Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Saxophonist Wayne Escoffery is renowned for his fiery, muscular and virtuosic tenor playing, but his explosive sound is paired with a soft-spoken and thoughtful demeanor off the bandstand. In many cases, both those aspects of his personality can be credited to the same inspirations–giants of the music who paired estimable talents and imagination with rock-solid integrity. On his new CD, “The Humble Warrior,” he pays homage to those figures. “We lost a lot of really great musicians in 2018 and 2019,” Mabern says. “People like Roy Hargrove, Harold Mabern, Larry Willis, Richard Wyands, Lawrence Leathers and, most recently, Jimmy Heath. I would describe all of those musicians as ‘humble warriors’.  They all exemplified the utmost humility and integrity despite their superior abilities. I hope to maintain those same traits in my musical endeavors.”

     Linley Hamilton has been the foremost trumpeter in Ireland for the last 20 years. He is one of the most prolific figures in the jazz scene on the islands between his role as a radio broadcaster for the BBC, his position as Professor of Music at the Ulster University Magee, and meeting the demands of his musical performances. For his new release, “For the Record,” two of his all-time musical heroes, drummer Adam Nussbaum and bassist Mark Egan, joined two of his best friends in a four-gig Northern Ireland tour and recording project. The compositions are almost entirely original and were generated with the specific musicians in mind.

Also this week, another Islander, the Welsh vocalist Ian Shaw, unveils a new trio project, “What’s New”; 

“Day by Day,” a wonderful new recording from Canadian saxophonist and composer Cory Weeds features pianist David Hazeltine;

and another band from the U.K., Gogo Penguin, with pianist Chris Illingworth, bassist Nick Blacka and drummer Rob Turner, offers up its new, self-titled CD.      

     Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Sisterhoods have been steadily moving toward the forefront of the jazz scene. Elevated by purpose and promise, and upholding the virtues of equality and community, these sororities have become a substantial force in the music today. Monika Herzig, a thoughtful composer and inventive pianist, has become a key figure in the movement. She has assembled an all-star band of greats—‘Sheroes’ as she like to call them—who selflessly work together in presenting a judicious blend of covers and originals on the new CD, “Eternal Dance.”  They include guitarist Leni Stern, flutist Jamie Baum, bassist Jennifer Vincent, Akua Dixon on cello, Rosa Avila and Mayra Casales on percussion, Lakecia Benjamin on alto sax and Reut Regev on trombone.

     Esteemed pianist, bandleader and educator Andy Milne is excited to announce the release of his new album, “The reMission,” with his new trio Unison. Marking Milne’s first foray into piano trio performance, the disc is a shift in direction in the artist’s illustrious career. In late 2017, a life-changing cancer diagnosis forced Milne into a period of reflection over that career, a reevaluation of his direction as an artist, and finally, remission. Added to the mix was an unexpected offer for a full-time professorship from the University of Michigan. After conquering his diagnosis, he seized the opportunity to tackle the powerful intimacy of the piano trio format. Milne brings a bold, imaginative sound to this pared down context, presenting fresh original material written for this hallmark collaboration between himself, drummer Clarence Penn and bassist John Hebert.

 Also this week, vocalist and composer Lenora Zenzalai Helm returns to the recording scene for the first time in nine years with “For the Love of Big Band” featuring Tribe Jazz Orchestra;

 saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi presents his slightly off-center take  on the tenor-organ-drums trio format on “Nearly Blue”;

     and guitarist Henry Robinett finally releases an album he recorded twenty years ago, “Jazz Standards, Volume 1: Then,” an homage to the musicians whom he admires and who have shaped his music.