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.
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.
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
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.
Rudy Royston, first-call drummer with Bill Frisell, Dave Douglas, JD Allen, Rudresh Mahanthappa and a host of others, is proud to present DAY, his fifth release for Greenleaf Music. DAY is the second outing from Flatbed Buggy, the adventurous, sonically varied small group that Royston premiered on the acclaimed 2018 album of that name. Marked by the low-register richness of John Ellis on bass clarinet and Hank Roberts on cello, the tonal subtlety and harmonic depth of Gary Versace on accordion and the virtuosic authority of Joe Martin on bass, the band debuted with a musical evocation of Royston's youth spent in rural Texas. On DAY, with the same lineup intact, Royston captures the turbulent emotional landscape of a day under xuarantine.
The Dave Douglas and Elan Mehler Sextet mixes seasoned veterans with relative newcomers, setting poetry and specifically haiku into the context of improvising music. On If There Are Mountains, their first album as co-leaders, the trumpeter and pianist are joined by vocalist Dominique Eade, reedist John Gunther, bassist Simon Willson, and drummer Dayeon Seok. If There Are Mountains, previously released only to vinyl on Mehler's label Newvelle Records, now sees a fresh release via Douglas' own label Greenleaf Music. Douglas and Mehler composed all thirteen tracks between themselves, including four never-before-heard songs: Douglas' "Arms Folded to the Moon", "A Thicket of Summer Grass", and "Life" plus Mehler's "Barn's Burnt Down". While the spark for Douglas and Mehler's collaboration around haiku goes back two decades to an early performance of Douglas' "Village of No Bells", this vocal-forward ensemble sounds undeniably fresh. The group presents unusual melodic relationships with concise expression, matching the form of the Japanese poetry found within the lyrics.
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
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.
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.
Other Worlds, the new studio album from saxophonist Joe Lovano and trumpeter Dave Douglas's Sound Prints quintet was recorded following a week at New York's Village Vanguard in January 2020. Their third full length release, this further nod to jazz visionary Wayne Shorter features boisterous and playful originals as well as a couple of beautiful ballads. The rhythm section features the powerful multi-generational lineup of pianist Lawrence Fields, bassist Linda May Han Oh, and drummer Joey Baron, who continue to provide a fluid and firm footing for the two horn players. The album artwork features a unique illustrated cover by cartoonist Dave Chisholm.
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.
New York-based German drummer and composer Mareike Wiening releases her debut album featuring her original compositions performed by an outstanding quintet of New York improvisers. Metropolis Paradise is dedicated to Wiening's six year residence in the Big Apple. Wiening's compositions are lyrical, direct and emotional, as well as rhythmically intricate, maintaining an accessible sound that draws you in. Featuring Wiening on drums and cymbals along with Rich Perry (tenor saxophone), Dan Tepfer (piano), Alex Goodman (guitar), and Johannes Felscher (bass), the group sound is one of give and take, a musical dialogue between soloist and accompanist.
Trumpeter Dave Douglas and pianist Uri Caine continue their long-time musical association with a new album featuring master drummer Andrew Cyrille. The sequel to the 2014 Douglas / Caine album Present Joys that centered on renditions of Sacred Harp tunes and which the New York Times called, an album of duologue that manages to be at once intimate, soulful and irrepressibly buoyant, Devotion features new original compositions by Douglas in devotion to many of todays greatest composers including Carla Bley and Franco DAndrea.
Chicago-based alto saxophonist and composer Greg Ward (Tortoise, Lupe Fiasco, McKaya McCraven) presents a new group, Rogue Parade, featuring a quintet of heavyweight creative Chicago musicians: Matt Gold and Dave Miller (guitar & effects), Matt Ulery (bass), and Quin Kirchner (drums). Following his critically acclaimed Greenleaf debut Touch My Beloved's Thought (2016), which was a re-imagining of the music of Charles Mingus, Stomping Off From Greenwood highlights Ward's skills as a writer and arranger with a set of eight new compositions that explore this unique two-guitar instrumentation, which blends the acoustic and electronic sonic worlds. The group honed their ensemble sound during a month-long residency in Chicago, followed by extensive touring in the Midwest, before heading into the studio to capture the band's energy on record. In addition to the original material, the band presents Ward's moody arrangement of the jazz standard " 1) Metropolis 2) Excerpt 1 3) The Contender 4) The Fourth Reverie 5) Let Him Live 6) Black Woods 7) Pitch Black Promenade 8) Stadust 9) Sundown
Featuring Sunday's two live sets from a four-night run at New York's Jazz Standard in 2015, the road-tested Dave Douglas Quintet delivers a roller-coaster ride of complex harmonic and rhythmic structures, veering between fierce and soulful on this two disc release. Also part of a complete 8 CD set, the music features New York heavyweights Jon Irabagon, Matt Mitchell, Linda May Han Oh and Rudy Royston. GRE-CD-1067, Disc 1: 01. Law of Historical Memory 02. Ocean Spray 03. This Is My Father's World 04. Variable Current 05. My Cares Are Down Below / The Pigeon And The Pie 06. There Is A Balm In Gilead GRE-CD-1067, Disc 2: 01. Bridge To Nowhere 02. Deep River 03. Wake Up Claire 04. Going Somewhere Without You 05. God Be With You Till We Meet Again
The Dave Douglas Quintet finishes their extensive Brazen Heart tour with a four night run at the Jazz Standard November 19-22, 2015. This 8-set recording features Jon Irabagon (saxophone), Matt Mitchell (piano), Linda May Han Oh (bass) and Rudy Royston (drums). The group delivers a roller-coaster ride of complex harmonic and rhythmic structures, veering between fierce and soulful. Memorable versions of their entire repertoire, by a band at the height of it's powers. GRE-CD-1066, Disc 1: 01. Hawaiian Punch 02. Miracle Gro 03. Barbara Allen 04. Lone Wolf 05. Going Somewhere With You 06. There Is A Balm In Gilead 07. Law of Historical Memory GRE-CD-1066, Disc 2: 01. Ocean Spray 02. Time Travel 03. Pyrrhic Apology 04. Inure Phase 05. My Cares Are Down Below / The Pigeon And The Pie 06. Deep River GRE-CD-1062, Disc 1: 01. Hawaiian Punch 02. Little Feet 03. Wake Up Claire 04. Be Still My Soul 05. Brazen Heart 06. Whither Must I Wander? 07. Beware of Doug GRE-CD-1062, Disc 2: 01. Bridge to Nowhere 02. Variable Current 03. This Is My Father's World 04. One Morning 05. Middle March 06. God Be With You Till We Meet Again GRE-CD-1057, Disc 1: 01. Hawaiian Punch 02. Time Travel 03. Be Still My Soul 04. Brazen Heart 05. Whither Must I Wander 06. Lone Wolf GRE-CD-1057, Disc 2: 01. Garden State 02. Miracle Gro 03. Barbara Allen 04. Inure Phase 05. Little Feet GRE-CD-1067, Disc 1: 01. Law of Historical Memory 02. Ocean Spray 03. This Is My Father's World 04. Variable Current 05. My Cares Are Down Below / The Pigeon And The Pie 06. There Is A Balm In Gilead GRE-CD-1067, Disc 2: 01. Bridge To Nowhere 02. Deep River 03. Wake Up Claire 04. Going Somewhere Without You 05. God Be With You Till We Meet Again
Featuring Saturday's two live sets from a four-night run at New York's Jazz Standard in 2015, the road-tested Dave Douglas Quintet delivers a roller-coaster ride of complex harmonic and rhythmic structures, veering between fierce and soulful on this two disc release. Also part of a complete 8 CD set, the music features New York heavyweights Jon Irabagon, Matt Mitchell, Linda May Han Oh and Rudy Royston. 1. Hawaiian Punch 2. Time Travel 3. Be Still My Soul 4. Brazen Heart 5. Whither Must I Wander? 6. Lone Wolf 7. Garden State 8. Miracle Gro 9. Barbara Allen 10. Inure Phase 11. Little Feet
Dave Douglas is a prolific trumpeter, composer and educator from New York City. His unique contributions to improvised music have garnered distinguished recognition, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, an Aaron Copland award and two Grammy nominations. Douglas has developed his work for several unique ensembles with whom he's currently active, including his new quintet, an electric sextet (Keystone), and Sound Prints Quintet, co-led with saxophonist Joe Lovano. His quintet released it's debut recording, Be Still, in September 2012 with singer Aoife O'Donovan, the first time Douglas has featured a vocalist on a recording. Time Travel is their follow-up album. Features Jon Irabagon, Matt Mitchell, Linda Oh, and Rudy Royston. Recorded & Mixed by Joe Ferla.
