Respected jazz veteran Jaimee Paul returns with a captivating new project: The Richard Rodgers Songbook. The latest collaboration between Green Hill and Burton Avenue, this album highlights Paul's rich artistry and the elegance of timeless classics. After years singing behind music's biggest names, Jaimee steps forward once again with a sound that's all her own.

New York-based jazz vocalist and composer Aubrey Johnson presents her second studio album, her first on Dave Douglas' Greenleaf Music record label, featuring her intricate and vibrant original music and arrangements. As on her first release, Unraveled, she's teamed up with multi Grammy Award-winning producer/editor Steve Rodby (Pat Metheny Group) and engineer Rich Breen (Herbie Hancock, Diane Reeves, The Yellow Jackets). The album's title is drawn from the lyrics of "The Waking", a Theodore Roethke poem later set to music by Kurt Elling, and embodies the spirit of the music-buoyant, hopeful, and exuberant. In addition to her original compositions, the program also features two compositions by Johnson's uncle (the late, great keyboardist and composer Lyle Mays), Joni Mitchell's "Help Me", and a piece by violinist Tomoko Omura (who also plays on the album.) The Lively Air is an exciting and worthwhile sophomore effort by an artist who has truly come into her own.

Portrait in Jazz marks a pivotal shift in jazz history, introducing a revolutionary "democratic" trio format where the piano, bass, and drums act as equal partners in a continuous musical conversation. Recorded in late 1959, the album features the legendary synergy of Bill Evans, Scott LaFaro, and Paul Motian, blending standards with original compositions through their signature "simultaneous improvisation".

NEW TROMBONE

Vocalist and composer Chenxi Pan introduces herself as a thoughtful new voice in contemporary jazz through this set of all original music. Unfolding as a series of reflections drawn from lived experience, emotions are rendered through a fluid blend of poetry, song, and instrumental writing, often using the voice as an expressive instrument within the ensemble as she dissolves the line between sung narrative and pure sound. Born and raised in China, her path shifted from literature to music during her early studies, eventually leading her to pursue jazz in New York City at the New School. Her writing reflects that lineage: lyrical yet searching, precise yet open to spontaneity. Produced by master drummer Matt Wilson, This Very Moment was recorded soon after her 2024 debut as a bandleader at The Stone NYC. Balancing intimacy with collective interplay, Pan allows each composition to breathe and evolve. Her emergence as a musical voice signals an artist attuned to nuance, collaboration, and storytelling-one who invites the listener not toward spectacle, but into a shared, resonant present.

Grammy Award-winning Contemporary Jazz/R&B superstar Norman Brown has sold over 5 million albums in his extraordinary career and virtually lives at the top of the Billboard Contemporary Jazz sales and radio charts. Having headlined with with virtually every Contemporary Jazz superstar from Boney James to Dave Koz to Gerald Albright, Norman's non-stop touring has electrified audiences from coast to coast! Authentically Norman has Norman Brown's hit-making talents on full display. Highlights include the uber-funky "Home Stretch," the romantic "Valentine," the joyful "Chillax'" and much more.

Betty Bryant is a Los Angeles treasure. The singer, pianist, and composer has been a regular on the Southern California jazz scene since 1955, when she moved from her hometown of Kansas City, MO, where she was mentored by the late, great Jay McShann. Now, at the remarkable age of 96, Bryant is releasing NOTHIN' BETTER TO DO, her 15th album. Dubbed "Cool Miss B" by her producer and saxophonist Robert Kyle, her blues-based piano and vocal stylings have garnered a legion of fans at numerous jazz clubs and night spots up and down the West Coast and beyond. NOTHIN' BETTER TO DO features three original tunes (one by Bryant, one by Bryant and Kyle, and one by Kyle) as well as several tracks that are off the beaten path. With Bryant and Kyle out front, the music swings with an appealing bluesy, lilting quality. The arrangements are mostly by Bryant and Kyle, with string arrangements on two tracks by Jim McMillen.

Captured at the peak of her powers, this historic collection features the definitive recordings Billie Holiday made for the independent Commodore label between 1939 and 1944. The album is anchored by the haunting, revolutionary protest song "Strange Fruit" and showcases her emotive mastery across essential jazz standards like "I'll Be Seeing You" and "Fine and Mellow".

ACAPULCO 22

Composer Anthony Branker unveils a powerful new chapter in his ongoing exploration of music as cultural narrative, social inquiry, and collective expression. Leading his newly formed ensemble Other Ways of Knowing, Branker brings together an exceptional group of improvisers-saxophonist Steve Wilson, guitarist Pete McCann, pianist Simona Premazzi, bassist John H'bert, drummer Rudy Royston, and vocalist Aim'e Allen-for a program that is as rhythmically vital as it is conceptually resonant. Drawing inspiration from histories and lived experiences within the African and Indigenous diasporas, these expansive compositions balance cinematic scope with deeply personal storytelling. Like Branker's acclaimed earlier work, praised for it's ability to unite musical beauty with intellectual depth, Manifestations of a Diasporic Groove & Spirit stands as a compelling statement-one that invites listening not only as an aesthetic experience, but as a way of knowing, remembering, and bearing witness. "Musical beauty in the service of thought, or perhaps the reverse" Paris-Move "a sweeping opus with sociopolitical and poetic content woven into a musical tapestry at once cerebral, emotive and viscerally exciting." DownBeat

As a poet and musician, Joy Harjo channels a creative force she describes as a "vibration of love" to connect countless traditions and artforms, countering the despair and heartache caused by power and hate. Insomnia and Seven Steps to Grace, her debut for Smithsonian Folkways, draws on the long-intertwined rhythms of jazz and poetry, the power of improvisation and self-expression through sound, and the vitality of Native culture and spirituality to spark a chain of vibrational energy to engulf the whole world. Harjo's voice is bold and direct, supported producer and bass player esperanza spalding, covering a repertoire that includes a jazz standard, a song written by Harjo's mother and uncovered by her sister, and many originals that speak to contemporary issues and her life as one of the most celebrated American poets of the last century.

In 1955 Miles Davis played an all-star jam session at the Newport Jazz Festival with Thelonious Monk on piano, Gerry Mulligan on baritone sax and Zoot Sims on tenor sax. This performance immediately drew the attention of Columbia Records' George Avakian, who was so impressed that he immediately offered Davis a contract if he could form a regular band. The group he then assembled would go down in history as Davis' so-called "First Great Quintet", consisting of John Coltrane on tenor sax, Red Garland on piano, Philly Joe Jones on drums, Paul Chambers on bass and of course Miles himself on trumpet. 'Round Midnight is Miles Davis' first record for Columbia and also the first studio recording of the First Great Quintet. The recording sessions began on October 26 1955 but the album wasn't released until 1957 as Davis was still under contract at Prestige at the time. These respective sessions yielded Steamin', Workin', Cookin' and Relaxin'; albums that would go down in history as quintessential blueprints of late 1950s hard bop. The record is made up of a collection of standards and one traditional song ("Dear Old Stockholm", from the 19th century). Notably, it features what may be considered the most well-known versions of Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight" and "Bye Bye Blackbird". That Avakian made a golden signing was sufficiently clear from the start, but no one could foresee that it would be this quintet on Columbia that would go on to change the course of modern jazz forever with Kind of Blue. 'Round Midnight is available as a limited edition of 1500 individually numbered copies on crystal clear vinyl.

The acclaimed album "But Not for Me" by the singular jazz pianist Masabumi Kikuchi is set for reissue as the third installment of "Spin This Now!" Originally released in 1978, "But Not for Me" is a masterpiece that fuses African polyrhythms with spiritual jazz, created by the singular jazz pianist Masabumi Kikuchi.

Vinyl LP pressing. The Best Of Miles Davis is a new compilation released to celebrate the legendary jazz trumpeter's centennial in 2026. Designed as an introduction to this influential artist, it covers his prime years between 1956 and 1961, during which time he recorded albums including Workin', Cookin', Steamin' and Relaxin'. The 8 cuts included feature "'Round Midnight," "My Funny Valentine," "Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)" and more.

* Janel Leppin - cello, CP-70 *Larry Ferguson - drums * Anthony Pirog - guitar * Brian Settles - tenor saxophone * Luke Stewart - bass * A composer and cellist who's honed a singular synthesis of composition, orchestration and improvisation, while heavily involved for decades with Washington D.C.'s vibrant new music, jazz, rock and improvised music scenes, Janel Leppin releases the third album by her acclaimed Ensemble Volcanic Ash. The five-piece group melds an illustrious array of D.C. talent into a glimmering expressive organism that surges, expands, ebbs and dances in multiple directions at once. "Cinematic. Unrelenting. Brash. Tender. These are just a few terms that might help capture the majesty and mystique of... cellist Janel Leppin's Ensemble Volcanic Ash." - Capital Bop - Mike Johnson is the long time leader, composer and guitarist of the legendary US avant/progressive outfit THINKING PLAGUE, originally formed in 1982. Appearing with a number of alumni of 'the Plague', including vocalist Elaine diFalco and reedman Mark Harris included in the 'band', and also featuring a string and brass section, this very much has the musically dense and lyrically very dark Thinking Plague sound that Mike has always delivered! "... some of the most rhythmically complex, texturally inventive, and melodically challenging popular music of the last 30 years, and somehow makes it all sound easy and natural." - All Music Guide - "Thinking Plague are exciting and ridiculous in equal measure, as good Prog rock should be." - Wire

Modern jazz guitarist Alex Wintz returns with Collage-a soul-stirring, groove-laden exploration of growth, memory, and life's unpredictable rhythms. Featuring acclaimed players Victor Gould (piano), Matt Penman (bass), and Jimmy Macbride (drums), this vibrant collection of originals and select covers reflects Wintz's journey through marriage, fatherhood, and the road-tested life of a touring musician. From the joyful propulsion of "Pondhop" to the reflective warmth of "Better Half," Collage offers a rich sonic palette that bridges modern jazz, blues, and world influences. A must-have for fans of Pat Metheny, Julian Lage, and Lionel Loueke, this album highlights Wintz's deep compositional voice and masterful guitar tone. Recommended If You Like: Joshua Redman, Etienne Charles, Gilad Hekselman. For Fans Of: Modern jazz, lyrical guitar, small group interplay, NYC jazz scene

As a poet and musician, Joy Harjo channels a creative force she describes as a "vibration of love" to connect countless traditions and artforms, countering the despair and heartache caused by power and hate. Insomnia and Seven Steps to Grace, her debut for Smithsonian Folkways, draws on the long-intertwined rhythms of jazz and poetry, the power of improvisation and self-expression through sound, and the vitality of Native culture and spirituality to spark a chain of vibrational energy to engulf the whole world. Harjo's voice is bold and direct, supported producer and bass player esperanza spalding, covering a repertoire that includes a jazz standard, a song written by Harjo's mother and uncovered by her sister, and many originals that speak to contemporary issues and her life as one of the most celebrated American poets of the last century.

Electrical Field of Love is the brilliant new release from Harriet Tubman - the long-running trio of guitarist Brandon Ross, bassist Melvin Gibbs, and drummer JT Lewis, joined here by the fervent voice and imagination of Grammy-nominee Georgia Anne Muldrow. Described as "black music at it's best" by NPR, Tubman has been a band that creates it's unique sound world through it's exploration of all tributaries of what the Art Ensemble of Chicago called "Great Black Music, Ancient to the Future." Jazz, funk, psychedelia, doom metal, soul, dub, and electronics are just some of what the group amalgamates through their creative process into it's own mystic brew. Into this vortex enters Muldrow, whose shared devotion to exploring black music in all of it's multivariate forms melds seamlessly into the Tubman aesthetic. She moves freely within the music, with her voice by turns incantatory, declarative, and spectral. Moments of raw propulsion resolve to space and rare beauty. Throughout, the emphasis is on listening - musicians responding in real time, shaping form through insight rather than formula, moving with the force of electric Miles, the ooze of the heaviest Funkadelic, and the sharpened edge of the Black Rock aesthetic. Through collective creativity, the convergence of these kindred spirits results in music that feels both deeply grounded and yet, inspiringly exploratory.

CONVERSATION

Vinyl LP pressing. The Best of John Coltrane captures the legendary saxophonist in his most formative and creative years with Prestige. Curated from his prolific 1957-1958 output, this LP features selections that spotlight Coltrane's rapid artistic evolution as an original tenor saxophonist. Featuring both American songbook classics and jazz standards, it is both the perfect introduction for new listeners and a prized acquisition for aficionados, presenting the recordings that cemented John Coltrane's legacy.

* Janel Leppin - cello, CP-70 *Larry Ferguson - drums * Anthony Pirog - guitar * Brian Settles - tenor saxophone * Luke Stewart - bass * A composer and cellist who's honed a singular synthesis of composition, orchestration and improvisation, while heavily involved for decades with Washington D.C.'s vibrant new music, jazz, rock and improvised music scenes, Janel Leppin releases the third album by her acclaimed Ensemble Volcanic Ash. The five-piece group melds an illustrious array of D.C. talent into a glimmering expressive organism that surges, expands, ebbs and dances in multiple directions at once. "Cinematic. Unrelenting. Brash. Tender. These are just a few terms that might help capture the majesty and mystique of... cellist Janel Leppin's Ensemble Volcanic Ash." - Capital Bop - Mike Johnson is the long time leader, composer and guitarist of the legendary US avant/progressive outfit THINKING PLAGUE, originally formed in 1982. Appearing with a number of alumni of 'the Plague', including vocalist Elaine diFalco and reedman Mark Harris included in the 'band', and also featuring a string and brass section, this very much has the musically dense and lyrically very dark Thinking Plague sound that Mike has always delivered! "... some of the most rhythmically complex, texturally inventive, and melodically challenging popular music of the last 30 years, and somehow makes it all sound easy and natural." - All Music Guide - "Thinking Plague are exciting and ridiculous in equal measure, as good Prog rock should be." - Wire

Modern jazz guitarist Alex Wintz returns with Collage-a soul-stirring, groove-laden exploration of growth, memory, and life's unpredictable rhythms. Featuring acclaimed players Victor Gould (piano), Matt Penman (bass), and Jimmy Macbride (drums), this vibrant collection of originals and select covers reflects Wintz's journey through marriage, fatherhood, and the road-tested life of a touring musician. From the joyful propulsion of "Pondhop" to the reflective warmth of "Better Half," Collage offers a rich sonic palette that bridges modern jazz, blues, and world influences. A must-have for fans of Pat Metheny, Julian Lage, and Lionel Loueke, this album highlights Wintz's deep compositional voice and masterful guitar tone. Recommended If You Like: Joshua Redman, Etienne Charles, Gilad Hekselman. For Fans Of: Modern jazz, lyrical guitar, small group interplay, NYC jazz scene

Double 180gm vinyl LP pressing. John Scofield's quartet with tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano was one of the premier modern jazz groups of the 1990s and the guitarist's second Blue Note album, Meant To Be, put all the band's firepower and nuanced musicality on full display with an 11-song set of Scofield originals, featuring bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Bill Stewart. This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.

Electrical Field of Love is the brilliant new release from Harriet Tubman - the long-running trio of guitarist Brandon Ross, bassist Melvin Gibbs, and drummer JT Lewis, joined here by the fervent voice and imagination of Grammy-nominee Georgia Anne Muldrow. Described as "black music at it's best" by NPR, Tubman has been a band that creates it's unique sound world through it's exploration of all tributaries of what the Art Ensemble of Chicago called "Great Black Music, Ancient to the Future." Jazz, funk, psychedelia, doom metal, soul, dub, and electronics are just some of what the group amalgamates through their creative process into it's own mystic brew. Into this vortex enters Muldrow, whose shared devotion to exploring black music in all of it's multivariate forms melds seamlessly into the Tubman aesthetic. She moves freely within the music, with her voice by turns incantatory, declarative, and spectral. Moments of raw propulsion resolve to space and rare beauty. Throughout, the emphasis is on listening - musicians responding in real time, shaping form through insight rather than formula, moving with the force of electric Miles, the ooze of the heaviest Funkadelic, and the sharpened edge of the Black Rock aesthetic. Through collective creativity, the convergence of these kindred spirits results in music that feels both deeply grounded and yet, inspiringly exploratory.

* Janel Leppin - cello, guitar, bass, Prophet-5, piano - "Janel Leppin is one of the most restlessly creative forces in 21st century jazz and rock." - AllMusic - Cellist, composer and improvisor Janel Leppin has performed and / or recorded with a huge number of artists, including the Sun Ra Arkestra, Eyvind Kang, Susan Alcorn, Priests and Marissa Nadler and leads her acclaimed group Ensemble Volcanic Ash. Slowly Melting is a solo album of deep possibilities and deeper results, featuring the cello.