Longtime Los Angeles-based guitarist Doug MacDonald is a native Philadelphian who was raised in Hawaii. As a sideman on both coasts and some stops elsewhere, his live performances are in the hundreds, including those with Stan Getz, George Shearing, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, and Buddy Rich, among many others. Scott Yanow of Jazz Times describes MacDonald as,”…a fine bop-based guitarist in the tradition of Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel, and Joe Pass.” His new release — “It’s a Blue World” — takes him back to his roots leading a guitar trio.

Mix the styles of Pat Metheny, Mike Stern, and Stevie Ray Vaughan and you have the recipe for one of the hottest up and coming contemporary jazz guitarists around. B.D. Lenz has worked with Randy Brecker, Mark Egan, Will Lee and others on his previous six discs, and his music has been featured on over one hundred television shows globally. “Five & Live” is his newest release and features his regular cast of virtuoso band mates from a series of live recording dates.

The bands from Cedar Rapids Prairie and Washington recorded their submissions last week for The Corridor Jazz Project 2011. Linn Mar also has their tune “in the can.” Other schools participating are West, City High and Regina in Iowa City; as well as Marion, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Xavier and Jefferson.

Lizz Wright spent her previous three releases defying categorization-contemporary jazz stylist? Neo-soul/neo-folk/Americana artist? None or all of the above? So it’s no surprise that “Fellowship” would introduce yet another wrinkle into the mix: gospel. As the daughter of a Georgia pastor, Wright listened to and sang nothing but religious fare before fate and/or the Lord led her to Atlanta’s jazz community in her college years. On this new release, Wright emphasizes a healthy stretch of the rousing gospel standards she grew up singing in the church, but borrows other selections from the decidedly secular catalogs of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Gladys Knight.

Meanwhile, “Second Chance” is the final unreleased recording featuring jazz vocal legend Irene Krall and the Alan Broadbent Trio, recorded live at the Times Restaurant in Studio City, California. Christopher Loudon of Jazz Times calls her voice, “as pure and exquisite as Lalique crystal,” and Scott Yanow of the All Music Guide describes her as, “a superb ballad singer who always put both plenty of emotion and subtlety into her often haunting interpretations.” This collection comes from the apex in her development, the summer of 1975, and shows her at work in top form.

After 20 years and a dozen CDs, in an industry that has undergone sweeping transformations in the past decade, Fourplay knows that the only thing that’s certain, in music or any other business, is change. The latest proof of that axiom is the new face in their lineup-that of guitarist Chuck Loeb, who makes his compelling debut with the quartet on the band’s new recording, “Let’s Touch the Sky.” Loeb completes the four-man crew that also includes the band’s founding members: keyboardist Bob James, bassist Nathan East and drummer Harvey Mason.

Another new jazz release: Jelly Roll Morton opined that jazz is not a set repertoire but rather an attitude that can be applied to any piece of music. The UCF Jazz Ensemble, comprised of freshmen, sophomores, and a few juniors in the emerging Jazz Studies program at the University of Central Florida, recorded seven pieces with this attitude in mind. The resulting collaboration — “Jazz Town” — includes not only classics but also new works written specifically for the Ensemble.

Also new: Brazilian pianist Helio Alves offers up his fifth release as a leader, “Musica”, with his trio and special guests Claudio Roditi and Romero Lubambo; saxophonist Michael Zsoldos debuts with “Off the Cuff”, recorded live in the spirit of an old-school blowing session featuring standards and original work; and Dana Lauren, a semi-finalist at the 2010 Thelonious Monk Vocal Jazz Competition, is joined by saxophonist Joel Frahm and pianist Manuel Valera on “It’s You or No One.”

It might be the parties. Or maybe it’s the roasting of chestnuts. Or the caroling out in the snow. Whatever the reason, most people consider the holiday season to be the most wonderful time of the year. That’s exactly the case among the members of Take 6, the a cappella group that has been mixing elements of jazz, gospel, R&B and vintage doo-wop for nearly 25 years. Recipients of 10 Grammy Awards, the group has made an indelible musical and cultural mark in the past quarter century. Their new holiday CD — “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” — is a collection of heartwarming seasonal favorites.

John Sheridan’s Dream Band’s “Hooray for Christmas”, on the other hand, is not your usual Holiday album. As explained in the disc’s liner notes, “With a single happy exception, John Sheridan stays away from the pre-tested tried and true Christmas songs and, drawing upon his vast knowledge of American popular music, offers up a program of overlooked and underappreciated gems that in their freshness, along with the joyful enthusiasm with which they are played, summon forth some of the fullness of good feeling that the holiday season was originally meant to convey.”

Also: drummer Matt Wilson’s “Christmas Tree-O” performs a collection of everyone’s favorite holiday tunes in Wilson’s always-unique style; Wynton Marsalis presents his first holiday release in 20 years, “Christmas Jazz Jam”, which is rooted in the spirit of New Orleans and the gospel church.

Steve Gadd has had a remarkable career during the past 40 years, working with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie and Chick Corea to Maynard Ferguson and George Benson. When it comes to his own projects, the drummer loves to play good-time groove music that has the danceable qualities and bluesiness of the best R&B along with the adventurous solos and impeccable musicianship of jazz. On his new CD — “Live at Voce” — he’s joined by organist Joey DeFrancesco, the passionate baritone saxophonist Ronnie Cuber, and the versatile guitarist Paul Bollenback, a quartet which has been together since 2007 creating grooves and hard-driving swing that are reminiscent of the best organ groups of the ’60s.

Also notable. In a diverse career spanning three decades, keyboardist Pete Levin has performed with hundreds of jazz artists, including Miles Davis, David Sanborn, and Wayne Shorter, along with a 15-year association with Gil Evans and an 8-year stint with Jimmy Giuffre. His new CD “Jump!” documents his continuing efforts to push the envelope of the traditional organ trio. The set features a collaboration with the remarkable guitarist Dave Stryker, legendary drummer Lenny White, and dazzling percussionist Manolo Badrena.

Also out with new music this week: Japanese trumpeter Takuya Kuroda makes his debut as a leader, “Bitter and High”; trumpeter and Chicago native Brad Goode unveils his exciting new quartet on “Tight Like This”; and veteran keyboardist and composer Bill O’Connell features saxophonist Steve Slage, trombonist Conrad Herwig and vibraphonist Dave Samuels on his new release, “Rhapsody in Blue.”

Russell Malone has been a significant figure in the jazz world for more than two decades. One of his most pivotal career-shaping experiences was as part of organist Jimmy Smith’s band in the late-80s. He’s also spent time working in the bands of Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr., Sonny Rollins, and Ron Carter among other notables. For his ninth release as a leader — “Triple Play” — he once again cements his reputation as a pre-eminent jazz guitarist, composer and bandleader in a piano-less trio setting with bassist David Wong and drummer Montez Coleman.

Guitarist Kevin Eubanks held one of the most coveted chairs in television for nearly 15 years as the leader of the Tonight Show band, when his muse struck and prompted him to take his axe and move on. Before taking the TV gig that boasted talents like Branford Marsalis and the venerated Doc Severinsen, Eubanks had an acclaimed recording career garnering many awards along the way. He resumes that career with “Zen Food”, a new disc which finds him in the company of his favorite players, most of whom can be found jamming with him at L.A.’s famed Baked Potato.

Also out with new music, veteran drummer Louis Hayes and his Jazz Communicators, featuring pianist Mulgew Miller and vibraphonist Steve Nelson, offer up “Lou’s Idea”; pianist and composer Leslie Pintchik, who first surfaced on the Manhattan jazz scene in a trio with legendary bassist Red Mitchell, unveils her third release as leader, “We’re Here to Listen”; and Boston-based pianist and composer Pamela Hines presents her seventh release, “Moon Germs.”

Veterans Day 2010 – we note several KCCK staffers who are veterans of military service.

Mark Yother was in the Air Force for three years. He was editor of the base newspaper at Ent Air Force Base in Colorado, then worked in radio and television with the American Forces Korea Network (AFKN) for a year.

George Dorman spent two years in the Army, including a year in Korea — first in field artillery, later as a reporter/photographer for the 2nd Infantry Division newspaper. He also worked weekends as a radio newscaster and television sportscaster for AFKN.

Cary J. Hahn served four years in the Navy, broadcasting on Armed Forces Radio aboard the USS Hancock aircraft carrier during Vietnam service and on the island of Kodiak, Alaska.

Murray Kent was a news and sports announcer for American Forces Vietnam Network (AFVN) and an FM radio music host.

Bob Naujoks spent his entire two-year Army tour at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., managing an enlisted men’s service club.

Student Music Producer Josh Roberts is an Army vet who did two tours of duty in Iraq as a helicopter mechanic.