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New Orleans-born saxophonist, educator and composer Gregory Tardy is one of the most versatile jazz musicians of his generation, equally comfortable in a variety of musical and improvisational situations. His performance schedule has taken him all over the world, playing at all the major jazz festivals and on some of the biggest stages in jazz. In 1992, he started playing with the legendary drummer, Elvin Jones, and recorded the first of his 15 CDs as a leader. As a sought after sideman Gregory has played with many prominent artists including Andrew Hill, Tom Harrell, Wynton Marsalis, Jay McShann, Roy Hargrove, Betty Carter, and many more. For his new CD, “If Time Could Stand Still,” he’s joined by bassist Alexander Claffey, drummer Willie Jones III, and special guest Alex Norris on trumpet.
Forty-one years after their first down beat, the Toronto based world-jazz nonet Manteca is still creating, still exploring, and still a force of joyous sonic invention. The Toronto Star called their last recording “gut grabbing innovation.” “The Twelfth of Never” is the Juno Award-winning collective’s 12th CD. A collection of eight original compositions by Doug Wilde, Matt Zimbel and Jason Loge, the disc is by turns tender and cutting—a tour de force by one of Canada’s most storied bands. Laurie Brown of CBC Radio describes it as “cinematic, introspective, atmospheric and moody—mysterious even. The playing is exceptional and the sound is remarkable.”
Also this week, legendary pianist Chick Corea explores the lineage of great composers from Mozart to Monk, Jobim to Stevie Wonder on a new live set, “Plays”;
Denver based trumpeter Ron Miles’ new release, “Rainbow Sign,” features guitarist Bill Frisell and pianist Jason Moran;
and Japanese-born New York City-based pianist Rina has assembled a trio with bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Jerome Jennings for her debut release, “Rina.”