SteepleChase launched its sister label “LookOut” in 2012 to introduce world’s jazz artists who deserve wider recognition. The label amassed over 40 titles now.
Here is #44 - veteran trombonist Peter McEachern and his quartet.
McEachern bases his activities in Connecticut but tours and teaches all over USA. He released a CD in 2018 entitled “Bone Code” with his trio. This 2021 version is expanded with the addition of the young saxophone star Noah Preminger.
McEachern is not only dextrous with his instrument but also a prolific composer, who penned most of the tunes on this album.
“What strikes one as significant, however, is McEachern's trombone technique, which features a variety of styles played with great intimacy… While often subtle but never rambunctious, his understated technique allows the compositions to breath.” (Don Phipps – All About Jazz)
A New York City native, veteran drummer Eliot Zigmund has performed with numerous jazz luminaries throughout his long career but most known is his tenure with Bill Evans in the 70s where Zigmund’s sensitive and tasteful support to the great pianist was always present. Here on his new album Zigmund leads a consummate quartet fronted by up and coming sax talent Chris Cheek.
“Zigmund is that breed of percussionist who does not count their pride alongside their visible signs of virtuosity. He is in every way a musician with extensive experience but above all the art of listening.” (Jazzman Magazine)
Pianist/accordionist/composer JP Schlegelmilch is the featured member of Old Time Musketry which has just made its CD debut on SteepleChase LookOut (“Different Times” SCCD 33101).
Jon Ross of Downbeat bestowed four stars on the album speaking highly of Schlegelmilch’s compositional skills.
On this his solo debut JP explores the musical universe of the iconic composer/guitarist Bill Frisell with whom JP shares the evocative edge in contemporary American music.
Award winning Austrian drummer Bernd Reiter has already, in spite of his young age, played with jazz’s luminaries like Charles Davis, Kirk Lightsey, Mundell Lowe, Steve Grossman, to mention a few.
Reiter formed the quintet presented here in 2015 to perform a tribute program of Hank Mobley’s music featuring American tenorsax Eric Alexander whom he started to work with in 2012.
The band’s extensive European tour produced this live album from the last two concerts from the Bird’s Eye in Basil, Switzerland.
One of the reviews of the live performances simply put it “Jazz at its best!”.
Israeli-born guitarist Rotem Sivan, who is a strong new voice on the NY jazz scene, makes his CD debut on SteepleChase Lookout.
Rotem is a recipient of Montreux Jazz Festival International Competition prize in 2009.
While completing his studies at Tel Aviv University and NYC’s New School University Rotem has already been a much sought-after young player in the international festivals and concerts circuit.
Young Anderson Brothers (Peter and Will are identical twins) both on clarinet here band together with two veteran clarinetists Ken Peplowski with rich background in big band jazz and multiple Grammy Award winner Paquito D’Rivera to perform live to a jubilant audience.
“They are sparkling virtuosos and their clever, tidy arrangements for various combinations of clarinet, alto and tenor saxophone are smart and refreshing…. everything they play sounds fresh, creative and in the moment.” (Paul de Barros – Soundposts)
Since his Steeplechase debut release of “North By Northwest” SCCD 33102 in September, 2012, Joe Manis has kept this organ trio featuring George Colligan busy performing in and around Oregon where he bases his activities on. Here is their second album which clearly shows the intensity and remarkable rapport of a tightknit working band.
“Adding Colligan’s B-3 to his trio provoked an enjoyably incendiary chemical reaction on their 2013 album North by Northwest, with the two soloists inspiring each other to ever more daring flights, mostly in the classic style.”— Willamette Week
On January 3rd this year one of the greatest contemporary jazz pianists Paul Bley passed away. Bley left a younger generation of inspired artists behind. Greg Burk is one of them, not that he plays like Bley who was his mentor/teacher but he inherited Bley’s nonconformist approach to music.
Burk currently a resident of Rome, Italy is no newcomer to the scene. Quite a few of his recordings has been highly acclaimed throughout the world. This strikingly original solo recital is his first release on SteepleChase Lookout with a bonus of a captivating short story by the pianist himself.
The leader of this captivating debut album, Yoko Yates is the celebrated composer of the soundtrack for the award-winning documentary film Mothers’ Way, Daughters’ Choice filmed in NYC. Yoko Yates pianist/composer/educator grew up in Hokkaido, Japan, the northernmost island where the vast ancient and ingenious nature is still intact. Yates’ compositional style and ideas are hugely influenced and inspired by her formative years surrounded by this unique environment. Graduating from Berklee with a B.A. in music, summa cum laude, she went on to receive a Master’s degree in education from Lesley University in Cambridge (MA). She furthered her studies at Columbia University, Teachers College (NY) for doctoral study in music education. While being a member of the piano faculty at Greenwich House Music School in Manhattan and at Brooklyn Conservatory of Music since 1996, Yoko has maintained a performing career as a pianist and sometimes as a vocalist, and has been particularly active as a composer.
“Yoko Yates’ finely crafted original compositions shine brightly with beautiful performances by all. This is a noteworthy first CD.” (Scott Lee - producer)
“Yoko’s music is imaginative, fun, beautiful and natural. It incorporates a variety of genres and has an emotional depth that hits my heart. Her unique style appeals not only to jazz enthusiasts but to a broader audience”. (David Gahan - lead vocal Depeche Mode, Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame 2020
“Going beyond what words can express”. (Kyoko Gasha - documentary film director and Reuters journalist)
In 1974 SteepleChase released Perceptions SCCD 31022 by pianist Connie Crothers (1941- 2016) who was one of the prominent students of legendary Lennie Tristano. Now, 50 years later SteepleChase is proud to present Crothers’ mentees jazz pianist/free improviser/singer Caroll Leibowitz and alto saxophonist Nick Lyons in tandem inviting us to their unique soundscape that encompasses the past, present and future of jazz. “…. almost telepathic… hypnotically engaging…” (Roger Farbey - All About Jazz on Liebowitz-Lyons previous release)
Adams/Eaton duo’s new album stays in “Third Stream”, a term invented by Gunther Schuller as a way to create a new genre by bringing jazz and European classical music together.
Eaton points, “We think of ourselves as jazz musicians with some classical training, but our cultural milieu was one where jazz had become a global music.”
The debut album Paraphrase prompted NYCJR’s Dan Bilawsky to remark, “the tracks) illuminate the duo’s take on jazz history and where things might be headed next.”
The leader of this album pianist/composer/psychiatrist David Janeway has been playing an active role on the New York jazz scene for the past four decades leading a handful of different ensembles. This album made available after 30 years from the recording testifies David’s timeless and compelling ability of music making.
“A skilled composer and pianist capable of creating music that is imaginative, sensitive and often exciting.” (David Franklin-Cadence)
