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Exuding a musical maturity that breaks generational borders, pianist Emmet Cohen returns with the fifth volume of his Masters Legacy Series with the great master of the tenor saxophone Houston Person. Mr. Person, who has over 75 records as a bandleader alone, has had an extensive career as a performer and producer working alongside Etta Jones, Charles Brown, Ron Carter, Horace Silver, Cedar Walton and Lena Horne. The new disc highlights the hyper-collaborative nature of these two bandleaders and their meaningful relationship together.
“Covers” is the first quartet release from esteemed bandleader, saxophonist and composer Lucas Pino. Celebrated for his work with his adventurous No Net Nonet and for his role as a sideman to such jazz greats as Dave Brubeck and Christian McBride, Pino is hailed as a modern master in the world of contemporary jazz composition and arrangement. “Covers” exhibits Pino in a brand new and decidedly fresh context with the pared-down quartet release offering listeners an intimate look into the Phoenix-born, New York-based artist’s singular sound. The eight tracks represent Pino’s stellar arrangements of repertoire by friends and heroes.
Also this week, pianist Sean Mason, who has toured and performed with both Branford and Wynton Marsalis, offers up his debut as a leader, “The Southern Suite”; Irish trumpeter and composer Linley Hamilton helms a trans-Atlantic team which includes drummer Adam Nussbaum and bassist Mark Egan on “Ginger’s Hollow”; and pianist Michael Weiss, who has been a top-call sideman to a starry constellation of bandleaders including Johnny Griffin, George Coleman and Art Famer, hones his distinctive musical language with his trio on “Homage.”