Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves pay tribute to John Coltrane in celebration of the jazz legend’s centennial with “Dedicated to You,” a stunning album that features the acclaimed saxophonist and his quartet performing with the great vocalist. Together they offer new renditions of the six standards that appeared on the 1963 Impulse album, “John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman,” which is considered among the ultimate examples of singer/ensemble synchronicity. There are also additional instrumental performances of compositions from Coltrane’s canon, to create an exquisite homage.
Grammy-nominated pianist and composer Donald Vega expertly weaves Latin, jazz, and classical influences throughout “Play It Forward,” celebrating the power of mentorship and the ways communities share stories, traditions, and wisdom across generations. The disc was inspired by those early years of Vega learning from Billy Higgins at Leimert Park and performing in Los Angeles with Francisco Aguabella and Al McKibbon. Those experiences became the bedrock of Vega’s own musical voice, honoring tradition while speaking with unmistakable originality.
Also this week, veteran trombonist Bob McChesney honors the great architects of jazz, including Coltrane, Corea, Monk, Parker, Henderson and more, with “Wingwalkers”; Los Angeles-based trumpeter and composer Elliott Caine, who has performed with some of the top musicians on the scene like Teddy Edwards, Red Holloway and others, unveils his long-awaited fifth album, “Furiositee!”; and Philadelphia-raised trumpet innovator Josh Lawrence pays homage to his hometown’s rich jazz legacy while infusing it with fresh creativity on “Philly Twisted.”