Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Award-winning pianist Michael Wolff, known for an impressive and eclectic career that has spanned nearly five decades, presents “Live at Vitellos.” Surfacing a decade after its capture at the iconic Los Angeles club Vitellos in 2011, the disc showcases the dazzling chemistry between exquisite instrumentalist and composer Mark Isham, who joins here on trumpet and flugelhorn, and the ever-lyrical Wolff. Though the pair’s friendship dates back to the 1970s, this stint marks their first official collaboration.
The Out to Dinner band is a tribute to the vintage Blue Note Records ethos in general and to Eric Dolphy’s classic “Out to Lunch” album in particular. “Play On” is a second helping of auditory delights from the ensemble. Featuring a musical menu of inspired selections, this engaging quintet date is highlighted by front line performances from vibraphonist Behn Gillece, trumpet prodigy Giveton Gelin and rising star tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover, all moving freely together over the solid harmonic foundation of bassist Boris Kozlov and drummer Donald Edwards, both established jazz veterans.
Also this week, saxophonist Kamasi Washington and trumpeter Erik Jekabson join their long-time collaborators in Throttle Elevator Music on the band’s final original recording, “Final Floor”;
the Jazz Worms out of Denver, Colorado, featuring trumpeter Ron Miles and saxophonist Keith Oxman, reunite for their first release in more than thirty years, “Squirmin’”;
and pianist Russell Ferrante of the Yellowjackets releases a beautiful new trio album, “Inflexion.”