Due to his sporadic career Freddie Redd has kept a low profile for the last several decades. His name, however, stayed in people’s memory as the composer for the haunting music that accompanied The Connection (1959), a controversial play written by Jack Gelber. One of the last of classic bop generation, Freddie Redd at the age of 86, fragile yet debonair, still performs with lyrical clarity and sensitivity on this superb trio recording.

Joe Albany (1924 – 1988) was one of the handful of bebop pianists who re-emerged to the world stage in the 70s. Although there exist no official recordings with Charlie Parker, Joe Albany was one of the few white pianists who played with Bird. Albany’s troubled life seen from his only daughter’s perspectives were made into a film entitled “Low Down” which has recently been premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to critical and public acclaim. One of the music used in the movie was from Joe’s SteepleChase first release SCCD 31003 Birdtown Bird” (1972). Joe Albany’s sensational moment captured here in this recording from a solo concert at Copenhagen’s famed Montmartre club serves as the testimonial of an extraordinary artist.

Since his retirement in 2013 from the professorship at the prestigious Rutgers University, where he led its jazz department, pianist/composer/educator Stanley Cowell has been increasingly active on the scene both in concerts and recordings. This new album with a featured program of Christmas melodies (Xmas Suite) will be introduced to the audience at New York’s Smoke Jazz & Supper Club. “…it's a great pleasure to hear Stanley Cowell's It's Time: a finely crafted collection of mostly originals that is at once sophisticated, both aggressive and pensive, and simply fascinating to listen to.” (Greg Simmons – AAJ on “It’s Time” SCCD 31740)

SteepleChase’ 1973 release Birdtown Birds (SCCD 31003) by Joe Albany trio recorded live at Copenhagen’s famous Jazzhus Montmartre took the world’s jazz fans who have all but forgotten about this bebop piano legend by surprise. Joe Albany not only existed but still performed with vigor and authority. Albany concluded his engagement at Montmartre with solo recital which is presented here following the first volume SCCD 31794. “…In this previously unreleased solo set, recorded in 1973, the ideas come tumbling out so copiously that they sometimes fall over one another - but they’re all his own ideas and there’s nothing glib about them. He was a genuine original.” (Dave Gellt – The Guardian) “…this is a rare glimpse of Albany, and it may appeal both to completists and general listeners.” (Andy Boeckstaens – London Jazz News)

Trumpeter Marcus Printup rounded up a choice selection of young prize winning new talents to form this sextet. Printup, though still in the 40s and at his prime mettle, is a veteran of three decades which includes a principal post in the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra since 1993. One of his professional priorities is to pass the torch on to the next generation, Young Bloods. “Printup is such an accomplished and versatile player that he’s adept performing tunes from any point in the many decades of jazz…. a hard swinging lesson taught by a master musician.” (Joel Roberts – The New York City Jazz Record on “Homage” SCCD 31730)

After the release of their first CD "White", which received an ECHO Klassik award, the Amaryllis Quartett continues it's successful CD series with "Blue". This time, alongside the shimmering magic of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, the young, internationally acclaimed and award-winning musicians perform the world premiere of a quartet by the Chinese composer Lin Yang, who has dedicated the work to them. It is impressive how the tonal concentration of contemporary music and the richness of impressionistic works unfold when juxtaposed. State of the art quartet playing at the highest level!

The history of jazz vocals extends back perhaps even farther than jazz instrumentals and in that long history you find a lot of pretty impressive names. None are more illustrious than that of singer Chris Connor. A must have collection of classics.

Trumpeter/composer Marcus Printup, stalwart of Jazz At The Lincoln Center Orchestra since 1993 presents his latest album here as In Memoriam of his late father filled with delightful compositions penned mostly by Printup to celebrate life. “Printup is such an accomplished and versatile player that he’s adept performing tunes from any point in the many decades of jazz dealt with here.” (Joel Roberts – The NYC Jazz Records on “Homage” SCCD 31730)

One of the newest addition to the SteepleChase recording artist list guitarist/composer Craig Brann’s latest release “Mark My Words” features two of his prominent colleagues and friends, Mark Turner and Gregory Tardy on saxophones. Craig Brann unveils in this album with all originals his unique compositional talent. “Craig Brann is a soulful and imaginative player and writer with a unique depth to his music. His arrangements and re-imaginings of classic songs are particularly thoughtful and fresh and his every note has meaning and purpose.” (Peter Bernstein)

Stanley Cowell during the last five decades has not only been active on the jazz scene but also devoted himself in the musical education of younger generation. Now his well-earned retirement from teaching at the Rutgers enables him to spend more time in performing and recording. The latest album, which is his 13th release on this label, Stanley Cowell presents himself as a supreme interpreter of jazz’s standard titles. “…it's a great pleasure to hear Stanley Cowell's It's Time: a finely crafted collection of mostly originals that is at once sophisticated, both aggressive and pensive, and simply fascinating to listen to.” (Greg Simmons – AJJ on “It’s Time” SCCD 31740)

Pianist/composer Oregario Diàz, graduate of The Manhattan School of Music with Mater Degree devides his time in his homeland Venezuela and New York performing with his groups. The title song dedicated to the New York-born Haitian pop artist Jean Michel Basquiat reflects Diaz’ deep appreciation of arts. For this his third album Diaz put together a highly cohesive ensemble to paint an attractive collage of joyful music. Ole Nimand of Jazz Special (DK) commented on Diaz’ previous release “The Skyline Session” SCCD 31753, “….The two tunes from Diaz’ own pen confirm again his compositional talent and his melodias and expressive solos steal the scene….This is a brilliant and stylish presentation of the kind of jazz that is otherwise no longer on the throne these days….”

Trumpeter/composer Jason Palmer has surprised audiences with each of his new releases full of fresh concept and amazing execution. This his 4th release is no exception. All Jason originals here are inspired by the places he has visited during his numerous tours throughout the world including the two towns closest to his heart: his birth place High Point, North Carolina and his current home town near Boston, Roslindale. Jon Ross of Downbeat remarks of Jason, “Palmer is an exciting player - achieving pinpoint focus in his attack one minute, turning his concrete bebop lines into caramel, sliding through pitches and bending them to his will the next. If Palmer's music stays close to home, he should go far."

More than a decade ago critic C. Andrew Hovan cited Colligan “One of New York’s finest”. George Colligan has since evolved into a matured and yet adventurous artist on the world stage. This latest album showcases his new New York trio performing all Colligan originals. “His own intelligent and emotional talents create room for the best to play at their very own best…..With George Colligan at the helm, the horizon is not the limit.” (Travis Rogers - JazzTimes on “The Facts” SCCD 31752)

The Lincoln Center Orchestra’s long-time star trumpeter Marcus Printup has teamed up here again with harpist Riza Hequibal Printup to present a brilliantly conceived program of jazz and pop standards together with inspiring originals by Printup and Hequibal. On the previous collaboration between Marcus and Riza “A Time For Love” SCCD 31711 Mike Joyce of JazzTimes comments “…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….”

The decade long collaboration between pianist Stanley Cowell and guitarist Vic Juris as fellow faculty members at the renowned Rutgers-Mason Gross School of the Arts produced here a fantastic “new world” of sounds of contemporary jazz. The latest and most powerful version of sound design soft wear called KYMA in the hand of creative artists dazzles us with the unique real-time music with no after-production touch-ups but expanded horizon of improvisation. The rhythm section of the quartet is two enormously talented former students of Cowell: bassist Tom DiCarlo and drummer Chris Brown.

While his previous release “Music For Organ Sextette” (SCCD 31731) is still enjoying superlative receptions by the critics and public alike for its most personal and innovative approach to Hammond B3 organ in a relatively large ensemble, Brian Charette emerges here with an intriguing collection of solo B3 performances filled with compelling and creative surprises to push the boundary of the instrument even further. “Brian Charette is out to prove that the Hammond B3 ain't just for flexing your funk chops…." (Shaun Brady – DownBeat on Music For Organ Sextette) “…Charette weaves a unique and gripping aural tapestry together with a mélange of woodwinds serving as the thread. He channels his energy into creating constructs that benefit from the blending of multiple voices, yet remain flexible enough to allow for outspoken soloists to have their say. ..” Dan Bilawsky – AllAboutJazz on Music For Organ Sextette)

Although guitarist Nate Radley is a relatively new name on SteepleChase label, he has been an important member of the NY jazz scene since 2000 when he moved there with a master’s degree in music from New England Conservatory. He has made impressive appearances on this label in Eric Rasmussen’s “School of Tristano” albums SCCD 31623, SCCD 31644 and SCCD 31663 as well as on Andrew Rathbun’s “Where We Are Now” SCCD 31665. For his SteepleChase leader-debut album Nate Radley presents highly personal music style both as performer and composer.

As the title of this new album suggests Gregory Tardy and his excellent ensemble invested their energy in evergreen standards and jazz original classics here to fulfil his musical parents’ requests. “… Not only is he arguably the most original of the band’s improvisers, he’s also the most impassioned. His lines are incisive and hard-edged. Even his most fanciful flights are purposeful. His energetic approach consistently lifts the group’s performance to a higher level….” (Chris Kelsey – JazzTimes on “Steps of Faith” SCCD 31610) “….Of the many stars to have emerged on the jazz horizon during the '90s, one of the most disciplined, emotive and perhaps underrated is the multifaceted Gregory Tardy ….. Tardy takes another step toward establishing himself as one of the most important saxophonists of his generation….” (Matthew Miller - AAJ on “The Truth” SCCD 31583)

The legendary baritone saxophonist Ronnie Cuber is, as Bill Milkowski of JazzTimes observes, “ still very much on top of his game at age 70”. One summer night of the famed Berlin JazzFest of 2008 finds Ronnie and his group in a relaxed and joyous mood backed by the responsive and enthusiastic audience. “An astonishingly lyrical player on that most unforgiving of instruments … It is the intelligence and subtlety of his playing that shines through…” (Sunday Express UK on Ronnie SCCD 31680) “…while Cuber’s ability to blow over the changes remains unquestioned, it’s his restrained approach and melodic penchant…… that come as a welcome surprise. We all knew Cuber could wail with unparalleled authority, we just didn’t know he could sing so pretty on his big horn.” (Bill Milkowski – JazzTimes on Boplicity SCCD 31734)

For this latest and the fifth album on SteepleChase Ronnie Cuber brought his working band to the studio to appraise the classic BeBop repertoire, “proving in the process the viability of material that has weathered more than 60 years and still sounds super hip and contemporary” (Mark Gardner). On Cuber’s previous release “RONNIE (SCCD 31680) Ken Drydon of AllAboutJazz wrote, “This is his fourth CD for Steeplechase and one of his best sessions.” and London’s Sunday Express commented, “it is the intelligence and subtlety of his playing that shines through …An astonishingly lyrical player on that most unforgiving of instruments…” “Ronnie Cuber is a baritone sax player strong enough to bring out the lyricism of the weighty instrument.” (Aaron Cohen – Downbeat)

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”.

Pianist Olegario Diaz has firmly established himself in American jazz scene as well as in his native country Venezuela. Following his highly successful SteepleChase debut album “Having Fun” (SCCD 31733) last year Olegario put together his dream band here for his second release with Rich Perry (tenor sax) and Ron McClure (bass) from the first album and Randy Brecker (trumpet) and Lewis Nash (drums) as new addition. Diaz’ old class mate from City College NYC Lewis Nash remarks, “It was a wonderful session and I’m sure that the joy we all experienced that day can also be heard and felt when listening to this recording.”

After his active performing/recording period in the 80s and 90s Stanley Cowell has devoted his enormous talent in music education at the renowned Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA. Cowell’s previous release SCCD 31704 “Prayer For Peace” in 2010 was his first album in over a decade which evoked Mike Shanley of JazzTimes to comment, “… his phrasing, chordal voicings and use of space are impeccable….a hard-swinging trio never goes out of fashion…” Here on his new album Stanley formed a new trio with his two former students from Rutgers University to reveal that he remains a master of his material and instrument.

A New York City native, veteran drummer Eliot Zigmund has performed with numerous jazz luminaries throughout his long career but most known is his tenure with Bill Evans in the 70s where Zigmund’s sensitive and tasteful support to the great pianist was always present. Here on his new album Zigmund leads a consummate quartet fronted by up and coming sax talent Chris Cheek. “Zigmund is that breed of percussionist who does not count their pride alongside their visible signs of virtuosity. He is in every way a musician with extensive experience but above all the art of listening.” (Jazzman Magazine)

Pianist Peter Zak has in a relatively short time since his arrival at the NY jazz scene firmly established himself as “a top-flight modern mainstream player who appears regularly with respected artists …” (Joel Roberts –AAJ) On this his eighth album Peter Zak continues his ever-evolving approach to piano trio jazz. “….The surfaces of his music seem conventional until you notice how imaginatively his improvisations are developed, and how intelligently they tie. Zak invariably comes upon lovely notes you never anticipated.” (Thomas Conrad AAJ on “Seed of Sin” SCCD 31641)