Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Le Coq Records offers up a second volume from its ever-growing family of brilliant musicians with “The Jazz All Stars Vol. 2.” It showcases not only the virtuoso musicianship of many of contemporary jazz’s most in demand players, but also shines a brighter spotlight on their compositional gifts. The roster includes keyboardists John Beasley and Bill Cunliffe, bassists John Patitucci and Ben Williams, percussionists Vinnie Colaiuta, Marvin “Smitty” Smith and Alex Acuna, saxophonists Rick Margitza, Chris Potter and Bob Sheppard, trumpeters Terell Stafford and Rashawn Ross, and guitarist Russell Malone.
Composer/trombonist Doug Scarborough presents a compelling collection of new works, fusing music of the West—jazz, with overtones of classical and prog-rock—and traditional Middle Eastern elements on “The Color of Angels.” Setting the stage with his 2015 release where his introduced the trombone to the world as an instrument capable of expressively playing Arabic scales, the new disc is a riveting follow-up as he retains the dynamic core of collaborators.
Also this week, pianist Sean Fyfe, who originally hails from Vancouver and has had formative residencies in Montreal, New York, and now London, assembles an all-star band from his Montreal days on “Late Night”;
another all-star group featuring saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, bassist Lonnie Plaxico and trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, presents a program of originals and jazz standards on “Old New Borrowed & Blue”;
and singer, songwriter and arranger Jazzmea Horn unveils her third release as a leader, “Dear Love.”