This album is all about Tadd Dameron (1917 - 1965), one of the most important American jazz composer/musicians. Multiple award-winner Gary Smulyan conceived the brilliant idea of recording Dameron compositions with lyrics.
The vocal part is phenomenally rendered by the young talent Anaïs Reno. Three songs including the lovely This Night Of Stars have never been recorded before.
“an exhibition of the finest baritone sax playing.” (M McKergow – LondonJazzNews on Alternative Contrafacts SCCD 31844)
Still active at 81 venerable bassist McClure calls this quartet “another Dream Team”. The highly acclaimed original Dream Team also featuring Rich Perry was released in 1997. The group made the first outing in NYC after the two-year Covid induced hiatus. The CD recaptures the magic of their live performance the night before.
“McClure presents Lucky Sunday, pleasingly intelligent, subtly swinging, polished and intimate, designed for anytime-listening” (Howard Mandel – Downbeat on SCCD 31877 ****)
Award-winning tenor saxophonist Noah Preminger and his solid duo cohort, guitarist Max Light showcasing here how the younger generation of jazz instrumentalists exercise their creative muscles to turn the 80s pop music into the New Standard repertoire. Preminger at 35 and Light at 29 grew up emotionally and musically with the songs they adapted here. Some of the critics have already noticed Preminger’s sense for finding rock/pop materials that can be made into jazz in his previous release (also with Light) where “The Red Hot ChiliPeppers’ “Porcelain”... is transformed by an imaginative, spacious arrangement, with the rhythm section interacting rather than accompanying…” (Ken Dryden – New York City Jazz Records on SCCD 31906 Contemptment)
“Instrument combination of guitar and tenor sax creates an air-tight and urgent soundscape…with the music on a high level it is warmly recommended.” (Ole Mathiesen – Jazz Special on SCCD 31906)
Another culmination of Harold Danko’s half a century-long fascination and study of Igor Stravinsky’s groundbreaking ballet music The Rite of Spring (world-premiered in 1913 in Paris causing a riot among the audience). Danko’s previous release SCCD 31909 Spring Garden, his first attempt of exploring and adapting Stravinsky’s material with Danko’s original quartet of the 90’s drew a slew of applaud from critics and public alike. This new album shares with us his interpretation in a solo setting.
“Each excerpt on Spring Garden is expanded into often unexpected directions, building upon the late maestro’s genius, with Danko taking rhythmic and melodic liberties, transforming this century-old music into compelling jazz.” (Ken Dryden – New York City Jazz Records on SCCD 31909)
NYC is one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Osaka will arguably make the second place in that category. Magnarelli in the past made a couple “junction” albums but this ultimate junction connecting the NY trumpeter with dynamic Osaka-born B-3 player Tsuruga with the ace baritone player Smulyan sharing front line will make probably the very first trumpet-baritone-organ band.
“Joe is known for his engaging, melodically-rich lines, and his powerhouse rhythm.” (Zan Stewart)
Rich Perry’s career encompasses almost four decades at the center of NY jazz scene as the leader of his group and as the lead tenor player of renowned big bands like The Maria Schneider Orchestra and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.
Here on his new album Perry, like his two previous albums, focuses on performing his original materials.
“Rich Perry unveils yet another melodious, mellifluous recording that defies convention. …a beauty, a humbling jolt of musical perfection.” (K. Micallef – Jazztimes on Happy Destiny SCCD 31913)
Ferrara assembles again his dream rhythm section of Versace/Anderson/Drummond to further unveil his maturing musical universe. He started to play saxophone at age 9. His unique talent was already obvious.
Shortly after graduation from NYU’s Jazz Studies program he released his debut album Early Spring (SCCD31920) in 2021.
“.. quite a musical present – filled with wonderful original tunes composed by the leader, all graced with these very personal lines and inflections on tenor sax! “(Dusty Groove)
Andrew Rathbun invited fellow tenor player Rich Perry to co-front this his 9th album on SteepleChase. Rathbun’s admiration for Perry prompted him to conceive and design this album not as tenor battle but as deeply engaging conversation between the top instrumentalists.
Semantics showcases how the two unique musical minds interact.
“This remarkable session reveals a musician who is clearly not going to be satisfied with the status quo.” (Ken Dryden – All Music on SCCD 31762 Shadow Forms)
“No matter what group Riley puts together for a record date, he merits top marks every time.” Ken Dryden (NYCJR) attested on Riley’s Hold‘em Joe SCCD 31850.
Here Riley put together his first-ever organ trio with Brian Charlette, one of the hottest B-3 players today. The organ trio setting propels Riley’s unique sound to a new dimension.
“Riley continues to surprise listeners with his creative settings of familiar jazz.” (Ken Dryden on SCCD 31892 Friday The 13th.)
Because Avishai Cohen’s previous outing—a 2017 album titled 1970 (Sony)—was his most commercially successful release thus far, one wouldn’t blame him for revisiting a similar artistic wellspring. Instead, for his 17th leader date, the bassist went in another direction, recruiting an entirely different set of musicians for the deeply personal, nostalgia-fueled Arvoles. Half the program here consists of trio recordings with pianist Elchin Shirinov and drummer Noam David, and on the other half, the band expands to a quintet with trombonist Björn Samuelsson and flutist Anders Hagberg. - DownBeat Magazine Editors' Pick
‘At Home’ Includes the iconic track ‘Remembering’, probably Avishai Cohen’s soundtrack to date. Avishai Cohen is an Israeli jazz double bassist, composer, singer, and arranger. He began playing the piano at 9 years old but changed to the bass guitar at the age of 14, inspired by bassist Jaco Pastorius. In 2002, Cohen founded his record label, Razdaz Recordz. "I've always been interested in several genres of music, including jazz, rock, pop, Latin and funk," says Cohen. "I'm always packed with ideas. I decided to start my own label because I'm involved in so many different projects." Cohen's signature sound is a blend of Middle Eastern, eastern European, and African-American musical idioms.
‘Lyla’ is Avishai Cohen’s first release with Razdaz Recordz. Piano legend Chick Corea appears as a special guest performing a duet with the leader. Avishai Cohen is an Israeli jazz double bassist, composer, singer, and arranger. He began playing the piano at 9 years old but changed to the bass guitar at the age of 14, inspired by bassist Jaco Pastorius. In 2002, Cohen founded his record label, Razdaz Recordz. "I've always been interested in several genres of music, including jazz, rock, pop, Latin and funk," says Cohen. "I'm always packed with ideas. I decided to start my own label because I'm involved in so many different projects." Cohen's signature sound is a blend of Middle Eastern, eastern European, and African-American musical idioms.
Drummer Mark Guiliana is renowned for his work with Avishai Cohen for several years from 2002 to 2009. ‘Locked in a Basement’ is his debut album as band leader and producer. Hailed by The New York Times as “a drummer around whom a cult of admiration has formed,” Mark Guiliana brings the same adventurous spirit, eclectic palette and gift for spontaneous invention to a staggering range of styles. Equally virtuosic playing acoustic jazz, boundary-stretching electronic music, or next-level rock, he’s become a key collaborator with such original sonic thinkers as Brad Mehldau, Meshell Ndegeocello, Donny McCaslin, Matisyahu, and the late, great David Bowie.
Spring Garden celebrates the abundant musical seeds planted more than a century ago by Igor Stravinsky in the Rite of Spring. Danko’s liner notes reveal his long-standing fascination with Stravinsky’s masterpiece and details involved in the creation and recording of this ambitious project.
“While he has arrived at his own sound, there's still a sense of adventurousness and discovery about Danko's approach to music …. Danko is fundamentally a deeply lyrical and swinging pianist, who combines the virtues of inside and outside playing, and he is still perfecting his music, learning new ways of approaching it. It's a process that started long time ago.” (Jakob Baekgaard - AAJ)
Cuber and Smulyan, two of the leading exponents of this weighty member of the saxophone family meet here for the first time showcasing their combined feat of baritone sax playing in modern jazz.
Ronnie Cuber (b. 1941) has for more than the past half century been one of the most important soloists of this instrument.
Gary Smulyan (b. 1956), the multiple award-winner of numerous jazz polls as the baritone saxophonist of the year has been particularly acclaimed for his witty contrafact compositions and performances.
“A monstrous date and one of the best for all aboard. Certainly one of Cuber’s best.” (Cadence on SCCD 31860 Straight Street)
“While Cuber’s approach here is resolutely modern, much of album serves thesame function as the organ-jazz idiom did 50 years ago: to rock a club withthe same kind of backbone as a much larger band.” (Aaron Cohen – DownBeat on SCCD 31882 Four”)
“His passionate sound and fresh ideas make Alternative Contrafacts a set well worth picking up, particularly by straight-ahead jazz collectors.” (Scott Yanow – NYCJR on SCCD 31844)
Another SteepleChase debut album this month is by a New York-based young and upcoming tenor saxophonist Anthony Ferrara. Ferrara while still studying at NYU in Steinhard’s Jazz Studies Program participated in the veteran bassist and his teacher Ron McClure’s highly acclaimed 2019 recording session (SCCD 31877 Lucky Sunday). He was invited to record his own album for SteepleChase and the recording session was scheduled April 14, 2020. Then the pandemic hit NY and the world. The session materialized finally November 21. Ferrara used the pandemic downtime to prepare this outstanding first leader release.
McClure noted on the album’s linernotes, “Anthony Ferrara’s music speaks for itself. Early Spring is a testimony to his deep respect for and knowledge of his predecessors on the tenor saxophone as well as the maturity and confidence this body of work defines at age 23.”.
New York’s foremost pianist/composer Mark Soskin (b. July 12, 1953 in Brooklyn, NY) spent over a decade with Sonny Rollins before returning to his native NYC base performing and recording both as leader and sideman. Soskin brings his quartet with Rich Perry (tenor sax) here on his fourth album for SteepleChase and focuses on his new compositions as well as some of his old gems.
“The most important thing is the promise that perhaps Soskin will now join the Steeplechase roster and continue to record regularly as others have in the past. Well produced.” (Papatamus on SCCD 31858 Upper West Side Stories)
“The music in the lyrical, acoustic wide range of jazz further emphasizes the brighter sound of this constellation … tasteful, clean and unblemished.” (Ole Mathiessen – JazzSpecial on SCCD 31890 Everything Is Old New Again)
Aaron Cohen of DownBeat observed, “Organist Brian Charette may never know how to stick to any kind of routine” while reviewing Charette’s second sextette album The Questions That Drive Us (SCCD31784). Maybe so but Charette certainly knows how to keep his unique sextette tradition going. One of the top organists of his generation Brian Charette approaches his instrument in most imaginative way. His now-celebrated Sextette is arguably the best example of his inventiveness. Here again on their third album the woodwind and brass section of 4 led by Charette demonstrates their power to move the air.
“…the winsome logic of Charette’s constructions and the merits of his well-rehearsed band serve as persuasive catalysts for positive consensus.” (Derek Taylor – Dusted Magazine on SCCD 31784)
totally mesmerized by the American rock and roll culture and went on to play rock guitar growing up. He traced the music’s roots back to jazz later on and received formal education at the world-renowned jazz program at William Patterson University and graduated with a master’s degree.
Segal for this his 6th SteepleChase recording chose trio format for the first time augmenting his personal drive in a very basic constellation.
“Gene Segal's got a great tone ... Segal's really wrenching some great chromes out of his instrument – with an approach that seems to change slightly when the keyboard source changes, but never in a way that loses its intensity… "
(Dusty Groove on SCCD 31883 Curiosity)
Trumpeter/composer Alex Norris has been a stalwart constituent of the New York jazz scene since 1992 after graduating from Peabody Conservatory of Music. Although this is his only third leader album and his debut release from SteepleChase, Norris is by no means a newcomer. It will be almost impossible to find any notable big band, smaller ensemble and soloist Norris has not performed, toured and recorded with. Here he chose his “go-to-quintet” of long-time cohorts/friends to present an album of straight-ahead, swinging jazz all penned by Norris.
“…Norris writes and plays with rare assurance and seldom walks on overly familiar paths….He’s not an aggressive stylist and his penchant for thoughtful dynamics gives him the confidence to leave space and unexpected intervals in his solos.” (The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD)
Except for occasional trips to the New York live scene and recording sessions, John Hart devotes his time in teaching younger generations as the head of the Jazz Guitar Department at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami.
The inspiration for the unusual instrumentation of this album (baritone-sax, guitar, bass and drums) came from one of his classrooms where he tutors ensemble playing. He then, of course called his favorite baritone man Gary Smulyan to join the session.
Checkmate, the third album by John Hart on SteepleChase was recorded a few weeks before the onset of Corona pandemic. Now after a dark long year of lockdown we hope we can call “checkmate” on that virus.
“Hart’s beautifully shaded melodies and detailed and balanced intermezzi of concise and fast cadenzas signify his matured musicianship” (Francois van de Linde – Jazz Journal on SCCD 31885 Act Three)
Guitarist/composer Nate Radley has in a quiet but steady way become the New York scene’s staple player during the last couple decades. This long-awaited (since 2013) Nate Radley album on SteepleChase was conceived and produced in the fall of 2020 when NY was starting to reel back from the long pandemic down time.
For his trio here Nate chose Jay Anderson (bass) and Adam Nussbaum (drums) who comprised the late Vic Juris’ guitar trio. Nate used to share the bandstand with Juris weekly at the famed 55 Bar in Greenwich Village in New York City.
Radley graduated with a Master’s degree in music from New England Conservatory and is currently a member of jazz faculty of Princeton University.
“…there are many moments where their (Radley and Chris Cheek) play melt together in the most beautiful way…. CARILLON is a both well performed and attractive album.” (Niels Overgaard – Jazz Special)
In the early summer of 1978 guitarist/composer/vocalist and Philadelphia native Monnette Sunder found herself in Copenhagen, Denmark with her band for her first European tour. June 6, two days prior to their live performance at the renowned Club Montmartre they were heading to Sweet Silence Studios for the recording of the same program. The live recording was released in 1979 as “Live In Europe” (SCCD 31102) of which Jørgen Siegumfeldt of Information commented, “... so far her best recording. Her musical and instrumental expression has gained much wider dimension ... the 22-minute long Libra Rising is the best memento of her latest appearance at Montmartre...”
The studio recording, however has been for some reason forgotten by everybody involved for 40 years.
The forgotten recording is recovered here, digitalized, mixed and re-mastered to be the consequential reminder of a young and developing artist at her onset.
One of the great American jazz guitarists Monnette Sudler has performed with Hugh Masekela, Philly Joe Jones, Khan Jamal, Byard Lancaster, and Sunny Murray among others. She is the founder and artistic director of the Philadelphia Guitar Summit.
After releasing a tribute album to his late father, renowned multi reed player Gerry Niewood - SCCD 31871 Home With You, At Last – Adam Niewood, who is also New York’s leading multi-instrumentalist/composer went into studio this time to bring his focus on the tenor saxophone and own compositions in trio setting, jazz’s most fundamental format.
“There is a lot to enjoy on this album, from the original compositions to their thoughtful execution, and not least the quartet’s phenomenal musicianship. (Elliot Marlow Stevens – Jazz Journal on SCCD 31871)
Vic Juris, American guitarist/composer, passed away Dec. 31, 2019 after a relatively short battle against cancer at age 66. Vic was an exclusive SteepleChase recording artist for many years, and this album (his 18th for SteepleChase) was recorded April 2019 and was scheduled for release this month.
We at SteepleChase had obviously no idea that this was going to be Vic’s last leader album. We miss him deeply yet are proud to be a part of his remarkable career by being his label/producer of the 18 leader albums in the past three decades.
“This is my third rave review in succession for guitarist Vic Juris’s SteepleChase releases in superlative displays of the art of jazz guitar.…This is another really delightful release from this stellar musician. “(Andy Hamilton – Jazz Journal on SCCD 31869 Two Guitars)
“He’s been something of a musician’s musician throughout his career, sustaining a steady output of recordings and performances and supplementing with teaching gigs while hewing to reliably to a signature sound. Diagnosis or no, his intent is to continue that course and the contents of this disc illustrate him doing just that.” (Derek Taylor - Dusted Magazine on SCCD 31869 Two Guitars)
One of the frequently repeated ways to describe Riley is “What a special tone he has! Dark and dry with a lot of subtones. And very creative playing” (JJ – Sax on the web).
It absolutely tells us how he sounds but another aspect of Riley’s uniqueness is in the way he treats his material (from the classic jazz standards and the Great American Songbook) in his – almost trademark – piano-less settings. Following the highly rated previous release SCCD 31882 Oleo by the two-horn quartet (sax and trumpet - Joe Magnarelli) Riley this time has invited the award-winning cornetist Kirk Knuffke to front the quartet.
“… Riley and Magnarelli who, while tied to the bebop tradition, in this setting do not feel compelled to stick to it. Their fresh ideas and sly song quotes invigorate such tunes as “Doxy,” “St. Thomas,” “Ornithology,” and John Coltrane’s “Lazy Bird.” … Oleo is easily recommended .. ”
(Scott Yanow – Los Angeles Jazz Scene on SCCD 31882)
“Riley is a singular talent, not least for his twists on the standard repertory, and this is well up to scratch.” (Ronald Atkins – Jazz Journal on SCCD 31850 Hold ‘Em Joe)
The Printups (Marcus and Riza got married in 2011) have been recording together with ensembles on a couple releases (SCCD 31681 “Ballads – All Night” and SCCD 31711 “A Time For Love”). The new album here is their first duo endeavour and probably the first ever jazz recording of this combination of two instruments for the entire album. English journalist Mark Gardner once noted, “The beautiful sounds of trumpet and harp have a purity that sets them apart.”
“Printup’s cohesive and resourceful trio with harpist Riza Hequibal and bassist Kengo Nakamura recasts and rekindles a string of romantic ballads with a lean mixture of lyricism and swing.”
(Mike Joyce – JazzTimes on SCCD 31711 “A Time For Love”)
“Printup’s album gives a solid accounting of himself and a forum for a band of promise.”
(Kirk Silsbee – DownBeat on SCCD 31804 “Young Bloods”)
“trioTrio”? - Yes, unfamiliar ensemble name and it needs introduction. nNew York’s elite instrumentalists of the younger generation, Jacob Sacks (piano), Dave Ambrosio (bass) and Vinnie Sperrazza (drums) are the components of this cooperative trio. They have been playing together since around 2000. Here this their first album features two of their most respected soloists, Dave Scott (tp) and Rich Perry (ts) both of who have been playing with trioTrio also since around 2000 at the private sessions Dave Scott hosts.
“Nice treatment” is the favoured phrase Dave Scott uses when the music come together. To quote Sperrazza who is the author of the liner notes, Dave and Rich are the “under-sung giants of jazz”.
For the past four plus decades Mark Soskin has been playing a vital role in the world jazz scene as pianist/composer as well as educator (currently on the faculty of the Manhattan School Of Music). Soskin began his professional career first in West Coast but his true breakthrough came with his 14-year tenure with Sonny Rollins.
Soskin joined SteepleChase in 2018 and this his third album finds him with the original quartet members from the “17 (Seventeen)” album recorded 20 years ago.
“Pianist Mark Soskin has always had some wonderfully bright tones in his work – notes that ring out beautifully, almost with the ease of an electric piano, even when acoustic – and that tradition definitely continues here, as Mark works through a set of well-chosen tracks with a nicely tight trio!” (Dusty Groove -on SCCD 31858 Upper West Side Stories).
Noah Preminger the saxophonist in question here has despite his relative young age (34) checked off an impressive to-do-list for an aspiring artist: releasing first debut album at the age 20, graduating from the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music, then releasing more than a dozen (14 to be precise) of highly acclaimed leader albums and being on the top ranking of Downbeat’s critics’ and readers’ poll list since 2017.
In February of 2020, right before everything shut down Preminger came into the studios to record this intriguing debut album with his congenial working ensemble.
You will not find the word “contemptment” in your dictionary but you might agree that this socially and politically aware artist sums up the sentiment of the time that we are living in.
"Mr. Preminger designs a different kind of sound for each note, an individual destiny and story." (The New York Times)
“Intuitive leader… old soul... Virtuosic... Creativity and passion are extremely high.” (Downbeat)
