Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
Heads of State made their debut recording in 2015, just months after they played together for the first time as a quartet at Smoke in New York. Now, with another year of playing together under their collective belts (on top of the nearly five decades of relationships shared by the various members), they return with the aptly-titled “Four in One.” The quartet of living legends, featuring saxophonist Gary Bartz, pianist Larry Willis, drummer Al Foster, and their latest addition, bassist David Williams, offer a jubilant, tremendously swinging sophomore release that pairs original compositions by all four members with pieces by some of the icons that have mentored them.
Award-winning trumpeter Al Muirhead has long been an iconic figure on the Canadian jazz scene. He was playing in the Regina Symphony and dance bands by age 12 and has since played with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Rosemary Clooney and Diana Krall. Al recently came to wider prominence in North America with his debut album. Now at the age of 81, he’s making up for lost time with his third release in just two years, “Northern Adventures.” Featuring five different small ensembles of both old and new friends, the disc brings together a veritable who’s who of Canadian jazz, including pianist Don Thompson, guitarist Reg Schwager, trumpeter Guido Basso and saxophonist Mike Murley.
Also this week, Seattle-based guitarist Frank Kohl unveils his fourth album as leader, “Rising Tide,” joined by his New York City quartet featuring bassist Steve LaSpina and his brother Tom Kohl on piano.
Throttle Elevator Music reunites with tenor saxophonist Kamasi Washington for a fifth recording, “Retrorespective”.
Peter Drew has put together an all-star big band
to feature his compositions and his arrangements of some classic jazz tunes on “Where & When.”