With his self-titled new album-out May 8 on Candid Records-Grammy-winning guitarist, producer, and songwriter Matthew Stevens delivers a definitive midcareer mission statement. Long recognized as one of the most thrilling and thoughtful guitarists of his generation, Stevens has built an elite reputation in music, touring and recording with a "who's who" of modern icons, including Esperanza Spalding, Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah, Harvey Mason, and Walter Smith III. On this new release, Stevens steps fully into the spotlight, performing at the absolute peak of his powers. The music seamlessly melds acoustic and electric sonics through a mix of genre-blurring originals and deeply personal covers. The album features a multigenerational cast of musicians, including mentors like Terri Lyne Carrington, personal guitar heroes like Jeff Parker, and rising visionaries such as vibraphonist Joel Ross and vocalists Anna B Savage and Corey King. Co-produced by Stevens alongside Josh Johnson and Eric Doob, the record is the culmination of 20 years of craft. It reflects a period of profound personal and artistic change, ultimately bringing Stevens to "a place of optimism, excitement, and confidence" that signals a bold new chapter for one of jazz's most essential voices.

He is a stylish and fluent improviser and these early titles are an enjoyable showcase for his distinctive approach to jazz guitar.- Kenny Burrell is an American modern jazz guitarist, composer, bandleader and educator, born in 1931 and still alive at the age of 94 as these notes are being written. Making his recording debut in 1951, he became a valued and versatile sideman, recording and performing prolifically for over 65 years through to 2015, in a huge variety of recording settings. He also recorded and performed leading his own bands, and quite early in his career recorded a number of sessions under his own name for Alfred Lion's Blue Note label, from which came his first albums, all taking advantage of the opportunity for extended performances on the new LP format. This 21- track 2-CD set comprises titles from those sessions for Blue Note during his early years as a bandleader, and features all the titles from the Blue Note albums "Introducing Kenny Burrell", "Kenny Burrell" and "Blue Lights Vol. 1" and most of the titles from the album "Blue Lights Vol. 2". Musicians in his groups include tenor saxophonist Frank Foster, pianists Tommy Flanagan, Duke Jordan and Bobby Timmons, bassists Oscar Pettiford, Paul Chambers and Sam Jones, drummers Shadow Wilson, Kenny Clarke and Art Blakey, trumpeter Louis Smith, tenor saxophonists Frank Foster, Junior Cook and Tina Brooks and percussionist Candido Camero. He is a stylish and fluent improviser and these early titles are an enjoyable showcase for his distinctive approach to jazz guitar.

(2-CD) A double album presenting master percussionist Pierre Favre along with his student and lately partner in a unique percussion dialogue recorded in 1977 and in 2024 after a hiatus of 47 years. The energy and the spirit of this duo is always the same even after 47 years.

Elemental Music proudly presents Michel Petrucciani - "Kuumbwa", an extraordinary never-before-released recording captured live at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz, California, on May 11, 1987. - This breathtaking performance documents the only known tour of a short-lived trio featuring Michel Petrucciani (piano), Dave Holland (bass), and Eliot Zigmund (drums), three giants of modern jazz in peak creative form. - Restored from the original analog tapes and mastered by Matthew Lutthans. Deluxe 180-Gram Double LP - Special Gatefold Edition

At the BBC - The Complete 1965 London Sets is the first official release of the historic Jazz 625 show at the BBC Television Theatre, Shepherd's Bush, on 19th March 1965 by the Bill Evans Trio. Transferred from the original tape reels at the BBC and restored and mastered by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab. Includes an extensive insert with rare photographs from the show and liner notes by acclaimed jazz critic and author Marc Myers.

The Cecil Taylor Unit's performance at Salle Pleyel in Paris on November 3, 1969, was a notable moment in avant-garde jazz. Featuring Cecil Taylor on piano, Jimmy Lyons on alto saxophone, Sam Rivers on tenor/soprano saxophone and flute, and Andrew Cyrille on drums, the concert showcased the group's intense, free jazz style. The recording was transferred from the original tape reels at INA and restored and mastered by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab. Includes an extensive booklet with rare photographs from the show and liner notes by acclaimed jazz critic and author Phil Freeman.

Elemental Music proudly presents Michel Petrucciani - "Kuumbwa", an extraordinary never-before-released recording captured live at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz, California, on May 11, 1987. - This breathtaking performance documents the only known tour of a short-lived trio featuring Michel Petrucciani (piano), Dave Holland (bass), and Eliot Zigmund (drums), three giants of modern jazz in peak creative form. - Restored from the original analog tapes and mastered by Matthew Lutthans. Limited Edition 2-CD Digipak

Shards is a oneness of performance and transformation, transformation as performance. As Jason Moran and Marcus Gilmore play, BlankFor. Ms records micro fragments of time and sends them back to his collaborators sped up, slowed down, reversed, broken into ever tinier grains of data and smeared into a sparkling blur. Moran and Gilmore receive glimpses into their immediate past, or even further back in time, like they're playing into a broken mirror - not just cracked in it's visual plane, but in the sense of it's shards shattering time and light, showing them past and future. Transparent Vinyl

VOLUME

An improvised music trio (perc, organ, reeds) recorded in the mystic atmosphere of an octagonal church in Bavaria (Germany).

Recorded at the Art Sengawa Festival in Tokyo, this album presents the powerful music of Masayo Kiketsu Alto sax, Andrea Centazzo Perc & Elec, Kiyoto Fugjiwara Double Bass in an improvised music suite.

This is the second album by Elektriktus, the moniker of the 70's of Andrea Centazzo in his journey to the Cosmic Rock. All the tracks are from the ICTUS archives remastered and edited for a new exciting album with the vibes of that era. The feeling of Tangerine Dreams, popol Vuh and Other are still there.

Wellspring presents the arrival of a powerful new voice in creative music, unrelenting in passion and invention, while always transmitting a deeply empathic grace. Masterful composer-improviser DoYeon Kim is an unparalleled practitioner of the Korean gayageum (a silk-string zither), and is also in possession of a purposeful vocal intensity. This is her debut album as a bandleader, featuring fellow master musicians Tyshawn Sorey (drums), Mat Maneri (viola), Henry Fraser (bass). � Armed with an unlikely traditional instrument, flanked by three extraordinary improvisers, radiating a brash, acoustic strategy that simultaneously invokes folk universalism and a No Wave battle-stance, the Brooklyn-based virtuoso has dropped a volcanic sonic statement with grand humanist goals. Kim mingles Korean lullabies, fervent interactions between drums and strings, and pure instrumental expressions of musical self.�At times, she sounds like she can halt armies. Wellspring is a call for society to come together. � How the Seoul, South Korea-born 34-year-old came to be the centuries-old zither's leading (only?) practitioner of contemporary improvised music, reflects an expansive embrace of her own culture, her place in modern society, and her ascending recognition of music's liberatory power. � Kim has released works alongside Morris and Brandon Lopez. Her 2017 duo album GaPi with Chase Morrin garnered a Korean Grammy nomination. And she's shared stages with Kris Davis, Cooper-Moore and John H�bert, among many others. Now, Wellspring, is the recorded culmination of her growth period. It is a rumbling record, with wall-to-wall big sounds, all Kim compositions or group improvisations, built on immediacy and gusto. Even the aforementioned lullaby, "Walking in a Dream," which Kim performs with unrestrained vocal intensity, surrounded by Fraser's resonant bowing, Maneri's accompanying melody and counter figures, and Sorey adding atmospheric percussive touches-ends like a hurricane.��������� � Kim chose her accompanists not simply because of familiarity, but due to their emotionally unmediated relationship to the moment. "I don't want people thinking about their 'role' in the music" she says. "I want people free from their instrument, who are more about how they are making a sound and the relationship between our sounds." � That feeling and the album's humanist themes are well-displayed by Wellspring's two-part epic closer, the 20+-minute "Linear System"/"Calculus of the Soul." The instrumental "Linear Systems" is, according to Kim, constructed on the theme of the lifecycle, slowly building to a mass bowed drone, through a plucked and reactionary percussion section, before folding into the album's gentlest moment, and sliding into "Calculus of the Soul." "Please listen to this girl's story" the latter begins; then, with Maneri and Sorey flitting around her narration in noise-folk fashion, Kim speak-sings-then-screams of how between the sun's and the moon's daily arrival are countless formulas, and that the mystery of life is contained within those numbers. "That's how we live together!"

Solo Motions is a deeply personal solo guitar album from Phil Sargent, presenting the instrument as a complete musical voice through unaccompanied performance. Recorded entirely without accompaniment, the album explores counterpoint, harmony, and improvisation with a focus on clarity, space, and emotional presence. Drawing inspiration from Bach's contrapuntal writing alongside modern harmonic language, Sargent reimagines jazz standards and original material through layered voices and inner motion. Influences from modern jazz and classical traditions are woven seamlessly into performances that balance structure with spontaneity. The album includes one original composition, "Kelita," alongside fresh interpretations of well-known repertoire, all shaped by a reflective and intimate approach to solo playing. Rather than emphasizing virtuosity for it's own sake, Solo Motions invites focused listening and rewards repeated engagement, highlighting nuance, restraint, and the expressive power of a single instrument. Solo Motions offers a quiet, immersive listening experience that captures stillness within motion and depth within simplicity.

Crazy World is the bold and genre-blurring new album from As Is, the NY-based project fronted by vocalist Stacey Schulman and guitarist Al Schulman. This stunning release fuses vocal jazz with poetic commentary, rich orchestration, and experimental textures - including two compositions that creatively integrate AI-generated instrumentation. From the soaring opener "From This Very Moment On" featuring Grammy-nominated artist Kokayi, to a haunting jazz reinterpretation of "Tiny Dancer", and the aching balladry of "A House Is Not a Home", Crazy World balances technical artistry with emotional urgency. With appearances by Jeff "Tain" Watts, Gil Goldstein, Corcoran Holt, and a full string section, the album delivers both depth and dynamism. Tracks like "PrAilude" and "Children's Games" explore the intersection of humanity and machine - using Suno AI to challenge how we perceive musical authorship, while still grounded in melodic integrity and lyrical intention. Whether you're a jazz collector, audiophile, or a fan of modern vocalists pushing boundaries, Crazy World is a daring, deeply musical experience.

Wellspring presents the arrival of a powerful new voice in creative music, unrelenting in passion and invention, while always transmitting a deeply empathic grace. Masterful composer-improviser DoYeon Kim is an unparalleled practitioner of the Korean gayageum (a silk-string zither), and is also in possession of a purposeful vocal intensity. This is her debut album as a bandleader, featuring fellow master musicians Tyshawn Sorey (drums), Mat Maneri (viola), Henry Fraser (bass). � Armed with an unlikely traditional instrument, flanked by three extraordinary improvisers, radiating a brash, acoustic strategy that simultaneously invokes folk universalism and a No Wave battle-stance, the Brooklyn-based virtuoso has dropped a volcanic sonic statement with grand humanist goals. Kim mingles Korean lullabies, fervent interactions between drums and strings, and pure instrumental expressions of musical self.�At times, she sounds like she can halt armies. Wellspring is a call for society to come together. � How the Seoul, South Korea-born 34-year-old came to be the centuries-old zither's leading (only?) practitioner of contemporary improvised music, reflects an expansive embrace of her own culture, her place in modern society, and her ascending recognition of music's liberatory power. � Kim has released works alongside Morris and Brandon Lopez. Her 2017 duo album GaPi with Chase Morrin garnered a Korean Grammy nomination. And she's shared stages with Kris Davis, Cooper-Moore and John H�bert, among many others. Now, Wellspring, is the recorded culmination of her growth period. It is a rumbling record, with wall-to-wall big sounds, all Kim compositions or group improvisations, built on immediacy and gusto. Even the aforementioned lullaby, "Walking in a Dream," which Kim performs with unrestrained vocal intensity, surrounded by Fraser's resonant bowing, Maneri's accompanying melody and counter figures, and Sorey adding atmospheric percussive touches-ends like a hurricane.��������� � Kim chose her accompanists not simply because of familiarity, but due to their emotionally unmediated relationship to the moment. "I don't want people thinking about their 'role' in the music" she says. "I want people free from their instrument, who are more about how they are making a sound and the relationship between our sounds." � That feeling and the album's humanist themes are well-displayed by Wellspring's two-part epic closer, the 20+-minute "Linear System"/"Calculus of the Soul." The instrumental "Linear Systems" is, according to Kim, constructed on the theme of the lifecycle, slowly building to a mass bowed drone, through a plucked and reactionary percussion section, before folding into the album's gentlest moment, and sliding into "Calculus of the Soul." "Please listen to this girl's story" the latter begins; then, with Maneri and Sorey flitting around her narration in noise-folk fashion, Kim speak-sings-then-screams of how between the sun's and the moon's daily arrival are countless formulas, and that the mystery of life is contained within those numbers. "That's how we live together!" LP is packaged with an insert featuring liner notes & addt'l images, and full album download card with CD Only track "Walking in the Dream".� Limited edition of 500.

Crazy World is the bold and genre-blurring new album from As Is, the NY-based project fronted by vocalist Stacey Schulman and guitarist Al Schulman. This stunning release fuses vocal jazz with poetic commentary, rich orchestration, and experimental textures - including two compositions that creatively integrate AI-generated instrumentation. From the soaring opener "From This Very Moment On" featuring Grammy-nominated artist Kokayi, to a haunting jazz reinterpretation of "Tiny Dancer", and the aching balladry of "A House Is Not a Home", Crazy World balances technical artistry with emotional urgency. With appearances by Jeff "Tain" Watts, Gil Goldstein, Corcoran Holt, and a full string section, the album delivers both depth and dynamism. Tracks like "PrAilude" and "Children's Games" explore the intersection of humanity and machine - using Suno AI to challenge how we perceive musical authorship, while still grounded in melodic integrity and lyrical intention. Whether you're a jazz collector, audiophile, or a fan of modern vocalists pushing boundaries, Crazy World is a daring, deeply musical experience.

'Big Shoulders, Big Sounds' is a raw, high-wire baritone sax trio album led by Jimmy Farace with Clark Sommers on bass and Dana Hall on drums. Rooted in the baritone lineage and the Chicago scene, the music balances tradition and risk-big sound, fearless improvisation, and deeply personal originals alongside respectful nods to the past.

This triple album was recorded in July 2022 in a Festival celebrating the 45th anniversary of ICTUS Records. The top US and Eu 18 improvisers were on fire for 4 days in several combinations. Elliott Sharp, Steve Piccolo, Steve Swell, Ellen Burr, Andrea Centazzo, Steve hubback, Carlo Actis Dato, Sergio Armaroli, Elio Barilari, Julia Miller, Franco Feruglio, Francesca Gemmo, Elisabeth Harnik, Harri Sjostrom, Jeff Schwartz, Vasco Trilla, Roberto Ottaviano, Guido Mazzon

Uncharted Realms is the bold new release from saxophonist and composer Sean Imboden, showcasing the visionary sound of the Sean Imboden Large Ensemble. Following the acclaimed debut Communal Heart, this second full-length album expands the ensemble's sonic landscape, blending dynamic big band arrangements with modern jazz textures and emotional depth. Featuring sweeping brass, intricate woodwind lines, and inventive solos, Uncharted Realms explores themes of imagination, connection, and optimism. From high-energy openers to introspective moments of calm, each composition reflects Imboden's forward-thinking approach to jazz orchestration. A must-have for fans of contemporary big band and large ensemble jazz.

WHISKY SCENTED KISSES

PATH OF ENLIGHTENMENT

With her riveting Blue Note debut Diavola, vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa makes her artistic arrival with an album that unveils her range as a band leader, a songwriter, and a fearless song interpreter who treats each gesture with subtlety and reverence. Co-produced by Joshua Redman & Don Was, Diavola is a collection of original songs and luminous arrangements that features an extraordinary cast of collaborators with Jeff Parker on guitar, Paul Cornish on piano, Larry Grenadier on bass, Brian Blade on drums, and Redman on tenor saxophone.

Vinyl LP pressing. With her riveting Blue Note debut Diavola, vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa makes her artistic arrival with an album that unveils her range as a band leader, a songwriter, and a fearless song interpreter who treats each gesture with subtlety and reverence. Co-produced by Joshua Redman & Don Was, Diavola is a collection of original songs and luminous arrangements that features an extraordinary cast of collaborators with Jeff Parker on guitar, Paul Cornish on piano, Larry Grenadier on bass, Brian Blade on drums, and Redman on tenor saxophone.

Shards is a oneness of performance and transformation, transformation as performance. As Jason Moran and Marcus Gilmore play, BlankFor. Ms records micro fragments of time and sends them back to his collaborators sped up, slowed down, reversed, broken into ever tinier grains of data and smeared into a sparkling blur. Moran and Gilmore receive glimpses into their immediate past, or even further back in time, like they're playing into a broken mirror - not just cracked in it's visual plane, but in the sense of it's shards shattering time and light, showing them past and future.