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The chromatic harmonica is an instrument still finding its footing in the world of modern jazz music. Yvonnick Prene’s mission is to put it in its rightful place in the pantheon of instruments used to improvise. He’s placed the harmonica in many musical settings, including an organ trio and a duo with guitar. For his new release, “Listen!,” Prene chose a dream ensemble with saxophonist Dana Stephens, drummer Bill Stewart, pianist Kevin Hays, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, and his friend Clovis Nicolas on bass.
Recorded in the historic ambience of the Village Vanguard in New York, “The Extra Something” is not just another release by a prolific artist. Working with a first-class band of New York-based musicians, Italian pianist Enrico Pieranunzi combines core jazz values with a sense of structure and order that comes from classical music, but all of it animated by a strong sense of freedom. Pieranunzi has risen to the ranks of the most significant contemporary musicians, a name to be placed alongside some of the greatest we have seen and heard. He’s joined by saxophonist Seamus Blake, trumpeter Diego Urcola, bassist Ben Street and drummer Adam Cruz.
Also this week, “Fun House” is guitarist David Blake’s thrilling quintet effort featuring some of Vancouver’s finest musicians;
Montreal-based pianist and composer Kate Wyatt is in a quartet setting for her debut album, “Artifact”;
and the Ron Kraemer Trio of Sarasota, Florida, is joined by a couple of Nashville cats in delivering a greasy, throwback soul-jazz set, “Sarasota Swing.”