Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 2012, Peter Leitch was forced to give up a decades-long career as a guitarist and band leader because of his treatment. Although he is unable to play his instrument, he is still driven to create music. Leitch has re-invented himself as a composer, arranger, and director of a 15-piece orchestra. Celebrating this transformation, he has released “New Life,” the debut recording of the eponymous Peter Leitch New Life Orchestra. The project, which took Leitch two years to complete, is comprised of two discs corresponding to two sets of music in a club or concert.

     The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force. As one of today’s few professional touring big bands, it has attracted some of the finest musicians in the country. Twice yearly the Note travels throughout the United States spreading its big band sound to communities from coast to coast. It also has an extensive record of international performing. Appearances in five South American countries, eight European countries and Japan have solidified the ensemble’s reputation as one of the best bands of its kind in the world.   Their Jazz Heritage Series began in 1990 and has become an annual tradition that is widely anticipated by jazz lovers in the nation’s capital. Highlights from the 2020 edition feature special guests John Fedchock, Christian McBride and Randy Brecker.

 Also this week, the Pete Ellman Big Band, a regular presence in and around the Chicago-land area, debuts a new CD, “For Pete’s Ache”;

Chris Rottmayer, a pianist/vibraphonist/composer out of Madison, Wisconsin, unveils his third CD, “Sunday at Pilars”;

   and “Trio in Motion” finds pianist Alan Broadbent, drummer Billy Mintz and bassist Harvie S reuniting in Broadbent’s New York apartment-studio.

     Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
“Music in Film: The Reel Deal” marks film producer and drummer Richard Baratta’s triumphant return to jazz after a thirty-plus year diversion, during which time Baratta became a celebrated film producer of Hollywood hits such as “The Irishman,” “Joker,” “and “The Wolf of Wall Street.” An impromptu gig at a New York jazz club rekindled Baratta’s interest in performing and before he knew it he had assembled the band heard on his new disc. Featuring alto saxophonist Vincent Herring, guitarist Paul Bollenback and pianist/arranger Bill O’Connell, the band churns, boils and cooks over low flame on twelve tunes from classic soundtracks composed by Nino Rota, Burt Bacharach, Henry Mancini and others.

     A valuable part of the New York jazz and Latin music community for the past 25 years, Noah Bless has played trombone with many significant and creative artists. Since moving to the Big Apple in 1990, he has appeared on over fifty albums with such notables as Paquito D’Rivera, Mario Bauza, Don Braden, Eddie Palmieri and Celia Cruz. Bless has also been part of many top groups including the Lincoln Center Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra. Long overdue to lead his own session, on “New York Strong-Latin Jazz!” he soars over both Latin rhythms and straight ahead swinging, excelling on warm ballads and energetic romps alike.

Also this week, Butcher Brown remains true to the group’s fusion of ’60s jazz and funk, ‘70s fusion and contemporary hip-hop on their eighth release, “#KingButch”;

trumpeter Walter White’s new release, “BBXL,” features an all-star band and new arrangements of standards and original compositions;

     and drummer Mike Melito and pianist Dino Losito unveil a new quartet session, “You’re It,” featuring reed man Larry McKenna and bassist Neal Miner.