New Jazz Releases – Record Store Day – 04/18/2026
By Russell Perry
Joe Henderson
Saturday 04/18/2026 is Record Store Day, traditionally a time for labels and artists to release limited edition vinyl sets only available at record stores. Most of these sets are available later as digital or CD releases. In the jazz world, most frequently these sets are multi-disc live sets or reissues of long-unavailable single discs. Occasionally (see Wendell Harrison below) new releases get this treatment. This year, we have received a pile of music that I can universally recommend.
McCoy Tyner – The Seeker (Red Records, release 04/18/2026). McCoy Tyner – piano, Bobby Hutcherson – vibraphone, Avery Sharpe – bass, Aaron Scott – drums. Limited edition 180g double LP.
Pianist McCoy Tyner and vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson made several memorable records together in the 60s and 70s – Stick-Up (1966), Time for Tyner (1968), Sama Layuca (1974). The latter especially is a “desert island disc” for me. In 1993, they toured together and recorded a set of duets released as Manhattan Moods. Until now, recordings from the tour have been unavailable. The new set is wonderful, coming from a lean piano – vibes – bass – drums quartet with a huge sound tackling three Tyner originals, one from Hutcherson plus two from Monk (!) and one standard by Irving Berlin. Two great players at the top of their game, playing sympathetically from a deep musical relationship. This cannot be beat. Highly recommended.
Wendell Harrison & Tribe – A Tribute to Pharoah Sanders (Org Music, release 04/18/2026). Allen Denard – trumpet, Edward Gooche – trombone, Wendell Harrison – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone / bass clarinet, Stephen Grady – saxophone, Pamela Wise Harrison – piano, Roberto Warren – harp, Michael Abbo – bass, Sam Melkonian – drums, Kevin Dalton Jones – percussion, Sky Covington – vocals. Limited edition vinyl LP.
Veteran multi-reedist Wendell Harrison (Get Up Off Your Knees, previewed 01/15/2025) has gathered a large ensemble of fellow-Detroit players for a tribute to his old friend Farrell (named Pharoah by Sun Ra) Sanders. Wisely, the live set honors Sanders without trying to imitate him, so you get lots of voices playing Afro-spiritual jazz with a deep contribution from percussion players, but mostly inside through and through. Deeply felt and beautiful. Highly recommended.
Joe Henderson – Consonance: Live At The Jazz Showcase (Resonance Records, release 04/18/2026). Joe Henderson – tenor saxophone, Joanne Brackeen – piano, Steve Rodby – bass, Danny Spencer – drums. Limited edition 180g three-LP set.
In 2024, a live set was released with Joe Henderson in New York in 1966 (McCoy Tyner, Joe Henderson, Henry Grimes & Jack DeJohnette – Forces of Nature: Live at Slugs’). Then last year, a live Horace Silver set came out with Henderson from 1965 (Horace Silver – Silver In Seattle: Live At The Penthouse, previewed 10/27/2025). This was the period in which Henderson issued Mode For Joe and Inner Urge, as well as Silver’s Cape Verdean Blues and Larry Young’s Unity – high times indeed. The decade ahead was a tough time for acoustic jazz and now, with the release of this new unissued live set from 1978, we see Henderson fiery and undiminished. Joanne Brackeen, also an NEA Jazz Master, is masterful on piano. Henderson was to have another career highpoint in 1985 with The State Of The Tenor and would continue to excel in great recordings through 1998. This terrific set fits comfortably in this progression of excellence. Highly recommended.
Review: Jazz Police, AllAboutJazz, The New York Times
Ahmad Jamal – At the Jazz Showcase: Live In Chicago (Resonance Records, release 04/18/2026). Ahmad Jamal – piano, John Heard – bass, Frank Gant – drums. Limited edition 180g two-LP set.
In 2022 and 2023, there were three sets released from Ahmad Jamal live in Seattle from the period 1963 – 1966 (Emerald City Lights: Live At The Penthouse 1966 – 1968, previewed 11/27/2023). The new release is from 1976, a decade later, and it is a real treat – perhaps the best of the lot. This has just what you expect from Jamal – deft touch, wide ranging interpretations, effective use of space. Recommended.
Review: Jazz Police, AllAboutJazz, The New York Times
Yusef Lateef – Alight Upon The Lake: Live At the Jazz Showcase (Resonance Records, release 04/18/2026). Yusef Lateef – tenor saxophone / flute / oboe, Kenny Barron – piano, Bob Cunningham – bass, Albert “Tootie” Heath – drums. Limited edition 180g three-LP set.
Fifty years ago, multi-reedist Yusef Lateef was captured live in Chicago at a favorite haunt, the Jazz Showcase, and the results have been unreleased until now. Listen for a young Kenny Barron sounding great and note that Lateef, Barron and drummer Tootie Heath have all been recognized as Jazz Masters by the NEA. Lateef is muscular, intense and steeped in the blues. In 2024, another Lateef set (Avignon 1972, previewed 04/23/2024) was released that was also very good and with the same quartet. This new one is every bit as good, perhaps one of my favorite Lateef records – highly recommended.
Review: Jazz Police, AllAboutJazz
Mal Waldron – Stardust & Starlight: At The Jazz Showcase (Resonance Records, release 04/18/2026). Mal Waldron – piano, Steve Rodby – bass, Wilbur Campbell – drums with Sonny Stitt – alto saxophone. Limited edition 180g two-LP set.
Recorded in 1979 at Chicago’s Jazz Showcase and unreleased until now, pianist Mal Waldron and his trio are mesmerizing in a dark hue. While the presence on two tracks of altoist Sonny Stitt was initially attractive to me, those tracks are the least interesting and the trio sound of Waldron ruminating about and caressing the melody is the main attraction. This follows another previously unreleased and strong set from 1995 (The Mighty Warriors: Live in Antwerp, previewed 4/23/2024). Recommended.
Review: Jazz Police, AllAboutJazz
Roy Hargrove – Bern (Time Traveler Recordings, release 04/18/2026). Roy Hargrove – trumpet, Sherman Irby – alto saxophone, Larry Willis – piano, Gerald Cannon – bass, Willie Jones III – drums. Limited edition 180g vinyl LP.
Thirty-year-old trumpeter Roy Hargrove led a terrific band in a live set that was recorded at the Bern Jazz Festival in 2000 and that set is just now getting its first release. Hargrove brings us scorching hard bop, deep grooves and sultry ballads and reminds us what a major loss was his passing at 49 years old in 2018. Hargrove was one of the greats and this release further establishes his preeminence. These five players were imbedded in the twelve-member ensemble that recorded an unreleased (at the time) 1998 set (Roy Hargrove’s Crisol – Grande-Terre, previewed 11/25/2024). I highly recommend both sets.
Review: Jazz Views, AllAboutJazz
Buster Williams – Pinnacle (Time Traveler Recordings, release 04/18/2026). Woody Shaw – trumpet, Sonny Fortune – flute / alto flute / soprano saxophone, Earl Turbinton – bass clarinet / soprano saxophone, Onaje Allan Gumbs – keyboards, Buster Williams – bass, Billy Hart – drums, Guiherme Franco – percussion, Marcus – vocals, Suzanne Klewan – vocals. Limited edition 180g vinyl LP.
Herbie Hancock recorded two releases with what has become known as the Mwandishi band in 1970 – 1972. Capturing the spirit of the time with a mix of fusion and spiritual jazz, several of the players in the band followed with their own parallel efforts. For bassist Buster Williams, his debut as a leader was Pinnacle recorded in 1975. Of the Mwandishi band only Williams and drummer Billy Hart are on this disc, but the balance of the players include Woody Shaw on trumpet and Sonny Fortune (sounding a bit like Wayne Shorter on soprano.) Most Muse Records’ titles have been available only periodically over the past few decades and this is one of the titles picked up for rerelease by Time Traveler Records. Recommended.
Review: Wax Poetics, AllAboutJazz
Cecil Taylor – Fragments (Elemental Records, release 04/18/2026). Jimmy Lyons – alto saxophone, Sam Rivers – tenor saxophone / flute, Cecil Taylor – piano, Andrew Cyrille – drums. Limited edition 180g three-LP set.
Even the most dedicated Cecil Taylor fan will admit that Taylor’s music is polarizing (not for everyone) and requires significant listener participation to be appreciated and this characterizes the new release. Here we have two versions of a piece entitled Fragments Of A Dedication To Duke Ellington, one at 50 minutes and one at 90 minutes. Taylor and his regular collaborators Jimmy Lyons (Alto) and Andrew Cyrille (drums) are joined for this set by tenor great Sam Rivers. Taylor-inclined listeners will likely love this set.
Review: AllAboutJazz
Bill Evans – At the BBC (Elemental Records, release 04/18/2026). Bill Evans – piano, Chuck Israels – bass, Larry Bunker – drums. Limited edition 180g two-LP set.
The groundbreaking Bill Evans trio with Scott LaFaro on bass and Paul Motian on drums broke up when LaFaro died tragically in mid-1961. By 1963, the trio had settled into the form it would hold until 1965 with Chuck Israels on bass and Larry Bunker on drums. This trio went on tour after recording Trio 65 and six weeks later were captured in a live gig on the BBC. This recording represents a moment in time as the trio would change again in 1966 with Eddie Gómez coming in at bass for the next dozen years or so. Not released until now, the set captures Evans’ standard live set list of the time recorded well in a sound studio at BBC, showing off the lyricism of this ensemble. Many live sets by Bill Evans have found their first release in recent years, recently 2024’s Bill Evans In Norway, The Kongsberg Concert, and, whereas many of these capture the trio with Eddie Gomez on bass and Jack DeJohnette or Marty Morell on drums, this is the only live set I have heard with the Israels / Bunker lineup. Recommended.
Review; Paris Move, Making A Scene
Oscar Peterson Trio – Live At Baker’s Lounge (Verve Records, release 04/17/2026). Oscar Peterson – piano, Ray Brown – bass, Ed Thigpen – drums. Limited edition three-LP set.
In 1959, piano master Oscar Peterson transitioned from a piano – guitar – bass trio (with Herb Ellis and Ray Brown) to a more traditional piano – bass – drums trio. This new unit with Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen was to be Peterson’s primary ensemble until 1965. During this time, Peterson was managed by Norman Granz and was recorded by Granz’s Verve Records so we have ample records from this trio. Now an inspired 1960 set has emerged from the legendary Baker’s Keyboard Lounge in Detroit. There are many, many recordings available from Peterson in various ensembles and this one holds its own for virtuosity and unity. Remarkable facility, effortless swing and collective confidence characterize this worthy discovery. The most recent unreleased live set featuring Peterson (City Lights: The Oscar Peterson Quartet – Live in Munich, 1994) came from a period after he had had a stroke leaving him effectively one-handed. This set gives us all of the piano maestro. Recommended.
Review: The Second Disc, AllAboutJazz
Make sure to check with your favorite record store to gauge availability for these releases.
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
