New Jazz Releases – 12/16/2024
By Russell Perry
Marta Sanchez, – Luke Stewart – David Murray – Russell Carter
As the year comes to a close and the pace of current releases has slowed, I have reached out to artists, labels and promotors to seek out releases that we missed the first time around but that have been identified by various sources as among the best of the 2024. Here is the first installment of these releases.
Linda Sikhakhane – Iladi (Blue Note, released 07/12/2024). Linda Sikhakhane – tenor saxophone, Nduduzo Makhathini – piano, Zwelakhe-Duma Bell le Pere – bass, Kweku Sumbry – drums.
South African tenor saxophonist Linda Sikhakhane is a frequent collaborator with pianist Nduduzo Makhathini (In The Spirit of Ntu – 2022, Modes Of Communication: Letters From The Underworlds – 2020) who produced this set. It isn’t just the format that brings to mind John Coltrane’s Classic Quartet, it’s as if Naima is in Sikhakhane’s DNA. There is also more than a little Pharaoh Sanders present in these spiritual tunes. I could listen to this over and over. Highly recommended.
Reviews: AllAboutJazz, AllMusic, Sisgwenjazz, Jazz Weekly
Christine Jensen – Harbour (Justin Time Records, released 06/28/2024). Ingrid Jensen – trumpet, Jocelyn Couture – lead trumpet / fluegelhorn, Bill Mahar – trumpet / fluegelhorn, Dave Mossing – trumpet / fluegelhorn, Lex French – trumpet/ fluegelhorn, Dave Grott – lead trombone, Dave Martin – trombone, Taylor Donaldson – trombone, Jean-Sébastien Vachon – bass trombone, Christine Jensen – soprano saxophone, Donny Kennedy – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone, Erik Hove – alto saxophone / flute, Chet Doxas – tenor saxophone / clarinet, Claire Devlin – tenor saxophone / bass clarinet, Samuel Blais – baritone saxophone / bass clarinet, Gary Versace – piano, Steve Raegele – guitar, Rémi-Jean LeBlanc – acoustic bass, Jon Wikan – drums.
Canadian composer / saxophonist / bandleader Christine Jensen has released her third big band disc (Habitat – 2013 and Treelines – 2010). Jensen’s writing and arranging is clean and rich and the soloists superb, especially pianist Gary Versace, trumpeter (and sister) Ingrid Jensen, and the leader herself on soprano. This is well worth spending some time with. Highly recommended.
Reviews: Jazziz, AllAboutJazz, Jazz Views
Jihye Lee Orchestra – Infinite Connections (Motema Music, released 05/31/2024). Ambrose Akinmusire – trumpet, Brian Pareschi – trumpet / fluegelhorn, Nathan Eklund – trumpet / fluegelhorn, David Smith – trumpet / fluegelhorn, Stuart Mack – trumpet / fluegelhorn, Mike Fahie – trombone, Alan Ferber – trombone, Nick Grinder – trombone, Jeff Nelson – bass trombone, Ben Kono – alto / piccolo / flute, David Pietro – alto / flute / alto flute, Jason Rigby – tenor / flute / clarinet. Jonathan Lowery – tenor / flute / clarinet, Carl Maraghi – baritone / bass clarinet, Adam Birnbaum – piano, Alex Goodman – guitar, Matt Clohesy – bass, Jared Schonig – drums, Keita Ogawa – percussions.
A wonderful treat from composer / bandleader Jihye Lee, much of the new disc is pensive and thoughtful with reverie developing into powerful sections as the compositions develop. There is plenty of room for very fitting solos, especially from guest trumpeter Ambrose Akionmusire (Owl Song, previewed 01/08/2024) and bandmember altoist Dave Pietro (Maria Schneider). The music is intimate in its response to difficult events in the composers life, but ultimately uplifting. The creative hand of co-producer Darcy James Argue is apparent. Highly recommended.
Reviews: Downbeat, AllAboutJazz, Jazzwise
Borderlands Trio – Rewilder (Intakt Records, released 05/17/2024). Kris Davis – piano, Stephan Crump – acoustic bass, Eric McPherson – drums.
Pianist Kris Davis (Run The Gauntlet, previewed 09/02/2024), bassist Stephan Crump (Vijay Iyer, Joel Harrison), and drummer Eric McPherson (Fred Hersch, Steve Davis, Jeremy Pelt) in their third release as a trio continue to produce challenging improvised music that tends to the quiet and controlled.
Reviews: Jazz Trail, Free Jazz Collective
David Murray Quartet – Francesca (intakt Records, released 05/17/2024). David Murray – tenor saxophone / bass clarinet, Marta Sanchez – piano, Luke Stewart – bass, Russell Carter – drums.
In the 80s and 90s, tenor saxophonist David Murray was ubiquitous, leading his own Octet, Quartet and Big Band, contributing to the World Saxophone Quartet and guesting from time-to-time. That pace has slowed and we now wait impatiently for his next release. Well, it has been worth the wait. Murray brings his husky tone and enthusiastic attack to a new quartet that could become legendary as these players mature. Pianist Marta Sanchez (Perpetual Void, below) is a sparkling and inventive player. Bassist Luke Stewart (Unknown Rivers, previewed 05/13/2024) is a risk-taking player who promises to be a lasting force on his instrument. Murray and crew sound like they are having a good time, somewhat of a victory lap for one of the most accomplished musicians of his time. Highly recommended.
Reviews: All Music, The Arts Fuse, UK Jazz News, AllAboutJazz, Jazz Trail
Marta Sanchez Trio – Perpetual Void (intact Records, released 04/19/2024). Marta Sanchez – piano, Chris Tordini – acoustic bass, Savannah Harris – drums.
While her last four discs were with a two saxophone front line, Spanish-born, New York-based pianist Marta Sanchez (David Murray) has brought a piano trio to her latest release. Chris Tordoni (Matt Mitchell, Miguel Zenón, Ari Hoenig) is both powerfully rhythmic and lyrically emotive on bass. Drummer Savannah Harris (Greg Satterthwaite, Maria Grand) has a very delicate touch, as required for the kind of thoughtful music that Sanchez has brought to the session. Emotional and highly recommended.
Reviews: AllAboutJazz, Jazz Trail, Making A Scene
Mikael Máni Asmundsson – Guitar Poetry(ACT Music, released 03/29/2024). Mikael Máni Ásmundsson – guitar.
Icelandic guitarist Mikael Máni Ásmundsson has recorded a set of solo guitar pieces, stirring and lyrical by turns. He composed all the pieces in the program and they tend to be quite singable, just waiting for a collaborating lyricist. Recommended.
Review: Jazz Weekly
Prism Quartet – Heritage / Evolution, Volume 3 (XAS Records, released 03/22/2024). Timothy McAllister – soprano saxophone, Zachary Shemon – alto saxophone, Matthew Levy – tenor saxophone, Taimur Sullivan – baritone saxophone with Terell Stafford – trumpet, Miguel Zenón – alto saxophone, Melissa Aldana – tenor saxophone, Tim Ries – tenor saxophone / flute.
With forty years together, the Prism Quartet, a saxophone quartet, continues to explore the seam between composed and improvised music. This time around they bring a heavyweight set of guests – Terell Stafford on trumpet, Miguel Zenón on alto saxophone, Melissa Aldana on tenor saxophone, Tim Ries on tenor saxophone and flute. The results are both orderly and exciting – the full and rich texture of the arrangements supports some lovely improvisation by the guests. Highly recommended.
Reviews: Downbeat, Jazz Weekly
Angelica Sanchez / Chad Taylor – A Monster Is Just An Animal You Haven’t Met (Intact Records, released 03/15/2024). Angelica Sanchez – piano, Chad Taylor – drums.
A very free exploration between two very connected players – pianist Angelica Sanchez (Nighttime Creatures, previewed 10/16/2024) and drummer Chad Taylor (James Brandon Lewis – see below, Nicole Mitchell, Jamie Branch).
Reviews: AllAboutJazz, Free Jazz Collective, Jazz Sketches
James Brandon Lewis Quartet – Transfiguration(Intact Records, released 02/16/2024). James Brandon Lewis – tenor saxophone, Aruán Ortiz – piano, Brad Jones – bass, Chad Taylor – drums.
Tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis (For Mahalia With Love, previewed 09/11/2023) has released his fourth disc with this quartet. Blues, gospel and Coltrane continue to color his imaginative playing. Fearless music exposing the boundaries.
Reviews: The Guardian, The Free Jazz Collective, Jazz Trail
Pat Bianchi – Three (Self Produced, released 02/09/2024). Troy Roberts – saxophone, Pat Bianchi – organ, Colin Stranahan – drums
Organist Pat Bianchi (Clark Gibson, Tim Warfield, Pat Martino) provides a satisfying update to the Hammond B3 trio, this time with sax and drums, and no guitar. Saxophonist Troy Roberts (Green Lights, previewed 05/06/2024) is as versatile as always, bringing life to both classic standards and the soulful modern jazz of Eddie Harris and Stanley Turrentine.
Reviews: The Jazz Word, Jazz Sensibilities
divr – Is This Water(We Jazz Records, released 02/02/2024). Philipp Eden – piano, Raphael Walser – double bass, Jonas Ruther – drums.
Not your standard piano trio, this Swiss group, making their debut, uses looping forms to create an ever shifting landscape of sound. Mysterious and mesmerizing.
Reviews: AllMusic, The Quietus
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
