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)

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)

Toronto-born and New York-based saxophonist/composer Andrew Rathbun returns to studio with his core group of “Shadow Forms” (SCCD 31598, 2006) to explore further his musical concept of improvisation forming into written music. Ken Dryden of AAJ wrote on “Shadow Forms”, “This outstanding release remains fresh with each hearing, as new facets of these performances become apparent to the listener.” “Shadow Forms is a wonderful album and, in typical Rathbun fashion…” (Budd Kopman – AAJ)

“This album is a true sleeper. The date is beautifully planned and recorded...”, commented Thomas Conrad of JazzTimes on the first “Oatts & Perry” (SCCD 31588) released in 2006. Following the equally highly acclaimed sequel “Oatts & Perry II” (SCCD 31689) of 2010 this latest addition to Harold Danko’s favourite project proves again the pianist/leader Danko’s endless ideas to keep the perfect conversation going between Dick Oatts (alto) and Rich Perry (tenor), arguably the two best on the scene today.

Israeli-born guitarist Rotem Sivan, who is a strong new voice on the NY jazz scene, makes his CD debut on SteepleChase Lookout. Rotem is a recipient of Montreux Jazz Festival International Competition prize in 2009. While completing his studies at Tel Aviv University and NYC’s New School University Rotem has already been a much sought-after young player in the international festivals and concerts circuit.

Although guitarist Nate Radley is a relatively new name on SteepleChase label, he has been an important member of the NY jazz scene since 2000 when he moved there with a master’s degree in music from New England Conservatory. He has made impressive appearances on this label in Eric Rasmussen’s “School of Tristano” albums SCCD 31623, SCCD 31644 and SCCD 31663 as well as on Andrew Rathbun’s “Where We Are Now” SCCD 31665. For his SteepleChase leader-debut album Nate Radley presents highly personal music style both as performer and composer.

Burak Bedikyan is a burgeoning jazz pianist/composer from Turkey, one unlikely jazz country in spite of the nation’s historical and cultural heritage which is close to the Western world. Classically trained Bedikyan was introduced to jazz though workshop in modern theory conducted by Aydin Esen, a widely respected Turkish jazz pianist and composer in 1996. Since then Bedikyan has thrived in jazz and here his development culminates in this debut album in collaboration with three superb American jazz artists: Chris Potter (sax), Peter Washington (bass) and Bill Stewart (drums). “….his music sits at the gateway of East and West, opening a window into his native culture, and helping to raise the profile of yet another nation on the jazz stage….” (Neil Tesser from the liner notes)

The Lincoln Center Orchestra’s long-time star trumpeter Marcus Printup has teamed up here again with harpist Riza Hequibal Printup to present a brilliantly conceived program of jazz and pop standards together with inspiring originals by Printup and Hequibal. On the previous collaboration between Marcus and Riza “A Time For Love” SCCD 31711 Mike Joyce of JazzTimes comments “…Printup’s cohesive and resourceful trio with harpist Riza Hequibal and bassist Kengo Nakamura recasts and rekindles a string of romantic ballads with a lean mixture of lyricism and swing….”

SteepleChase LookOut’s new recording artist Joe Manis (saxophone) has originally established himself in Northwest – Oregon, though his active performing career reaches East Coast of USA and European cities as well. Manis’ SteepleChase LookOut debut album features pianist /organist George Colligan, who currently resides in Portland, Oregon. Manis finds in this organ trio the ideal stage to displays his intense yet sophisticated music. Manis is the recipient of 2013 Oregon Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship.

SteepleChase is proud to present the first leader album by this extraordinary talent out of the younger generation of elite double bass players, Peter Brendler. After graduating with great distinction from Berklee College of Music in Boston in 2001, Peter has made New York his home, where he established himself firmly as one of the most sought after bassists. Veteran guitarist John Abercrombie and Brendler have been working together for a while and their mutually inspired collaboration results in this spirited duo project.

After a 7-year hiatus from the recording scene pianist Michael Cochrane came back strong with his new trio consisting of two Johns: Steve Johns, who’s been Cochrane’s colleague in the Sonny Fortune band, on drums and his prodigious 17-year-old son Daryl on bass. “… his music has sincerity and polish… Its execution within an honored tradition is so error-free that piano-trio addicts (and there are many out there) can simply trust it and relax. We can rely on it at any time of the day or night for sustenance and consolation. Not junk food. Comfort food. (Thomas Conrad, JazzTimes on “ Right Now” (SCCD 31627)

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)

Award-winning saxophonist, composer, bandleader and educator Chris Byars, apart from his focus on composing his own music, has been highly interested in studying the vast repertoire of jazz composers of the 20th century. His endeavour has so far culminated in Blue Lights (SCCD31662) – music of Gigi Gryce, Lucky Strikes Again (SCCD 31713) – music of Lucky Thompson, Music Forever (SCCD 31743) – music of Freddie Redd. Now to add to this impressive listing Chris Byars compiled 11 gems from the book of Duke Jordan (1922 – 2006) who was one of the early and most original bebop pianists. Israeli-born singer Yaala Ballin wrote lyrics and sang two of the Jordan melodies (Sultry Eve and Lesson In Love).

In the last few years Cornetist Kirk Knuffke has developed a formidable discography on SteepleChase label with three duo recordings with pianist Jesse Stacken, each of which is a tribute to jazz’s great composers, and one quartet collaboration with veteran saxophonist Ted Brown. Kirk Knuffke filled the new album here entirely with his own original compositions to showcase his unique compositional talent. "Over the last couple years, New York trumpeter Kirk Knuffke has quietly emerged as one of the most exciting and flexible hornmen on the scene.” Peter Margasak - Downbeat magazine

SteepleChase LookOut release # 10 here features one of the best drummers Denmark has to offer from the younger generation, Anders Mogensen, who studied at Berklee School Of Music (1990 - 1992) in Boston and graduated from the Danish Rhythmic Conservatory with Master Degree in music in 1996. Anders has been a most sought-after musician and an influential figure in European jazz scene performing with Brecker Brother, Bob Berg, Gary Thomas, Rick Margitza, Steve Swallow, Tim Hagans to mention a few. Anders Mogensen Quartet went into a studio after a successful month-long tour in Scandinavia early 2013 to record this album presented here.

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)

Saxophonist Bob Sands toured Europe in the 80s with The Lionel Hampton Orchestra and decided to make Madrid, Spain his home in 1992. Born in Manhattan in 1966 Bob started to learn piano at age 5 and saxophone at 9. He graduated from the Eastman School of Music with BA in 1988 and further earned the Master Degree with honors from at the Manhattan School of Music in 1991. He has performed with top jazz artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Gerry Mulligan, Mel Lewis, Clark Terry, Ron McClure, among others. In Spain he leads his own group which is presented in this new album and a big band with which he regularly gives concerts in Madrid.

Juris’ versatile and innovative mind finds a perfect setting for his latest album here in the relatively seldom heard guitar/trumpet quartet (without piano). Vic has been collaborating in trumpeter Tim Hagans’ Norbotten Big Band (Sweden) for several years to lay down the groundwork for this creative album. “Vic Juris is a versatile and impressively accomplished guitarist. His playing exudes warmth, intelligence and respect for the tradition. Perhaps best of all, he seems to understand that the foregoing positives also apply to a legion of contemporary guitarists, and he looks for ways to set his work apart, in terms of sound, approach, or material”. (Duck Baker – JazzTimes on “Remembering Eric Dolphy” SCCD 31453)

One of the newest addition to the SteepleChase recording artist list guitarist/composer Craig Brann’s latest release “Mark My Words” features two of his prominent colleagues and friends, Mark Turner and Gregory Tardy on saxophones. Craig Brann unveils in this album with all originals his unique compositional talent. “Craig Brann is a soulful and imaginative player and writer with a unique depth to his music. His arrangements and re-imaginings of classic songs are particularly thoughtful and fresh and his every note has meaning and purpose.” (Peter Bernstein)

Ari Ambrose, since his recording debut as leader on SteepleChase’s “Introducing Ari Ambrose” (SCCD 31450) some 15 years ago, has maintained his musical perspectives of modernism on tradition and has polished them to perfection on this new album. “…With so many of the young tenor voices continuing to follow John Coltrane or Sonny Rollins or turning toward free-form abstraction, it’s refreshing to find Ambrose employing the tradition, taking it back and bringing it forward, … offering something different in what often seems to be a world of clones.” (Will Smith – JazzTimes on Whatever Happens SCCD 31617) “Ari Ambrose's Waiting (SteepleChase SCCD 31560) is totally lacking in pretension. An exceptional example of mainstream modern jazz,…” (David Franklin-JazzTimes)

Peter Zak’s penchant and artistry for trio format has produced an impressive series of piano trio albums all of which have enjoyed superlative critical acclaims all over the world. Here on this latest release with the fitting album title Peter Zak delivers once again his trademark intelligent art of piano trio performance. “You can’t help but be drawn in by his deep swing, mastery of tempo, horn-like phrasing, orchestrative savoir faire, and ability to conjure melodic pathways through harmonic thickets.” (Ten Panken – DownBeat on Down East – SCCD 31715)

Chris Byars saxophone/composer/arranger leads his group in various formats including a quintet as in this album with guest instrumentalists (his father James Byars on English horn and his fiancée Mine Sadrazam on piano). Chris could be dubbed “Jazz Ambassador” conducting cultural exchange programs in the Middle East, Central Asia and the Balkans for the U.S. Department of State since 2007. While his previous three albums were highly creative tributaries to jazz’s true heroes: Freddie Redd, Lucky Thompson and Gigi Gryce, this new album is a superb collection of Chris’s original compositions many of which are depicting diverse cultures of the world. “…Byars’ treatment of these songs will help attract more artists and listeners to Lucky's work. Until then, consider yourself lucky to enjoy this excellent release.” (Ken Hohman – Freedom Jazz Dance on Lucky Strikes Again SCCD 31713)

In the past two decades saxophonist Jed Levy has been the stalwart of New York jazz scene leading his own group or performing with such luminaries as Jaki Byard, Junior Mance, Eddie Henderson, Jack Walrath, Kevin Mahogany, Tom Harrell, among other. On this his 7th SteepleChase release Jed Levy the composer takes the centre stage and presents an album-length suite with each section relating to Jed’s impression of Italy where he made numerous trips and gave concerts. “Very Impressive and about as inventive a departure from the standard tenor-and –rhythm conventions as one can hope for….a first-class session.” (The Penguin Guide to Jazz On CD Sleight Of Hand SCCD 31383)

The decade long collaboration between pianist Stanley Cowell and guitarist Vic Juris as fellow faculty members at the renowned Rutgers-Mason Gross School of the Arts produced here a fantastic “new world” of sounds of contemporary jazz. The latest and most powerful version of sound design soft wear called KYMA in the hand of creative artists dazzles us with the unique real-time music with no after-production touch-ups but expanded horizon of improvisation. The rhythm section of the quartet is two enormously talented former students of Cowell: bassist Tom DiCarlo and drummer Chris Brown.

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)

Yvonnick Prené, French-born, New York-based, young (29) virtuoso on the chromatic harmonica presents his much-awaited CD debut on SteepleChase LookOut. While still studying at City College of New York and New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, Yvonnick was already establishing himself as a highly acclaimed artist performing in USA and Europe. “….we find a young phenom determine to take the harmonica to a new sense of melodic intensity, dynamic tension and improvisational techniques missing from the instrument on a consistent basis for years…Jour de Fête is a happy record, brimming with an effervescent quality that accentuates the sublime artistic gift of Prené…In short, Prené is the real deal….” (Brent Black – CriticalJazz.com)

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.