Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Grammy-winning pianist and composer Zaccai Curtis returns with “Sonoluminescence, “Vol. 1.” The record marks a distinct turn in Curtis’ artistic evolution which finds him evolving from an Afro-Cuban focus into a wider sonic landscape, rooted in the textures and grooves of 1970s jazz and funk while pushing confidently into modern territory. One of the hallmarks of his compositional approach on the disc is his method of placing traditional Afro-Caribbean rhythmic concepts in unexpected parts of the ensemble, resulting in music that is rhythmically intricate beneath the surface while remaining natural and grounded on top.

The Amstel Jazz Ensemble consists of faculty members from the University of Delaware, named after the street in Newark, DE, on which the music building can be found. “First State Blues” is the debut album from the group, which has been in existence for decades and has seen many members pass through over the years. The disc includes a set of tunes written by one of jazz’s giants and Delaware native son, Clifford Brown, along with originals by the band inspired by the state’s beaches, forests and waterways.

Also this week, bassist and composer John Pachnos offers up a program of originals on his self-titled debut album; alto saxophonist and composer Mike DiRubbo recorded “Way Out Northwest” in Vancouver with a powerhouse local rhythm section including Tilden Webb on piano, Jodi Proznick on bass and Jesse Cahill on drums; and The Holland Court Jazz Trio releases “Inverted Tango,” which refers to a technique in the traditional Argentine dance form in which the roles of leader and follower are switched. The trio takes inspiration in the reversal of roles, pressing beyond their familiar comfort zones in pursuit of a fresh new sound.

Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Russ Anixter is an arranger, orchestrator, and bandleader whose music exists at the intersection of jazz, rock, free improvisation, and orchestral craft. A graduate of Manhattan School of Music, where he studied jazz composition with Manny Albam and Rich DeRosa, Anixter further developed his orchestral expertise through more than three decades as a Broadway music copyist. His Hippie Big Band is built around a close circle of long-time collaborators who emerged from the pandemic together. On the new CD, “What Next?”, they transform familiar rock, funk, fusion, and jam-band repertoire into music defined by orchestration, groove, humor, and improvisation.

“Legacy Dances” is the highly anticipated twelfth release from four-time Grammy-nominated vibraphonist and composer Stefon Harris. Marking the 20^th anniversary of his groundbreaking Blackout ensemble, this fifth collaborative album delivers an unapologetically authentic mix of modern jazz rooted in African rhythms, R&B, and electronic soul. This landmark project also features some of the final studio recordings of the late Casey Benjamin who tragically passed away just two months after the recording sessions, the iconic saxophonist, vocalist, and vocoder specialist who co-founded Blackout and helped anchor the Robert Glasper Experiment.

Also this week, saxophonist and composer Ardeshir Pourkeramati makes his debut as a bandleader, “Introducing…,” a straight-ahead album rooted in the harp bop tradition; pianist and composer Miki Yamanaka’s stellar trio is joined by one of the leading voices on saxophone of her generation, Nicole Glover, on “Breathe”; and “Nostalgia” is the new album from bassist and composer Tony Grey, featuring legendary pianist Bob James.