Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
Following her Grammy wins in 2015 and 2017, Eliane Elias returns with “Music from Man of La Mancha,” recorded with two different trios—one that finds the piano virtuoso accompanied by bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Jack DeJohnette and the other featuring Marc Johnson on bass with Satoshi Takeishi on drums, with Manolo Badrena joining on percussion. The disc was recorded in 1995 and was co-produced with Eliane by Mitch Leigh, the composer of the music for original Broadway production. After he had heard what she had done with the music of other composers, he commissioned her to arrange, perform and record a new album of songs from the show. Due to contractual circumstances, the album was not released at the time of the recording, and Leigh has since passed away.
Saxophonist extraordinaire Roxy Coss follows her passionate desire to inform and inspire with her latest release, “The Future is Female.” With this album, Ms. Coss presents an exciting program of compositions which unfolds as to take listeners through a musical exploration of issues confronting women today. Accompanying Ms. Coss on the date are the able hands of guitarist Alex Wintz, pianist Miki Yamanaka, bassist Rick Rosato, and drummer Jimmy McBride. With an amazing collection of new originals and emotional performances, Coss keeps everything focused and straight forward to insure that the disc continues to proclaim that she is certainly a saxophonist demanding of greater attention from jazz audiences.
Also this week, the quintet of UNI jazz alums known as the Commons Collective, including pianist Jon Snell, reedman Nolan Schroeder, trombonist Brian Crew, bassist Joel Conrad and drummer Christopher Jensen, unveil their fourth disc, “Hope”.
Singer Erin McDougald’s fourth studio release, “Outside the Soiree,” exemplifies her depth of artistry, d ynamic vocal range, and her hard-swinging rhythmic creativity.
Percussionist Steven Kroon unveils his sixth disc of Afro Cuban-flavored jazz, “In Your Dreams.