2024 Jazz Releases, Vol. 4

If this collection can be said to have a particularity, it’s the increased female participation, not only in vocals but also in saxophone performances. Jazzmeia Horn, Samara Joy, Caroline Davis, Ayumi Koketsu, Phoebe Johnson, and Nubya Garcia showcase their artistry through their personal albums, while Sarah Hanahan, Christie Dashiell, Esperanza Spalding, and others contribute to collaborative works. Their talents enrich the autumn jazz scene, and therefore our playlist that is both diverse and harmonious. Happy listening!

Listen to the playlist on streaming services:


All about the albums and the musicians contributing to the playlist
——-

 

Sula Bassana 20syl, Christophe Panzani – Sula Bassana
Genre: Jazz-hop, electronic
Label: On And On Records
Place: France
Reviews: Paris-MoveDeeJay.DE
Listen: BandcampDeezer, SpotifyYoutube

A nice album from electro hip-hop producer 20syl‘s fruitful collaboration with saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Christophe Panzani and other contributors

Portals Vol. 2: ReturningCaroline Davis – Portals Vol. 2: Returning
Genre: Avant-garde jazz, modern jazz
Label: Intakt Records
Place: Brooklyn, NY
Reviews: Paris-Move, UkJazzNews
Listen: Bandcamp, Deezer, Spotify

Saxophonist Caroline Davis’ quintet channels the innovative side of contemporary jazz as a natural continuation of its history. Joining her are Marquis Hill (tr), Julian Shore (p), Chris Tordini (b), and Allan Mednard (dr). Among the many guest artists is Nicole Mitchell (fl, – 10, 12)

DowntimeMike Burton – Downtime
Genre: Smooth jazz, beats
Label: SRG Jazz
Place: USA
Reviews: 
Listen: Deezer, SpotifyYoutube

Saxophonist Mike Burton refreshes the tradition of smooth jazz with a touch of modern rhythm

Volere VolareMeJO – Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, Antonello Sorrentino – Volere Volare
Genre: Contemporary jazz, big band
Label: WoW Records
Place: Italy
Reviews: 
Listen: Deezer, SpotifyYoutube

The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra is a highly refined mainstream big band led by trumpeter Antonello Sorrentino

Sky TimeYai, John Thayer, David Lackner – Sky Time
Genre: Ambient jazz, beats
Label: AKP Recordings
Place: New York
Reviews: EchoesSandDust, RavenSingsTheBlues
Listen: Bandcamp, Deezer, SpotifyYoutube

Yai, the duo of John Thayer and David Lackner, specializes in creating ethereal soundscapes using keyboards, wind instruments, percussion, and electronics

XL-LXThe Danish Radio Big Band – XL-LX
Genre: Modern jazz, big band
Label: Storyville Records
Place: Denmark
Reviews: ???
Listen: Bandcamp, Deezer, SpotifyYoutube

The Danish Radio Big Band is a remarkable big band that skillfully executes demanding commissioned works by Marilyn Mazur, Carla Bley, Palle Mikkelborg, Carl Nielsen/Peter Jensen, and Miho Hazama. Curiously, apart from a review on Bandcamp, no other review has been found about this excellent double album

Destiny/SacrificeGiddyGang, Vuyo – Destiny/Sacrifice
Genre: Rap/hip-hop, jazz, R&B
Label: GiddyGang/Sony
Place: Norway
Reviews: 
Listen: Deezer, SpotifyYoutube

Polished rap/hip-hop from GiddyGang group and  Vuyo

Limpid FlameAyumi Koketsu – Limpid Flame
Genre: Contemporary jazz
Label: PONY CANYON
Place: New York
Reviews: JazzBlues.eu
Listen: Deezer, SpotifyYoutube

Outstanding skill and heartfelt delivery on solid jazz ground, by the enjoyable alto saxophonist Ayumi Koketsu

No Pain, No ChampagneLeon Phal – No Pain, No Champagne
Genre: Jazz-hop
Label: Heavenly Sweetness/Sony
Place: Paris
Reviews: AlbumoftheYear.org
Listen: Bandcamp, Deezer, SpotifyYoutube

Handmade grooves by saxophonist Leon Phal and his ensemble, inspired by conversations with winemaker Stéphane Regnault!

InnuendoTobias Hoffmann Jazz Orchestra – Innuendo
Genre: Modern jazz, big band
Label: Mons Records
Place: Paris
Reviews: JazzJournalJazzIzMonsRecords
Listen: Deezer, SpotifyYoutube

Saxophonist Tobias Hoffmann presents his compositions with intricate arrangements for his big band

Jazz Is Dead 021Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad – Jazz Is Dead 021
Genre: Afrobeat, jazz-funk/soul, brazil
Label: Jazz Is Dead
Place: Los Angeles
Reviews: 
Listen: Bandcamp, Deezer, SpotifyYoutube

The well-known duo Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad explores rhythmic landscapes from the global music scene, inviting renowned representatives of each genre as collaborators

The Tables Will TurnBrandon Sanders – The Tables Will Turn
Genre: Contemporary jazz
Label: Savant
Place: USA
Reviews: JazzMusicArchives, WDNA.org, TheUrbanMusicScene
Listen: Deezer, SpotifyYoutube

Drummer Brandon Sanders supports the mainstream jazz tradition alongside Chris Lewis (ts, ss), Warren Wolf (vbr), Keith Brown (p) and David Wong (b). Christie Dashiell (voc), a Grammy nominee this year, makes a surprise appearance on one track

Who We AreAshley Henry – Who We Are
Genre: Jazz, soul, hip-hop
Label: Naive
Place: London
Reviews: TheGuardian, JazzWise
Listen: Deezer, SpotifyYoutube

Ashley Henry (p, voc) offers a modern perspective on the various forms of jazz, past and present. Featuring Judi Jackson (voc), Aja Monet (reading), Binker Golding (sax), Theo Croker (tp), and others

Cuba And BeyondChucho Valdés, Royal Quartet – Cuba And Beyond
Genre: Latin jazz
Label: InnerJazz
Place: New York
Reviews: LatinJazzNet
Listen: Deezer, SpotifyYoutube

On this Grammy-nominated album, the historic Cuban jazz sound is revived through the hypnotic magic of 83 y.o. legend Chucho Valdés (p), alongside experts José Armando Gola (b), Horacio El Negro Hernández (dr) and Roberto Jr. Vizcaino (perc)

WE MAKE: Stories for a New DayZach Adleman – WE MAKE: Stories for a New Day
Genre: Contemporary jazz
Label: Cellar Live
Place: New York
Reviews: MakingAScene, Paris-Move, LydiaLiebman
Listen: Bandcamp, Deezer, SpotifyYoutube

Drummer Zach Adleman dynamically beautifies the past with Steve Wilson (as – 5,9,10,11), Sarah Hanahan (as – 1-4 & 6-8), Austin Ford (tp), Steve Davis (trb), Luther Allison (p), and Jared Beckstead-Craan (b)

MessagesJazzmeia Horn – Messages
Genre: Vocal jazz
Label: Empress Legacy Records
Place:
Reviews: TheUrbanMusicScene
Listen: Deezer, SpotifyYoutube

With her distinctive vocal timbre and impressive ease in soaring to heights few can reach, three-time Grammy nominee Jazzmeia Horn takes us into her world on her fourth album

PortraitSamara Joy – Portrait
Genre: Vocal jazz
Label: Verve
Place: New Jersey
Reviews: AllMusic, GlideMagazine, Forbes
Listen: Deezer, SpotifyYoutube

Second time Grammy nominee, thanks to her previous release “A Joyful Holiday”, the mellifluous songbird of jazz, Samara Joy, effortlessly amazes us, supported by her octet of young musicians. Thank you, Sarah Vaughan! (And as Matt Collar notes, Betty Carter too!)

RevulvaRevulva – Revulva
Genre: nu soul, art rock
Label: Independent
Place: Wellington, NZ
Reviews: MusicNet.nz, EnsembleMagazine.co.nz
Listen: Bandcamp, Deezer, Spotify, Youtube

The art-rock style of singer-songwriter and leader Phoebe Johnson (b, voc) is energized by lively jazz-funk/R&B/soul arrangements from her octet, Revulva

A Portrait of JuneJune Cavlan – A Portrait of June
Genre: Vocal jazz
Label: La Reserve
Place: Manhattan, NY
Reviews: Bandcamp
Listen: Deezer, SpotifyYoutube

Beyond her satisfying voice, award-winning June Cavlan stands out for her improvisational, compositional, and arranging talents

OdysseyNubya Garcia – Odyssey
Genre: Modal jazz, new jazz, hip-hop, dub, orchestral
Label: Concord Records
Place: London
Reviews: Pitchfork, TheGuardian
Listen: Bandcamp, Deezer, SpotifyYoutube

Beloved especially by younger audiences, the award-winning Nubya Garcia (ts) enriches her neo-modal style with orchestral sounds from the Chineke! Orchestra. Her partners are Joe Armon-Jones (keys), Daniel Casimir (b), and Sam Jones (dr). Furthermore, among the featured guests is Esperanza Spalding (voc)

Verdi RemixLe Mirifique Orchestra, Alban Darche, Emmanuel Bénèche – Verdi Remix
Genre: Cross-over jazz, classical
Label: Pepin et Plume
Place: France
Reviews: GrandsFormats
Listen: Bandcamp, Deezer, SpotifyYoutube

Le Mirifique Orchestra, a Philharmonic Wind Orchestra led by Alban Darche (as, arr, comp) and Emmanuel Bénèche (Fr. horn), brings the Italian tradition to life with modern adaptations of famous pieces from Giuseppe Verdi’s operas

Blue in GreenChamber Jazz Consort – Blue in Green
Genre: Cross-over jazz, classical
Label: Zennez Records
Place: Brussels
Reviews: 
Listen: Deezer, SpotifyYoutube

Chamber music with jazz nuances, performed by the Chamber Jazz Consort string quartet and clarinetist Anton Jakimenko, who takes on a significant portion of the improvisations


M O R E   N E W   &   N O T E W O R T H Y   R E L E A S E S
(Autumn 2024)

VOCALISTS

  • John Zorn – Hannigan Sings Zorn Volume Two (Tzadik)
  • Nicole Zuraitis – How Love Begins (Extended Edition) [La Reserve]
  • Raye – Live at Montreux Jazz Festival
  • Martina Dasilva – Bim Bom (La Reserve)
  • Davóne Tines, The Truth – ROBESOИ (Nonesuch)
  • Van Morrison – New Arrangements And Duets
    Ft. Willie Nelson, Kurt Elling, Curtis Stigers, Joss Stone
  • Pauline Réage – Gentle Destruction (Galileo)
  • Jan Smigmator, Scott Hamilton – Two Tenors
  • Richard Cortez – Mood Swings (La Reserve)
    Ft. Nicole Glover, ..
  • Gábor Gadó, Veronika Harcsa – The Language of Flowers

TRUMPETERS

  • Ibrahim Maalouf – Trumpets of Michel-Ange
  • Herb Alpert – 50
  • William Doran – Borderlands
  • Mark Masters Ensemble, Tim Hagans – Sui Generis (Capri)
    Ft. Nicole McCabe, ..
  • David Weiss – Auteur (Origin)
    Ft. Myron Walden, Nicole Glover, David Bryant, Eric Wheeler, E.J. Strickland
  • Avishai Cohen – Ashes to Gold (ECM)
  • Jim Rotondi – Live at Smalls (Cellar Live)
    Ft. David Hazeltine, Eric Alexander, John Webber, Joe Farnsworth
  • Rob Mazurek, Exploding Star Orchestra – Live at the Adler Planetarium (International Anthem)
    Ft. Nicole Mitchell, Tomeka Reid, Craig Taborn, Angelica Sanchez, Chad Taylor, Gerald Cleaver, ..
  • Peter Evans – Extra (We Jazz)
  • Brian Lynch – 7x7BY7
    Ft. Craig Handy, Alex Wintz, Luis Perdomo, Boris Kozlov, ..
  • Pete Rodriguez – I am Pete Rodriguez, Volume 1 (Sunnyside)

SAXOPHONISTS, CLARINETISTS, FLUTISTS

  • Marius Neset & Leif Ove Andsnes – Who We Are
  • Louis Sclavis & Benjamin Moussay – Unfolding (ECM)
  • Sylvain Rifflet – We Want Stars
  • Anthony Braxton Saxophone Quartet – Sax QT (Lorraine) 2022
  • Anat Cohen – Quartetinho: Bloom
  • Dániel Váczi Glissonic Trio – Interplanetary Posts (Humnia)
  • JD Allen – The Dark, the Light, the Grey and the Colorful (Savant)
  • Ben Wendel – Understory: Live at the Village Vanguard (Edition)
    Ft. Gerald Clayton, Linda May Han Oh, Obed Calvaire
  • Joel Frahm – Lumination (Anzic)
    Ft. Dan Loomis, Ernesto Cervini
  • Branford Marsalis and Friends – Ősz fele van az idő (Autumn is coming) (Live)
  • Camille Thurman, Darrell Green – Confluence, Vol.1 Alhambra (Epidote)
  • Darius Jones – Legend of e’Boi (The Hypervigilant Eye) [AUM Fidelity]
    Ft. Gerald Cleaver, Chris Lightcap
  • Diego Rivera – Ofrenda (Posi-Tone)
    Ft. Terell Stafford, Art Hirahara, Boris Kozlov, Rudy Royston
  • Jeff Lederer – Guilty!!!
    Ft. Kirk Knuffke, Bob Stewart, Matt Wilson, ..
  • Tribute To Füsti Balogh Band, Tony Lakatos – The Big Things
  • Jieun Park (fl) – Honest
  • John Zorn – New Masada Quartet, Vol. 3 (Tzadik)
  • Joan Chamorro – Tenor Summit
    Ft. Scott Hamilton, Joel Frahm, ..
  • Josephine Davies – Satori: Weatherwards (Whirlwind)
  • Tim Berne & Michael Formanek – Parlour Games (Relative Pitch)
  • Baptiste Herbin – Django !
  • Steve Coleman – PolyTropos / Of Many Turns (Pi)
  • Paul Heller – A Day in Brussels
  • Julian Arguelles – Doublespeak
  • Ben Goldberg, Scott Amendola, Todd Sickafoose – Here to There
  • Fredrik Kronkvist – WIRED
  • Jonathan Ragonese – the sun flung spangles… golden coins vol. 2
    Ft. Mark Whitfield Jr., Glenn Zaleski, ..
  • Steve Coleman – PolyTropos / Of Many Turns (Pi)
  • Immanuel Wilkins – Blues Blood (Blue Note)
  • Paul Dunmall, Kevin Figes – Duos

TROBONISTS, TUBISTS

  • John Fedchock – Justifiably J.J.: A Centennial Tribute (Live at The Jazz Kitchen, Indianapolis, 2024) [Summit]
  • Ryan Keberle – Bright Moments (Posi-Tone)
    Ft. Michael Dease, Patrick Cornelius, Art Hirahara, Boris Kozlov, Rudy Royston, ..
  • Vertigo Trombone Quartet – Openness
    Ft. Nils Wogram, Andreas Tschopp, Bernhard Bamert, Jan Schreiner
  • Johny Carlsson – Johny Carlsson & the MegaBones (Prophone)
  • Steve Davis – We See (Smoke Sessions)
    Ft. Eddie Henderson, Ralph Moore, Renee Rosnes, Essiet Essiet, Lewis Nash
  • Janning Trumann – Divide The Zero
    Ft. Caroline Davis, Drew Gress & Jochen Rueckert
  • Michael Dease – Found in Space: The Music of Gregg Hill (Origin)
    Ft. Sharel Cassity, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Bill Cunliffe, ..

GUITARISTS

  • Mike Stern – Echoes and Other Songs
    Ft. Chris Potter, Jim Beard, Christian McBride, Antonio Sanchez, …
  • Peter Bernstein – Better Angels (Smoke Sessions)
    Ft. Brad Mehldau, Vicente Archer, Al Foster
  • Bill Frisell, Andrew Cyrille, Kit Downes – Breaking the Shell
  • Ben Monder – Planetarium (Sunnyside)
  • Ella Zirina – Boundless Blue, Sunset Hue (Dox)
  • Wolfgang Muthspiel – Etudes, Quietudes
  • Jocelyn Gould – Portrait of Right Now

PIANISTS, KEYBOARDISTS

  • Leo Genovese – Eyes to the sun (Galileo)
    Ft. Camila Nebbia, Alfred Vogel
  • Florian Weber – Imaginary Cycle (ECM)
  • Leo Genovese, Demian Cabaud & Marcos Cavaleiro – Estrellero 2 (Sunnyside)
  • Laurent Coq – Confidences (Jazz & People)
  • Domenico Sanna  – Music is the Answer (Fresh Sound New Talent)
  • David Chesky – SOLO PIANO LIVE! (The Audiophile Society)
  • Kris Davis Trio – Run the Gauntlet (Pyroclastic)
    Ft. Robert Hurst, Johnathan Blake
  • Joachim Kühn – The Way (ACT)
  • Addison Frei – Coin Flip (Next Paradigm)
  • Francesca Tandoi – Bop Web
  • Bryn Roberts – Aloft (Elastic)
  • Christian Sands – Embracing Dawn (Mack Avenue)
    Ft. Yasushi Nakamura, Warren Wolf, Grégoire Maret, ..
  • Miki Yamanaka – Chance (Cellar Live)
    Ft. Tyrone Allen, Jimmy Macbride
  • Alfa Mist, Amika Quartet – Recurring (Live At King’s Place)
  • Eric Legnini, Bojan Z, Pierre de Bethmann, Baptiste Trotignon – PianoForte
  • Marc Copland – Dreaming
    Ft. Drew Gress, Mark Ferber, ..
  • Aaron Parks – Little Big III (Blue Note)
  • Sylvie Courvoisier – To Be Other-Wise (Intakt)
  • Brian Marsella’s iMAGiNARiUM – Medietas (Tzadik)
  • Randy Hoexter – Tomorrowsville (Blue Canoe)
  • Angelica Sanchez, Camila Nebbia – in another land, another dream (Relative Pitch)
  • Danilo Pérez & Bohuslän Big Band – Lumen (Prophone)
  • Ivo Neame – Zettalogue (Ubuntu)
  • Satoko Fujii – Dog Days of Summer
  • Robert Glasper – Keys To The City Volume One (Loma Vista)
    Ft. Nora Jones, Meshell Ndegeocello, Esperanza Spalding, ..

BASSISTS

  • KNOBIL (+voc) – Knobisous (u n i t)
  • Sam Wilkes – iiyo iiyo iiyo
  • Henning Sieverts – Blues
  • Avishai Cohen – Brightlight (Naive)
  • Or Bareket – Yom (Enja Yellowbird)
    Ft. Godwin Louis, Jeremy Corren, Savannah Harris
  • Avishai Cohen – Ashes to Gold (ECM)

DRUMMERS, PERCUSSIONISTS

  • Takeo Moriyama, Arashi – Tokuzo
    Ft. Akira Sakata, …
  • Andrew Barker, William Parker, Jon Irabagon – Bakunawa
  • Asher Gamedze – Constitution (International Anthem)
  • Tyshawn Sorey – The Susceptible Now (Pi)
    Ft. Aaron Diehl, Harish Raghavan
  • Devin Gray – Melt All the Guns II
    Ft. Ralph Alessi, Myslaure Augustin

VIBRAPHONISTS

  • Simon Moullier – Elements Of Light (Candid)
    G: Gerald Clayton, Marquis Hill
  • Dred Scott Trio – Cali Mambo (Ropeadope)
  • Dick Sisto, Andy LaVerne – Two for Bill (SteepleChase)
  • Jim Hart, Cloudmakers Trio, Leo Genovese – A Drop of Hope in the Ocean of Uncertainty (Whirlwind)
  • NIKARA presents Black Wall Street – The Queen of Kings County
  • Patricia Brennan Septet – Breaking Stretch (Pyroclastic)
    Ft. Jon Irabagon, Mark Shim, Adam O’Farrill, Marcus Gilmore, ..

VIOLINISTS, CELLISTS

  • Debbie Spring – Have I Got A Deal For You
  • Quatuor Ébène – Milestones. The Jazz Album (Warner)
  • Jason Anick, Jason Yeager – Sanctuary (Sunnyside)
  • Jenny Scheinman – All Species Parade (Royal Potato)
    Ft. Kenny Wollesen, Bill Frisell, Julian Lage, Nels Cline, ..
  • Open Thread – Open Thread (Earshift)
    Peggy Lee (vlc), Julien Wilson, Theo Carbo, Dylan van der Schyff

HARMONICISTS, ACCORDIONISTS, BANDONEONISTS

  • Frederic Viale – Caméléon (Diapason)

BIG BANDS, ORCHESTRAS, ENSEMBLES

  • Stockholm Jazz Orchestra – Utsira
  • Jean-Yves Candela – E-Motions
  • Sebastian Sternal & hr-Bigband – Turning Point
  • Jaromír Honzák, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bastien Stil – The Blues of a String Hanging in the Wind
  • Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra & Wynton Marsalis – The Shanghai Suite (Blue Engine)
  • Igmar Thomas’ Revive Big Band – Like A Tree It Grows
    Ft. Myron Walden, Sean Jones, Nicholas Payton, Marcus Strickland, Ben Williams, ..
  • Danilo Pérez & Bohuslän Big Band – Lumen (Prophone)

GROUPS

  • Jaubi – A Sound Heart
  • Symbiosis 5 – Wondering
  • Plantfood – Carnivores (Bridge The Gap)
  • WDR Big Band, John Goldsby, Hans Dekker – WDR Big Band — Small Group Sessions: Move
  • The Headhunters – The Stunt Man (Ropeadope)
    Ft. Donald Harrison, Kyle Roussel, Chris Severin, Mike Clark, Bill Summers, ..

BEATS, DJs & PRODUCERS, GROOVES & MOODS, SOUNDTRACKS ..

  • Ill Considered – Infrared (New Soil)
  • Paradise Cinema – returning, dream (Gondwana)
  • oreglo – Not Real People DLC (Brownswood)
  • Dave Guy – Ruby
  • Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching
  • Marc Cary – Blackanomics
    Ft. Indigenous People, ..
  • Svaneborg Kardyb – Superkilen (Gondwana)
  • BNNYHUNNA – ECHOES OF PRAYER
  • Samora Pinderhughes – Venus Smiles Not in the House of Tears
  • Kham Meslien – Fantômes… Électriques (Remixes)
  • Mayra Andrade – reEncanto
  • Leon Phal – No Pain, No Champagne
  • Richard Spaven – Sole Subject
  • Nubiyan Twist – Find Your Flame (Deluxe Edition) [Strut]
  • Miki Ikhifa – BREZZE

FEATURING GREEK ARTISTS (visit keepjazzin.gr)

  • Monkin’ Around – 4 in 1 (Ubuntu)
    Ft. Dave O’Higgins, Luke Fowler, Billy Pod [dr]
  • Ntinos Manos [b] – Northwind (PuzzleMusic)
  • Vaggelis Paraskevaidis [vbr] – ELECTROLYTES (Jazz Breeze)
  • Stefanos Kozanis [p] – Asterismyth (Jazz Breeze)