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To mark the 40th anniversary of his debut recording as a bandleader in 1984, alto saxophonist Jim Snidero set out to create something special with his 28th album—and his second trio project to date with jazz masters Peter Washington on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums. Snidero felt the time was right to pay tribute to Charlie Parker, an artist he regards as the “king of the hill.” Ranked among the top five alto saxophonists in Down Beat’s 2024 Critic’s Poll, Snidero is more than qualified to honor one of the bebop pioneers with his new release, “Bird Feathers.”
Fresh off their second consecutive win for Jazz Group of the Year in the Down Beat Readers Poll, Artemis returns with their third release, “Arboresque,” featuring a new quintet lineup of the band helmed by pianist and musical director Renee Rosnes with trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover, bassist Noriko Ueda, and drummer Allison Miller. A paean to the sheer joy of collaboration and creativity, the album is a vibrant 8-song set that presents original compositions by each of the band members as well as Rosnes arrangements of pieces by Wayne Shorter, Burt Bacharach, and the unsung pianist Donald Brown.
Also this week, veteran bassist Marcus McLaurine’s new recording, “Tributes,” fulfills a special need to acknowledge specific individuals who have deeply woven into his life as a world-class musician and father; drummer Chacho Ramirez and flautist Carolyn Steinberg Ramirez co-lead their New York-based Latin jazz quintet La Banda Ramirez on “Lizzie’s Lounge”; and saxophonists Nick Hempton and Cory Weeds team up for a live set from the legendary Frankie’s Jazz Club in Vancouver on the quartet date, “Horns Locked.”