Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify

     Already a bona fide star in her native Denmark, singer Sinne Eeg has, in recent years, been weaving her spell in performances throughout Europe and the United States. Audiences and critics alike have responded enthusiastically to her dark, alluring voice, rich timbre, impeccable intonation, inherent sense of swing and remarkably natural scatting ability that recalls her own vocal jazz heroes, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Anita O’Day. On “We’ve Only Just Begun,” her winning collaboration with the 19-piece Danish Radio Big Band and 9^th album overall, Eeg sings with signature soulfulness, sassy spirit and jazz abandon on a program of three well-chosen standards, a swinging adaptation of a tune from a vintage Danish film, and five affecting originals with Eeg as composer and/or lyricist.

On his latest album, Warren Wolf reveals an entirely different side to his multi-faceted talents. As the title implies, “Reincarnation” represents a rebirth of sorts for the Baltimore vibesman. In part it frees Wolf to indulge his love for R&B and soul hits that served as the soundtrack to his formative years in the 1990s. It’s also a celebration of a new lease on life, a happiness and contentment that he’s discovered through a new marriage and his five beloved children.

Also this week, the second release from drummer and composer Jae Sinnett’s Zero to 60 Quartet, “Just When You Thought,” featuring pianist Allen Farnham, saxophonist Ralph Bowen and bassist Terry Burrell; 

pianist Michael Wolff’s “Bounce,” with bassist Ben Allison and drummer Allan Mednard, reflects his upbeat state of mind following his ‘miraculous’ recovery from aggressive cancer;

     and veteran reedmen Jeff Rupert and George Garzone’s “The Ripple” feature pieces recorded or composed by some of the musicians influenced by Lester Young, including Dexter Gordon, Zoot Sims, Wayne Shorter and Joe Henderson.

     Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify 

Baltimore pianist Lafayette Harris Jr. is known for an energetic sense of rhythmic vitality, a tasty, full bodied musical approach to the keyboard, and a sensibility drenched in the blues. A staple at the Lenox Lounge in Harlem for a number of years as well as a member of various aggregations led by Max Roach, Harris’ new recording, “You Can’t Lose with the Blues,” reflects this experience as well as a myriad of influences, from boogie-woogie legend Sammy Price to Kenny Barron and Barry Harris, all of whom encouraged Lafayette as an up-and-coming player. Bassist Peter Washington brings a forceful sense of rhythm and lyrically rounded solos for the date and drummer Lewis Nash keeps the rhythms swinging strongly and as steady as a Swiss watch.

     It’s a delight to hear three supremely talented musicians find common ground, especially considering it’s their first recording together. Pianist Tim Ray, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington have diverse styles, backgrounds and experiences. Ray is currently Tony Bennett’s musical director and a longtime road companion to Lyle Lovett. Patitucci initially made a name for himself with Chick Corea and has spent the better part of the last two decades with Wayne Shorter. Carrington, also with Shorter and a myriad of other great jazz artists, is at the vanguard of today’s drum corps. They come together on “Excursions and Adventures,” a powerful inaugural recording session for this trio that often transcends description with its gorgeous fidelity, colorful arrangements, and fabulous, nuanced performances.

 Also this week, the exhilarating and exuberant Canadian trombonist Audrey Ochoa introduces strings into her previous configuration of horn, piano, bass and drums for “Frankenhorn,” a mix of chamber music with contemporary and Latin jazz;

 The Airmen of Note from the United States Air Force celebrate their 70^th anniversary with “Air Power.”

    and with a sound reminiscent of small group swing from the ‘30s and ‘40s, violinist Jonathan Ng aims to get feet tapping with his sophomore release, “The Sphynx”.