It was Charlston's friend, percussionist and Brazilian music expert Gordon Gottlieb, who introduced the vibist to Pascoal's unpredictable genius and to his style, which is fearless, but respectful of tradition. Charlston was immediately attracted to the way Pascoal combined many different musical cultures with his own brilliantly twisted music. Charlston reflects: "Tradition and near insanity are close brothers in Hermeto's world." Inspired by all of this, Charlston created JazzBrasil, a band built with the intention of melding the harmonic sophistication of jazz to the rhythmic intricacies and variation of Brazilian music. // JazzBrasil incorporated a tremendous blend of jazz and Brazilian music experts, including woodwind master Ted Nash, piano great Mark Soskin, bassist Jay Anderson, drummer/percussionist Rog�rio Boccato and percussionist Caf�. The group recorded the album Essentially Hermeto, which was released in 2012. // Over the past seven years, JazzBrasil's repertoire continued to grow and it became apparent that it was time to record. The group's musical canon had also incorporated tunes from other composers, including the great Brazilian guitarist Egberto Gismonti and singer-songwriter Lenine.

The combination of concept, effort and the right collaborators typically leads to good things no matter what the goal might be. These elements are especially integral to cohesion within a musical ensemble in performance, especially a group built of musicians who haven't previously played together. Pianist/composer James Carney was thinking along these lines when he came up with the idea and chose the musicians for his new recording, Pure Heart. // The sextet that Carney put together is quite an assemblage. For the horns, he recruited his longtime friend and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, bass clarinetist and alto saxophonist Oscar Noriega, and recent collaborator and trumpeter Stephanie Richards. Bassist Dezron Douglas and drummer Tom Rainey met in their first time ever pairing. In fact, most of these players had never played together before, except Coltrane and Douglas and Noriega and Rainey.

As a MacDowell Fellow and Cultural Envoy for the US State Department, a Bachelor of astrophysics and a 30-year student of piano, Dan Tepfer has distinguished himself as "one of the moment's most adventurous and relevant musicians" (New York Magazine). In the eight years since his last full-length solo release, however, he's composed - and coded - the future. Today, he announces the multimedia, multisensory album Natural Machines, out May 17th on Sunnyside Records.

Luciana Souza's Duos II, released in 2005, 3 years after Barazilian Duos, was also nominated for a Grammy. This "remastered" version replaces the original album (SSC 1142) in Sunnyside's catalog.

Luciana Souza's Brazilian Duos, released in 2002 was nominated for a Grammy. This "remastered" version replaces the original album (SSC 1100) in Sunnyside's catalog. The gifted vocalist is backed by three different acoustic guitarists - Romero Lubambo, Marco Pereira (playing eight-string), and Walter Santos (Souza's father). Souza interprets classic Brazilian songs by figures like Dori Caymmi, Luiz Gonzaga, Djavan, Jobim, Toninho Horta, and her parents, Walter Santos and Tereza Souza.

The great Jay Leonhart has always shown a deft touch on his instrument, the double bass. It would be fair to say that he is equally skilled at turning a phrase. Leonhart's storytelling in word and low tones is sure to delight on his new recording, Joy, a wonderful collection of jazz-inflected art songs. // The bassist's favored configuration for his story filled original tunes has been a trio with piano, bass and drums. His current trio features the beautiful stylings of pianist Tomoko Ohno and the impeccable timing of drummer Vito Lesczak. The trio has been a solid unit for some time, performing regularly at Birdland in New York City.

The great pianist Denny Zeitlin has always been interested in surprising listeners (and himself!) with his improvisational explorations on his original pieces and those from other composers. For the past five years, Zeitlin has been focusing on a single composer to reinterpret on solo piano for his yearly residency at the Piedmont Piano Company in Oakland, California. In December 2016, he decided on the singular trumpeter and musical iconoclast, Miles Davis. Zeitlin's new Remembering Miles is a recording of this spellbinding performance.

Nature Work was born out of the desire of two talented musicians to work together more closely. Jason Stein and Greg Ward boldly added the incomparable talents of Eric Revis and Jim Black to give their ensemble an unpredictable and intriguing blend of strength, intelligence and adventure, which can be heard on the new recording, Nature Work. // There is a place in improvisation where it is in the service of the music to shut off the conscious mind and let the subconscious takeover. Bass clarinetist, composer, and improviser Jason Stein thinks of the work of the subconscious as a natural expression and, thus, considers the act of playing and composing as "nature work." There might not be a better example of this process than with Stein and saxophonist/composer Greg Ward's collaborative ensemble, Nature Work.

The Swiss Jazz Orchestra has created a fabulous collective ensemble that has found a way to play regularly every Monday night in Bern, Switzerland since the ensemble's inception in 2003. But the truly remarkable thing about the ensemble is it's dedication to the presentation of new works by visiting artists and composers. Celebrated composer and pianist Guillermo Klein has been a regular collaborator with the Orchestra for the past few years and the Swiss Jazz Orchestra & Guillermo Klein presents the tremendous work the pairing has allowed to flourish.

Surprises, saxophonist Dave Liebman said when asked about playing with the master pianist Martial Solal. Their second Sunnyside album of duets finds them before a knowledgeable and appreciative audience at Studio 104 de Radio France, a center of uncompromising music in the City of Light. "The surprises are endless," Liebman told me. "Martial doesn't want it to be perfect. He's twenty years older than I am, and, to borrow a term from a newer generation, he wants the music to be 'killer.' When he plays, it is definitely killer." There is an exhilarating range of music in this second Solal-Liebman album, which follows their Masters In Bordeaux, (ssc 1489). Whenever their next encounter may be, let us hope that someone with recording equipment is invited. The world needs more of the infectious spirit that these masters found together in Paris.

The leader brought together a host of amazing musicians to realize his original compositions and an arrangement of a composition by Barber. Coello enlisted the Art Government, a percussion group made up of his former students and his peers, along with the incredible classical saxophonist Xabier Casal and legendary prog rock drummer Simon Phillips, who adds his incredible flair to a handful of tracks.

Tokyo born composer Miho Hazama is one of New York's most astounding young talents. Lauded in Downbeat as one of "25 for the Future", Miho is quickly establishing herself as a force of nature on the world's stage. As the 2015 recipient of the BMI Charlie Parker Composition Prize, Miho developed her signature ensemble "m_unit". Now having 2 full length releases on Universal Music Japan/ Sunnyside Records, Miho has written for and expertly showcased the abilities of guest artists such as Joshua Redman, Stefon Harris, Steve Wilson, and Gil Goldstein, to name a few. Furthermore, each album was carefully overseen by Miho's musical mentor and jazz composition powerhouse, Jim McNeely. Critics and music fans alike have praised the recordings, and Miho has been featured in such influential publications as Downbeat, JazzTimes, NPR, CD Journal and many more. "Dancing in Nowhere" is the 3rd album of Miho with the "m_unit" and features Lionel Loueke as guest artist.

Even though musicians may come from divergent places, it is amazing to find that many have the same proclivities when it comes to musical tendencies and taste. The relationship between Detroit born baritone saxophonist and bass clarinetist Alex Harding and Romanian pianist Lucian Ban is one example, in this case two musician from such different places, coalesce around the power of the blues. Their new recording, Dark Blue, is a testament to their musical and brotherly bond. Even though musicians may come from divergent places, it is amazing to find that many have the same proclivities when it comes to musical tendencies and taste. The relationship between Detroit born baritone saxophonist and bass clarinetist Alex Harding and Romanian pianist Lucian Ban is one example, in this case two musician from such different places, coalesce around the power of the blues. Their new recording, Dark Blue, is a testament to their musical and brotherly bond. Even though musicians may come from divergent places, it is amazing to find that many have the same proclivities when it comes to musical tendencies and taste. The relationship between Detroit born baritone saxophonist and bass clarinetist Alex Harding and Romanian pianist Lucian Ban is one example, in this case two musician from such different places, coalesce around the power of the blues. Their new recording, Dark Blue, is a testament to their musical and brotherly bond.

The past few years have found saxophonist/composer Jeremy Udden stepping away from his more fleshed out ensemble projects to focus on music with a more stripped down, direct approach. This led him to working up solo concerts, which, in turn led him back to one of his main influences, the great saxophonist and musical conceptualist Steve Lacy.// The loose and instinctive playing of Lacy has long been a draw for Udden. Udden even studied with the master improviser when Lacy was teaching at the New England Conservatory. After Lacy passed in 2004, Udden performed at a memorial concert that was held in New York City, along with a number of Lacy's friends and collaborators, including the drummer John Betsch. // Over the past few years, Udden also began a collaboration with Paris based bassist Nicolas Moreaux, with whom he recorded Belleville Project, which was released in 2015. The two continued to interact and consider new projects. As it turns out, the American born Betsch called Paris home for decades and Moreaux had been performing with him on occasion. The idea of incorporating Betsch into a trio project began to coalesce and would eventually culminate in their new recording, Three In Paris.

Saxophonist and composer Logan Strosahl has increasingly been involved in the myriad worlds of formal composition. His study of pre-1700's and contemporary composition has led his music far from his musical roots in jazz music. That isn't to say that jazz had been usurped; on the contrary, Strosahl's new recording, Sure, by his new ensemble, Spec Ops, is a vital reflection of his continued engagement with the tradition and future of that music. // Having grown up as somewhat of a saxophone prodigy in the Pacific Northwest, Strosahl has a deep connection to jazz and feels that no matter how far his musical interests have ranged, jazz will always be "home". He doesn't view jazz as a dogmatic music, though... to him as to many others, it has always been the music of improvisation, interaction, energy, intellect, and the blues; an omnivorous music at once "high" and "low," in-your-gut and in-your-head.

The cumulative brilliance shaped by three decades of composing and performing has made appearances by Greg Reitan special occurrences. The Los Angeles based pianist has been providing the jazz, classical and film worlds with exceptional compositional work and listeners have paid special attention to his trio's well-honed live performances. It was during an October 2017 appearance at New York's Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola that the spark for Reitan's new recording, West 60th, was ignited. Inspired by the dramatic view of the city during soundcheck from the venue's perch atop Columbus Circle, Reitan wrote the waltz of the same name in his hotel room. The song became the centerpiece of his new album with longtime collaborators bassist Jack Daro and drummer Dean Koba.

The dream of many international jazz musicians is to experience the jazz life of New York City. Saxophonist Tobias Meinhart had the same dream and made a move to the City from his native Germany a decade ago. Having lived in New York for ten years, he came to the realization that a young man from Bavaria can never be from Harlem and that his German roots are central to his musical identity. // For his new album Berlin People, Meinhart wanted to bridge the musical cultures of New York City and Germany by recording with a band of his German peers and an American jazz guitarist who has made Berlin his home, the great Kurt Rosenwinkel. // Though Meinhart had made his home in New York, he regularly returned to Europe and frequently stayed in Berlin during the summers, where he would reconvene with his musician friends. It was his long time friend, bassist Tom Berkmann, who put Meinhart in touch with Rosenwinkel, a musician that the saxophonist had long admired and hoped to perform with.

There is an energy that a strong family dynamic can stir. A parent viewing the world through their children's eyes generates a wide spectrum of feelings. It is with his family as a source of strength that bassist and composer Joe Martin created the music for his new recording, �toil�e. Martin, himself a product of a musical upbringing, lives with his Parisian-born wife in Brooklyn where they have been raising their young Franco-American family of two sons and a young girl, whose middle name �toile inspired the name of the recording. // Originally hailing from the Midwest, Martin moved to New York City in the mid-90s and has since carved a place at the forefront of jazz as one of the most respected and sought after bassists in the City. His skills as an accompanist and his unique solo voice have propelled bands led by Mark Turner, Gilad Hekselman, Chris Potter, Edward Simon, Anat Cohen, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and many more. Melodic and poetic, �toil�e is a musical tapestry that captures both his writing and bandleading talents. For this session, he assembled a group he leads regularly in New York: Mark Turner, Kevin Hays, and Nasheet Waits.

People Look Like Tanks Bots Anthem Miss Ann A Soothing, Melancholy Breeze Green Anthem [reprise] Secrets Lithe

Sanders' individual approach and the strikingly singular language developed by the trio have commanded the attention of no less discerning a stylist than pianist Fred Hersch. "When you know that Fred Hersch is watching and listening to everything you're doing, you have a tendency to deliver at your utmost capabilities," Sanders describes.

The incredible relationship between legendary British musicians Norma Winstone and John Taylor has been admired for nearly five decades. The vocalist and pianist have been inextricably linked from their early avant-garde work from the late 1960s through their gorgeous work with Kenny Wheeler and Azymuth.// The couple was also well documented in duo performance; their affinity for each other and their unique abilities are easily comprehended. Winstone and Taylor's In Concert is a remastered reissue of Enodoc Records' 1999 cassette tape release of a fascinating 1988 duo concert. Four years after the pianist's passing, this recording will remind listeners of the wonderful interplay and feel between Taylor and Winstone.// The performance presented on In Concert documents a quickly assembled concert that coincided with the culmination of Winstone and Taylor's teaching residency at the Guildhall Music School in London in August 1988. Though they didn't have time to put together an ensemble or theme, the two were able to provide the listeners, including many of their students, with a wonderfully diverse and masterful performance.

Franzetti's new recording, Ricordare, takes all of these elements, namely his original compositions, film music and jazz standards, and throws them together with the aid of new trio for an off the cuff recording session. The music made with bassist David Finck and drummer Eliot Zigmund is fresh and inspired, as the recording marks the first time the trio has played together.

Drummer/composer Paul Motian was brilliant at creating subtle, singable melodies and rhythmically ambiguous, floating forms. Former Motian collaborator and pianist Russ Lossing chose to honor Motian and his work by recording Motian Music, a collection of Motian's idiosyncratic pieces played by Lossing's trio.

According to Wharton, a bonegasm is the overpowering joy that can only be accomplished through the experience of listening to trombonists. Bonegasm would be the first ensemble that Wharton had ever led, so she recruited some expert musicians to assist in her transition to leader, including trombonists John Fedchock, Nate Mayland and Alan Ferber, along with pianist Michael Eckroth, bassist Evan Gregor and drummer Don Peretz.

2018 release. New York City can be like a jungle. With a menagerie of people intermingling in seemingly never ceasing action, the City has ecosystems within ecosystems. Vibraphonist/composer Yuhan Su has been inspired by her chaotic new home and her experiences with the individuals she has met there. Her new recording, City Animals, captures her enthusiasm for the craziness of the City and the adventures she has had since her arrival. // Originally from Taiwan, Su came to the States in 2008 to further her music studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she expanded her classical percussion knowledge to the world of jazz and improvisation. In 2012, Su moved to New York; she fell in love with the City and immediately immersed herself in the wilds of the jazz scene. // For City Animals Yuhan Su recruited saxophonist Alex LoRe join a tightly knit ensemble, which features trumpeter Matt Holman, bassist Petros Klampanis and drummer Nathan Ellman-Bell.