Trinity Represents The Second Installation In The Unheard Music Series Efforts To Resurrect Joe Mcphee's Early '70's Work On The Cjr Label, Soon To Be Completed With Underground Railroad And Pieces Of Light. This Brilliant Trio Recording Of Blues Inflected Out-Soul From '73 Follows Up On Hugely Successful Nation Time, Recorded A Year Later.

On the 40th anniversary of the death of the great John Coltrane, we celebrate his life, with a collection of two blazing Newport Jazz Festival performances recorded for Impulse. While both sets have previously been issued on various separate releases, they're now together for the first time with the addition of newly discovered, previously unreleased material.

Roscoe Mitchell - One Head Four People - Roscoe Mitchell (Art Ensemble Of Chicago) was 2023's recipient of an American Society of Arts and Letters award which let to the creation of this work. Mainly a trio and quartet work Roscoe plays Bass saxophone as well as his percussion array.

Trane's adventurous 1960 release, the first to feature solely his own compositions. Remastered from the original tapes, this landmark of modern jazz is further enhanced with 4 alternate takes. Includes the title track; Cousin Mary; Countdown; Spiral; Syeeda's Flute Song; Naima, and Mr. P.C.

What's New In The Tradition

Simone's Dance

TRIPTYKON

Long considered as one of the Big Apple's most in demand sidemen, in recent years alto-tenor saxophonist Dick Oatts has stepped out as a leader. In this his fifth effort as a leader for SteepleChase seven out of the eight tunes are originals. The band is anchored by his long time rhythm section of Dave Santoro on bass and James Oblon on drums. On three of these tunes he is joined by SteepleChase stalwart pianist Harold Danko whom he first met and played with in the Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Orchestra in the late seventies. Ken Dryden of the AMG All Music Guide describes Oatts as having a "fat confident tone." Indeed this is a saxophonist extrordinaire whose instrumental prowess is matched only by his compositional abilities.

In his new album “Lookin’ Up” Dick Oatts teams up with his colleague and friend of 34 years, veteran trombonist John Mosca. Dick Oatts notes, “I’ve always liked the way alto sax and trombone blend together and I’ve always been meaning to do a CD with John but the music was never quite right for it. So I sat down over the holiday break and wrote the music around John, the alto and the trombone.” Derek Taylor of Master of a Small House describes Dick Oatts’ previous release “Two Hearts (SCCD 31694) as “testament to Oatts’ improvisatory powers”.

A brilliant sequel to the highly acclaimed Standard Issue (SCCD 31439) of 1998, this volume has a welcome addition of pianist Harold Danko on three of the five tracks. In the warm atmosphere of live house, the band gets extra energy from the appreciative audiences. Dick Oatts’ personal sound on alto sax (and tenor sax on one track) is once again a real treat for all listeners.

Jazz critic Owen Cordle once described Dick Oatts as “an uncompromising jazz musician, one who possesses monster chops without trumpeting them.” Dick Oatts has, since his move to NYC in the late 70s, been one of the most sought-after soloists on alto sax on both the NY scene and the international stage. Dick Oatts’ sensitive and cerebral approach to music enhanced by his “monster chops” manifested here again on his 11th leader album on SteepleChase. “… maybe the best showcase we've ever heard for the alto sax work of Dick Oatts!” (Dusty Groove on Sweet Nowhere SCCD 31778)

Vinyl LP pressing. 2019 archive release. In 1964, the National Film Board of Canada asked John Coltrane to record the soundtrack for a French-language film titled Le Chat Dans Le Sac (The Cat in the Bag). In June of that year, Coltrane's classic quartet entered Rudy Van Gelder's studio and recorded five previously-recorded Coltrane originals. For many years, viewers of the film who recognized the music thought that they were listening to the original recordings, though in fact they were new and had never been heard.

This December 1977 recording features two of the most prominent AACM musicians, Roscoe Mitchell and Anthony Braxton. Mitchell's composition "run the gamut, beginning with the darkly gorgeous opener that features Braxton's contrabass clarinet nestling evocatively beneath the composer's earthy flute, Mitchell's other pieces investigate the sparer, more abstract realm, as the duo's wide variety of reeds populate the sonic environment with scattered moans, squeaks and pops. Overall, this is a fine meeting between two of the most forward-looking thinkers and players in the music. Recommended. " - Brian Olewnick, allmusic. Com Anthony Braxton also contributes three compositions.

Smooth Jazz Superstar Marion Meadows is without question one of the most popular and unique talents on the jazz scene today. Blessed with movie star looks and the smoothest sax- ophone tone on the on the planet, Marion has sold over two million albums in his brilliant career. His constant string of radio hits and relentless touring have garnered legions of fans, and his appearances with such varied artists as The Temptations, Michael Bolton and Will Downing are a testament to his broad audience appeal. Just Doing Me, Marion's most intimate and heartfelt album to date, takes the listener on a sensuous journey through a soundscape of brilliant original compositions and masterful improvisations. The album is produced by the top producers in smooth jazz: Marion's long-time collaborator, Chris "Big Dog" Davis (Will Downing, Gerald Albright, Maysa), Wirlie Morris (Norman Brown, Charlie Wilson), and Paul Brown (Boney James, Peter White)! Highlights include the deeply sensuous "Pink Glass," the funky and spirited "Say What," and much more!

Smooth Urban Jazz superstar Kim Waters has sold over two million albums in his more than 20 years of touring and recording. Loved by R&B and Jazz fans alike, his crossover appeal, Smooth Jazz #1 radio hits, and dynamic performances have placed him among the elite in his field. That Special Touch has special significance to the artist because the album features the young smooth jazz hit maker, Kim's daughter Kayla! The energy and joy of this occasion have inspired and elevated Kim's writing and playing to new heights! Highlights include Kim and Kayla's dream-like remake of Adele's smash hit "Go Easy On Me," the ebullient "Joy Dance," the intensely pulsating "House Call," and more Kim Waters originals!

2017 release. Poetry In Motion is the highly anticipated follow up to Najee's much loved You, Me and Forever which was #1 both on the Billboard chart and at Smooth Jazz radio. As the title implies, the album represents Najee's exploration into the world of sensuality and romance, interspersed with some fantastic spirited grooves that have made Najee a favorite the world over!

Still Euge delivers Euge Groove's trademark funk/jazz grooves on a wide-ranging set. Features special guest vocal performances by Oleta Adams and Rahsaan Patterson. A highlight is Euge's duet with Contemporary Jazz guitar star Peter White.

Saxophonist Euge Groove is one of the bestselling Contemporary Jazz artists, scoring more than half a dozen #1 Smooth Jazz radio hits and selling over 250,000 albums. His last album, HOUSE OF GROOVE, hit #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, continuing his hit driven chart reign. GOT 2 BE GROOVIN delivers Euge Groove's trademark Funk/Jazz grooves on a wide ranging set including potential radio hits as well as featuring a couple of vocal tracks by AMERICAN IDOL finalist Elliot Yamin and Gospel singer Chanel Haynes of Trin I Tee 5:7.

Smooth Jazz Icon, Najee, is back with his latest album THE MORNING AFTER.

Smooth Jazz superstar Marion Meadows is without question one of the most popular and unique talents on the Jazz scene today. Blessed with movie star looks and the smoothest saxophone tone on the planet, Marion has sold close to one million albums in his brilliant career. WHISPER is probably Marion's most intimate and sensuous album yet. In support of this album, Marion Meadows will be touring coast to coast as part of Sax and the City with special guest Paul Taylor.

SEVEN LARGE, his seventh album, delivers his trademark contemporary funk/jazz grooves on a wide-ranging set including sure-fire radio hits as well as the kind of organic, funky, inventive album tracks that have won him so many fervent fans.

Saxophonist Kim Waters releases this lush, poetically smooth album featuring speical guests: "Pieces of a Dream's James Lloyd and guitarist Chuck Loeb. Includes exciting new versions of classic hits like "midnight at Tht Oasis" and "Sunny."

Classical Music

2021 release. Smooth jazz superstar Marion Meadows is without question one of the most popular and unique talents on the jazz scene today. Blessed with movie star looks and the smoothest saxophone tone on the on the planet, Marion has sold over one million albums in his brilliant career. His constant string of radio hits and relentless touring have garnered legions of fans, and his appearances with such varied artists as The Temptations, Michael Bolton and Will Downing are a testament to his broad audience appeal. Twice As Nice, Marion's most intimate and heartfelt album to date, takes the listener on a sensuous journey through a soundscape of brilliant original compositions and masterful improvisations. The album is produced by smooth jazz superstars in their own right: Grammy winners Jeff Lorber and Paul Brown plus Marion's long-time collaborator, Chris "Big Dog" Davis (Will Downing, Gerald Albright, Maysa).

Classical Music

Black Magic Man is arguably the pivotal Joe McPhee release. It bridged the span between the regional and the international, bypassing the national altogether. Recorded in the same sessions that produced Nation Time, Black Magic Man consists of music not chosen for that LP. Like it's much-feted sister, technically it falls under the domain of CjR, Craig Johnson's herculean effort in support of McPhee. An erstwhile painter, Johnson became a self-taught audio engineer, acquiring equipment expressly to document McPhee's music. In December 1970, five years after Johnson and McPhee had met, they recorded two days of activity -a concert followed by an additional day of recordings-at Vassar College where McPhee was teaching in the Black Studies department. About half of the material was used to make Nation Time. While they had planned to issue a follow-up, the money wasn't there, so the tapes sat dormant. "Fast-forward five years-Werner X. Uehlinger, a Swiss businessman who worked for Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, contacted Johnson while on a trip to the US, and over dinner with McPhee, they discussed putting out some of the unused tracks from the Nation Time sessions. With this casual encounter in 1975, Hat Hut Records was inaugurated. The new label's maiden release was Black Magic Man, dubbed Hat Hut A, the first in what would become Hat Hut's letter series. Along the way, the series would feature seven Joe McPhee records, including the first four in a row." -John Corbett (excerpt from the liner notes)

Joe McPhee's first international release, Black Magic Man, was issued on the newly formed Hat Hut imprint in 1975. It was a watershed moment for the 35-year-old musician. Based in Poughkeepsie, New York, he was too far away from Manhattan to have participated extensively in the Loft Jazz happenings of the decade. European exposure, however, would give McPhee an alternative circuit, something of an escape route from the trappings of American cultural myopia. In support of the new record for this Swiss label, McPhee invited John Snyder on a European tour in October 1975. Snyder was a synthesizer player with whom McPhee had made the duet LP Pieces Of Light, released a year earlier on CjR. The two musicians developed an extensive repertoire, playing diverse spaces in the Hudson Valley. Geographically close gigs were a plus, since it took extra energy to hoist Snyder's ARP 2600. "McPhee and Snyder were invited to play at the Willisau Jazz Festival in Switzerland. If you compare this live record with Pieces Of Light, a studio effort, it's considerably more open. South African drummer Makaya Ntshoko is rolling thunder on the choral 'Voices,' shuffling under Snyder's bubbly beat on 'Bahamian Folksong.' It is quite a special combination, enough so that Hat Hut chose to release it as their next LP, Hat Hut B in their alphabetical series. The Willisau Concert represents the sound of Joe McPhee opening up, opening out, expanding his field of operations to include new figures, fresh experiences, new continents of sound." -John Corbett (excerpt from the liner notes)

Europe 1966 is a box set consisting of live performances from free jazz visionary Albert Ayler. Each of the 4 LP's highlights some of the most magnificent moments on this European tour, showcasing Ayler and his bandmates at the height of their powers. The release includes performances from Berlin, L�rrach, Stockholm, and Paris, all of which occurred within a two week span. Ayler's masterful band on this tour included his brother Donald on trumpet, Michel Samson on violin, William Folwell on double bass, and Beaver Harris on drums. These performances have been remastered for vinyl by Dave Gardner at Infrasonic Mastering. The package also includes a 12 x 24 fold-out insert, featuring liner notes from John Litweller and photos from the tour.

W. Jodie Christian-pno, Malachi Favors-bs, Albert "Tootie" Heath-dms & perc.

This album's sound & style is similar to the route Mitchell chose on his "Hey Donald" album, mainly because he uses the same quartet, minus Malachi Favors, who was replaced by Reggie Workman; the remaining players are Jodie Christian & Albert Heath.