Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
The life of a jazz m
usician tends to be an itinerant one. While traveling the world over the past three decades, trumpeter Jim Rotondi has formed a tenuous definition of the work “home”-sometimes it can mean a permanent residence, sometimes just a welcoming room for a few nights’ performances once or twice a year. On his latest album, “Dark Blue,” Rotondi offers a musical travelogue of some of the places he’s been privileged to call home. While the title track doesn’t refer to any place in particular, it’s a vivid description of one of the ever-changing locations where Rotondi feels most at home: his band. The disc evokes the mood of this particular quintet, a first-time conglomeration that includes old friends David Hazeltine on piano and Joe Locke on vibes as well as new additions in bassist David Wong and drummer Carl Allen.
Hazeltine and Wong also appear on the new CD by saxophonist Bob Kenmotsu, “I’m In Love With You.” Coming out of the San Francisco Bay area, Kenmotsu made his way to New York where he was a member of the Jack McDuff organ combo and the Ruth Brown Band. He’s also worked and recorded with Ira Coleman, Billy Hart, Pat Martino and others. Now back in the Bay Area in Berkeley, Bob is now working jazz clubs and concerts on the Wes Coast but still records in New York on occasion, as he did with his new disc. Rounding out his quartet is drummer Billy Drummond.
Also this week, bassist Brian Bromberg, who started his career as a drummer, comes “Full Circle” on his new CD as both bassist and drummer with guests Alex Acuna, Bob Sheppard, Arturo Sandoval, Lee Thornburg, Mitch Forman and Kirk Whalum.
Saxophonist Adison Evans pays tribute to some of the people who have helped shape her career, including Stevie Wonder, Sonny Rollins, Steve Wilson and Beyonce, on “Hero”.
Guitarist Ed Cherry is joined by organist Kyle Koehler and drummer Anwar Marshall for “Soul Tree.”
a master Hendrik Meurkens, whose numerous CDs have established him as an important stylist in the world of Brazilian music, is releasing his first all straight ahead jazz album in 15 years. Jazz came first for Meurkens, long before the Brazilian bug caught him. His 25 years on the New York jazz scene and his tours and records with Herb Ellis, Paquito D’Rivera, James Moody, Sweets Edison and many others have long ago proved his mastery and documented his fresh and different approach to jazz harmonica alongside that of the Godfather of the instrument, Toots Thielemans. “Harmonicus Rex” pairs Meurkens with the legendary Jimmy Cobb and a stellar cast of fist call New York players delivering new versions of some choice standards plus compositions by Milt Jackson, Freddie Hubbard and Dave Brubeck, as well as premiering a few Meurkens originals.
Drummer Willie Jones III pays masterful homage to many of the great musicians who have influenced and inspired his artistic journey over the years on “Groundwork”.
e Ordinary” is saxophonist Russ Nolan’s spirited new Latin/modern jazz release inspired by his time on salsa dance floors around New York City and realized through an inspired live session at New Haven’s well-regarded Firehouse 12.
owski, the quartet on his new CD, “Enrapture,” is the best group he’s ever worked with. “It’s a joy to be able to go in any direction you want to go musically. Almost every song was made in one take. We really felt that we captured the spontaneity of a ‘live’ performance on what were some challenging pieces of music. This is the culmination of sifting through a year’s worth of material that best highlights this band. We played as many live performances as we could leading up to the recording date. I care deeply about these songs and hope I’ve successfully conveyed hat to the listeners.” Peplowski’s fellow music makers include drummer Matt Wilson, pianist Ehud Asherie and bassist Martin Wind.
uban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez deliver’s is third disc as a leader, “Tocororo,” the title referring to Cuba’s national bird; the young.
