Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Dr. Scott Routenberg is an award-winning jazz pianist, composer, arranger and educator whose accolades include the John Lennon Songwriting Contest Song of the Year. His works have been premiered at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and around the world, and he is an established arranger for the Metropole Orkest since 2011. The Scott Routenberg Trio presents a swinging tribute to legendary pianist Oscar Peterson on “Live at Merriman’s Playhouse,” crafting a joyous set of Peterson’s memorable originals and the master’s arrangements of timeless jazz standards.
Hailed as a ‘prodigiously gifted composer and virtuoso pianist,’ James Fernando leads his dynamic Philly-based trio with a refreshing take on the piano trio format. The ensemble, featuring Kyon Williams and drums and bassists Sam Harris and Dan McCain, first came together in 2023, when Fernando assembled the band on just three days’ notice for a performance at The Kennedy Center. Since then, the trio has honed its sound through performances across the country, developing a voice that is both distinctive and deeply collaborative. “Philly 3”is their debut recording.
Also this week, The DZ Combo, an award-winning jazz quartet based out of Dubuque, debuts with “It’s Just Your Turn”; drummer John Clay, whose resume includes work with Zoot Sims and Jimmy Rainey, unveils “About Time”; and Boston-based saxophonist and composer Noah Preminger offers up “Dark Days.”