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A few years back, bassist John Clayton got in touch with his friend Mulgrew Miller and invited him into the studio to record. Not with the intentions of making an album, but simply for the joy of playing music with a good friend. That day, as did with every other time Mr. Clayton had the honor of playing with the pianist, magic happened. He filed it away in his archives and hoped perhaps the two of them could revisit it at some point as a document of their friendship. Sadly, Mr. Miller passed away in 2013, and John was even more grateful having spent that time with him. Now, the session is being shared for the first time with the new album, “Talk to Me About Mulgrew.”
Vibraphonist Behn Gillece returns with “Pivot Point,” his dynamic eighth release for Posi-Tone Records, offering a deep dive into the soul of the blues through the lens of modern straight-ahead jazz. Showcasing a fresh set of originals alongside contributions from a stellar ensemble, Gillece assembles a potent lineup featuring saxophonist Willie Morris, pianist Jon Davis, bassist Boris Kozlov, powerhouse drummers Rudy Royston and Jason Tiemann, trading off with seamless intensity. The result is a swinging, melodic, and deeply expressive affair.
Also this week, the recipient of the 2023 American Piano Awards, pianist/composer Isaiah J. Thompson, enlisted legendary pianist Cyrus Chestnut to produce his 8-song autobiographical musical statement, “The Book of Isaiah: Modern Jazz Ministry,” exploring faith, musicianship, race and humanity; pianist Greg Murphy’s eighth album, “Snap Happy,” abounds with infectious rhythm and jubilant melodies with special guest guitarist Mark Whitfield joining the trio; and “First Impressions” showcases young-star drummer Marcello Carelli’s true development as a player, composer and bandleader, written and arranged in his new home city of Los Angeles and featuring Bob Mintzer and Russell Ferrante of the Yellowjackets.