Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
Jazz harmonic
a master Hendrik Meurkens, whose numerous CDs have established him as an important stylist in the world of Brazilian music, is releasing his first all straight ahead jazz album in 15 years. Jazz came first for Meurkens, long before the Brazilian bug caught him. His 25 years on the New York jazz scene and his tours and records with Herb Ellis, Paquito D’Rivera, James Moody, Sweets Edison and many others have long ago proved his mastery and documented his fresh and different approach to jazz harmonica alongside that of the Godfather of the instrument, Toots Thielemans. “Harmonicus Rex” pairs Meurkens with the legendary Jimmy Cobb and a stellar cast of fist call New York players delivering new versions of some choice standards plus compositions by Milt Jackson, Freddie Hubbard and Dave Brubeck, as well as premiering a few Meurkens originals.
Esperanza Spalding’s new project, “Emily’s D+ Evolution,” is a fresh artistic vision for the four-time Grammy winner, a daring tapestry of music, vibrant imagery, performance art and stage design. It’s an electrifying take on the power trio adorned with backing singers and touches of synthesizer, “as if to fly the pirate flag of the Black Rock Coalition,” according to the New York Times. Esperanza assembled a new band for the project including guitarist Matthew Stevens and drummer Karriem Riggins. The result is otherworldly cosmic soul, kinetic songs that burst with energy and life.
Also this week, it’s a never-before-released set of tunes from Stan Getz from the Keystone Korner in San Francisco in 1976, “Moments in Time,” capturing the saxophonist’s most adventurous quartet with pianist Joanne Brackeen.
Drummer Willie Jones III pays masterful homage to many of the great musicians who have influenced and inspired his artistic journey over the years on “Groundwork”.
“Sanctuary From th
e Ordinary” is saxophonist Russ Nolan’s spirited new Latin/modern jazz release inspired by his time on salsa dance floors around New York City and realized through an inspired live session at New Haven’s well-regarded Firehouse 12.