Marking his sixth release in two years, Grammy-winning artist Steven Feifke steps into the spotlight on “Catalyst,” his most personal album to date. Following his recent victory as the youngest Grammy winner ever for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, the new disc debuts 10 brand new tracks which uniquely showcase Feifke’s multifaceted abilities as bandleader, composer, arranger, pianist and soloist. The all-star big band lineup is augmented with guest features by Tony-nominated drummer/vocalist Bryan Carter, vocalist Martina DaSilva, trumpeter/vocalist Benny Benack III and saxophonists Chad Lefkowitz-Brown and Alexa Tarantino.
On their latest release, “Synchronicity: An Interpretation of the Album by the Police,” the Hazelrigg Brothers celebrate the 40th anniversary of this classic album and deliver an audiophile experience full of the fire, power and dynamics that has become their trademark. Perfectly expressing the political and social temper of the early 1980s, the original landmark album was the near-constant soundtrack to George and Geoff Hazelrigg’s upbringing and a huge influence on their artistic future.
Also this week saxophonist Don Braden interprets the music of Earth Wind and Fire and Stevie Wonder for a second time on “Earth Wind and Wonder Volume 2”; Montreal-based saxophonist and composer Christine Jensen is joined by her longtime pianist friend Steve Amirault and her regular rhythm team of bassist Adrian Vedady and drummer Jim Doxas on “Day Moon”; and the Harry Allen Orchestra features the music of composer Roger Frankham and lyricists Bruce Brown, Roger Schore and Mark Winkler on “With Roses.”