Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Among the vanguard of today’s contemporary composers and big band arrangers, trombonist Ben Patterson and his Washington, DC-based band deliver with a new hard-driving set of funky electrified jazz on “Groove Junkies.” His music is just as comfortable harnessing the power of the traditional big band horn section as it is with the intermingling of electronica to achieve a singular, complex vison. Trumpeter Randy Brecker says, “Ben Patterson never disappoints, and these new ‘groove’ big band compositions and arrangements are in da’ pocket…creatively written with twists and turns both in the charts and in his trombone playing…Super Hip!”

Kandace Springs—praised by her late mentor Prince as having a “voice that can melt snow”—pays tribute to her late father with the new album, “Run Your Race.” Kenneth “Scat” Springs was a college track star and legendary Nashville session singer who passed away two years ago. Ms. Springs recruited her longtime touring band and special guest flutist Elena Pinderhughes for the most personal and heartfelt record of her career to date.

Also this week, Ghost-Note, a band led by Snarky Puppy’s multi-Grammy winning percussion duo of Robert “Sput” Searight and Nate Werth, presents an expansive roster of next-level musicians on it’s third release,” Mustard n’ Onions”; the Michael O’Neill Sextet brings a sweet set of classic pop, soul and standards all infused with great Latin energy on “Synergy,” featuring 11 time Grammy award winner and longtime lead singer with Santana, Tony Lindsay; and flutist Lori Bell and her quartet pay homage to the musical acumen and articulate imagination of jazz great Joe Henderson on “Recorda Me: Remembering Joe Henderson.”