Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Recorded at the famed jazz club at Lincoln Center, jazz veteran Gerald Cannon’s “Live at Dizzy’s Club: The Music of Elvin & McCoy” honors two musical giants: McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones, with whom the heralded bassist proudly played alongside for 14 years, and nine years respectively. Invoking the true essence of McCoy and Elvin, Cannon’s vehicle features an outstanding ensemble of musicians who also shared the stage with these giants. It includes Joe Lovano on tenor sax, Sherman Irby on alto, Eddie Henderson on trumpet, Steve Turre on trombone, Dave Kikoski on piano and Lenny White on drums.
“Tell the Birds I Said Hello: The Music of Herbie Nichols” is the fourth album from the cooperative trio of bassist Ben Allison, guitarist Steve Cardenas and saxophonist Ted Nash. Ben and Ted have delved deeply into the music of the under-recognized pianist and composer previously with their ensemble The Herbie Nichols Project. Now the trio puts their spin on a batch of recently discovered Nichols’ compositions that Herbie himself never recorded, tunes full of life, humor and clever twists and turns—all the hallmarks that make Herbie’s music so rewarding to play and listen to.
Also this week, the Paris-born Brooklyn-based guitarist Felix Lemerle debuts with “Blues for the End of Time,” featuring the late great drummer Jimmy Cobb in his last recording; guitarist Peter Hand features a myriad of original compositions, reimagined jazz standards and vibrant Latin and Brazilian jazz pieces on “Blue Topaz,” collaborating with an array of acclaimed artists including trumpeter Eddie Allen, saxophonist Don Braden, and pianist James Weidman; and pianist Charles Chen’s stellar band on his debut release “Charles Play!” is comprised of Ralph Moore on tenor, Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums.