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.”

Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Building on a long track record of scholarship and interpretive artistry focused on the great Mary Lou Williams, vibraphonist and composer Cecilia Smith unveils “The Mary Lou Williams Resurgence Project Volume One: Small Ensemble Repertoire.” Through countless hours of immersion in the Williams archive at the Institute for Jazz Studies, and direct access to manuscripts and scores from Williams’ former manager Father Peter O’Brien, Smith and her top-tier bandmates put their unique stamp on music either composed by Williams, composed in honor of her, or arranged and recorded by Williams during her lifetime.

Emotive, cinematic break-beat trio GoGo Penguin are back with their brand new album, “Everything is going to Be OK.” Bursting with the optimism of new beginnings, with a new drummer, and a subtly updated and developed sound, the band is ushering in a more sonically liberated era. Hailing from Manchester, UK, the band comprises pianist Chris Illingworth, bassist Nick Blacka and drummer Jon Scott. The band first rocketed to fame when their sophomore album was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize before recording three albums for Blue Note Records.

Also this week, tenor saxophonist Ken Fowser releases his sixth album as a leader, “Resolution,” an inspired eight song collection featuring trumpeter Jeremy Pelt and guitarist Peter Bernstein;

“Truth Be Told” is vocalist/songwriter Angie Wells’ diverse musical journey through various truths in her life;

and Rising Star vibraphonist Behn Gillece strikes and effortless and joyous balance between sound, silence and rhythm for his sixth installment as leader for Posi-Tone Records “Between the Bars.”