Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Saxophonist Ron Blake is a native of Puerto Rico and grew up in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. He’s earned three Grammy Awards as a member of the Christian McBride Big Band and four Emmy’s as a member of the “Saturday Night Live” band. He’s been on the faculty of the Julliard School for over 15 years. Blake makes the case that less is more with the lean, uncluttered sound of his new album, “Scratch Band.” The debut of this eponymous ensemble is a more intimate affair than usual, placing the reedman in a trio with bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer John Hadfield, and applying the folk-like sonic sensibilities the surrounded him while growing up.

In their star-studded debut album “Seascape,” the Canadian supergroup Atlantic Jazz Collective, comprised of Juno Award-winning artists Mike Murley, Florian Hoefner and Jim Vivian, delivers a truly inspiring and timeless performance. The group presents stunning new vocal versions of beloved modern jazz originals that showcase exceptional artistic craft and a deep musical understanding between the three members of the collective and their two legendary guest artists, Norma Winstone and Joe LaBarbara. It’s a most fitting title for the recording, as the music was recorded in St. John’s, Newfoundland, a city utterly dominated by the sea.

Also this week, trumpeter Markus Joachim Rutz is joined by special guests Brice Winston and Sharel Cassity for his ninth release as a leader, “Many Moons”; The Steve Allee Big Band features a collection of Indianapolis-based artists on “First Circle,” an album that celebrates the musicians, teachers, mentors, history and places that make Naptown a sparkling jewel in the geography of jazz music; and Vienna-based drummer, composer and arranger Vladimir Kostadinovic, one of the European jazz scene’s most sought-after percussionists, unveils his third release as a leader, “Iris.”

Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Drummer Snorre Kirk, originally from Norway but long based in Demark, has earned a strong reputation for his elegant percussion work, original compositions, and deep connection to tradition. When he first heard reedman Giacomo Smith in London, he knew he’d found a kindred spirit. Their collaboration started in 2019 and by 2023, their quartet with pianist Joe Webb and Danish bassist Anders Fjeldsted took shape—and is now Kirk’s primary project. “What a Day!” is their first release together, and Kirk’s eighth album as a leader.

Clarinetist Giacomo Smith was born in Italy and raised in upstate New York, where his mother’s love of Dave Brubeck sparked a lifelong passion for jazz. His love for Jazz Manouche was ignited in college after hearing a Django Reinhardt album featuring clarinetist Hubert Rostaing, leading to years of exploration of the genre. This journey eventually brought him to guitarist Mozes Rosenberg, who is a direct heir of Reinhardt. Together, they form a group that celebrates Django’s spirit without imitation. Their debut release, “Manouche,” is a vibrant tribute that channels tradition while speaking in a fresh new voice.

Also this week, pianist and composer Bob Schlesinger unveils his highly anticipated debut as a leader, “Falling from Earth,” featuring an all-star lineup including Mike Stern, Billy Drummond and Eddie Gomez, among others; “Nolasia” is the self-titled album from the New Orleans duo of Dj Smith on the bansuri and Idak on guitar, creating a unique combination of jazz and Eastern influences;  and Cellar Records boss Cory Weeds returns with another fine recording, backed up by the dependently swinging rhythm section of frequent Cellar players alongside the famously big horn of Jerry Weldon on “Cory Weeds Meets Jerry Weldon.”