Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Bassist Neal Miner has always been drawn to writing contrafacts because, when musicians are deeply familiar with the harmony of a tune, creativity and connection become second nature. Most of the original compositions on his new CD, “Invisibility,” are based on American standards and inspired by jazz from the 1950s into the ‘60s, alongside four originals and two blues tunes. His trio, with Chris Byars on tenor sax and Jason Tiemann on drums, functions as a true collective, exploring the full range of textures and colors that can be achieved with just three instruments.
After many recordings as a sideman or bandmember, New Orleans-born saxophonist, composer and arranger David Bode releases his debut album as a leader, “Good Hang,” leading a 19-piece big band that includes some of NOLA’s finest musicians. The record is imbued with the history of Bode’s native city, as it was recorded at Marigny Studios, just blocks away from the world-famous Frenchmen Street. It’s where Bode and many other musicians on the album cut their teeth. The album gets its release 20 years to the day after Hurricane Katrina and the federal levee failures swamped the city.
Also this week, bassist, composer, arranger, producer and bandleader Christian McBride reconvenes his Grammy Award-winning big band for the star-studded “Without Further Ado, Vol. 1,” with special guest vocalists including Samara Joy, Jose James, Dianne Reeves, and Cecile McLorin Salvant; “Un Harmonica Pour Django” is Yvonnick Prene’s heartfelt tribute to Django Reinhardt, reimagining his iconic gypsy jazz through the unique voice of the chromatic harmonica; and Irving Flores Afro-Cuban Jazz Sextet takes us on a Latin jazz carpet ride with “Armando Me Conga.”