Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
One of the most energetic and visceral voices in jazz, trombone master Steve Turre delivers a surprising set of lush ballads accompanied by a superb all-star band and inspiring strings on “The Very Thought of You.” Backed by pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Willie Jones III, Turre welcomes special guests George Coleman for two songs on tenor sax and Russell Malone for four songs on guitar. A string octet, arranged and conducted by Marty Sheller, adds an almost indescribable beauty to four tracks.
Miki Yamanaka is a New York-based pianist from Kobe, Japan, who was one of three pianists selected in 2015 to participate in “Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead,” an intensive composition residency at the Kennedy Center. She’s appeared in concert with many notable musicians including Steve Nelson, Jerry Dodgion, Victor Lewis and Peter Bernstein. She holds weekly residencies at Smalls and Mezzrow Jazz Clubs in New York City and is currently the pianist in the Phillip Harper Quintet and the Roxy Coss Quintet. Now comes her debut release as a leader, ‘Miki,” featuring Nelson on vibes, Bill Stewart on drums and Orlando Le Fleming on bass.
Also this week, saxophonist Kamasi Washington and his band The Next Step unveil their sophomore effort, “Heaven and Earth”.
Octobop unveils a mix of jazz standards, pop tunes and a few surprises recorded “Live @ Savanna Jazz” in San Carlos, California.
And Cuban pianist, composer and arranger Dayramir Gonzalez offers up his second recording as a leader, “The Grand Concourse”.