Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Building on a long track record of scholarship and interpretive artistry focused on the great Mary Lou Williams, vibraphonist and composer Cecilia Smith unveils “The Mary Lou Williams Resurgence Project Volume One: Small Ensemble Repertoire.” Through countless hours of immersion in the Williams archive at the Institute for Jazz Studies, and direct access to manuscripts and scores from Williams’ former manager Father Peter O’Brien, Smith and her top-tier bandmates put their unique stamp on music either composed by Williams, composed in honor of her, or arranged and recorded by Williams during her lifetime.
Emotive, cinematic break-beat trio GoGo Penguin are back with their brand new album, “Everything is going to Be OK.” Bursting with the optimism of new beginnings, with a new drummer, and a subtly updated and developed sound, the band is ushering in a more sonically liberated era. Hailing from Manchester, UK, the band comprises pianist Chris Illingworth, bassist Nick Blacka and drummer Jon Scott. The band first rocketed to fame when their sophomore album was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize before recording three albums for Blue Note Records.
Also this week, tenor saxophonist Ken Fowser releases his sixth album as a leader, “Resolution,” an inspired eight song collection featuring trumpeter Jeremy Pelt and guitarist Peter Bernstein;
“Truth Be Told” is vocalist/songwriter Angie Wells’ diverse musical journey through various truths in her life;
and Rising Star vibraphonist Behn Gillece strikes and effortless and joyous balance between sound, silence and rhythm for his sixth installment as leader for Posi-Tone Records “Between the Bars.”