Night Tripper

At Copenhagen Jazzhouse

Open Horizon

One of the best assets of the Count Basie Big Band in the 50s, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis was a frequent guest player in Europe in the 70s. In the Spring of 76 Lockjaw went into a studio in Copenhagen with “the excellent Danish rhythm section” which “manage to coax some of the best playing from the tenor saxophonist since his days with Basie” (Gramophone). “...The mood, as always with Davis, is a happy one. With the help of the fine, supportive rhythm section it becomes contagious, and ...it is an awful lot of fun to listen to.” (Fanfare) “Thankfully, the girls haven’t come home yet, so this rhythmic set of eight tunes (11 on this CD) swings out nicely...” (Billboard)

Misty Thursday

The Highest Mountain

Scorpio Rising

Bebop

New Life

Silvering

Reflections Of Monk - The Final Frontier

The Nearness Of You

Here is the second volume of “In The Tradition” with all titles in first takes to complete the session which started with Volume one. The session was originally meant for Dexter Gordon. As Dexter was taken ill at the time of recording, Braxton filled in and the rest is history. “ This music confirms Braxton’s talent for striking a fine balance between the purely experimental and the more conventional.” (Jazz Journal)

Dexter In Radioland vol. 6 With his favourite rhythm section, Dexter leads the proceedings of this sixth volume of live transmission from the 60’s European jazz Mecca Montmartre . “This excellent series of records which starts with Montmartre Jazzhus live date from 1962 documents the way in which Gordon was playing when he arrived in Europe ... They prove that he was playing very well at the time...” (Barry McRae, Jazz Journal International)

Classical Music

“This is hard bop at its best, superior playing by pianist Galper and tenor saxist Mike Brecker ...good contrast between ballads and exciting up-tempo lines.” (Don Lass, Asbury Park Press) “So the Brecker Brothers can play jazz after all!...You won’t find a drop of funk on this record, just good old, straight-ahead, swinging jazz....Hal Galper must be given credit for channelling the music in the right direction...” (Carl Brauer, Cadence) “...in pianist Hal Galper’s acoustic progressive jazz combo, trumpeter Randy and saxophonist Michael Brecker play with conviction and emotion...Good stuff.” (Oakland Tribune)

New York, N.Y.

Songbird

Drummer Makaya Ntshoko was born in 1939 in South Africa and had been an integral part of the famed Cape Town jazz scene before he moved to Switzerland in 1962. Since then Makaya has performed and recorded all over the world with a host of jazz luminaries such as Dexter Gordon, Don Cherry, Hugh Masakela, Dollar Brand, Weather Report, to mention a few. “Here is a magnificent milestone on Makaya’s lifetime journey through rhythm.” (Mark Gardner – from the liner notes)

Ball At Louisiana

Passage

One Sunday in December 2018 bassist/composer/educator Ron McClure brought this - his relatively new group - to the studio (Chris Sulit’s Trading8 in NJ) to record his 17th leader album. McClure’s 30-year-old close collaboration with SteepleChase produced quite a few releases featuring new talents the bassist discovered. This is one of them, introducing Anthony Ferrara a new tenor star freshly out of NYU where McClure teaches. “…Under any circumstances this is quite thrilling and spell-binding music…” (Thorbjørn Sjøgren – JazzSpecial on “Ready Or Not” SCCD 31759)“All of (McClure’s) writing and playing comes from the heart – he is an instinctive player above all…” (The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD)

Russian-born American guitarist/composer Gene Segal has often been commented as unpredictable in his playing style and his composing. Ever evolving in search of new horizon Segal’s past 4 releases on SteepleChase have never failed to prove his boundless creativity. On this new album Segal teams up again with the #1 Hammond B3 organist Brian Charette, this time mostly on piano, to present a guitar/keyboard quartet where the guitar gets the role of lead voice. “Music that glows and grows.” (George W. Harris – Jazz Weekly on SCCD 33121 Matter)

“Fresh…exotic…and far beyond the ordinary” (The New York Times) is one of the numerous praises the world press bestowed upon Allegra since her debut album “Lonely City” (SCCD 33118) a few years ago. While Allegra Levy’s second album “Cities Between Us” (SCCD 31827) cemented her strong talent as a singer/songwriter, here on this her third album Allegra the singer steps up to the front interpreting time-tested as well as newer moon–themed songs. “Levy is a gifted lyricist and she writes often light thoughts and observations but from a personal point of view. Vocal fans should seek this out as Levy fills a spot that is fresh and rewarding in the pantheon of vocalists. A carefully produced CD full of rewards.” (Robert D. Rusch – Papatamas on SCCD 31827 Cities Between Us) “Levy is a fresh new voice, with songs steeped in the tradition and primed to join the canon.” (Jim Motavalli – New York City Jazz Record on SCCD 31827 Cities Between Us)

Pianist Greg Burk’s striking solo album “Clean Spring” (SCCD 33124) was recorded in Italy and released in March of 2016 to critical and public acclaim. “… Clean Spring will only further burnish his reputation as a deep player and thinker …. Burk’s musical mind is extremely rich and deep, with many crossing currents flowing through it …” (Budd Kopman - AAJ) “… the sustained complementary independence of Burk’s limbs borders on the preternatural. Piano recitals are a near quotidian exercise these days in the crowded jazz arena. Burk’s latest sortie in the idiom boldly stands out.” (Derek Taylor – Dusted Magazine) Here on this new trio album Michigan native Greg Burk pays musical homage to the city where he spent his formative years as a professional musician.