Prolific trumpeter and composer Dave Douglas announces the release of Transcend, featuring his all-star GIFTS Quintet. Blending electronics, lyricism, and high-energy interplay, the ensemble operates at full force, driven by a clear spiritual vision. Following his 2024 release GIFTS - honoring Billy Strayhorn - Transcend continues Douglas' exploration of legacy, spirituality, and ensemble innovation. Transcend features the same core group as GIFTS, including DownBeat Artist of the Year tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis and two members of the Oscar-nominated post-rock trio Son Lux: guitarist Rafiq Bhatia and drummer Ian Chang. Expanded with the addition of cellist and MacArthur Genius Awardee Tomeka Reid, the quintet employs a radical new instrumentation. Douglas' new offering Transcend is created in observance of Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts, landmark works performed between 1965-1973, and widely regarded as the spiritual culmination of Ellington's career. Douglas draws inspiration from this ethos, by engaging with the spirit of openness, reverence, and humanity.
Dave Digs Disney is a 1957 studio album by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. It features jazz renditions of songs from the animated Disney films Alice in Wonderland, Pinocchio and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It is one of Brubeck's most popular albums. The album was reissued in 2011, with remastered recordings and two bonus tracks: "Very Good Advice" (from Alice in Wonderland) and "So This Is Love" (from Cinderella).
It was Dave Slonaker's fascination with the sounds of big bands in his early teens that led him to Pittsburg's Carnegie Library to research the nuts & bolts of how it was created. An orchestrator, arranger, and composer for film & TV over decades now, it's with his 15-year-old Grammy nominated ensemble - comprised of LA's finest jazz and studio musicians where he explores the paradigm shifts within his own writing and aesthetic as time goes on. With this third album for Origin, his exploration of orchestration, harmony and rhythm is as expansive and vivid as ever, as band members including Peter Erskine, Bob Sheppard, Clay Jenkins and Bill Reichenbach lend world-renowned musicality to whatever twists and turns he conjures up - always celebrating the big band legacy while joining the other visionary composers in charting the path forward. "His charts are modern, invigorating, full of variety, and clearly an inspiration for his sidemen." Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene "Exemplifying the best of contemporary big-band jazz - fresh and sparkling, with more than enough dynamism and ingenuity to capture a listener's interest and hold it..." All About Jazz
On Four Freedoms, trumpeter and composer Dave Douglas convenes a remarkable new quartet including the brilliantly inventive pianist Marta Warelis, propulsive bassist Nick Dunston, and the wildly swinging Joey Baron on drums. Douglas channels President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1941 "Four Freedoms" speech - freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear - into a compelling new musical project. The ensemble serves as an analogy for a functioning society: four distinct voices coexisting, conversing, and creating through improvisation. Balancing urgency with playfulness and joy, Four Freedoms is a celebration of freedom and collaborative spirit. Four Freedoms was recorded during the Getxo Festival in the Basque Country of Spain, in July 2025. The group recorded a live concert, then reconvened the next day on the same stage to capture focused, intimate versions of the music without an audience. "I wanted to capture both the excitement of a live performance and the focus and intensity of a studio session. Four Freedoms: Roosevelt's words feel more relevant than ever - humanities will be essential as we face the challenge of cohabiting on this singularly gorgeous planet." - Dave Douglas
Dave Brubeck described this album as a "jazz interpretation" of Miro's painting used in first cover and as inspiration ties into a tradition of connecting visual art and jazz. The album did well commercially: it reached #8 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S., the single "Unsquare Dance" reached #74 on the Billboard Hot 100, Critics often view this as a strong follow-up to "Time Out", because it continues experimentation but with new textures, meters, and moods. Brubeck conceived of it as a kind of musical reflection of abstract art by structuring the album around increasing time-signature complexity (3/4 up to 9/8), He further pushed beyond what was common in jazz at the time for an exercise in how changing meter affects mood, feel, improvisation. Each piece is a standalone experiment, inspired by rhythms Brubeck heard while touring internationally. Released: November 1961, the album was recorded over two sessions in May and June 1961 at Columbia's 30th Street Studio in New York City with the sessions featured the "classic" lineup of the quartet, known for their cohesive sound and innovative approach to jazz.
Guitarist John Scofield and bassist Dave Holland, two of jazz's contemporary masters, have played together over the years in contexts including projects with Herbie Hancock and Joe Henderson and a spirited co-led band with Joe Lovano and Al Foster. Memories of Home is their first duo album, made at NRS Studios, in Catskill, New York, last year, after extensive touring activity. John Scofield: "The record, like our live shows, features tunes each of us composed, some new, some old. We share decades of common references musically. The similarities and differences in our approaches make for a more interesting collaboration, I think." The album includes Scofield's "Icons at the Fair", "Meant to Be", "Mine Are Blues", "Memorette" and "Easy for You", and Holland's "Mr. B", "Not for Nothin'", "You I Love" and "Memories of Home."
Guitarist John Scofield and bassist Dave Holland, two of jazz's contemporary masters, have played together over the years in contexts including projects with Herbie Hancock and Joe Henderson and a spirited co-led band with Joe Lovano and Al Foster. Memories of Home is their first duo album. The album includes Scofield's "Icons at the Fair," "Meant to Be," "Mine Are Blues," "Memorette," and "Easy for You," and Holland's "Mr. B," "Not for Nothin'," "You I Love" and "Memories of Home."
I LOVE LIFE even when I'm hurting, the new album from Dave McMurray, is an affirmation of his indomitable spirit. It's also a celebration of the love that he has for his hometown, and for the many Detroit musicians with which he's collaborated, including guitarist Wayne Gerard, bassist Ibrahim Jones, vocalist Herschel Boone, keyboardists Luis Resto & Maurice O'Neal, drummer Jeff Canady and more. The album also features special guests, including bassist Don Was and vocalist Kem.
Recording this album with Bob James was one of the greatest life (and music) experiences for me I learned so much from this treasure of a man," says Dave Koz. "This duet project is just acoustic piano and saxophone, in all their raw beauty. Talk about being vulnerable! But with Bob at the piano, all concern goes away like playing on a bed of clouds. I can't wait to perform these songs with him in front of a live audience." "This is a totally unplugged and, as partner Dave points out, vulnerable set," Bob James adds. "Both he and I have had the good fortune to record many times with great rhythm sections and sophisticated production. This time out all that is stripped away, and it's just us. We hope the intimacy of these musical one-to-one conversations conveys the spirit we both felt. It was a unique opportunity for me to collaborate and be inspired by the passionate romanticism of my duo partner.
180-Gram Vinyl Limited Edition. The Real Ambassadors features Louis Armstrong's first and only recorded collaborations with Dave Brubeck (also co-composer and conductor of the album), singer Carmen McRae, and the vocal trio of Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks, and Annie Ross. The Real Ambassadors project, which delivered a strong political message condemning racism, was an original Broadway play written and composed by Brubeck and his wife Iola. THE COMPLETE ALBUM + 2 BONUS TRACKS 180-GRAM VIRGIN VINYL LIMITED EDITION
180-gram audiophile black vinyl. In the spring of 1954 Jazz-great Dave Brubeck did a tour of North American college campuses. Paul Desmond (alto sax), Bob Bates (bass), and Joe Dodge (drums) joined him and their support of Brubeck's uniformly flawless, ultimately producing what many consider as the most memorable music in the artist's cannon. Indeed, the genre gets schooled as the quartet leans in with striking energy and finesse. Enjoyed among college students in the 1950s and early 1960s both the tour and album brought Jazz to a whole new generation.
2024 release. BRASIL, the new album by Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin is a showcase for the unique talents of two of the most successful and influential musicians of their generation. It has been an enduring friendship and collaboration, from playing the famed Baked Potato in Los Angeles in the 70s, to collaborations on Dave's records and films and Lee's albums, plus years of touring together on the biggest stages. Guitarist Ritenour and pianist Grusin began their fervent involvement in Brazilian music half a century ago. And, as boldly demonstrated on BRASIL, their new studio recording in several decades dedicated to the genre, their passion remains unabated. BRASIL is a bracing survey of contemporary Brazilian sounds featuring some of that country's most notable young musicians. Also spotlighted are the talents of Swiss born harmonica ace Gregoire Maret and Brazilian vocalist and composer Ivan Lins, whose album Harlequin with Ritenour and Grusin won a GRAMMY® Award in 1986. Ritenour and Grusin have made an indelible mark in the music industry. With the release of BRASIL, they continue to exemplify how their longevity and success is tribute to their ability to stay on the pulse of the music scene today. "Brazilian music continues to permeate the world," Lee observes. "So, now was the right time and inspiration to go to Brazil and do this recording." And their musical magic continues!
2024 release. BRASIL, the new album by Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin is a showcase for the unique talents of two of the most successful and influential musicians of their generation. It has been an enduring friendship and collaboration, from playing the famed Baked Potato in Los Angeles in the 70s, to collaborations on Dave's records and films and Lee's albums, plus years of touring together on the biggest stages. Guitarist Ritenour and pianist Grusin began their fervent involvement in Brazilian music half a century ago. And, as boldly demonstrated on BRASIL, their new studio recording in several decades dedicated to the genre, their passion remains unabated. BRASIL is a bracing survey of contemporary Brazilian sounds featuring some of that country's most notable young musicians. Also spotlighted are the talents of Swiss born harmonica ace Gregoire Maret and Brazilian vocalist and composer Ivan Lins, whose album Harlequin with Ritenour and Grusin won a GRAMMY® Award in 1986. Ritenour and Grusin have made an indelible mark in the music industry. With the release of BRASIL, they continue to exemplify how their longevity and success is tribute to their ability to stay on the pulse of the music scene today. "Brazilian music continues to permeate the world," Lee observes. "So, now was the right time and inspiration to go to Brazil and do this recording." And their musical magic continues!
Modern jazz giant Dave Douglas releases his first new album in almost 2 years with a new project titled GIFTS. This debut album is Dave playing with Ian Chang and Rafiq Bhatia (members of Son Lux and the Oscar nominated for the score of Everything Everywhere All At Once), as well as the brilliant versatile saxophonist James Brandon Lewis. The album is an adventurous exploration of the genre through the lens of composer Billy Strayhorn, covering 4 of his compositions, alongside 6 originals.
Dave Brubeck Quartet - The Classic 1950s Albums / This superb 4-CD collection brings together eight original albums that Dave and the quartet released during the 1950s, the era generally considered to be the great man's golden years. Serving as both a wonderful starting point for those new to Brubeck's music, and as a divine reminder of his finest work for the rest of us, this set remains a must-have collection for just about anyone who has been blessed with ears and a love of music.
SteepleChase kicks off 2024 with the new recording by Dave Pietro, New York scene’s hugely in-demand alto saxophonist/composer/educator whose pure personal voice is noted as “one of the most appealing alto sounds in jazz” (Chuck Berg - JazzTimes).
On this his debut album for the label Pietro put together a gripping selection of tunes new and old including an adaptation of Mahler’s adagietto from 5th symphony executed by Pietro’s hand-picked group with limitless creativity.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet - "Jazz At Oberlin (Original Jazz Classics Series)" / Recorded at Oberlin College, Ohio in 1953, the Dave Brubeck Quartet's Jazz at Oberlin album is one of the earliest works in the cool jazz genre. As well as Dave Brubeck (piano) the album also features Paul Desmond (alto sax), Lloyd Davis (drums) and Ron Cotty (bass). This new edition of the album is released as part of the Original Jazz Classics Series and is pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI with all-analog mastering from the original tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio. It is presented in a tip-on jacket. Special Pkg:180g Heavy
The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Live from the Northwest, 1959 is the newest release from Brubeck Editions, the family-run label that only puts out music of the highest musical and technical quality. These exciting performances were recorded by the trailblazing and iconic audio engineer, Wally Heider, who pioneered the art of remote recording from his "studio on wheels." The sound he achieved is stellar, and this is perhaps the best live recording you can hear of one the most popular jazz groups of all time. The tapes were recorded in April, 1959 at the Multnomah Jazz Club and Clark College, both in the Portland, Oregon area. On this recording you can hear the Quartet's mastery of spontaneous counterpoint improvisation. Four months later, the Dave Brubeck Quartet's focus shifted to polytonal and polyrhythmic approaches when the group recorded the legendary "Time Out", and changed the course of jazz forever.
A certified maestro of his time, king of Cool Jazz with a penchant for unusual time signatures, Dave Brubeck is as prolific as they come. For their third release, Major Keys lovingly remasters and reissue three of his key pieces as The Dave Brubeck Quartet including the instantly recognizable 'Take Five' on 180g vinyl in a Major Keys sleeve. On the A side one of the most famous jazz pieces of all time. Released in 1959 as part of the Quartet's Time Out LP, which become the first jazz album to sell more than a million copies with the 'Take Five' single also taking that that coveted spot whilst going on to become the best-selling jazz single of all time. Accolades aside, it's an intricate, absorbing and elating piece of jazz history, with one of the most recognizable melodies ever to be written. Timeless genius written by the quartet's saxophonist Paul Desmond and performed by Dave Brubeck, Paul, Joe Morello and Eugene Wright, reissued for a new generation of listeners. The B side sees ever more experimentation from the quartet, with the time signatures Dave heard on the streets of Istanbul providing the inspiration that gave birth to the lead track from Time Out - 'Blue Rondo a la Turk'. As cool and complex as they get, stirring up those meters like a slick Manhattan. Rounding off the package, American jazz singer Carmen McRae's 1962 vocal version of 'Take Five' gives an extra dose of sophistication to proceedings. All in all, a must have for any discerning music lover. Tracklisting: A1. Take Five B1. Blue Rondo a La Turk B2. Take Five (Vocal Version feat. Carmen McRae)
Since forming in 2011, the Dave Douglas Quintet has released three studio albums and an 8-CD live box set, and toured widely, developing an unmatched ensemble rapport. With saxophonist Jon Irabagon, pianist Matt Mitchell, bassist Linda May Han Oh, and drummer Rudy Royston, the group has forged a unique language that is a sound all their own. Their new album, 'Songs of Ascent: Book1-Degrees,' isa riff on these 15psalms-fascinating, somewhat mysterious works which inspired the composer. Douglas' pieces were written around these psalms. Let Me Go, the only exception, was written on the day Dave decided to take this on. That piece and seven others comprise this release, which is high energy and introspective at the same time. Irabagon's playing on tenor and soprano saxes as well as alto clarinet creates a wide range of timbres and colors. The bands intuitive call and response, dialogic playing is evident from the first note to the last. There are 16 Songs of Ascent, split into two books-the subsequent 8 are on a companion disc subtitled Steps, which is immediately available to members of Greenleaf Music. 1) Never Let Me Go 2) Deceitful Tongues 3) Lift Up My Eyes 4) Peace Within Your Walls 5) Enthroned 6) A Fowler's Snare 7) Scepter 8) Mouths Full Of Joy
Dave Specter'S 30 YEAR MUSICAL JOURNEY ON DELMARK showcases the guitarist, songwriter and vocalist surrounded by a stellar lineup of special guests including: OTIS CLAY, JIMMY JOHNSON, RONNIE EARL, LURRIE BELL, BILLY BRANCH, WILLIE KENT, JORMA KAUKONEN, JACK McDUFF, LYNWOOD SLIM, SHARON LEWIS, JESSE FORTUNE, BARKIN' BILL SMITH, STEVE FREUND, FLOYD McDANIEL, TAD ROBINSON, LENNY LYNN and more! Specter's career has been intertwined with the deepest roots of Chicago blues and Delmark's rich musical history. This double CD release constitutes a definitive testimony to one of today's most tasteful and versatile blues artists featuring Specter in a wide variety of styles, all played with six string soul., ALL TRACKS REMASTERED AT DELMARK'S RIVERSIDE STUDIO BY JULIA A. MILLER. INCLUDES GATEFOLD JACKET WITH EXTENSIVE DISCOGRAPHY, LINER NOTES BY HISTORIAN DICK SHURMAN, DIGITAL DOWNLOAD CARD OF THE COMPLETE DOUBLE CD EDITION FEATURING 11 MORE TRACKS.
Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing in gatefold jacket. Overcome is a new Dave Douglas recording, alongside vocalists Fay Victor and Camila Meza, trombonist Ryan Keberle, bassist Jorge Roeder, and drummer Rudy Royston, who banded together over a period of months to create a new album of songs. A statement of purpose, an acknowledgement of forebears, and an exhortation to activism, Overcome involves the six musicians in an emotional and powerful statement of human engagement towards justice: Racial justice. Climate justice. Voting justice. Gender justice. The project began with a reimagining of the Civil Rights anthem, "We Shall Overcome," featuring Victor and Meza each singing a verse before joining for arousing final verse. As Douglas began working on the originals for the album, this unique communal vocal interplay became a key element of three more pieces: "Overcome" and "When We Are Together Again" are both inspired by the challenges of pandemic isolation; "Good Trouble" celebrates activist John Lewis. Victor takes the spotlight on "Peace" as she voices poignant poetry from Langston Hughes. And the free-spirited Royston original "Perspective" brings a nice balance to the proceedings. This is spirited communal music on a mission. Released direct-to-fan previously, the LP is available worldwide for the very first time.
180 GRAM VINYL. "Dave Brubeck Trio - Live from Vienna 1967" is an extremely rare, red-hot performance by Dave and his famous rhythm section - Joe Morello, on drums, and Gene Wright on bass. Alto saxophonist, Paul Desmond, missed the plane to Vienna and the remaining trio took the stage with a mission; show the packed hall that the three of them could play up a storm despite being one man down. Each musician in the trio was at the top of their game and each player was forced to stretch out their solos which landed them in new creative territories. The communication of musical concepts between Dave and Joe is extraordinary as they improvise boldly and respond to each other's fresh ideas. Gene Wright solos far more than usual on this album and his playing is a fitting tribute to the longest living member of the Quartet. (Gene died on December 30th, 2020.) Dave Brubeck plays masterfully revealing a rhythmic complexity to his approach on the piano that is remarkable and reminds the listener of his extremely inventive approach to jazz improvisations. Harmonically, he also explores polytonality in the most unexpected places; for example, on the ballad "La Paloma Azul." On "Swanee River" Dave is playfully polyrhythmic. Dave's light touch on "One Moment Worth Years" is charming and gives a nod to the great more traditional pianists who went before him. On this great-sounding recording, you can hear the full breadth of Dave's playing which pushes jazz forward while honoring his past influences. Opening with "St. Louis Blues," the set includes the rhythmically challenging, high-spirited "Someday My Prince Will Come," and ends with "Take the A Train" as an encore. This is a thrilling set! The sound is wonderful and listening to this album will make you feel as if you were sitting in the audience that historic night.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet suddenly became a Trio for this Vienna concert when, after the previous evening's concert in Hamburg, Paul Desmond went out and never made his plane to Austria. While Paul's lyricism was missed, Dave, Gene, and Joe's playing was incredibly strong, high energy & swinging. To the Brubeck family's knowledge, this is the only recording of Dave, Gene & Joe as a Trio.
Secular Psalms - Dave Douglas - Secular Psalms is a new Dave Douglas studio album featuring a newly commissioned suite of ten pieces, with an entirely new group of young international musicians. Invited by the City of Gent and Handelsbeurs Theater to commemorate 600 years since the creation of the Gent Altarpiece by Jan Van Eyck, Douglas branches out into new instruments like the serpent, lute, organ and sampler, providing a painterly panorama of new sounds. Drawing on Latin Mass, on early medieval folk songs, on composers of the period, like Guillaume DuFay, and on jazz and improvised music, Douglas and team deliver a lyrical, mystical, spiritual score full of upbeat optimism for our times. Douglas says the title refers to "songs of praise for all of us.' For this project he has invited musicians Tomeka Reid, Marta Warelis, Berlinde Deman, Frederick Leroux and Lander Gyselinck. A surprising and uplifting release created during these pendemic times.
Time OutTakes features tracks that have never been heard before. These newly discovered recordings feature wonderful performances that are every bit as compelling as those on the original Time Out. We discovered that during the original 1959 sessions the Quartet also recorded "I'm In a Dancing Mood" and an unlisted trio jam with a major drum solo that included snatches of the melody from "Watusi Drums." Two tracks from Time Out, "Pick Up Sticks" and "Everybody's Jumpin, " were achieved in one take so no alternates exist to include here. These 7 exciting performances (and bonus track) are fascinating finds. Chris Brubeck We've all heard Dave Brubeck's Time Out - but never quite like this. You'll hear Dave Brubeck's signature pieces afresh and anew. Listening to this album will make you rediscover why you fell in love with The Dave Brubeck Quartet featuring Paul Desmond, Joe Morello and Eugene Wright. This is mesmerizing music. - Kabir Sehgal, Grammy Award Winning Producer Once the Dave Brubeck Quartet released Time Out in 1959, the world of jazz was never the same. Every note of the seven original compositions soared with wild originality and trained musical genius. "Take Five" became the best-selling jazz single of the twentieth century. I've often wondered how this work of genius came to fruition in the studio? How did Brubeck develop such chemistry with alto-saxophonist Paul Desmond? Now the mysteries are solved with the historic release of Time OutTakes (alternative takes to the masterpiece that blew the hinges off the doors of jazz). What a high privilege it is to be able to be in the studio with the quartet as they innovate using 9/8, 5/4 and 2 bars of 3/4 alternating with 2 bars of 4/4 on such classics as "Blue Rondo a la Turk" and "Three to Get Ready." All listeners of Time OutTakes will experience the Cold War era jazz revolution as it unfolded. What joyous music for the ages! Douglas Brinkley, CNN historian and Grammy-winning Jazz producer
2020 release. In making Dizzy Atmosphere, Dave Douglas's tribute to the great trumpeter, composer and humanist Dizzy Gillespie, Douglas said he wanted to explore Dizzy's experimental and wide open mind as well as the influence of his music. This album shines a light on the whole legacy of Gillespie, one of America's finest artists. The original music Douglas wrote swings and shimmers with a grace reminiscent of the great man. Dizzy Atmosphere also contains several imaginative arrangements of Gillespie compositions, including reinterpretations of two key Gillespie tunes 'Manteca' and 'Pickin' the Cabbage.' Douglas's band is also remarkable, featuring fellow trumpeter Dave Adewumi, recent winner of the Carmine Caruso Competition, along with pianist Fabian Almazan, guitarist Matt Stevens, bassist Carmen Rothwell, and drummer Joey Baron. Like his previous explorations of the influential music of Mary Lou Williams, Wayne Shorter, and Booker Little, this album is sure to inspire listeners to hear the music of Dizzy Gillespie in new and interesting ways.
