Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
“It was very moving to have all these people paying tribute to me, but I just treated it like it was another show,” six-time Grammy-winner Dr. John says of “The Musical Mojo of Dr. John: A Celebration of Mac & his Music.” The expansive live tribute set is a powerful testament to the far-ranging influence and indomitable musical spirit of the iconic New Orleans singer/pianist/guitarist. Capturing a star-studded concert at New Orleans’ Saenger Theater, Dr. John is joined by a stunningly diverse assortment of notable guest artists who perform 22 songs written, recorded and/or popularized by Mac during his prolific six-decade career, honoring his large and still-growing legacy. Among the guests are the Neville Brothers, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Mavis Staples, and Terence Blanchard.
With his sold-out show at the venerable London venue Union Chapel, Bill Laurance fulfilled a lifelong fantasy. A native of the U.K., the two-time Grammy-winner and founding member of Snarky Puppy says “before that gig, the last time I was at Union Chapel was when I was 9-years-old. I played the ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ theme song on the organ, which brought me a lot of street cred for about 3 ½ minutes. It was amazing to be back 26-years later for this concert.” “Live at Union Chapel” documents a magical night, with the keyboardist backed by his fellow Snarky Puppy band mates Michael League on bass and Robert Searight on drums along with a French horn player, percussionist and a string trio.
Also this week, “Volume 1” is the debut release from Canadian pianist extraordinaire Stu Harrison, who is joined by Canadian jazz icons Neil Swainson and Terry Clarke on exciting arrangements of ten classic jazz standards.
Saxophonist 
Jason Hainsworth is joined by trombonist Michael Dease, pianist Glenn Zaleski and drummer Johnathan Blake on his second recording as a leader, “Third Ward Stories”.
Drummer Tom Marko, director of Jazz Studies at Illinois State University in Normal, unveils his debut disc, “Inner Light.”