Bobby Watson – “Made In America” – Available April 21
While Black History Month provides an annual reminder of the momentous contributions that African-Americans have made to the nation’s history, 28 days out of 365 aren’t nearly enough to compensate for the neglect those “hidden figures” (to borrow the title of a recent hit film) have suffered in classrooms and history books. On his latest…
Read MoreIvo Perelman – “The Art Of Perelman-Shipp” – Available March 3
The passionately ingenious Brazilian tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman enjoys a unique partnership with the brilliantly eclectic pianist Matthew Shipp that stretches back more than two decades and encompasses more than 30 recordings. These document the ever-expanding extent of their seemingly mystical connection. Now, in their most ambitious project to date, Perelman and Shipp present The…
Read MoreChristian Sands – “Reach” – Available April 21
With his debut Mack Avenue Records recording, REACH, singularly talented pianist and five-time Grammy® Award nominee Christian Sands is stretching into exciting progressive territory as he breaks new ground traversing from the straight-ahead zone into fresh-sounding music influenced by a range of styles, from Afro-Cuban rhythms to hip-hop beats to dirty blues with an edge.…
Read MoreKurt Rosenwinkel – “Caipi” – Available March 10
“Kurt Rosenwinkel is a genius – he really is, and ‘Caipi’ is music to heal the soul” – Eric Clapton The most influential and strikingly original guitarist/composer of his generation makes a radical leap in his musical direction on Caipi, the debut release on his new label Heartcore Records. Ten years in the making, Caipi…
Read MoreKevin Eubanks – “East West Time Line” – Available April 7
Since his 18-year tenure as guitarist and music director of TV’s The Tonight Show Band ended in 2010, Philadelphia-born guitarist, composer Kevin Eubanks has been on a creative roll. On East West Time Line, Eubanks explores the chemistry he maintains with musicians on both coasts. And once again, his distinctive fingerstyle approach to the instrument is in the service of tunes…
Read MoreDhafer Youssef – “Diwan Of Beauty and Odd” – Available January 12
The Tunisian singer and oud-player Dhafer Youssef once said quite spontaneously “There is no prototype for beauty”. This disarmingly unconditional statement is in fact sufficient to sum up the motivation and sound of his new album Diwan Of Beauty & Odd. Anyone who has ever had the opportunity to savour the Tunisian’s passionate, yet peacefully…
Read MoreKneebody – “Anti-Hero” – Available March 3
Sixteen years in and the genre-bending electric jazz collective Kneebody is stronger than ever. On the heels of their recent groundbreaking collaboration with electronic musician Daedelus, the band returned to the studio refreshed and armed with a slate of road-tested tunes for their ninth studio album. Kneebody makes their Motéma Music debut on March 3…
Read MoreBilly Childs – “Rebirth” – Available March 24
Since his first recordings of the 1980s, Billy Childs has developed into one of the most distinctive and distinguished composers of our time. An accomplished symphonic writer, he has also amassed a career’s worth of jazz originals that can swing hard, dazzle with intricacy, touch you with direct simplicity, or mesmerize with crystalline lyricism. On…
Read MoreHeads of State – “Four In One” – Available March 17
The country as a whole may be bitterly divided over the results of the recent presidential election, but jazz fans of any political stripe can rejoice in the return of the music’s own Heads of State. With Four in One, the quartet of living legends – saxophonist Gary Bartz, pianist Larry Willis, drummer Al Foster,…
Read MoreJoey DeFrancesco + The People – “Project Freedom” – Available March 10
When jazz aficionados think of Joey DeFrancesco – and they often do – they ponder his matchless talents as a modern-day avatar of the Hammond B3 organ and the Philadelphia history he shares with his principle instrument. Organ-based blues and jazz started in Philly and DeFrancesco is the first to tell you so. DeFrancesco is adored…
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