Bassist Rodney Whitaker has assembled a refined quintet to present the music of composer Gregg Hill. The ensemble is Terell Stafford on trumpet and flugelhorn, Tim Warfield on tenor and soprano saxophones, Bruce Barth on piano, and Dana Hall on drums. Vocalist Rockelle Fortin also appears in four songs. Hill is a composer that has published over 145 original jazz compositions across various albums. Oasis: The Music of Gregg Hill presents ten compositions by Hill and one by Whitaker.

“Puppets” is a beautiful waltz-time composition that shows the power of Hill’s harmonic and melody relationships as well as [...]

Shiri Zorn has burst onto the scene as one to watch; her collaboration with guitarist and composer George Muscatello began in 2013, shortly after she relocated to Upstate New York. Their latest effort codifies their nearly decade-long partnership by releasing their 2022 album Into Another Land.

Kicking off with “Witch Touch,” a Muscatello/Zorn original is adorned with exotic rhythms by Brazilian master percussionist Mauricio Zottarelli. Zorn has a supple instrument in her voice; its range and depth are exhibited in full spectrum on this track, from the most ethereal high notes to the mysterious lows.

Muscatello punctuates with quick [...]

Bobby Watson is releasing his latest jazz album, Back Home in Kansas City. The album pays homage to Watson’s hometown as he leads his working rhythm section on the alto saxophone. But, Watson says, “The alto is a singing horn. Great melodies are immortal, like a sculpture or a painting,” Watson insists. “This album is more about the singing quality of my instrument.” The album features a quintet of bassist Curtis Lundy, drummer Victor Jones, pianist Cyrus Chestnut, and trumpeter Jeremy Pelt.

Watson opens the album with a contrafact on the classic “Donna Lee” called “Back Home in Kansas [...]

Ian Wardenski is a guitarist, composer, theorist, and educator. Wardenski has built a reputation for his compositions that are developed upon rich harmonic characteristics and an additive approach to melody and rhythm. He is following up his debut album, Collective Thoughts (2019), with his sophomore release, Trust. Trust features the Ian Wardenski Quintet functioning as a chamber group with the freedom, spontaneity, and improvisation of a small jazz combo. Joining Wardenski is Mercedes Beckman – alto saxophone, Jerry Ascione – piano, Amy Shook – bass, Frank Russo – drums, and Tamara Tucker – voice.

“Before Long” begins our journey [...]