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.

Karin Hammar writes: "Dear listener! After the release of 2 albums with Karin Hammar Fab 4 in 2016 and 2018, the time felt right to extend the Fab4 soundscape. As I have always being inspired by film music and classical music, the choice of adding string quartet to the jazz group felt like the extra flavoring needed to both enhance and expand the musical horizon. The idea of combining the Karin Hammar Fab 4 and the string quartet with Olivier Ker Ourio's chromatic harmonica transpired after I met and played with Olivier in Tel Aviv 2017. As a result, the beautiful sound of the harmonica, Ker Ourio's virtuosity came to be the 9th voice of this project. We hope you enjoy listening to this music - we certainly enjoyed writing and recording it!"

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.”.

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)

This new release from Herb Alpert Presents is the definitive retrospective on the illustrious career of one of America's most unique musical voices, Herb Alpert! Containing 63 tracks culled from 6 decades of the trumpeter's classic recordings, HERB ALPERT IS... is the perfect companion piece to the new 2020 feature length documentary of the same name. Presented in a hard bound Digi case with 3 discs and a 180-page book of vintage photos, extensive song credits, and a 7,500 word essay written by Bud Scoppa. The Digi case is housed in a custom slipcase with a screened printed smoked acrylic window.

Classical Music

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)

Jutta Hipp, with her incredible talent and striking looks, made a name for herself during the 1950s. After her brief rise to fame, she fell out of music until her death in 2003, and much of her volume of work is erratic and sporatic. This release includes German recordings from the early 1950s, before she moved to New York City.

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)

The jazz pianist Wolfgang Mitschke appeared in Jazz magazines for the first time with Jazz masters such as Albert Mangelsdorff, Charlie Mariano, and Don Friedmann and became known to a wider audience with his Fusion Jazz record "Night Over Berlin," published by SKIP-Records. A stylistically similar album with the title "Midnight Moods" was also released by SKIP in the summer of 2008. On these albums, Wolfgang Mitschke already understood to organically employ the technical possibilities "single-handedly" with perfectly sampled sounds of the piano, e-piano, bass, rhythm guitar, strings, and the drum in such a way to produce a full sound impression.

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)

CHARIVARI (BLACK CROSS SOLO SESSIONS 7)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Morten Haxholm is ready to release his sixth album. It is an album that once again sees him joining forces with US jazz stars Jonathan Kreisberg (guitar) and Ari Hoenig (trumpet), as he did on his first and second albums Equilibrium and Quintessence of Dust. This time he is also joined by Frederick Menzie (sax) and Nikolaj Hess. Morten Haxholm is an upcoming Danish bass player, but he has already established himself on the Danish and international jazz scene. He graduated in 2013 from the prestigious soloist education at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen, and with four albums in his own name and several tours with his own bands in Denmark, he has emerged on the music scene as a new composer and bass player to be reckoned with.

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/accordionist/composer JP Schlegelmilch is the featured member of Old Time Musketry which has just made its CD debut on SteepleChase LookOut (“Different Times” SCCD 33101). Jon Ross of Downbeat bestowed four stars on the album speaking highly of Schlegelmilch’s compositional skills. On this his solo debut JP explores the musical universe of the iconic composer/guitarist Bill Frisell with whom JP shares the evocative edge in contemporary American music.

2018 release from the contemporary jazz pianist and composer. Highlights include the hit single "Morning Samba," the uplifting "Something About You," the sensuous ballad "Blue Horizon" and more brilliant Brian Simpson originals!

Award-winning Vibraphonist Lewis Wright returns to Signum following the success of his recording 'Duets' in 2018, with a selection of new compositions this time performed with Matt Brewer (Double-Bass) and Marcus Gilmore (Drums). "The Colour of Intention refers to the creative process itself: that in order to express yourself honestly in music, you have to generate clear intentions developed from thoughts and emotions which then color the work rather than explaining every aspect of it. In the moment of performance, the goal then becomes to put all these previous investigations out of mind and exist in the present. The color of intention is describing everything except performance; the slower processes of development, reflection and refinement and how they'll seep, often unpredictably, into everything that ends up being realized. Working with Matt (Brewer) and Marcus (Gilmore) adds the last and most engaging dimension. How they interpret the music, interact and bring their own highly developed languages to bare, creates something that's both a reflection of my intentions and also infinitely more sophisticated than it's possible for me to conceive of. I think in this sense, human connection is the greatest element of what it is we do as musicians." (Lewis Wright)

In 2006 trombonist/composer/arranger Vincent Gardner has been pursuing to compile series of theme albums based on great compositions from the past and present. The Book of Bebop, showcases again Vincent’s unique talent in the company of all star musicians to reflect that exciting era of jazz’s history 70 years ago. About Gardner's successful debut album “Elbow Room” SCCD 31580: “… a top-flight maiden voyage for Gardner.” (Terrell Kent Holmes – AAJ) “a unique flavor, a quality that pretty much permeates the entire disc. This, of course, elevates the recital beyond your typical tribute album and bodes well for Gardner's further development as an individualist with something important to say.” (C. Andrew Hovan – AAJ on "The Good Book Chapter One" SCCD 31616) Vincent Gardner “The Good Book, Chapter Two" (SCCD 31716) has recently been nominated for the Independent Music Award 2012

Classical Music

“There's a certain nakedness to a jazz duo. Everything is out there and exposed - no crashing cymbals to hide behind, or bass lines to get lost in. It often brings out a different side of your playing, a brutal honesty that is left after everything else is stripped away. Here is where we ended up...” Kevin Jones recently joined the Florida State University College of Music faculty as Assistant Professor of Jazz Trombone in 2016 after previously holding teaching appointments at the University of Texas at Austin, the University of South Carolina, Lander University, and Presbyterian College. As a performing artist, Dr. Jones toured with James Brown, Kenny Loggins, the Ringling Bros. Circus, and Princess Cruise Lines. He has numerous performing credits with jazz and commercial artists including the Temptations, Bucky Pizzarelli, Aretha Franklin, Joshua Redman, David Sanborn, Bill Holman, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Jim McNeely, Burt Bacharach, and Barry Manilow. Bill Peterson began his career in Chicago as a pianist and conductor/arranger/contractor for many celebrity artists, sharing the stage with celebrity greats including Ramsey Lewis, Diane Schuur, Patti Labelle, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Smokey Robinson, Red Buttons, Suzanne Somers, Steve Allen, Joan Rivers, Morey Amsterdam, Kathie Lee Gifford, Mary Hart, Bob Newhart, Tony Bennett, George Burns, Danny Thomas, and Las Vegas sensation, Danny Gans.

Piece of Mind is an all-star group that features some of the most talented voices in jazz today. The concept of the group was inspired by the VSOP Quintet from the late 1970s with the intention of being both a touring and recording group. During his career, Rose has worked with each member of the group at different times, as have the other members. The new collective brings together the highly regarded players who, when united onstage, deliver an exciting and fluid musical experience. In Spring 2019, the group recorded their first album, presented here, which features highlights from their series of live concerts at the Blue Llama in Ann Arbor, MI. Members of the group include Adonis Rose: drums; Tia Fuller: alto sax; Maurice Brown: trumpet; Sasha Masakowski: vocals; Miki Hayama: piano; and Jasen Weaver: bass.