Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt's latest project, Woven, is a fascinating album that fuses more traditional aspects of 21st-century jazz with the myriad possibilities of electronic synthesized sound. This collection of mostly original compositions showcases Pelt's instrumental artistry together with his commitment to composing works that explore new dimensions in jazz. Each track on Woven is meticulously crafted, perfectly balancing innovation with communicative emotional depth. The full range of contemporary jazz can be found here, from neo-bop, hard-driving rhythms to touchingly intimate balladic utterances. But Pelt's trumpet can also weave through electronic textures, creating a sonic landscape where the group's kaleidoscopic tone colors become a fundamental part of the melodic content. Joined by an impressive ensemble of musicians, Pelt and his collaborators create a fluid interplay of acoustic and electronic sounds, displaying their skill in integrating bold, contemporary elements while simultaneously underlining the very essence of jazz.

This budget priced compilation contains soothing, mellow jazz, feat. Wallace Rooney, Antoine Roney, Geri Allen, Ralphe Armstrong, Lenny White, John Hicks, Russell Gunn, Myron Walden, Mark Turner, Greg Tardy & many others

Featuring a wonderful collection of piano blues performed by the finest keyboard artists on the HighNote & Savant rosters.

JAZZ BALLADS WITH A BLUE FEELING / VARIOUS

Recorded in live settings by Jerry Newman, these 1940-41 tracks contain the very earliest recordings by Thelonius Monk; it is reissued from the Onyx LP

Tenor sax player brings together a winning team of players in the famed Rudy Van Gelder Studio, inc. Richard Wyans, Russell Malone, Ray Drummond & Grady Tate

His playing was rich, masterful and above all, versatile, covering everything from stride and ragtime to bebop and free jazz. Pianist, saxophonist, composer, arranger, and teacher Jaki Byard had a career that followed the music and along the way he became a master of every style of jazz. Nowhere was his imagination quite as unbridled as it was in solo performance and HighNote Records is pleased to release this second volume of Jaki Byard live at the famed Keystone Korner.

Jaki Byard always personified the past, present and future of jazz, wherever or whenever one might have been fortunate enough to experience his challenging ideas. An icon in the history of jazz, Jaki was Art Tatum, Earl Hines, Bud Powell, Ran Blake, Cecil Taylor and Bill Evans, all in one. Yet, like these fellow icons, he was his own uncompromising, unique, living entity. He isn't a household name, but most likely his low profile is the result of an irresistible need to constantly reinvent himself, the sure sign of the consummate artist.

Jeremy Pelt's latest recording is one of his most culturally aware and musically astute projects yet. Pelt observes in his liner notes that the social realities "in these United States all but force you to constantly examine the virtues and contributions of your own community, if only for the sake of positive reinforcement... and the music I've produced herein for the world to hear seeks to be a part of that positive reinforcement." That perspective, echoed in his multi-volume book series "Griot: Examining the Lives of Jazz's Great Storytellers," anchors a program that balances cultural heritage with musical innovation. Pelt's compositions flow effortlessly across straight-ahead neo-bop, spacious ballads, post-impressionist color, and the tasteful integration of electronics. Legendary bassist Buster Williams and acclaimed drummer Lenny White bring deep authority and experience, giving the album it's solid grounding, while pianist Orrin Evans supplies a modern harmonic foundation that keeps the music vibrant and alive, as Lasse Corson sprinkles in subtle electronic colors. The result is a thrilling, forward-looking statement from a trumpeter and composer whose voice continues to grow with purpose, presence, and unmistakable personality.

With "Love Is Simple," Jeremy Pelt returns to the art of balladry, distilling eight deeply felt performances into his first vinyl-only anthology and shining a light on one of the most quietly persuasive sides of his artistry. Drawn from his HighNote recordings, the set favors emotional honesty over grandstanding, pairing a few familiar titles with lesser-known gems that reward close listening. From Pelt's own disarmingly direct title track to relaxed, assured readings of songs by Rodgers & Hart, Jule Styne, Adams & Strouse, and Marian McPartland, the music unfolds with patience, grace, and a deep sense of purpose. Recorded primarily at the legendary Rudy Van Gelder Studio and featuring a heavyweight cast including George Cables, Buster Williams, Billy Hart and others, these sessions offer a rare balance of warmth and clarity, leaving plenty of room for breath, nuance, and atmosphere. Long celebrated as one of jazz's most eloquent ballad players, Pelt bares his soul here with confidence and restraint, offering a retrospective that feels timeless without ever sounding self-conscious. "Love Is Simple" marks his first appearance on LP, a format perfectly suited to music that asks you to slow down, lean in, and stay awhile.

The last recording of Charles Earland shows that Earland was in fine fettle and expanding his musical horizons right up until the end. Featuring Melvin Sparks, Buddy Williams and Gary Fritz.

SONG FOR THE NEW MAN

NEW HANG

More than perhaps any other jazz vocalist the name Chris Connor is mentioned with an almost mystical reverence. From her stints with Claude Thronhill and Stan Kenton, through her illustrious solo career, to her most recent appearances and reocrdings on HighNote, Chris brings a lifetime of experience to every song she sings, making it not just a track on a record, but a commentary on life itself.

SWEET LOVE OF MINE

HOW ABOUT ME

PROTOTYPE

SMOOTH SAILING

Wesla Whitfield is known for her deft sense of swing and incisive ballad readings. Now she returns to release IN MY LIFE, a gorgeous collection of 15 wonderful works by such diverse composers as Leonard Bernstein, Vernon Duke and Lennon/McCarney.

As the highly conspicuous drummer for rocker Lenny Kravitz, Cindy has developed a loyal following which transcends the jazz boundaries. Lenny is actually having Cindy & her jazz band open for him so her jazz persona can shine in the limelight. This, her 3rd jazz recording for HighNote, finds her playing at it's richest & most well-integrated. With her colleagues J.D. Allen, Carlton Holmes & George Mitchell, she offers a program of standards & originals bound together into one work of art with a leitmotiv of interludes composed especially for the album.

UNDERGROUND MEMOIRS

The release of a Mark Murphy recording renders hyperbole superfluous. Other people have said it all: Murphy is "a hipster's hipster," writes the New York Post. Featuring his latest effort Links, Mark performs classic tunes and original lyricst and otehr adventurous choices make this mark's finest record to date.

JAZZ WITH GENTLE RHYTHMS / VARIOUS

PROMISE LAND

Vocalist Jones once again joins sidekick Houston Person on a selection of tunes that represent all the greats of Tin Pan Alley & Broadway, inc. Frank Loesser, Irving Berlin, Dietz & Schwartz, Anthony Newley & others