Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
Though he may only have six strings at his disposal, guitarist Joshua Breakstone has felt a lifelong connection to jazz’s great piano players. On his latest release, “88,” Breakstone pays tribute to some of his favorite pianist-composers with a smoking set of pieces penned by some of the music’s greatest keyboard practitioners. It features classics by the likes of Mal Waldron, Barry Harris, Cedar Walton and Elmo Hope. Despite the theme of the disc and the row of ivories features on its cover, the CD doesn’t actually include a single note played on the piano. Instead, the recording is the third outing for Breakstone’s unique Cello Quartet, with cellist Mike Richmond, bassist Lisle Atkinson and drummer Andy Watson.
On “#knowi
ngishalfthebattle,” his third release for Smoke Sessions Records, pianist and composer Orrin Evans shares his lessons in life and music on a raw, electrifying session that teams him with a pair of renowned guitarists who are also, not coincidentally, native sons of Evans’ own hometown of Philadelphia: Kevin Eubanks and Kurt Rosenwinkel. He’s also joined by the latest in a long line of inspired rhythm sections, bassist Luques Curtis and drummer Mark Whitfield, Jr., along with up-and-coming saxophonist Caleb Wheeler Curtis. The CD shows Evans coming to terms with what he’s learned over his years on and off the bandstand—and more importantly, how to make use of that knowledge. In large part, that answer he’s come to involves letting go, forgetting what’s been learned and trusting the instincts that come along with it.
Also this week, Canadian baritone saxophonist Shirantha Beddage draws on a diverse range of influences, including New Orleans jazz, R&B, film music and folk songs, on his new album, “Momentum”.
Serbian-born guitar player Rale Micic re-imagines the work of Hungarian composer Bela Bartok on “Night Music”.
An ensemble of Greek musicians make up the Music Soup Organ Trio on their new CD, “Cut to the Chase.”