New Jazz Releases – 03/31/2025
By Russell Perry
Kenny Wheeler (1930 – 2014)
I’ve been traveling and this is a little late, but there is so much music I’ve heard recently, I wanted to get this to you as soon as I could.
The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble – Gemini (Colemine Records, release 03/28/2025). Wili Fleming – trombone, Jesse Audelo – saxophone / flute, Travis Klein – saxophone / flute, Tim Felten – keyboards, Aquiles “Lito” Magana – guitar, Omar Lopez – bass, Jake Najor – drums, Kiko Cornejo Jr – congas / percussion, Sheryll Felten – percussion.
Sometimes, the only way to stop your feet from tapping is to get up and dance. This is music for your groovy self. Funk and soul deluxe.
Review: Glide Magazine, The Fire Note
Greg Garrison – ronsongs (Adhyâropa Records, release 03/28/2025). Shane Endsley – trumpet and drums, John Gunther – bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, Erik Deutsch – piano and keyboards, Dave Devine – guitar, Greg Garrison – acoustic and electric bass, Dru Heller – drums.
Bassist Greg Garrison has assembled a group of players who knew and played with the late trumpeter Ron Miles (1963 – 1922) for a loving tribute consisting of both his compositions and tunes composed in his memory. Known primarily for his bluegrass and Americana releases, Garrison has been part of a broad Colorado music scene in which Miles thrived. Trumpeter Shane Endsley (Carmen Sandim, Donny McCaslin, Michael Foramek, Steve Coleman) makes no attempt at imitation yet captures some of the sweet presence of Miles. There are a lot of influences present in this diverse offering. Recommended.
Los Angeles Improvisation Ensemble – Insubordinate Lunar Transgressions (Denoument Records, release 03/25/2025). Robert Hardt – woodwinds, Louis Stewart – piano, Andrew Shulman – cello, Michael Valerio – bass.
There is a remarkable coherence to this fully improvised set, suggesting no small amount of common agreement on direction and feel going in. I don’t know these players but the woodwind – piano – cello – bass quartet format is unusual and very successful in their skilled hands.
Vijay Iyer & Wadada Leo Smith – Defiant Life (ECM, release 03/21/2025). Wadada Leo Smith – trumpet, Vijay Iyer – piano / Fender Rhodes / electronics.
Doug Collette at AllAboutJazz describes the first track of this notable release as one that “unfolds with such pervasive, mysterious grace” and this describes much of this thoughtful release by instrumental titans Vijay Iyer and Wadada Leo Smith. Following their duo debut on the 2016 release A Cosmic Rhythm With Each Stroke, Iyer and Smith continue to show remarkable sympathy. Expect elegiac melancholy and pensive ruminations. Recommended.
Review: Jazz Trail, Jazz Views, Pitchfork, AllAboutJazz
Ashley Jackson – Take Me to the Water (Decca, release 03/21/2025). Ashley Jackson – harp, The Harlem Chamber Players.
Harpist Ashley Jackson, one of the few playing this music today, has released a program of compositions by Margaret Bonds, Alice Coltrane, Claude Debussy, Brandee Younger and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor focussed on the spiritual power of water. Adjacent to the jazz sphere, spirituals are represented and the playing is strong and lovely.
Review: Women In Jazz Media
Rita Hargrave and Wayne Wallace – Salsa De La Bahia Volume 3, Renegade Queens (Patois Records, release 03/21/2025). Key Elements, Xiomara Torres, Mary Fettig, Jackie Ryan, Bob Cespedes, Christelle Durandy, The Blazing Redheads, Lichi Fuentes, Kat Parra, Maria Marquez, Kristen Strom, The Montclair Women’s Big Band, Sandy Cressman, La Dona, Grupo Faldo Baiano, Carolyn Brandy, Jackie Ryan, Avotcja.
Filmmaker Rita Hargrove (of the documentaries The Last Mambo and Renegade Queens) has been shining a bright light on the music of Venezuela, Cuba, Chile, Brazil and Colombia in the San Francisco Bay Area. This, her third release, features the untold story of women Latin performers and bandleaders. Great music here and lots of variety. A wonderful introduction. Recommended.
Review:JazzDeLaPena, Downbeat
Christoph Irniger Pilgrim – Human Intelligence (Intakt Records, release 03/21/2025). Christoph Irniger – tenor saxophone, Stefan Abby – piano, Dave Giller – guitar, Raffaele Bossard – bass, Michael Stultz – drums.
After fourteen years and six releases, tenor saxophonist Christo Irtniger’s quintet Pilgrim is a well rehearsed synchronized ensemble. The Swiss players deliver a thoughtful live recording that celebrates improvisation.
Review:Organissimo, AllAboutJazz
Pavel Nunez & Pavel Polanco-Safadiot — De Pavel A Pavel (From The 317, release 03/21/2025). David Allee – trumpet, Rich Cole – trombone, Rob Dixon – saxophone, Pavel Polanco-Safadiot – piano, Victor “Nino” Barrette – guitar, Gustavo Barrette – bass, Steve Dokken – bass, Matt McGraw – drums, Jose Febres – congas, Andre Rosa Artis – congas, Pavel Núñez – vocals, Leah Crane – vocals.
The Pavels in question are a pair of Dominican players – Pavel Núñez on vocals and Pavel Polanco-Safadiot on piano. Their program yo-yos back and forth between catchy jazzy latin tunes and rather less interesting (to me) pop and smooth jazz with a latin or reggae beat. Nunez is an effective singer and the band can be driving when they want, but mostly lopes along.
Review: Paris Move
Laura Dreyer and the Manhattan-Rio Connection – Agua E Sol (Lavasphere Records, release 03/18/2025). Dom Salvador – piano, Eduardo Mercuri – guitar, Gili Lopes – bass, Fernando Saci – percussion, Dennis Bulhões – drums with Jackie Ribas – vocals, Dario Eskenazi – keyboard, Graciliano Zambonin – drums.
Veteran saxophonist / flutist Laura Dreyer has assembled a sextet of New York and Brazilian players for a program of eight Brazilian-influenced original compositions.
Nicolas Masson – Renaissance (ECM, release 03/14/2025). Nicolas Masson – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Colin Vallon – piano, Patrice Moret – double bass, Lionel Friedli – drums.
Saxophonist Nicolas Masson brings back the quartet from ECM’s 2018 release Traveler, including gentle pianist Colin Vallon (Samares, previewed 11/25/2024). As Mike Gates wrote beautifully on UK Vibe, “There’s a collective spirit within this quartet that sparkles, moments of grey misty mornings turning into breathtaking multi-hued splendour as the startling rays of sunshine filter through the clouds. It’s like an awakening of sorts, the quartet never afraid to mix up the pastoral elegance of the music with sharply focussed inquiry and intrigue.” You’ll know this is on ECM from the first note.
Review: Jazz Views, Jazzwise, Marlbank, UK Vibe
Josiah Boormazian – Chasing The Music (Jazz Hang Records, release 02/25/2025). Josiah Boormazian – alto saxophone, Kurt Reeder – piano, David Baker – bass, Jay Lawrence – drums.
Alto saxophonist Josiah Boornazian is the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Utah, an inventive composer and a torrid post-bop player. Leading a solid quartet, Boornazian romps through a program of eight originals showing substantial chops. Highly recommended.
Kenny Wheeler Legacy featuring The Royal Academy of Music Jazz Orchestra and Frost Jazz Orchestra – Some Days Are Better: The Lost Scores (Greenleaf Music, release 01/21/2025).
Trumpeter / composer Kenny Wheeler was an active participant in a very rich jazz scene in the UK from the 50s onward, straddling the line between post-bop and free jazz. He had diminished opportunities in the 70s and several bright spots were annual BBC performances for which he wrote and assembled large ensembles. Once broadcast, these performances were lost … until now. Friends and collaborators have assembled a top-notch orchestra and then added significant soloists (Ingrid Jensen, Chris Potter, Evan Parker, Norma Winstone, etc.) to play largely from Wheeler’s original scores. The result is stunning. Highly recommended.
Review: Jazz Views, Marlbank, Jazzwise, JazzWax
I’ll get back to you shortly with more music. Do check out Josiah Boormazian and the Kenny Wheeler set!
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
