by Steven Miller

Josh Lawrence’s Still We Dream, released on August 15, 2025, bridges the structural angularity of Thelonious Monk with the lyrical depth of Frédéric Chopin. The twelve songs bring these two composers together through careful arranging and inspired improvisation. The music finds the common thread of form, melody, and risk.

With Diego Rivera on saxophones, Art Hirahara on piano, Boris Kozlov on bass, Rudy Royston on drums, and Mason Bryant joining on guitar for two tracks, Lawrence has surrounded himself with musicians who understand the weight of history and the joy of invention.

The album makes its case [...]

By Steven Miller

In The River, pianist and composer Silvano Monasterios offers a suite of textured Latin jazz. His ensemble writing and musical storytelling are framed by the metaphor of a river. The seven-part work unfolds as a dialogue between the written and improvised contemporary Latin jazz language. It is a flowing, textural narrative brought to life by a Venezuelan Nonet of exceptional caliber. Rather than spotlighting one or two star voices, the album thrives on a collective approach where every instrumentalist adds to the music’s feeling and precision as it becomes musical poetry.

From its tranquil beginnings to its [...]

by Steven Miller

Adding to his ever-expanding canon of contemporary jazz compositions, Gregg Hill’s work continues to captivate discerning musicians and listeners alike. Pianist Rick Roe’s latest offering, Tribute: The Music of Gregg Hill, released by Cold Plunge Records, underscores Hill’s distinctive compositional brilliance, interpreted through a compelling trio setting. Alongside bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Nate Winn, Roe approaches Hill’s repertoire with profound sensitivity, celebrating its inherent versatility and emotional understanding of styles.

Roe’s thoughtful arrangements [...]

by Steven Miller

John Patitucci’s Spirit Fall is an album based on trio communication, a study of the freedom and responsibility of a chordless format, and what happens when three deeply intuitive musicians explore the boundless harmonic and rhythmic possibilities. Marking Patitucci’s debut as a leader on Edition Records, the album finds the bassist alongside long-standing collaborators Chris Potter (saxophones, bass clarinet) and Brian Blade (drums), exploring a set of nine Patitucci originals and one cover with remarkable spontaneity and depth.

Trio records that omit a chordal instrument come with a built-in challenge: how to create [...]