Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify 
Three years after the release of Artemis’ critically acclaimed self-titled debut album, the all-female ensemble returns with a marvelous follow-up that highlights the improvisational strength of its members as well as their respective gifts as composers. “In Real Time” showcases a new lineup of the collective with founding members pianist Renee Rosnes, drummer Allison Miller, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, and bassist Noriko Ueda joined by newcomers tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover and multi-reedist Alexa Tarantino. The eight-song set presents compelling new band member originals along with choice covers of pieces by Lyle Mays and Wayne Shorter.

Drummer Steve Smith has led his jazz group Vital Information since 1983, making his new release, “Time Flies,” the 40^th anniversary recording. The former drummer for the iconic rock band Journey has won multiple Modern Drummer Magazine readers polls including Top 25 Drummers of All Time, #1 All-Around Drummer for five consecutive years, and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The disc debuts a new lineup for the band with Manuel Valera on keyboards and Janek Gwizdala on bass.

Also this week, 2023 NEA Jazz Master Louis Hayes coaxes concise, well-conceived tracks from his players on “Exactly Right,” with everyone swinging with loads of feeling;

 “Of What Remains” is Montreal-based baritone saxophonist and bassoonist Melissa Pipe’s first release as a leader;

 and the L.A.-based Kupkasonic Jazz Orchestra performs the songs and arrangements of Michael Wetherwax on “Big Band Trax by Wax.”