Trumpeter Marcus Printup focuses on displaying his lyrical side on this latest “Ballad only” album. His full sound which has a vocal quality suits the material perfectly. “In "Ballads - All Night" he reveals yet another facet of his keen musical insight and appreciation. In the process he will delight confirmed fans and listeners new to his art.” (Mark Gardner from the liner notes) SCCD 31679 Dave Stryker Trio "One For Reedus" One For Reedus, Dave Stryker’s first recording for the label since the 2003 set “Strike Up The Band” (released in 2008) is also Dave’s return to a format that was so much part of his musical development on moving to New York in the early 1980s - the guitar/organ/drums combination. The Dave Stryker Organ Trio has been a working band for the past several years. This album is dedicated to the band’s great drummer Tony Reedus who passed away early 2009, who was very much involved in this project. “The album has a definite polish: Nils Winther's production is of a very high quality, and each of the four musicians plays with a distinctive and clear sound…..” (Jay Deshpande on Strike Up The Band SCCD31637 – AllAboutJazz) SCCD 31681 Marcus Printup Quintet "Ballads - All Night" Trumpeter Marcus Printup focuses on displaying his lyrical side on this latest “Ballad only” album. His full sound which has a vocal quality suits the material perfectly. “In "Ballads - All Night" he reveals yet another facet of his keen musical insight and appreciation. In the process he will delight confirmed fans and listeners new to his art.” (Mark Gardner from the liner notes)

This music on this album has become known as the George Lewis "Jam Session." This benchmark recording was originally captured on two tape recorders by producer Dr. Edmond Souchon on May 22nd, 1950 in New Orleans and features George Lewis, Elmer Talbert, Jim Robinson, Alton Purnell, Lawrence Marrero, Slow Drag Pavageau and Joe Watkins. This special release contains the complete session with never before heard outtakes. Souchon wrote the liner notes and there are photos from the session with a complete technical rundown of the material.

A sequel to the highly successful SCCD 31588 “Oatts & Perry I”, on which Thomas Conrad of JazzTimes commented, “…Harold Danko played with Oatts and Perry in the Thad Jones–Mel Lewis Orchestra and always wanted them in his own band. This album is a true sleeper, a blowing date on which the blowing is epic and the date is beautifully planned and recorded.” "Rich Perry is that rarest of tenor saxophonists — a complete musician." (Donald Elfman , Allabout Jazz–NY) "… Dick Oatts is an uncompromising jazz musician, one who possesses monster chops without trumpeting them… " (Owen Cordle, JazzTimes)

Abercrombie/LaVerne partnership goes back in the 60s when both musicians studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston. The duo released a number of studio sessions on SteepleChase in the past decades but this time their exciting concert from Baruch University, NY is captured live. JazzTimes’ Jim Ferguson commented on their earlier release SCCD 31538 “Timeline”: “Although John Abercrombie has done his fair share of experimentation over the years, at the heart of his work is a musicality-as evident throughout Timeline… pianist Andy LaVerne joins Abercrombie for a musical celebration of the influential, historic collaborations between Jim Hall and Bill Evans,… Abercrombie and LaVerne bring their own values and sensibilities to bear throughout the set .… ”

“…The late Whitney Balliett dubbed jazz as "the sound of surprise". Well, Jack Walrath surprises us here on every selection. He deals in the unexpected and delivers it to us with a flowing flourish - and no concessions.” (Mark Gardner- from the linernotes) “Jack Walrath not only displays tremendous trumpet playing, a rich and varied approach to composition and wonderful band, he also puts something into this fantastic CD that's missing from too much new jazz: a sense of fun and humor. That's not to say that it isn't sensitive and touching at times—"An Hour Blessed" is arguably as gorgeous as anything ever recorded…” (Francis Lo Kee – allaboutjazz-New York)

Following up the intriguing 2009 SteepleChase debut album “Blue Light” (SCCD 31662) shedding lights on compositions of Gigi Gryce, saxophonist/composer Chris Byars with his quintet features legendary vibraphonist Teddy Charles, in an attractive program including his own compositions together with works by Donald Byrd, a Teddy Charles remake of his classic recording of "Nature Boy", and a unheard composition by Gigi Gryce.

Momentum brings together 10 visually and sonically enticing tracks that invite to travel. Guitarist Julien Tassin is a prolific musician, whose music draws from his many influences and experiences from classical music to jazz. Getting out of his comfort zone and diving deep into an exploration of his instrument; the guitar - electric, harmonic, omnipresent - tells as many stories as there are tracks on the album.

Peter Zak has admired and studied McCoy Tyner’s music for many years. On his fifth album he realizes his dream project of interpreting his idol. On his previous release “My Conception” (SCCD 31641), allaboutjazz’s Terrell Kent Holms wrote, “Zak plays with richness and fluidity, artfully blending the many colors on his palette to create bright landscapes. Zak plays with a confidence born of his undeniable skill. …Zak always makes the right choices, and audiences will continue to reap the benefits of hearing this wonderfully talented piano man.”

Congolese-Danish saxophonist/composer John Tchicai returns to SteepleChase after a long absence. As “God Father” or “Guru” of free jazz Tchicai has been active on the scene and studios but this first leader album in 22 years for the label features his striking sound on alto sax interpreting works by Monk.

Bassist/composer Ron McClure’s previous release “Soft Hands” (SCCD 31615) was an unusual drum-less trio setting about which Will Smith of JazzTimes wrote, “The quiet and easygoing togetherness of bassist Ron McClure’s Soft Hands, with tenor saxophonist Rich Perry and pianist George Colligan, will find listeners overlooking the absence of a drummer. …”. On this new recording the same group is expanded into a quartet with an addition of drummer, Billy Drummond who is met with immediate and unanimous enthusiasm (Ron McClure).

Whether as a solo instrument or as part of the orchestra, today the saxophone seldom appears in concert halls and opera houses. Nonetheless, before it found its true home, it was heard in classical music. Here, Schulte-Burnert skillfully presents three particularly brilliant and virtuosic concertos by John Williams, Michael Nyman and Andrei Eshpai.

Andrew Rathbun, Canadian-born multi-instrumentalist (primarily on tenor saxophone) is also an accomplished composer has firmly established himself on the world jazz scene. On his previous release “Affairs of State” (SCCD 31630) Stuart Broomer of allaboutjazz wrote, “…. The result is consistently thoughtful, well-crafted music in a mature idiom.”

Following the successful e-motion (SCCD 31620) Rich Perry teams up with his quintessential group of 15 years - a quartet - pianist Danko, bassist Anderson and drummer Hirshfield. “…The openness and shared mission to make great music ensures that the nine tracks are all first-rate performances…. This CD is as good as it gets.” (Francis Lo Kee on “e-motion” in AllAboutJazz)

Saxophonist Jed Levy took his group to the Kitano Hotel bar-lounge, one of the hippest live spots on Park Avenue in New York City to make this exciting live recording in September 2008. On Jed’s previous album “ Evans Exploration” SCCD 31648 Elliott Simon of Allaboutjazz wrote, “… Levy succeeds remarkably well through his own impressionistic gentle touch, …. This is a unique depiction of Evans' songbook.”

“….This is exciting, entrancing and vigorous music, filled with nuances and subtleties… As for contemporary jazz trumpet playing it doesn’t come any better than the mature style purveyed by Marcus Printup, one of the finest of our times” (Mark Gardner- from the liner notes) On Printup’s previous album SCCD 31626 Bird Of Paradise JazzTimes’ George Kanzler commented, “Printup and Nash solo with more tonal and timbrel variety, sacrificing sheer velocity for expressive sounds and fewer notes. It’s a creatively fertile way to revisit Bird’s music.”

Forrest Dylan Bryan of JazzTimes commented on the successful first volume SCCD 31623 “School of Tristano 1”: “… alto saxophonist Rasmussen …. pays tribute with an airy set of tunes written by Tristano, Warne Marsh and Lee Konitz ….. Rasmussen’s quartet updates and personalizes the sound, keeping the proceedings intimate as well as respectful.” -Forrest Dylan Bryant

On revewing the first volume of the Kitano live recordings (SCCD 31600) Matthew Miller of allaboutjazz commented: “…. Perry once again dazzles with his facility and impeccable taste and further asserts himself as one of the most gifted saxophonists of his generation.” Matthew Miller

Josef Woodard of allaboutjazz commented on Vincent Gardner’s Elbow Room album (SCCD 31580): “Gardner is an impressive, well-rounded trombonist, fleet and nimble in a boppish uptempo zone and blessed with vocalist-like expressivity when elegance is required …… He deserves the spotlight.”