Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Christian McBride has worn many hats across his 30-plus-year career: bandleader, composer, arranger, and collaborator with some of music’s biggest names including Sting, James Brown and Paul McCartney. But at the heart of his work is a deep commitment to creating opportunities for younger artists to share their voices on the world stage. With Ursa Major and their debut album, “Points of Light,” McBride steps into what can only be described as his “Art Blakey era,” spotlighting the next generation of musicians shaping the future of jazz and beyond. Featuring Nicole Glover, Mike King, Ely Perlman and Savannah Harris, the disc introduces a bold new ensemble poised to take over the conversation.
In 2013, Chris Hazelton invited Cory Weeds to the Midwest for gigs and workshops. During a four-hour drive from St. Louis to Kansas City, the only music available was Huey Lewis and the News’ Greatest Hits, stuck in Chris’s dad’s van CD player. Weeds heard something in the songs that could work in a classic organ quartet setting, and Hazelton agreed, soon drafting arrangements of several Huey tunes. The idea was shelved until 2024, when a chance encounter in a Portland record store pushed the project forward. What began as a lark became at 13-day, 12-gig tour featuring Hazelton’s arrangements. “Hip to Be Square/Plays Huey Lewis & the News” also makes room for original material and classic organ-jazz repertoire.
Also this week, Sean Mason, the Grammy-nominated pianist, composer and producer, returns with “State of the Art,” a new trio album reuniting him with bassist Felix Moseholm and drummer Domo Branch; guitarist Samuel Bonnet, an active presence on the Montreal jazz scene, explores the essential themes of childhood, family, nature and love on his ninth album as a leader, “Slow,” featuring Joe Magnarelli on flugelhorn; and an intimate testament to a 25-year musical kinship, “Nearness” brings together the singular voice of Lizz Wright and the masterly keyboard playing of Kenny Banks.