Trombonist Conrad Herwig continues his spiritual journey here on his fourth Criss Cross release. Long reknown for his work with Slide Hampton's World of Trombones, the Mingus Big Band, Eddie Palmieri and, more recently, Joe Lovano & Tom Harrell, Herwig's trombone playing is bold, brash & unpredictable. Through musical conversations with the wonderful rhythm section of Bill Charlap, James Genus & Gene Jackson, Conrad's new album speaks equally well to his prowess as a leader & composer.

Tenor saxophonist's trio w. Hod O'Brien on piano and Jacques Schols on bass, recorded Oct. 4 & 10, 1987.

On it's third Criss Cross recording since they made their 2011 debut with Introducing Opus 5, Opus 5 - a collaborative quintet of New York A-listers Alex Sipiagin (trumpet) Seamus Blake (tenor sax), David Kikoski (piano and Fender Rhodes), Boris Kozlov (bass) and Donald Edwards (drums) - continues to uphold the high standards that it's steadily increasing fan base has come to expect. Building on multiple tours over the last three years, and simpatico developed over their mutually extended tenure in various units devoted to Charles Mingus' music, they play the evocative tunes - three by Edwards, two by Kozlov, and one apiece by Blake and Sipiagin. With the intelligence, creative abandon and cohesion, burnishing Opus 5's stature as 21st century inheritors and extenders of the legacy left by such predecessor quintets as Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and Miles Davis' units of the 1950s and 1960s is intact.

With.. It Was Beauty, pianist Orrin Evans presents his seventh Criss Cross leader date, returning to the label for the first time since 2005. The title tells the story: On a reflective, immensely satisfying ten-piece program comprising mainly originals, the 36-year-old Evans-joined by bass titan Eric Revis and master drummer Donald Edwards, both partners of long standing-plays with old soul focus, presenting a deeply personal vision that privileges notions of dynamic contrast, immediately identifiable tonal identity, meaty harmonies, tension and release, and three-way conversation.

On his third outing for Criss Cross, pianist Joel Weiskopf returns to the trio format that launched his career as a leader. His sidemen require no introduction to jazz fans - bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade (fresh from extensive touring the with great Wayne Shorter) are on hand to aid Weiskopf in his quest. This album features nine originals and one heavily reworked standard, all of which attest to Weiskopf's gifts as both a player and composer.

As a follow-up to Way Out Willy (CRC 1288), saxophonist Seamus Blake's latest features pianist David Kikoski, guitarist Lage Lund, bassist Matt Clohesy, and drummer Bill Stewart on another electrifying set of originals that sparkle with creativity and the kind of integrity that marks the best of today's current generation of jazz artists. Among a decidedly upbeat set of tunes, highlights further include some deeply moving statements from the saxophonist and Lund on the introspective the Song That Lives Inside. Rounding out the mix are takes on John Scofield's Dance Me Home and a third stream-inspired reworking of Debussy's String Quartet in G Minor, Opus 10.

On Eye of the Beholder, his seventh recording leader recording for Criss Cross (and 12th label appearance overall), tenor and soprano saxophonist Tim Warfield draws on musical relationships that have shaped his artistry from the very start. Pianist Cyrus Chestnut and drummer Clarence Penn, both of whom appeared on Warfield's 1994 debut and several other sessions, bring their powerful and sensitive presence to this new quintet date. Rodney Whitaker provides an unshakable yet flexible foundation on bass.Trumpet great Nicholas Payton, who featured Warfield in his own incendiary quintet of the mid to late '90, comes on board and contributes brilliant playing as well as original music.

After six prior engagements for Criss Cross as a sideman, drummer Donald Edwards' first leader offering for the label is a program of ten well-wrought originals that embrace the complex harmonies and rhythms of 21st century jazz while hewing to strong melodic values and abiding soulfulness. Helping set the mood is an A-list ensemble - pianist (and Criss Cross veteran) Orrin Evans and bassist Eric Revis, with whom Edwards performed on the 2013 Orrin Evans Trio record... It was Beauty (CRC 1359) as well as tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III (III - CRC 1328) and world-class guitarist David Gilmore.

Important recording session with Chet Baker on trumpet, Philip Catherine on guitar and Jean Louis Rassinfosse on bass. Originally this recording has been released on LP, the release on CD included several extra songs. The album was recorded June 6, 1985 and June 25, 1985 in Studio 44 in Monster (The Netherlands) with recording engineer Max Bolleman who also mixed and mastered the album.

I'm proud to be part of Criss Cross, Antonio Fara� says of his maiden voyage for the label. For the occasion, which transpired in Meudon Studios in Paris in July 2023, the Milan-based pianist, then 58, convened an equivalently virtuosic trio comprising bassist John Patitucci and drummer Jeff Ballard, presented them with eight originals and two standards, and let them loose. Each member operates at a creative peak on this lyric, kinetic, beautifully proportioned 65-minute recital. Titled Tributes, Fara�'s Criss Cross debut is closer in feel and attitude to the albums Black Inside, Thorn and Next Stories, recorded for Enja between 1998 and 2001, where Fara� joined forces, respectively, with top-of-the-pyramid, New York-seasoned masters Ira Coleman and Jeff Watts, Drew Gress and Jack deJohnette, and Ed Howard and Gene Jackson. Functioning completely as a peer, he addresses the dialects of his pianistic heroes - universal "postbop" influences as Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans and Kenny Kirkland, as well as Oscar Peterson, Erroll Garner, Lennie Tristano, and Martial Solal - on their own terms of engagement, with the fluency of a native speaker. He assimilates their styles, refracts them into a personal argot, alchemizing challenging rhythms and highbrow harmony into graceful melodies. He eschews ironic deflection and gratuitous structural complication, sustaining an attitude of in-the-moment creation and a fierce will to swing. The Album was recorded July 26, 2023 at Studio de Meudon, Paris. Recording engineer Julien Basseres. Sound engineer Mike Marciano did the mixing and mastering at Systems Two in NYC. Photography by Marco Glaviano.

This was a dream band to write for and play with," alto saxophonist Michael Thomas says of Manuel Valera, Matt Brewer and Obed Calvaire, his A-list rhythm section on Illusion of Choice, his Criss Cross debut, and fourth leader album. "These musicians can play any style and sound like it's the only thing they play. I wanted to explore these different areas and cohere them into an album, not sound like tunes stuck together for a CD. Everything was on the table. I wasn't afraid to develop whatever ideas I came up with, and see where they went.

For his Criss Cross debut, 33-year-old trumpet virtuoso Michael Rodriguez assembles a world-class New York quintet of generational peers (pianist Gerald Clayton and drummer Rodney Green) and mid-career masters (tenor saxophonist Chris Cheek and bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa) to perform six kinetic originals and a single standard, Portrait of Jennie. Known for his creative melodic approach and pellucid tone via consequential engagementsover the last decade with, among others, Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Bobby Watson, and Eddie Palmieri, Rodriguez blends youthful fire with a veteran's focus and mature intention, setting the tone for an immensely satisfying session.

This CD features the pariing of two hot trumpeters, the young veterans Joe Magnarelli (from New York) and John Swana (from Philly) in a buring sextet date that also features the swining tenor sax of Eric Alexander. In the rhythm section Joel Wiskopf, Peter Washington and Kenny Washington provide solid support. Hard bop at it's best.

Modern straight ahead jazz by Lalama on tenor w. quartet, George Cables-piano, Dennis Irwin-bass, Leroy Williams-drums.

Jazz pianist is in a trio setting, feat. bassist Peter Washington & drummer Kenny Washington.

Alto saxophonist performs conceptually diverse material w. deep feeling & cool clarity, telling his story w. exquisite tone & execution, feat. Mark Turner, Kevin Hays, Joe Martin & Billy Drummond.

Countless gigs have come and gone for musical buddies David Hazeltine and Eric Alexander since the first volume of Blues Quarters (CRC 1188) came out in 1998, making this second edition an even stronger statement, with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Joe Farnsworth completing the line-up. Among an already fine set of originals are outstanding updates to the classics "Going Out of My Head" and "Unforgettable" with a Latin groove adding some extra spice.

Long considered on of the brightest young trumpet talents on the New York scene, Keyon Harrold blows fire and brimstone on his Criss Cross debut on a suite of six original tunes, a spiritual, and Horace Silver's iconic ballad Peace. Joining Harrold for the ride are several best-and-brightest members of his peer group, including tenor saxophonist Marcus Strickland, his brother E.J. Strickland on drums, pianist Danny Grissett, and bassist Dezron Douglas, as well as Harrold's one-time teacher, the legendary trumpeter Charles Tolliver.

24 year old trumpet virtuoso possesses a rare blend of lead trumpet chops & intuitive improvising sensibility - he leads a top shelf NYC band through 2 originals & 5 standards, inc. Peter Bernstein, Sam Yahel, Brian Blade.

Young, extremely talented female pianist debuts w. Scott Wendholt, Donny McCaslin, Javon Jackson & Mike Formanek.

Saxophonist plays originals & homages to 2 composers, Leonard Bernstein & Ornette Coleman, joined by his quintet feat. Scott Wendholt, Ben Monder, Scott Colley & Billy Drummond.

Johnathan Blake, one of the most in-demand drummers of his generation, hasdone stellar work as a member of the Tom Harrell Quintet, the Mingus Big Band, the Kenny Barron Trio and many others. Having brought his fire and agility to two Criss Cross sessions by trumpeter Alex Sipiagin, Blake now offers his first Criss Cross album as a leader, Gone, But Not Forgotten.The lineup is sparse but tremendously explosive - how could it not be, with evolving tenor saxophone masters Mark Turner and Chris Potter paired alongside Ben Street on bass.As the title suggests, Gone, But Not Forgotten takes inspiration from greats in the jazz world who are no longer with us. That can be a somber subject, but Blake and his quartet convey a sense of the unbridled joy and invention that marks jazz improvisation at his highest levels. Such is the lesson taught by the departed players Blake has chosen to honor: Charles Fambrough, Trudy Pitts, Sid Simmons, Cedar Walton, Jim Hall, Mulgrew Miller, Paul Motian, Frank Foster, Frank Wess and Eddie Harris.

Impressive debut of emerging tenor saxophonist playing w. individuality & emotional fervor.

Tenor saxophonist with his quartet featuring Peter Bernstein-guitar, Peter Washington-bass, Billy Drummond-drums.

Sensitive & swinging pianist plays with trio including Bassist Scott Colley & drummer Dennis Mackrel.