Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
In celebration of their 20th anniversary, Basin Street Records presents a collaborative disc between its two most recorded artists. “A Beautiful World” features trumpeter and singer Kermit Ruffins, co-founder of the Rebirth Brass Band, and two-time Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Irvin Mayfield. Combined, the two musicians share a staggering output of nearly fifty records. Mayfield assemble 57 musicians arranged in four configurations built around a jazz structure: big band, traditional marching band, chamber orchestra, and a funk ensemble. Rebirth is part of the festivities along with Jason Marsalis, Dr. Michael White, Cyril Neville and John Boutte, among others.
Capping two extraordinary decades as a recording and performing artist, Kyle Eastwood’s stylistically eclectic new album “In Transit,” reflects the whirlwind reality of the breakneck schedule that he and his longtime ensemble keep as they perform three quarters of the year in Europe, with a yearly jaunt to Asian countries and occasional swings to the U.S. The Los Angeles bred, Paris based bassist and composer estimates that about half the tracks were road tested, with a few rendered fresh in the studio. Kyle’s powerhouse quintet of young English musicians includes longtime members Quentin Collins on flugelhorn and pianist Andrew McCormack.
Also this week, 14-year-old pianist and three-time Grammy nominee Joey Alexander honors the centennial of Thelonious Monk’s birthday with “Joey.Monk.Live!”, recorded in June at Lincoln Center.
Award-winning composer, arranger and trombonist Rick Davies began recording his last CD a few weeks before he passed away in December of 2015, his arrangement living on with “Thugtet”.
The Hazelrigg Brothers, pianist George and bassist Geoff, offer up readings of ‘70s and ‘80s pop treasures on “Songs We Like.”