Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
Trumpeter Tom 
Harrell is a prolific composer and arranger, a mysterious yet mesmerizing presence in concert and a regular in the recording studio. His resume is impressive, with contributions to bands led by Stan Kenton, Horace Silver, Joe Lovano and others. He also has written scores for ballets and arrangements for symphony orchestras. His 2015 release ended up in the Top Ten Best Jazz Albums of the Year in the 64th Annual Downbeat Critic’s Poll. His new CD, “Something Gold, Something Blue,” features fellow trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, who along with Harrell took the top two slots in the trumpet category in the same poll. Rounding out the ensemble on the new release is guitarist Charles Altura, bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Johnathan Blake.
It can be argued with some validity that one’s overall movement through life is reflected in his creative endeavor, and Eric Alexander’s strength and versatility on the saxophone can be viewed from this perspective. At this point in his career, Eric has certainly covered a lot of territory, both literally and figuratively. He himself has lost count of how many albums feature his playing; one estimate is 100 or more. While he has garnered critical acclaim from every corner, what has mattered most has been to establish his own voice within the illustrious bop-based jazz tradition, which is exactly what he does on his newest CD, “Second Impression.” The close-knit ensemble of his band of regulars, coupled with the bass-clef contributions of the extraordinary Bob Cranshaw, make for a listening experience not soon forgotten.
Also this week, drum
mer Joey McCarthy’s Latin Grammy Award-winning Afro Bop Alliance expands to a big band for their sixth release, “Revelation”.
Singer Alla
n Harris draws upon the wide range of music that he heard growing up in Brooklyn and feasts on the expansive palette of the Harlem cultural landscape with “Nobody’s Gonna Love You Better: Black Bar Jukebox Redux”.
Bassist and composer Michael Blanco‘s third album as a leader, “Spirit Forward,” features saxophonist John Ellis, drummer Clarence Penn and pianist Kevin Hays.