New Jazz Releases – 12/30/2024
By Russell Perry
Lisa Hilton
This year has finished strongly with terrific new releases from Elam Friedlander, Roberto Magris, Lisa Hilton, Arild Andersen, Jakob Bro, and Ira Grossman. New releases also from Renee Rosnes, Shabaka Hutchings and Mary Halvorson. In addition, we used the prompt of some favorite incoming music to track down a dozen releases from the past several years that had been missing from our library.
Noel Okimoto – Hoihi (Self Produced, released 12/26/2024). DeShannon Higa – trumpet / flugelhorn, Allen Won – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone / flute, Tony James – piano / organ / electric piano, Abe Lagrimas Jr – vibraphone / ukelele, Haru Takeuchi – electric guitar / acoustic guitar, Dean Taba – electric bass / acoustic bass, Noel Okimoto – drums / percussion / melodica with Michael Grande – electric piano.
Hawaiian percussionist Noel Okimoto may be the first jazz musician since Gabe Baltazar (Stan Kenton) of whom I am aware from the 50th state. He has a swinging band of Islanders and they acquit themselves handsomely on a program of twelve originals.
Review: Scope Magazine
Renee Rosnes – Crossing Paths (Smoke Sessions, released 12/06/2024). Steve Davis – trombone, Chris Potter – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Shelley Brown – flute / alto flute / vocals, Renee Rosnes – piano / Fender Rhodes / melodica / vocals, Chico Pinheiro – guitar, John Patitucci – bass / vocals, Adam Cruz – drums, Rogério Boccato – percussion / vocals, Edu Lobo – vocals, Joyce Moreno – vocals, Maucha Adnet – vocals.
Pianist Renee Rosnes (Artemis, Steve Davis, Neil Swainson, Nick Finzer) brings her Brazilian music influences to the forefront in a set that celebrates several second-generation bossa nova composers. Rosnes is stunning on piano as is Chris Potter (Eagles Point, previewed 02/19/2024) on tenor and soprano. The combination of Rosnes on keys and Shelly Brown on flute favorably recalls Chick Corea and Joe Farrell on Return to Forever’s Light as a Feather. Sparkling and dancing music. Recommended.
Reviews: AllAboutJazz, Marlbank
Shabaka – Possessions (Self Produced, released 12/06/2024). Shabaka Hutchings – flute, André 3000 – flute, Billy Woods – vocals, Esperanza Spalding – bass / vocals, Nduduzo Makhathini – piano, Elucid – vocals.
To finish a year that began with his debut on flute, Shabaka Hutchings (Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge It’s Grace, previewed 04/23/2024) has released an EP with tracks featuring a series of named guests and a lot of unidentified musicians.
Reviews: Pitchfork, UK Jazz News, The Quietus
Elam Friedlander – Sound-Elements (Cellar Music, released 12/06/2024). Abraham Burton – tenor saxophone, Luis Perdomo – piano, Elam Friedlander – bass, Eric McPherson – drums.
In his debut, Israeli bassist Elam Friedlander has recorded a set of compositions dedicated to the four “Elements” (Earth, Air, Fire, Water) plus an Epilogue in a connected and epic spiritual adventure. Tenor saxophonist Abraham Burton (Louis Hayes, Jack Walrath) brings an appropriately Coltrane vibe and is joined by drummer Eric McPherson (Borderlands Trio – Rewilder, previewed 12/16/2024) and pianist Luis Perdomo (El Arte Del Bolero, Volume 2, previewed 08/14/2023) in one of his strongest outings yet. Together the quartet is a moving musical unit. Highly recommended.
Review: Papatamus
Roberto Magris – Freedom Is Peace (J Mood Records, released 12/01/2024). Lukas Oravec – trumpet / flugelhorn, Tony Lakatos – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Florian Brambock – alto saxophone / baritone saxophone, Roberto Magris – piano, Rudi Engel – acoustic bass, Gasper Bertoncelj – drums.
Earlier this year Italy-born pianist Roberto Magris released a fine record of solo, duo, trio and quartet selections (Love Is Passing Through, previewed 03/11/2024). Now he is back with a live sextet set and he makes the most of the three-horn front line. I know nothing of the other players on this date (all European), but the ensemble really works. There is a magical quality to the work that ranges from driving to elegiac. This one is playing on repeat. Highly recommended.
Lisa Hilton – Lucky All Along (Ruby Slippers Productions, released 11/29/2024). Igmar Thomas – trumpet, Lisa Hilton – piano, Luques Curtis – bass, Rudy Royston – drums / percussion.
Pianist Lisa Hilton puts out a new straight-ahead release annually like clockwork. For many years now the work features the well-matched bassist Luques Curtis and drummer Rudy Royston (who was amazing at the Bill Frisell date recently here in Charlottesville). This is her third disc with trumpeter Ingmar Thomas (Kamasi Washington, Marc Cary) who also fits well. Hilton brings a latin lilt to many tunes and has blues in her back pocket at all times as she tracks a program of eight originals and three covers. Year after year, I admire her work. Highly recommended.
Reviews: AllAboutJazz, Downbeat
Arild Andersen – Landloper (ECM, released 11/29/2024). Arild Andersen – bass.
Fifty plus years since his debut on ECM, Norwegian bassist Arild Anderson has recorded his first solo record and after literally hundreds of dates, this is one of his best. He is one of the most melodic jazz bassists around today and he has chosen his material to feature his big tone and tender phrasing. Highly recommended.
Review: UK Jazz News, The Big Takeover,AllAboutJazz, AllMusic
Jacob Bro – Taking Turns(ECM, released 11/29/2024). Lee Konitz – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone, Jakob Bro – guitar, Bill Frisell – guitars, Jason Moran – piano, Thomas Morgan – double bass, Andrew Cyrille – drums.
Danish guitarist Jacob Bro had just recorded his ECM debut in 2014 when he went to the studio with a stunning collection of New York players to record a set of his compositions that, curiously, never was released. The band stretched across several generations (altoist Lee Konitz at 86, drummer Andrew Cyrille at 75, guitarist Bill Frisell at 63, and the balance of the sextet in their thirties). Konitz is the star of this show as the other players, understandingly, differ to him and give him space. And there is plenty of space in the music as the contemplative compositions are airy and sparse. Highly recommended.
Review: Jazz Trail, UK Jazz News, Jazz Views, The Big Takeover
Jeff Parker & ETA IVtet – The Way Out Of Easy (International Anthem, released 11/22/2024). Josh Johnson – amplified alto saxophone with electronics, Jeff Parker – electric guitar with electronics / sampler, Anna Butterss – amplified double bass, Jay Bellerose – drums, cymbals / percussion.
Guitarist Jeff Parker has released a live recording of his alto – guitar – bass – drums quartet all with electronic enhancement. This is a groove-heavy affair with four long-form improvisations.
Reviews: Pitchfork, The Guardian, UK Jazz News
Mary Halvorson – Cloudward(Nonesuch Records, released 11/19/2024). Adam O’Farrill – trumpet, Jacob Garchik – trombone, Patricia Brennan – vibraphone, Mary Halvorson – guitar, Nick Dunston – bass, Tomas Fujiwara – drums with Laurie Anderson – violin.
Guitarist Mary Halvorson has reassembled the sextet that recorded her acclaimed release Amaryllis (previewed 06/07/2022) for another characteristically diverse, if somewhat more accessible, disc. As always – adventurous.
Reviews: Pitchfork, The Guardian, Jazz Trail, AllAboutJazz
Ira Grossman Sextet – Sound Advice (Cellar Music, released 11/15/2024). Irv Grossman – trumpet, Jimmy O’Connell – trombone, Andrew Gould – alto saxophone, Sam Dillon – tenor saxophone, David Hazeltine – piano, Todd Coolman – bass, Billy Drummond – drums.
Trumpeter Ira Grossman has assembled a first-rate New York sextet to record his charts for a three horn trumpet – alto – tenor front line (three tunes expand to a septet with trombone added.) The result is a very satisfying and familiar sounding hard bop date with two originals and covers of Jerry Bergonzi, Tom Harrell, Mulgrew Miller, Hank Mobley and Miles Davis. To complement a solid rhythm section (David Hazeltine, Todd Coolman, Billy Drummond), the front line is outstanding – on alto Andrew Gould (Jonathan Powell, Bill Garfield) and on tenor Sam Dillon (Force Field – 2019, Out In The Open – 2018). Recommended.
Joe Syrian Motor City Jazz Octet – Secret Message (Circle 9 Records, released 11/15/2024). Nick Marchionne – trumpet / flugelhorn, Doug Beavers – trombone, Carl Maraghi – alto and baritone saxophones, Tim Ries – tenor saxophone, Dave Rieckenberg – tenor saxophone / bass clarinet, Adam Birnbaum – piano, Paul Bollenback – guitars, Lorin Cohen – acoustic and electric bass, Joe Syrian – drums with Kenny Washington – vocal, Joe Locke – vibraphone, Luisito Quintero – percussion.
Detroit-based octet led by drummer Joe Syrian tackles a program of familiar standards and late-twentieth century pop tunes. Straight-ahead from start to finish.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Making A Scene, Scope Magazine
Edition Records sent us a couple of items from their back catalog that we had missed when they came out in 2021 and 2022:
Marquis Hill – New Gospel Revisited (Edition Records, released 03/18/2022). Marquis Hill – trumpet, Walter Smith III – tenor saxophone, Joel Ross – vibraphone, James Francies – piano, Harish Raghavan – bass, Kendrick Scott – drums.
Gretchen Parlato – Flor (Edition Records, released 03/05/2021). Marcel Camargo – guitar, Artyom Manukyan – cello, Léo Costa – drums, Gretchen Parlato – vocals with Mark Guiliana – drums, Gerald Clayton – piano, Airto Moreira – vocals / percussion.
Gustavo Cortinas came through Charlottesville with Emily Kuhn this fall and released Entre Amigos (previewed 11/18/2024) with an all-star quartet from Chicago. He then sent us four back catalog releases from 2013 – 2022:
Gustavo Cortiñas – Snapshot(Desafio Candente Records, released 07/05/2013). Justin Copeland – trumpet, Roy McGrath – tenor saxophone, Michael Allemana – guitar, Kitt Lyles – bass, Gustavo Cortiñas – drums)
Gustavo Cortiñas – ESSE (OA2 Records, released 01/20/2017). Justin Copeland – trumpet, Adam Thornburg – trombone, Joaquin Garcia – piano, Hans Luchs – guitar, Kitt Lyles – bass, Gustavo Cortiñas – drums /cymbals.
Gustavo Cortiñas – Desafío Candente (Desafio Candente Records, released 03/24/2021). Drew Hansen – trumpet, Euan Edmonds – trombone, Artie Black – tenor saxophone / bass clarinet, Joaquin Garcia – piano, Kitt Lyles – bass, Gustavo Cortiñas – drums / percussion,
Gustavo Cortiñas – Kind Regards (Desafio Candente Records, released 09/02/2022). Emily Kuhn – trumpet, Meghan Stagl – piano / vocals, Erik Skov – guitar, Katie Ernst – bass, Gustavo Cortiñas – drums.
UVA music faculty member Nicole Mitchell has a lengthy discography and we just obtained this solo date from 2013:
Nicole Mitchell – Engraved In The Woods (Rogue Art Records, released 02/08/2013). Nicole Mitchell – C flute / alto flute.
After enjoying Christine Jensen – Harbour (previewed 12/16/2024), I wrote to Christine Jensen who sent her two previous big band dates from 2010 and 2013:
Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra Featuring Ingrid Jensen – Treeline (Justin Time Records, released 2010).
Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra – Habitat (Justin Time Records, released 2013). Jocelyn Couture, Aron Doyle, Bill Mahar, Dave Mossing, Ingrid Jensen – trumpets, David Grott, Jean-Nicolas Trottier, Muhammad Abdul Al-Khabyyr – trombones, Christine Jensen, Jean Sebastion Vachon, Bob Ellis – bass trombones. Dave Martin – tuba / euphonium, Donny Kennedy, Erik Hove, Chet Doxas, Joel Miller, Samuel Blais, Dave Gossage – woodwinds, John Roney – piano, Ken Bibace – guitar, Fraser Hoillins – bass, Richard Irwin – drums.
After listening to and enjoying Jeff Cosgrove / Noah Preminger / Kim Cass – Confusing Motion For Progress (previewed 12/23/2024), I reached out to Jeff Cosgrove who sent these two releases from 2023 that we missed the first time around.
Jeff Cosgrove / Jeff Lederer / Mark Lysher – Welcome Home(Self Produced, released 10/20/2023). Jeff Lederer – saxophone / clarinet, Mark Lysher – bass, Jeff Cosgrove – drums.
Ivo Perlman / Matthew Shipp / Jeff Cosgrove – Live In Carrboro (Soul City Sounds, released 04/07/2023). Ivo Perlman – tenor saxophone, Matthew Shipp – piano, Jeff Cosgrove – drums.
Well … that’s it for 2024. It has been a great year for new music and I have enjoyed sharing it with you. See you next year!
Russell Perry
Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
