So much in the improvisatory arts is determined by the choices of collaborators, environment, and performance goals. Guitarist, composer, and conceptualist Brandon Ross regularly creates situations with other musicians and artists to push their collective creativity to new destinations. The Phantom Station ensemble is a vehicle that Ross returns to with soundesign artist, Hardedge, to embark upon adventurous, uncharted musical journeys. � The idea behind Phantom Station was to assemble an "individual-directed" ensemble that could engage in an open musical discourse and instantaneous music-making without the borders of genre or preconceived musical ideas. One of the results of one of these meetings was recorded at Firehouse 12 in New Haven, Connecticut and is presented as Off The End, a fascinating document of spontaneous creation with an incredible cast of musicians, including cornetist Graham Haynes, keyboardist David Virelles, and drummer JT Lewis. Ross began Phantom Station as a springboard for his creative pursuits with Hardedge, an electronic artist, whose singular soundesign work is employed to generate interactive sound worlds with textures and palettes conceived for the settings or ensembles. Hardedge's electronics thus maximize the sonic and textural possibilities without overextending the size of the ensemble. Additionally, Phantom Station became an open-door invitational sound "crucible" for a round robin of Ross's wide net of collaborators. � In late fall 2021, Ross presented two concerts of Phantom Station, one in New York at the Jazz Gallery and the other at Firehouse 12. The band had slightly different personnel for each show but with the same instrumentation, as Ross wanted to focus on the dynamics between his electric and acoustic guitars, Hardedge's soundesign, and drums along with cornet/electronics and keyboards. � Haynes and Ross have known each other since Ross arrived in New York City in the early 1980s. They eventually made plans to record and perform duet material while the cornetist lived in Paris in the 90's. Ross's relationship with drummer JT Lewis is also a long and fruitful one, as they remain engaged in many musical settings, most importantly their avant power trio Harriet Tubman, with bassist Melvin Gibbs. The most recent addition to Ross's collective fold is Cuban-born, US-based keyboard player David Virelles, who Ross met through a mutual affiliation with composer Henry Threadgill in 2014. The two hit it off and gradually began to perform together inviting each other into various projects. � This was the group that convened at Firehouse 12 on December 10, without detailing instructions about the musical direction prior to the show, with the intention of allowing the music to be unconfined by predetermined structures. Ross trusted all the members of this iteration of Phantom Station to direct and self-orchestrate with the resources and influences that they utilize as creative musicians. The recording captures the entire concert as it developed, which has been indexed for reference. Hardedge's chirping, ringing electronics and Lewis's low drums create a mood on the introductory "May Forever Pass Between." Energy builds with rattling percussion as Ross and Haynes join with warm, measured tones on "Through the Heart of My Demarcation" with the addition of Virelles's piano and keyboards making the piece a rhapsodic clarion call. Ross's plaintive vocals float above an ambient wave of synth, guitar, and cornet electronics on "The Gate Is Open" before Virelles and Lewis unleash a torrent of keys, sequenced sounds, and drums on "Your Shoes Point Like Arrows." The intensity builds and builds as Haynes's cornet and Ross's wailing guitar are unleashed.

The holiday season usually brings an expected harvest of albums. But, every once in a while, a seasonal release seeks to surprise, delight and refresh our love for the music of snow and celebration in a new way. Grammy Award winning multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and composer Ted Nash and singular singer/songwriter Kristen Lee Sergeant have brought something of this high caliber to the party in Holidays: a markedly distinctive record for the season. Ted Nash is well known as a bandleader and as a member and arranger for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. He is paired with Kristen Lee Sergeant, a vocalist and songwriter who has been singled out for her intelligent lyrics and dramatic styling of song. Nash and Sergeant aren't just occasional partners on the bandstand (Nash has appeared in several of Sergeant's releases), they are partners in life with all that entails, including a collaboration in wine called Two Notes, now in it's fourth vintage.

The mastery of an instrument or a musical language doesn't necessarily mean that a musician must be frivolous in performance with displays of their masterful technique or engagement in superfluous overplaying. Sometimes it is the restraint that shows the maturity and taste of a performer. Rufus Reid and Sullivan Fortner are musicians who have the easy ability to astonish but show their class in their control.� Of course, Reid has been admonished as one of the best bassists in jazz for decades, leaving him nothing more to prove. The heralded young pianist, Sullivan Fortner, has a maturity beyond his years and the pairing of the two allows for music making of the highest caliber. Their duo recording, It's The Nights I Like, shows just what kind of magic can made without resorting to histrionics and letting the music shine.

The jazz canon is full of outstanding material for musicians to use as vehicles for improvisation. The music of Brazilian composer Ant�nio Carlos Jobim and his peers has been especially ripe for interpretation since the 1960s. Chromatic harmonica specialist Yvonnick Pren� looked to the Brazilian jazz school for inspiration for his new duo recording with piano virtuoso Geoffrey Keezer, entitled Jobim's World. Originally from France, Pren� has made a name for himself in the New York City jazz scene by his straight-ahead jazz style that leans heavily toward the post-bop language. After his last quintet recording, Listen!, Pren� decided to find a new avenue to showcase his heightened improvisational sensibilities. He enlisted the assistance of Paris based producer Daniel Yvinec and the two landed on the idea of recording a duo album in honor of the spirit of Jobim's music. The scaled down approach would display Pren�'s talents in the most transparent way. Pren� has known Geoffrey Keezer's playing and personality for a long time, following the pianist's appearances in New York City and studying his music. Without meeting Keezer, Pren� invited him to record this album, to which Keezer accepted. To prepare, Pren� and Yvinec took their time discussing the possibilities and the material they should work on. Pren� also brought in pianist Laurent Courthaliac, a bebop enthusiast, to help arrange a number of pieces, which they worked on over a three-day period in Paris in September 2023. The trio ultimately arrived on five Jobim pieces, two pieces by Jobim peers, and two original compositions by Pren� for the program. The well-known material from Jobim was really transformed in their arrangements, which respects his timeless melodies but really stretches the harmonic structure to allow for a more modern edge. After an afternoon of rehearsal with Keezer, in which the pianist and Pren� found a close musical rapport and respect, the recording was captured at Oktaven Audio on November 17, 2023.

After a miraculous triumph over a four year battle with a rare form of misdiagnosed Cancer that had him at death's door, internationally renowned pianist/composer Michael Wolff continues to celebrate his incredible recovery and life on "Memoir, " his first studio album in four years, set for release August 2, 2024 on Sunnyside Records. The highly anticipated collection will be available on Amazon, Spotify, iTunes, and Wolff's website (www. Michaelwolff. com) or wherever you purchase your music. Wolff is known for playing with a Who's Who of jazz legends from Cal Tjader, Cannonball Adderly, and Sonny Rollins, to his mentor and friend, Bill Evans, to Herbie Hancock, Nancy Wilson, (he was also her musical director, ) Sheila E. , Christian McBride and so many more. In pop culture he's best known for his five-year run as the musical director and bandleader for Arsenio Hall on the star's award-winning, late night TV talk show. "Memoir" features Wolff in his trio with longtime collaborators bassist Ben Allison and drummer Allan Mednard, the 11-track collection is a deeply inspired compilation of new music and fresh interpretations of some of Wolff's favorite unreleased original compositions he decided to revisit. True to it's title, "Memoir" is a rhythmically dynamic, yet simultaneously soulful exploration that showcases the rich, intricate quality of Wolff's playing and the musicianship of all three artists. With over 21 solo albums to his credit, "Memoir" is one of Wolff's most personal and significant records to date. "I wanted every note and song to resonate emotionally with the listener and reflect the journey of my experiences. This album conveys a feeling that's very personal and thoughtful, but still has great energy, " stated Wolff. That 'personal feeling' is expressed in several ballads reflective of Wolff's more contemplative playing and composition, most notably on the charming and seductive "Afternoon" written spontaneously at the piano while his wife, actress/writer/director Polly Draper was busy in the kitchen on a sunny New York afternoon. A melancholy feeling is also expressed in another reflective piece, (and the album's sole cover, ) "You've Changed. " Originally popularized by Billie Holiday, Wolff's interpretation evokes an emotional and tactile feeling, motivated by his memory of finally waking up after so long and beginning the process of exploring his inner self. The record is a musical expression of Wolff's amazing life story and how his experiences have impacted his evolution as a musician whose fresh perspectives continue to move his music forward. "Memoir" follows the publication of Wolff's recent Amazon best-selling autobiography, "On That Note: A Memoir of Jazz, Tics and Survival, " which chronicles his life and musical career from his unique roots growing up in the segregated south, his lifelong struggle with Tourette's Syndrome, to his rise to fame in the jazz world and pop culture, and ultimately his amazing conquest over the grueling, life-threatening battle with the rare cancer that almost stole his life. "The pieces on 'Memoir' truly reflect who I am today as an artist and person, " he adds. "Having gone through the frightening cancer battle and facing my mortality has made me a more mature artist. Writing the book was like finding myself and this music reflects and builds on my personal story of struggle and ultimately triumph over the odds. " Wolff explains. "My intention was to create an album that would be an important testament to my life and music. I wanted to make everything as meaningful as I could, not pushing for anything specific, but simply going with the feeling. With this material I was a musical explorer, able to find the melody within the melody, always at the mercy of inspiration.. " Wolff expressed.

There seems to be a patented Brazilian musical sound, whether it be the cool strains of bossa nova or the rhythmic pull of samba. Vinicius Cantuaria is a master of Brazilian music in it's many forms, but on his new recording, Psychedelic Rio, he decided to turn the music on it's head. Recruiting the Italian duo of Paolo Andriolo and Roberto Rossi to form a power trio, Cantuaria and the music demand to be played loud! � Cantuaria is well known to fans of Brazilian song. He began his musical sojourn with the Brazilian rock group O T�r�o and continued making waves through popular the MPB, collaborating with the legendary Caetano Veloso, and cementing his credibility by expertly performing and recording the music of Carlos Antonio Jobim.

The past three years have been indispensable in pianist �lvaro Torres's musical development. The essential ingredient being his adoption of New York City as his home and source of inspiration. Torres's investment in the deepest jazz scene in the world has allowed him rare opportunities to know and perform with his musical heroes, as he does on his new recording, Iris, which features the legendary drummer Barry Altschul and bass great John H�bert. Originally from Madrid, Spain, Torres sought out musical inspiration all over the globe. Having completed his studies at the Manhattan School of Music, Torres became addicted to New York City and all it has to offer. He finds inspiration everywhere, from his musical associates to the sounds of the city's bustling streets. Long before he moved to New York, Torres had discovered and fell for the playing of Altschul, who had the distinction of being a member of the collective improvising group Circle and trios led by two of the most advanced pianists in jazz: Chick Corea and Paul Bley. Having attempted to meet Altschul in person but never managing to find him, Torres finally wrote the drummer to see if he would be willing to meet. Altschul proved to be very approachable and invited the young pianist over for a session. An opportunity for a gig at the Mezzrow Jazz Club appeared and Torres invited Altschul and bassist H�bert to form a trio. Since then, the trio has appeared regularly over the past two years, including at the venerable Jazz Gallery and Smalls jazz clubs. Naturally, the ensemble has continued to evolve. Initially, they performed original compositions by Torres and loose standards, allowing the pieces to blossom into improvisatory explorations. Now, Torres provides pieces with more structure, though the openness remains, the group ever able to go off into any musical direction. When Torres brought the trio to Trading 8s Recording Studio in July 2023, the trio recorded a collection of the pianist's improvisatory leaning pieces and a beloved bebop standard The past few years have been good ones for �lvaro Torres. He found a home in New York City, one that provides inspiration, activity, and a spirit for adventure. Torres's enthusiasm and appreciation can be heard on his new recording, Iris.

In contemporary music, the divide between composition and improvisation has become blurry over the generations. Twentieth and twenty-first century composers have stretched the boundaries of melodic and harmonic structure, leading to pieces that challenge listeners and performers alike. Hoping to work along these lines, pianist and composer Jake Hart immersed himself in the worlds of jazz and contemporary music. For his debut recording, Collage, Hart has woven together musical ideas from contemporary classical music into a through-composed piece that sounds like an improvised piece of music. It was during his formative studies on piano that Hart discovered his love of solo playing. He knew that when he recorded his first album it would be solo piano. Though he started playing solo piano in the jazz vein while a teenager, Hart's study of modern composition led him to incorporate the sounds of 20th and 21st century composers into his improvisations. By the time he finished his degrees, Hart had discovered a new method of composing that suited his particular style. Hart's long study and absorption of an encyclopedic list of composers, including those as diverse as Arnold Schoenberg, Toru Takemitsu, and Morton Feldman, gave him access to myriads of musical ideas that he began to incorporate into his composing process. These internalized ideas were then arranged and memorized to form a through composed piece without notating. The effect of the performance is to sound like a long solo piano improvisation that sounds as contemporary as any improvising artist. The resulting composition, Collage, is a nearly hour long piece that is a cornucopia of musical ideas expertly arranged into an intriguing performance. Having begun the composing process in 2021, Hart has internalized Collage, a piece that has solidified his unique style and voice. The creation of Collage has led to Hart's decision to create a collection of twelve collage pieces, which will utilize the same concept of creative borrowing from composers but will engage with a wider variety and from farther back in the music's development. On his debut album, Collage, Jake Hart has composed an intriguing and singular piece of music for solo piano, one that breaks the boundaries of classical and jazz form in it's own kaleidoscopic musical universe.

For most musicians, Covid changed everything. With no live performances in sight and not knowing what the future would hold, I dove into composing head first. What else could I do, sequestered in a 500 square foot apartment in Hell's Kitchen, NYC? I began writing new music for my Septet+ for what would become our fifth recording. Contemplating what my focus would be for this next project, I wanted to try something new, become submerged, distracted, anything to escape everything going on around me! While spending more time than usual online, I stumbled across Bill Moyers' new website posting entitled "A Poet A Day." His daily posts began with: "During these trying days of social distancing, self-isolating and quarantines, days rife with fear and anxiety, my colleagues and I thought you might like some company. So each day we will be introducing you to poets we have met over the years. The only contagion they will expose you to is a measure of joy, reflection and meditation brought on by "the best words in the best order." Enjoy. - Bill Moyers." I was hooked! Admittedly never a huge poem person, I was comforted and inspired by these writings. And then the proverbial "light-bulb" turned on in my head. It just seemed like the right time and opportunity, since I'd be confined at home for an unknown length of time, to compose music using these poems as lyrics for vocalists, something I'd never done. And here we are! All of the poems on this recording were chosen during those first few months in the spring of 2020, and I'm excited to finally present them to you. It has been quite a journey, beginning with choosing poems that would express not only my feelings during that time, but what we were all experiencing socially, politically and emotionally. I wanted to pick poems that I thought I could work with musically, that would inspire me. I wanted to compose music that would do justice to what the poets were communicating, and feature the right vocalists and soloists to amplify, express and represent those ideas. Of course, it was impossible to know at that time if the music and concept would remain relevant by the time the recording would come out... but, for good and for ill, the messages of these poems remain as current and unresolved today as when they were written. -Jamie Baum

There is something timeless in the performance of a jazz ballad. By nature, they are very open to unique interpretation. Drummer Tony Moreno inherited an appreciation for ballads from his mother, a professional harpist, which eventually led to Moreno regularly performing them with his Trio. After twenty years of leading the group, Moreno has compiled some of his mother's favorites to record with the trio on their debut album, Ballads Volume 1. Moreno grew up in New York City under the sway of his mother Nina Dunkel's musical lead. Dunkel garnered rave reviews for her debut concert at Carnegie Hall at 19 years old and went on to study with Nadia and Lili Boulanger in Paris. Regardless of her pedigree, Dunkel found it difficult find a regular position in the orchestras of 1950s United States. She was relegated to playing restaurant and hotel gigs, adding a bit of elegance for tourists on their stays in New York City. Rather than be discouraged, Dunkel developed a love of the jazz canon and invented a unique way of pedaling her harp to allow herself to play jazz changes. She was especially fond of a regular gig performing at the VIP lounge at the Charles French Restaurant where she met many of legends of the music, including Leonard Bernstein, Duke Ellington, and Alec Wilder. Dunkel passed her love of jazz to her son. Upon his request, she escorted Moreno to hear drumming legend Elvin Jones at the La Boheme Club. Meeting Jones set Moreno in motion on his life's journey as a professional jazz drummer. Moreno also caught Dunkel's appreciation for ballads, as their lyricism and transparency drew his ears. Flashing forward, Moreno found a home for his musical experiments with his trio of pianist Frank Kimbrough and bassist Fran�ois Moutin at the 55 Bar in the West Village. Their group's monthly residency allowed the trio to get progressively freer with their playing, stretching standard material farther and farther. Some of their favorite pieces to perform were standards that Moreno had first heard under the fingers of his mother on her harp. After Kimbrough passed away in 2020, Moreno enlisted his occasional substitute Gary Versace to fill the vacancy permanently. Though 55 Bar closed in 2020, primarily due to the negative effects of the Covid pandemic, and performance opportunities in New York have become more limited in general, the trio still performs often and with incredible, spontaneous results. In the fall of 2022, Moreno, Versace, and Moutin decided to finally document their special group. For their recording, they pared their sixty pieces from Dunkel's regularly performed repertoire to a more manageable number for an album. Versace lent his talents toward reharmonizing many of the pieces, which that and the group's effortless reinterpretations made the pieces they recorded at Oktaven Studios a fascinating collection of reimagined standards.

On his new recording, Outing - Road Trip II, Mike McGinnis and his 10-piece jazz ensemble pay tribute once again to the legendary clarinetist and composer Bill Smith whose commissioned piece "Transformations" is debuted and featured along with McGinnis's dynamic recent works. The music that McGinnis began to create for his "Road*Trip" band mirrored the aesthetics of composers for similarly sized ensembles that he most enjoyed, most notably Django Bates and Carla Bley, whose work was not only drawing from a wide variety of influences but always full of surprise. So, when setting out to write new works for his group, McGinnis thought it would be exciting to feature and challenge the musicians in his group, which includes trumpeter Jeff Hermanson, alto saxophonist Caroline Davis, tenor saxophonist Peter Hess, baritone saxophonist Barry Saunders, trombonist Brian Drye, French horn player Justin Mullens, pianist Jacob Sacks, bassist Dan Fabricatore, and drummer Vinnie Sperrazza.

Greenfield first met bassist Johnson while they were both studying at the Berklee College of Music in the mid-1970s. It took them another decade to begin playing together regularly in different configurations in New York City. Their work in quartets and trios helped the two develop a conversational style of play. They soon found that they really didn't need other musicians to enhance what they already had as a duo, a formation that they have been revisiting for nearly 20 years. Naturally, Greenfield and Johnson's musical connection was deep. Their duo allowed for an openness in their playing, allowing them to stretch and push one another. Johnson's bass approach maintained the outline of their material perfectly and provided jumping off points for improvisation for the two of them. Hayes Greenfield and Dean Johnson have found that their duo is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding musical pairings in their careers.

New York-based vibraphonist Yuhan Su, a Taiwanese native, has built a reputation as "among the most prominent contemporary voices" (Jazziz) on her instrument. Liberated Gesture, her second release for Sunnyside (and fourth album overall), follows up City Animals from 2018 with a new set of original compositions, a new band of heavyweights and a renewed outlook on art and possibility. Joined by altoist Caroline Davis, pianist Matt Mitchell, bassist Marty Kenney and drummer Dan Weiss, Su brings to life an ambitious set of music with the common theme of finding freedom. "Throughout the years," she says, "I've come to realize that to be free, to break from all constraints and preconceived notions, is what I've been chasing all along. I felt a weight lifted from my shoulders, and as I opened my eyes again, I found nothing but wild and eerily beautiful things on the road in front of me. This album represents the freedom that I've been searching for.

Frank Carlberg has explored the music of Thelonious Sphere Monk in many contexts: as a seasoned and highly acclaimed pianist, noted for his work in duo, trio and other small groups, but also as leader and orchestrator of an adventurous large ensemble. His 2017 release Monk Dreams, Hallucinations and Nightmares was big-band Monk in all it's glory, rated five stars in DownBeat and hailed as "stunning and original" by The Buffalo News. Carlberg played piano on the earlier date, which had J.C. Sanford conducting. But on the new Elegy for Thelonious, Carlberg takes up the baton and does not play, leaving that to the brilliant Leo Genovese (effortlessly at home in mainstream and avant-garde jazz settings). "Thelonious Monk remains as vital and relevant as ever," says Carlberg, "and we are very happy to share this offering inspired by the Master and created through our personal prism.

Pianist and composer, Andy Milne is thrilled to present Time Will Tell, a new album recorded with his trio Unison dropping April 26, 2024, on Sunnyside Records. Milne's latest collaboration with bassist John H�bert and drummer Clarence Penn is a sparkling exploration of identity and destiny, showcasing Milne's ever-evolving craft. It follows the trio's The ReMission (2020), winner of Jazz Album of the Year: Group at the 2021 Juno Awards. As with it's predecessor, Time Will Tell is Milne's artistic response to life-changing circumstances. Whereas The ReMission was inspired by his cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, Time Will Tell chronicles his lifelong efforts to uncover his birth family history. Adopted as an infant, his efforts to connect with his birth family proved fruitless - until 2018, when the gift of an Ancestry. Com DNA test from his wife, singer La Tanya Hall, changed everything. A DNA match led him to his first cousin, Marc, with whom he discovered he shared a mutual friend. Ironically, just as world events collided with the COVID-19 lockdowns, the profound mysteries of his biological family began to rapidly reveal themselves. "In 2022, my voyage eventually received an unimaginable upgrade when I finally met my birth mother, " he recounts. "This recording reflects part of my expedition navigating the mixed emotions associated with this identity paradox. How we move through life, and the lives we will touch, is unknown to us, despite our best efforts to chart a path. " While he says the new album shouldn't be taken as a pound-for-pound musical account of these experiences, the journey inspired and informed his process. "I realized my compositions were a subconscious reflection of my experience, " says Milne, who is also an assistant professor of music at the University of Michigan. "I met my birth mother days before I composed a lot of this music, and quickly recognized that this would be a significant throughline in those pieces. I essentially allowed it to flow and envelop my process. " The notion of "family" extends to Milne's artistic approach, in terms of his commitment to honoring relationships, building community and blending musical languages. This is heart-wrenchingly expressed in the track "Lost and Found. " It reveals his personal mission - both in title and his plaintive performance - and introduces a new texture to Unison's soundscape in the koto of virtuoso Yoko Reikano Kimura. She can be heard on three other tracks on Time Will Tell. Milne's interest in Asian culture dates back to his student days, when he also became curious about Zen Buddhism. A decade ago, he fell in love with the string universe of the Japanese koto and created the multidisciplinary project Strings & Serpents, which featured a piano duo, a koto duo, and an animated film. This led to him inviting Kimura to join Unison for a gig. "That set the wheels in motion, " he recalls. "I like the koto for it's soulfulness and because it can express opposite and complementary sonic qualities to the piano. It's quite flexible - it can be delicate but it can also be really ferocious. The similarities and differences between these two iconic string instruments really appeal to me. " Also bringing considerable chops to four tracks is tenor saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, with whom Milne recorded the 2022 album Fragile. Their interplay on opening track "Purity of Heart" lends a sense of urgency to the proceedings, and after their previous collaboration the ease of their give-and-take is apparent. "Ingrid and I have known each other for years, and in 2012, we had a transformative experience training together at the Jazz Composers Orchestra Institute at UCLA, " Milne explains. "Then, during the pandemic, she reached out and invited me to make a duo recording. It was challenging, inspired, and a lot of fun, and we realized we had forged a very good musical connection. "