fact, Lederer has composed new lyrics to the latter’s Fables of Faubus.  In addition to the political vibe, this release has some fierce playing, especially from cornet player Kirk Knuffke and tuba player Bob Stewart (both as a rhythm player, as there is no bassist, and as a front line soloist.). Come for the unrelenting attitude and stay for the music. BTW, Albert Ayler’s anthem Truth Is Marching In, which finishes the disc, will be performed live and streamed by six bands across the country on Election night.  Highly recommended.

Reviews: AllAboutJazz, Making A Scene, The Big Takeover


Charles Ruggiero – But Of Course (RMF Records, released 10/04/2024).  Alex Norris – trumpet, Bob Reynolds – saxophone, Jeremy Manasia – piano, Mike Gurrola – bass, Charles Ruggiero – drums, Lenny Castro – congas, Laura Mace – vocals.

As if flashing back to Blue Note Records c.1963, drummer Charles Ruggiero has created a hard bop sound of both strength and familiarity.  Even the cover channels the distinctive duotone artwork of Reid Miles.  Saxophonist Bob Reynolds, a star of this effort, is new to me, but trumpeter Alex Norris (Ryan Keberle, Conrad Herwig, Marlon Simon) and pianist Jeremy Manses (Pureum Jin, Javon Jackson, Charles Owens) continue to make characteristically fine music.  Highly recommended.

Review: Papatamus Redux


Miki Yamanaka – Chance (Cellar Music, released 10/04/2024).  Miki Yamanaka – piano, Tyrone Allen – bass, Jimmy Macbride – drums.

After five releases in a quartet setting with primarily original compositions, pianist Mike Yamanaka has released a tidy trio set of covers from some of her influences.  This trio of Yamanaka, Tyrone Allen (Nicole Glover) on bass and Jimmy Macbride (Alex Claffy, Nick Finzer, Roxy Coss) on drums was joined by Mark Turner on Yamanaka’s last outing (Shades of Rainbow previewed 09/11/2023).  The set includes selections by George Cables, Monk, Bobby Hutcherson, Fats Waller, Bird, and Geri Allen among others.  Beautiful.

Reviews: Marlbank, Papatamus Redux


Darius Jones – Legend of e’Boi (The Hypervigilant Eye) (AUM Fidelity, released 10/04/2024). Darius Jones – alto saxophone, Chris Lightcap – bass, Gerald Cleaver – drums.

For his seventh chapter of nine planned in the Man’ish Boy series, altoist Darius Jones brings us a stripped down trio with Chris Lightcap on bass and Gerald Cleaver on drums.  The trio plays with tremendous energy, passion and emotional intensity.

Reviews: Jazz Trail, The Big Takeover


Andy Baker – From Here, From There (Calligram Records, released 10/04/2024).  Russ Johnson – trumpet, Andy Baker – trombone, Clark Sommers – bass, Dana Hall – drums / cymbals.

In his Calligram Records debut, trombonist Andy Baker surrounds himself with familiar voices from the label – trumpeter Russ Johnson (Reveal previewed 08/14/2023), bassist Clark Sommers (Feast Ephemera previewed 06/19/2023 – one of my favorites from 2023), and drummer Dana Hall.  Baker and Johnson make a solid front line in a cordless quartet.  Recommended.


Ben Waltzer – The Point (Calligram Records, released 10/04/204).  Geof Bradfield – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone / bass clarinet, Ben Waltzer – piano, Clark Sommers – bass, Dana Hall – drums.

As with Andy Baker’s release above, Ben Waltzer joins the Calligram Records family in the company of Clark Sommers and Dana Hall plus Calligram co-founder Geof Bradfield (Quaver previewed 08/14/2023).  The set includes two compositions each by Bradfield, Walzer and Sommers plus Billy Strayhorn’s A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing.  Much to like here.  Recommended.


Florian Weber – Imaginary Cycle(ECM, released 09/13/2024).  Anna-Lena Schnabel – flute, Michel Godard – tuba / serpent, Lisa Stick – trombone, Sonja Beeh – trombone, Victoria Rose Davey – trombone, Maxine Troglauer – bass trombone, Corentin Morvan – euphonium, Jean Daufresne – euphonium, Patrick Wibart – euphonium, Vianney Desplantes – euphonium, Florian Weber – piano.

In a chamber jazz setting which blurs the lines between composition and improvisation, pianist Florian Weber features a euphonium quartet (Quatuor Opus 333) and a trombone quartet on most of the tracks.  Over this base she adds Anna-Lena Schnabel on flute and Michel Godard on tuba and serpent (an old wooden “brass” instrument) on several tracks.  It’s a quiet and sedate affair.


Music Soup Organ Trio – Upbeat Mood (Chicken Coup Records, released 09/06/2024).  Evgenia Karlafti – organ, Nestor Dimopoulos – guitar, Vagelis Kotzabasis – drums with Kym Purling – piano, Henry Gergen – trumpet.

This Athens, Greece-based organ trio hews very close to the classic Blue Note sound (traces of Jimmy Smith, Big John Patton, Grant Green and Kenny Burrell).  With a decade together as a band and a playlist of original compositions, this is a very solid release.  Swinging and comfortable.

Reviews: AllAboutJazz, Making A Scene, Jazz Weekly


John Fedchock – Justifiably JJ (Summit Records, released 09/03/2024).  John Fedchock – trombone, Steve Allee – piano, Jeremy Allen – bass, Sean Dobbins – drums.

One of trombone master JJ Johnson’s favorite formats was the trombone-plus-rhythm quartet, so that is how John Fedchock, one of today’s leading trombonists, celebrated Johnson’s centennial in a live performance in Indianapolis – the master’s hometown.  Fedchock, as usual, shows himself to be a skilled successor and creative interpreter of Johnson’s compositions, mastering both the lightning-fast bebop lines and the achingly deep ballads.  Johnson fans may also want to explore fellow trombonist Nick Finzer’s centennial tribute Legacy issued in April this year (previewed 03/18/2024).  Recommended.

Reviews: AllAboutJazz, Jazz Weekly, Making A Scene


I hope that something here tickles your eardrums.  

Russell Perry, Jazz at 100 Now!

If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia

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