After 5 years’ absence from SteepleChase since his 2004 output While My Guitar Gently Weeps (SCCD 31553) guitarist Vic Juris is back here with a strong trio album, his trademark unpredictability intact to surprise us again. His earlier release Remembering Eric Dolphy (SCCD 31453) prompted JazzTimes’ Duck Baker to write, “Vic Juris is a versatile and impressively accomplished guitarist. His playing exudes warmth, intelligence and respect for the tradition“.

That's All

Brian Charette, hailed as the best of the new breed of B3 players” (Bill Milkowski of JazzTimes) brings here a new trio format with Mike DiRubbo on alto saxophone for his second outing for the label. Charette’s SteepleChase debut album “Upside” (SCCD 31678) met enthusiastic acclaims. Among others, “… he does have something valuable to say as evidenced by the pleasures and strengths indicative to this debut “ (Derek Taylor – Master of A Small House)

Severe Clear

Dave Stryker’s music is deeply rooted in blues, having performed with Jack McDuff in the 80s and Stanley Turrentine in the 90s. Dave’s special blend of jazz and blues culminated first time in 1996 in the form of “Blue To The Bone I” (SCCD 31400). Since then the project has become a popular on-going series. The fourth addition features Stryker’s regular organ trio (Jared Gold on B-3 and McClenty Hunter on drums). “There are solid solos from all hands throughout the album …. Based on the personnel and the feeling of these performances, I'd like to catch this group live”. (Owen Cordle – JazzTimes on Blue To The Bone III SCCD 31465) “As great as the first set was, it's without hesitation that I deem this new one a valiant leap forward. …..They, along with the charts and an elation that the blues almost paradoxically provide, make for an end product that is indeed greater than the sum of the parts” (C. Andrew Hovan-AAJ on Blue To The Bone II SCCD 31524)

Accolade to Jack Walrath the trumpeter and composer includes “imaginative”, “unpredictable” and “whimsically humorous”. Most of the material on this new album is inspired by the composer’s recent trip to Greece which takes us To Hellas And Back of Jack’s enhanced devotion to lyricism and his strong projection on all emotional spectrum. “Jack Walrath not only displays tremendous trumpet playing, a rich and varied approach to composition and wonderful band, he also puts something into this fantastic CD that's missing from too much new jazz: a sense of fun and humour…. Musical food for thought with amazing jazz playing, this recording can't be praised highly enough.” (Francis Lo Lee – AAJ on “Ballroom” SCCD 31650) “Forsooth! Provides ample proof that the trumpeter should be on a larger stage.” (Ken Dryden – The New York City Jazz Records on “Forsooth!” SCCD 31722)

SteepleChase proudly introduces a new trumpet star Jason Palmer, the winner of the First prize of 2009 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition. Jason makes his SteepleChase debut with his quintet, which has been serving as the house band at Boston’s historical Wally’s Jazz Café since 2001. “…Jason Palmer reveals a singular originality that surely places him among the foremost brass players of his generation.” (Mark Gardner – from the liner notes)

Sienna

Discovering new talents has been SteepleChase’s raison d’être throughout its history. John McNeil’s debut on SteepleChase label “Embarkation” SCCD 31099 in 1978 was a most typical example of such endeavor. During the late 70s and early 80s McNeil made 7 albums on SteepleChase. After 17 years of absence McNeil returns to the label with this thoughtful and stimulating CD, revealing his new height of maturity as an artist. The label itself grew 400 titles richer during the past 17 years.

The winner of First-Place Category of Great American Song Contest 2019 Allegra Levy debuted 6 years ago with Lonely City (SteepleChase LookOut SCCD 33118) produced by the legendary trumpeter/arranger John McNeil who was Allegra’s mentor at the New England Conservatory where she graduated from in 2011. The album instantly put her name on the luminary jazz singer list all over the world. After two more highly acclaimed albums on the label: SCCD 31827 Cities Between Us showcasing her enormous talent as composer/lyricist and SCCD 31852 Looking At The Moon focusing on Levy the singer/interpreter, Levy and McNeil collaborated again to present this new album of McNeil compositions with lyrics written by Levy. Allegra leads this time all-women quartet which serves as a dynamic and exemplary part of women in jazz today. “Lonely City is an excellent and mature first effort from Allegra Levy and will put the music world on notice that she is a musician that has established herself as a winner and future superstar.” (Music Man) “All the vocal skills expressed in the debut are confirmed: elegant timbre clarity, interpretations that alternate lightness and emotional intensity, highlighting register flexibility, colloquial warmth and good interpretative taste … Everything flows to the end with a good balance between the vocal and instrumental dimensions, with interventions always sought after and attentive to melodic values.” (Angelo Leonardi, AAJ on Cities Between Us) “… Levy is a very gifted writer who has absorbed the language and style of the Great American Songbook without sounding retro … Levy is a fresh new voice, with songs steeped in the tradition and primed to join the canon.” (Jim Motavalli, NYC Jazz Record on Cities Between Us) “Throughout, Levy’s distinctive warm-cool vibe … and flawless articulation shine through.” (Christopher Loudon, JazzTimes on Looking At The Moon - Editor’s Pick) “In Looking At The Moon Levy has assembled tunes, musicians, and arrangements that generally maximize her strengths” (Steve Provizer, The Arts Fuse)

Since the inaugural album for SteepleChase “Inside Out” SCCD 31584 (2005) Stephen Riley has shown his inclination to piano-less trio format as in his previous release “Hart-Beat” SCCD 31742. That inclination seems to halt here due to Riley’s encounter with pianist Peter Zak in whom Riley declares to have found an ideal partner. “…. a truly special album.” (Terrell Holmes – The New York City Jazz Record on Hart-Beat) “…. a really solid recording, with some noteworthy playing making it a worthy successor in a lineage of great tenor saxophone trio records.” (Gregg Simmons – AAJ on Hart-Beat)

One of the earlier entries of Andy LaVerne’s discography on this label was a highly acclaimed duo recording with vibraphonist Dave Samuels “Fountainhead” (SCCD 31261). Nine years later the two artists got together again in the studio with an addition of bass by Jay Anderson this time. The unique trio format of piano, vibes and bass offers a refreshing trip to a less travelled universe.

Nomad

Shades Of Blue

Ron McClure, veteran bassist and accomplished composer, has also keen eyes to spot talents. A year ago McClure introduced a young (then 17), very gifted jazz violinist Gabe Terracciano in his 15th album “Crunch Time” (SCCD 31736). Here on his latest release McClure gives another young (22) exceptional tenor talent Chad Leftowitz-Brown a chance to shine alongside of Terracciano. “…it is at once a band of substance and style, McClure’s powerful bass and terrific tunes stimulating the young players.” (Donald Elfman – The New York City Jazz Record on SCCD 31736) “… fans of McClure’s mainstream fare will no doubt revel in this latest set to see an American release. “ (C. Andrew Hovan – AAJ on “Dream Team” SCCD 31435)

What Is This?

Andrew Rathbun’s fourth leader album on SteepleChase reflects his musical ideas inspired by fellow Canadian Glenn Gould and looks into the implication of his homeland Canada on his music. “… he displays his growing maturity as a player and more of his acclaimed talents as composer/arranger.” (Mark Corroto, Allabout Jazz–NY on his previous release SCCD 31665 Where We Are Now) “The result is consistently thoughtful, well-crafted music in a mature idiom.” (Ken Dryden, Allabout Jazz–NY on SCCD 31589 Shadow Forms)

January a year ago American born Danish tenor saxophonist Niels Vincentz made CD debut from SteepleChase with his American trio of Cameron Brown on bass and Billy Hart on drums (“Early Reflections SCCD 31737) to critical acclaim. Vincentz presents here the follow-up set with Brown and Hart right after their tours in USA and Denmark. “Beautiful SteepleChase debut …so remarkable that it will open the door for Vincentz to the wider jazz audience.. ” (Ivan Rod - GAFFA, Denmark) “There’s perfect equilibrium here: no overreaching, no underreaching, either…You hear how centered Vincentz is, and why these Americans dig him.” **** (M. Jackson – DownBeat)

Reincarnation

Stephen Riley’s new album stands out as his first ever ensemble with piano. Riley, a true individualist with an amazing, warm and soft sound selects the classic jazz repertoire to assemble this outstanding display of personal statement. “Stephen is an impressive player, with his own approach, his own sound and the conviction to keep it that way: he shows that it's possible to create something unique at this time. 5 Stars." (Lew Tabackin / Downbeat Blindfold Test April 2009 )

Danish-born tenor saxophonist Martin Jacobsen resides in Paris, France and performs all over the world. Martin frequently gives concerts in many of the Asian countries including Japan, Korea and China. This release is a live recording of a very successful concert performed at Japan’s national public radio/TV network NHK’s “fureai” (contact) hall in 2011 only a few days after that devastating earthquake and tsunami which hit the north-east coast of Japan. The Martin Jacobsen Quartet which consists of Danish tenor, Japanese piano, German bass and English drummer revisited Japan later the same year to give support to the Japanese jazz fans. “…Jacobsen seems well aware of what makes jazz a vital music. It’s the constant sense of growth and discovery, taking the old and making it new. While this is a fine debut, there’s little doubt that future endeavors will prove even more impressive as the both Jacobsen and the band continue to mature.” (Derek Taylor- All About Jazz “Current State” SCCD 31548)

As Thomas Conrad (allaboutjazz) once observed Bill Mays as “a literate, polished, mainstream jazz pianist (who) likes to do concept albums”, Bill Mays chose to build his first album on SteepleChase on the concept of movie themes. Mays’s mastery of color and touch superbly illustrates those silver screen memorable moments.

Gregory Tardy comes back to the recording scene with this strong performance after three-year hiatus. On Tardy’s earlier release “Truth” (SCCD 31583), AAJ-NY’s Matthew Miller commented: “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 .… With this release, his first on SteepleChase, Tardy takes another step toward establishing himself as one of the most important saxophonists of his generation.

Since his recording debut (1995) with Activism (SCCD 31382), George Colligan has proven to be a leading instrumentalist / composer of the younger generation, whose prolific outputs since received international acclaim from both critics and public. On this new release – third solo album on the label, Mark Gardner remarks, “…this particular release, to my ears, is of greater significance as it reveals the unalloyed core of his music and the man's ultimate self-reliance.“

Fountainhead