New Jazz Releases – 11/25/2025
By Russell Perry
Billy Hart Quartet – Ben Street, Billy Hart, Mark Turner, Ethan Iverson
As we tip toe into the holiday season, we have a full slate of new releases. Convergence, a Colorado-based sextet scratches my hard bop itch. Trombone Michael Dease brings Geoffrey Keezer and Sharel Cassity to another solid release. Chad LB has delivered a tasty tenor quartet disc and the legendary Billy Hart Quartet delivers its first live recording.
Bobby Rosario – Healer (Origin, release 11/21/2025). Joe Romano – trumpet, Jimmy Bosch – trombone, Premik Russel Tubbs – flute, David Mann – tenor sax, Danny Kean – vocals /organ / keyboards, Neil Nail Alexander – organ / keyboards, Edsel Gomez – piano, Bobby Rozario – guitar / vocals / timbales, James Genus – bass, Ruben Rodriguez – bass, Aalics Bronson – bass, James Genus – bass, Nathaniel Townsley – drums, Robby Ameen – drums, Jhair Sala – percussion, Luisito Quintero – percussion, Keith Fluitt – vocals, Carlton Jumel Smith – vocals, John James – vocals, Greg Gonzalez – vocals / drums / percussion, Ricky Rodriguez – vocals /bass.
New York guitarist / vocalist Bobby Rosario of Indian and Brazilian-Portuguese heritage channels a deep Carlos Santana vibe to color his spiritual explorations.
John Gunther – Painting the Dream (Origin, release 11/21/2025). John Gunther – soprano saxophone / tenor saxophone / flute / bass clarinet / electronics, Dawn Clement – piano / Fender Rhodes / voice / electronics, Dru Heller – drums / cymbals.
By overdubbing different reeds and adding wordless vocals from the pianist Dawn Clement (Delight, previewed 07/21/2025), multi-reedist John Gunther makes this reeds – piano – drums trio sound like a larger ensemble. Although occasionally more muscular, the bulk of the release is rather soft-focussed and gentle, often with a solid bass clarinet bottom.
Review: Paris Move, Jazz Weekly
Kerry Politzer – Alternate Routes (Whirlwind Records, release 11/21/2025). Jaleel Shaw – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone, Kerry Politzer – piano, Kurt Rosenwinkel – guitar, Alexander Claffy – bass, George Colligan – drums.
Joined by four well-known players, pianist Kerry Politzer has released a set of ten originals plus Harry South’s Storm Warning. To Politzer’s sparking keyboards, Kurt Rosenwinkel (Alex Claffy, Geri Allen, Daniel Hersog, Joe Farnsworth) adds his characteristically fluid & expressive playing and Jaleel Shaw (Painter of the Invisible, previewed 09/15/2025) contributes his nuanced alto. You might note that Politzer’s partner George Collegan is on drums here, rather than his customary keyboards.
Billy Hart – Multidimensional(Smoke Sessions Records, release 11/21/2025). Mark Turner – tenor saxophone, Ethan Iverson – piano, Ben Street – bass, Billy Hart – drums.
After over twenty years together with a handful of significant releases to their name, Billy Hart (Just, previewed 03/03/2025) has brought his famed quartet to Smoke Jazz for their first live recording. To get a sense of the masterfulness of this ensemble, preview their take on Trane’s Giant Steps with pianist Ethan Iverson (Technically Acceptable, previewed 01/29/2024) delivering a minimalistic intro leading to saxophonist Mark Turner (Reflections On: The Autobiography Of An Ex-Colored Man, previewed 10/13/2025)interpretating the famous theme trading the ferocity of the original for a highly personal and characteristic intensity. Highly recommended.
Review: Making A Scene, Post Genre
Paul Marinaro – Mood Ellington (Origin Records, release 11/21/2025). Eric Jacobson – trumpet / flugelhorn, Raphael Crawford – trombone, Rich Moore – alto saxophone / clarinet / flute, John Wojciechowski – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone / flute, Ted Hogarth – baritone saxophone / bass clarinet, Tom Vaitsas – piano, Mike Allemana – guitar, John Tate – bass, Neil Hemphill – drums, Paul Marinaro – vocals
Vocalist Paul Marinaro needs two discs to share with us his affection for the music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. The settings vary from small groups to raging big bands to string-sweetened crooning. With 25 selections to work with, Marinaro mines a variety of veins from funky strutting to swinging romance in the company of a “who’s who” of hip arrangers (Alan Broadbent, John Clayton, Bill Cunliffe, etc.). Marinaro is an old school vocalist who would have been comfortable swinging in the big band in the forties. From time-to-time (Lush Life), he brings Nat King Cole to my ears and I mean that as high praise. Recommended.
Review: Paris Move, Jazz Weekly, JW Vibe
Dave McMurray – I Love Life Even When I’m Hurting (Blue Note Records, release 11/14/2025). Dave McMurray – tenor saxophone, Luis Resto – keyboards, Maurice O’Neal – keyboards, Wayne Gerard – guitar, Don Was – acoustic bass, Ibrahim Jones – bass, Jeff Canady – drums, Mahindi Masai – percussion, Kem – vocals, Herschal Boone – vocals.
After two releases dedicated to interpreting the work of the Grateful Dead, saxophonist Dave McMurray (of Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble) has brought us a spirited set of original compositions. Jim Hynes (Glide Magazine) has perceptively noted, “One can hear at times the spiritual passion of Pharaoh Sanders, the melodicism of Detroit’s Joe Henderson, the soul of Stanley Turrentine, and the exploratory style of Detroit’s Yusef Lateef.”
Review: Glide Magazine
Convergence – Reckless Meter (Capri Records, release 11/07/2025). Greg Gisbert – trumpet, Mark Patterson – trombone, John Gunther – tenor saxophone, Eric Gunnison – piano, Mark Simon – bass, Paul Romaine – drums.
This Colorado-based sextet, with a familiar hard bop three-horn line-up, has produced a swinging set of numbers composed by members of the band. Trumpeter Greg Gisbert (Maria Schneider, Roy Hargrove, Ben Markley, Jimmy Heath) and trombonist Mark Patterson (Ted Nash, Pete McGuinness, David Chamberlain’s Band of Bones) are veterans of multiple big bands. John Gunther (Painting the Dream, previewed above), pianist Eric Gunnison (Kate Ellis Quintet, Harry Drabkin Quartet), bassist Mark Simon (Dave Hanson Trio, Harry Drabkin Quartet, Jazz Worms) and drummer Paul Romaine (Ted Piltzecker Sextet, Dave Hanson Trio, Jazz Worms) have been recording with smaller ensembles. Together these veterans make a compelling band and some inspired music. Recommended.
Sara Serpa & Matt Mitchell – End Of Something (Obliquity Records, release 11/07/2025). Matt Mitchell – piano, Sara Serpa – vocals.
Vocalist Sara Serpa and pianist Matt Mitchell clearly have a deep musical bond forged in several projects over the years (Ingrid Laubrock – Purposing The Air, previewed 04/04/2025 Intimate Strangers, 2021). This is a spare and lovely set, featuring compositions by both artists with some lyrics from the likes of Virginia Woolf and Sonia Sanchez.
Review: Jazz Trail, Paris Move, Jazz Chill
Avishai Cohen – The Early Years 1998 – 2001 (Razdaz Recordz, release 10/31/2025).
Israeli bassist / pianist Avishai Cohen moved to New York in 1992, recorded with Danilo Pérez in 1996, joining Chick Corea’s sextet then trio for a six-year run, during which time he recorded his first four releases on Corea’s Stretch label. Adama (1998) introduces a bold fusion of contemporary jazz and Middle Eastern traditions. Devotion (1999) reveals a more introspective and spiritual voice, enhanced by strings and vocals. With Colors (2000), Cohen embraces a synesthetic approach where harmonies and rhythms evoke vivid imagery. Unity (2001) reflects his vision of a global, socially conscious jazz led by the International Vamp Band. This is a welcome reissue from an important player.
Avishai Cohen – Adama (remastered) (Stretch Records, release 03/17/1998). Steve Davis – trombone, Steve Wilson – soprano saxophone, Jason Lindner – piano, Amos Hoffman – guitar / oud, Avishai Cohen – bass, Jeff Ballard – drums / percussion with Brad Mehldau – piano, Danilo Perez – piano, Chick Corea – Fender Rhodes, Jorge Rossy – drums, Don Alias – congas, Claudia Acuña – vocals.
Avishai Cohen – Devotion (remastered) (Stretch Records, release 04/06/1999). Steve Davis – trombone, Jimmy Greene – tenor saxophone / flute / soprano saxophone, Jason Lindner – piano, Amos Hoffman – guitar / oud, Avishai Cohen – acoustic bass / electric bass / piano / synthesizer / percussion, Jeff Ballard – drums & percussion, Claudia Acuna, Danny Freedman, Joshua Levy, Eran Tabib, Eli Lishinsky – vocals with String Quartet: Ida Levin – 1st violin, Carmit Zori – 2nd violin, Robert Rinehart – viola, Fred Sherry – cello.
Avishai Cohen – Colors (remastered) (Stretch Records, release 08/22/2000). Avi Lebovich – trombone, Steve Davis – trombone, Jimmy Greene – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone / flute, Jason Lindner – piano, Amos Hoffman – guitar / oud, Avishai Cohen – acoustic bass / electric bass / piano / Fender Rhodes / vocals, Jeff Ballard – drums / percussion with Claudia Acuña – vocals, Yagil Baras – acoustic bass, Antonio Sanchez – drums, Fred Sherry – cello, Tom Chin- violin, Kenji Bunch – viola, Jesse Mills – violin.
Avishai Cohen – Unity (remastered) (Stretch Records, release 08/14/2001). Diego Urcola – trumpet / flugelhorn, Avi Lebovich – trombone, Yosvany Terry – alto saxophone / tenor saxophone / shaker, Avishai Cohen – piano / bass / vocals, Yagil Baras – bass, Antonio Sanchez – drums / vocals.
Boz Scaggs – Detour (Concord Records, release 10/17/2025). Seth Asarnow – piano / bass, Jeremy Cohen – violin / viola, Jason Lewis – drums, Box Scaggs – vocals with Jim Cox – piano / synth bass, Michael Miller – acoustic guitar.
I confess that I didn’t expect much from Boz Scaggs’s first disk in seven years – a stroll through the Great American Songbook in the company of a stripped-down piano trio plus strings. But then, Scaggs captures a late night club vibe that pairs well with his smokey vocals. Worth a listen.
Emaginerio & Chano Dominguez – The Blues Around Us (Unifying Sounds, release 10/10/2025). Chano Dominguez – piano, Emaginerio (Ethan Margolis) – guitar, Carlos Henriquez – bass and Obed Calvaire – drums.
LA-based guitarist and flamenco student Emaginerio enlisted Spanish flamenco-jazz pianist Chano Dominguez for an original set of blues-based compositions that trade on the commonalities between flamenco and blues. JALC veterans bassist Carlos Henriquez and drummer Obed Calvaire complete the ensemble.
Michael Dease – Flow(Posi-tone, release 09/19/2025). Michael Dease – trombone / bass, Sharel Cassity – alto saxophone / flute, Geoffrey Keezer – piano, Jared Beckstead-Craan – bass, Gary Kerkezou – drums with Shane Karas – tenor saxophone.
Every time out, trombonist Michael Dease further cements his reputation as one of the greatest living trombonists. He brings a hard-bop ready quintet to this release with old friends pianist Geoffrey Keezer (Gillian Margot & Geoffrey Keezer, previewed 05/26/2025) and multi-reedist / UVa professor Sharel Cassity (Gratitude, previewed 07/14/2025). The alto / trombone front-line dominates with a familiar vibe, but when Cassity switches to flute the sparks fly. Highly recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Jazz Weekly, UK Vibe
Chad LB – The Shadow Of Your Smile (Bandstand Presents, release 09/05/2025). Chad LB AKA Chad Lefkowitz-Brown – tenor saxophone, Liya Grigoryan – piano, Ben Tiberio – bass, Mike Piolet – drums with Francesca Dardani – violin, Tiffany West – violin, Tia Allen – viola, Sasha Ono – cello.
Tenor saxophonist Chad Lefkowitz-Brown (Quartet Sessions, 2021) has released his latest under the name of Chad LB. While the name has changed, he is still the same big-toned player equally adept presenting breathy ballads or scorching tempos. This has to be one of the more unique set lists around, ranging from Bill Withers and Eric Clapton (Layla!) To Jimmy Van Heusen / Johnny Burke and JS Bach. Pianist Liya Grigoryan, who is not known to me, is a fine soloist and Ben Tiberio (Nadav Remez, Nicola Caminiti, Joel Ross) is a fitting musical partner with his own big sound. Recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz
Have a lovely Thanksgiving with family and friends!
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
