Classical Music

Marc Perrenoud Trio - The Lost Churches

This wonderful album, recorded by The United States Coast Guard Dixieland Band, contains many selections considered to be standards in the Dixieland repertoire. Songs include classics like "Yellow Dog Blues", "Fidgety Feet" and "Wabash Blues". South is a fantastic reflection of the cutting edge of today's Dixieland music. (Altissimo)

With Mantra Revealed, the Marc Rossi group continues the work he began on Hidden Mandala: bearing the standard for pan-Indian jazz fusion into the present tense and beyond. The album’s rich panoply of colors and textures comes from the interplay of Rossi’s own distinctive compositions and the players’ absorbing improvisational skills. It’s become commonplace to refer to an album as a “journey” these days, but few navigate a path as wide-ranging, engaging and multi-hued as Mantra Revealed.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Taken from Lars Danielsson: Per, Lars, and Henrik are the core of the original version of Funk Unit (with Nils Landgren) where they together created a raw, wild, and unpredictable framework to their a little bit different view of the genre Funk/Jazz. Albums such as Redhorn and Live in Stockholm with Maceo Parker are examples of some of the influences that they have "marinated" in their long-standing collaboration with Michael Ruff, Randy Brecker, Brenda Russell, etc. Studio Tan emerged out of the desire to continue building on common experiences and create a collective musical frame on a platform where they could meet and create musical moments for themselves and their audience.

This debut album from the John Yao Quintet signals the definitive arrival of trombonist and composer, John Yao. Demonstrating a broad textural palette and drawing from an array of stylistic influences, Yao explores the concept of opposing forces. In the Now is a musical journey beyond conventional jazz form and structure, with the ensemble winding skillfully through a wide range of moods, colors, and textures.

Brian Charette, one of the most innovative B3 organists today presents here his daring and exciting project departing from the traditional organ jazz approach. With “the sound of a reed choir plus organ” in mind Charette wrote challenging and dazzling original material for this special band and took the art of jazz organ to a new height. “Reliably smoking B3 player” (Bill Milkowski – JazzTimes)

Precisely a year ago then 17-year old high school student, Gabe Terracciano from Portland, Maine with his violin in his hand walked into a NYU classroom where the veteran bassist/educator Ron McClure held his jazz ensemble class. McClure, after playing a few tunes together with this young violinist, started to plan this recording session with him. Ron McClure states in the liner notes: “I knew instantly that I was listening to someone who is going to make it!…... I felt like I was a witness to something unique, as much as being part of this event …. ”

For this latest and the fifth album on SteepleChase Ronnie Cuber brought his working band to the studio to appraise the classic BeBop repertoire, “proving in the process the viability of material that has weathered more than 60 years and still sounds super hip and contemporary” (Mark Gardner). On Cuber’s previous release “RONNIE (SCCD 31680) Ken Drydon of AllAboutJazz wrote, “This is his fourth CD for Steeplechase and one of his best sessions.” and London’s Sunday Express commented, “it is the intelligence and subtlety of his playing that shines through …An astonishingly lyrical player on that most unforgiving of instruments…” “Ronnie Cuber is a baritone sax player strong enough to bring out the lyricism of the weighty instrument.” (Aaron Cohen – Downbeat)

Harold Danko’s trio is in fact Harold Danko Quartet without Rich Perry – thus the album title “Unriched”. This latest Harold Danko Trio was cut right after the Quartet session fully warmed up and is rich with intense creativity and sophistication. Harold Danko has been a mainstay of SteepleChase label since the early 80s producing a number recordings in various settings with highest quality.

Ken Dryden of AllAboutJazz has once described Marcus Printup as “an open-minded player who gives his all in any setting.” In this his latest album the setting is a fertile ground for a trumpeter. Printup pays profound tribute to a dozen of the most significant and influential tumpeters of our time. “Marcus reveres those trumpeters who came before, along with those contemporaries still making their mark. He is a vitally important participant in the long and impressive tradition celebrated in this landmark CD.” (Mark Gardner – from the liner notes)

This special debut album by saxophone player Niels Vincentz, who is, to quote Mark Gardner, “one of the best kept secrets of Danish Jazz” reveals a picture of the current state of jazz music in the world. Jazz has attracted and nourished an enormous herd of talented young musicians to secure a deep reservoir of its true new voices. SteepleChase is proud to welcome Niels Vincentz to the label.

The partnership between cornetist Kirk Knuffke and pianist Jesse Stacken has so far produced two brilliant tribute albums to jazz’s great composers (SCCD 31677 Mockingbird – music of Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk, SCCD 31717 Orange is the color – music of Charles Mingus). On this their third album for the label Knuffke& Stacken comes into their element of new jazz with adventurous twists with modern composers: Steve Lacy, Carla Bley, John Coltrane, Albert Ayler and Misha Mengelberg. “…. a set that rises above the heap of albums paying tribute to jazz god fathers” (Mark Shanley on “Orange Was The Color” – JazzTimes) “This is nostalgia made vibrant, played with precision, depth, good taste and a leisurely refusal to overcrowd its sonic space.” Martin Longley on “Mockingbird” – AllAbout Jazz)

Following the successful tribute album to Lucky Thompson’s music Lucky Strikes Again (SCCD 31713) Chris Byars and his 8-piece band dedicate this latest album to the music of Freddie Redd. Chris Byars notes, "Everything he has written is meaningful and has his own special perspective on beauty. I feel that this was an overdue tribute to an admirable artist, who continues to perform and write with great spirit at the age of 83." “Lucky Strikes Again coaxes a huge sound out of five horns, a credit to the quality of the arrangements. They're musically expansive, getting the most out of the instruments at hand, but are also compact and well-organized, with only one running more than seven minutes. Byars has put together a set of concise, rewarding tracks with a band that turns in a terrific performance of outstanding material.” (Greg Simmons of AllAboutJazz on Lucky Strikes Again SCCD 31713)

Another magical summer night of 1967 from the Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen finds Dexter Gordon in company of drummer Art Taylor who heats up the evening’s temperature. “Dex's idiosyncratic spoken intros to tunes like "I Should Care" and "Come Rain or Come Shine" are charming, and the gritty soulfulness of his playing reminds us just how much we miss the greats of his generation. They don't make 'em like this anymore.” (JazzTimes’ Chris Kelsey on Loose Walk SCCD 36032) “…a welcome program that finds Gordon in a limber and exploratory mode. Foibles in fidelity aside, Dex aficionados will be sold on the disc's face value. But casual listeners will probably also be pleasingly surprised by the calibre of this classic conclave.” (Derek Taylor of AllAboutJazz on Lady Bird SCCD 36035)

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

Saxophonist Stephen Riley and drummer Billy Hart who have shared mutual admiration of each other’s work collaborated for the first time to present this compelling trio album. “….(Riley’s) lushly-conceived tone and phrasing are instantly recognizable, a post-millennial alloy of Lester Young disciples running from Don Byas through Teo Macero to Warne Marsh an on to Wayne Shorter and beyond .…” (Derek Taylor - Master of a Small House)

Pianist Peter Zak has in a relatively short time since his arrival at the NY jazz scene firmly established himself as “a top-flight modern mainstream player who appears regularly with respected artists …” (Joel Roberts –AAJ) On this his eighth album Peter Zak continues his ever-evolving approach to piano trio jazz. “….The surfaces of his music seem conventional until you notice how imaginatively his improvisations are developed, and how intelligently they tie. Zak invariably comes upon lovely notes you never anticipated.” (Thomas Conrad AAJ on “Seed of Sin” SCCD 31641)

After his active performing/recording period in the 80s and 90s Stanley Cowell has devoted his enormous talent in music education at the renowned Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA. Cowell’s previous release SCCD 31704 “Prayer For Peace” in 2010 was his first album in over a decade which evoked Mike Shanley of JazzTimes to comment, “… his phrasing, chordal voicings and use of space are impeccable….a hard-swinging trio never goes out of fashion…” Here on his new album Stanley formed a new trio with his two former students from Rutgers University to reveal that he remains a master of his material and instrument.

Renowned educator, composer/pianist Skip Wilkins teamed up with his son Daniel, a new talent on tenor saxophone to present “Father & Son” album with Skip’s working trio: Scott Lee on bass and Jeff Hirshfield on drums. Tenor saxophonist, Daniel Wilkins is young artist on the New York jazz scene. Entering his Senior Year at the Manhattan School of Music, Wilkins has been studying with alto saxophonist Steve Wilson, tenor saxophonist Rich Perry, drummer John Riley, pianists Phil Markowitz and Garry Dial. He plays lead tenor in the Grammy-nominated MSM Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra. Skip and Daniel toured in Europe and perform regularly together in New York area.

Veteran jazz drummer Eliot Zigmund has enjoyed a wide and varied career in jazz spanning forty years of playing with numerous jazz stars: Bill Evans, Jim Hall, Stan Getz, Benny Golson, Lee Konitz, among others. Born 1945 in the Bronx, Eliot grew up in the fertile New York jazz scene of the 50’s and 60’s and began playing professionally at the age of 15. He studied music at both the Mannes College of Music and at the City College of New York. Eliot has been a sideman on many recordings and has also released three albums under his own name including his Steeplechase recording titled “Breeze” (SCCD 31635), featuring Gary Versace, Mike Lee and Phil Polumbi. Trio EZ here consists of New York’s in-demand trumpeter Rick Savage and keyboardist/Hammond B-3 organist Mark Minchello.

Old Time Musketry presents a joyous music that draws on the exuberant spirit of early jazz, the poignant melodies and soulful grooves of rock and folk music, the energy and spontaneity of free improvisation, and a wilfully experimental attitude towards combining these elements into a unique vision of American music. Old Time Musketry joined forces in early 2009 in Brooklyn and has been developing their unique sound by performing widely in the New York area and around the Northeast.

Frequent leader on the label Jed Levy called upon for this new album pianist George Colligan and bassist Ron McClure both of whom were the sidemen of Jed’s remarkable SteepleChase debut “Sleight of Hand” (SCCD 31383), plus veteran drummer Adam Nussbaum. “Very impressive and about as inventive a departure from the standard tenor-and-rhythm conventions as one can hope for…” (The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD – on “Sleight of Hand”) “… saxophonist Jed Levy delivers one of the most enjoyable albums of the year. It's also accessible, straight-ahead music that everyone can enjoy…” (George Kanzler AAJ on “One Night At The Kitano” SCCD 31669)