Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
The John Fedchock NY Sextet recording, “Into the Shadows,” is the trombonist’s tenth album as a leader, this time with an all-star group showcasing Fedchock’s notable solo skills and bringing his special composing/arranging to the forefront. The recording features new treatments of familiar standards coupled with five Fechock originals in a dynamic album capturing a seasoned group of veterans. Fedchock shares the spotlight equally with the sextet’s other top-notch soloists: trumpeter Scott Wendholt, tenor saxophonist Walt Weiskopf, pianist Allen Farnham, bassist David Finck, and drummer Eric Halvorson.
Maceo Parker, American funk and soul jazz saxophonist best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s, as well as Parliament Funkadelic in the ‘70s, returns with his first solo album in eight years. “Soul Food—Cooking with Maceo” features Parker’s punchy signature saxophone sound, as well as an ensemble from New Orleans featuring multi-instrumentalist Ivan Neville mixing together to create a fresh selection of soul-funk infused jazz classics, R&B soul, as well as a few Parker originals.
Also this week, guitarist Steve Cardenas presents a new view of his breadth as a player, composer and collaborator on “Blue Has a Range,” remaining attached to the essence of jazz while alluding to blues in all its tones;
the Mark Masters Ensemble delves into the Alec Wilder songbook on “Night Talk,” featuring baritone sax great Gary Smulyan;
and drummer Jeff Hamilton offers up a new trio recording, “Catch Me if You Can.”