SteepleChase’ 1973 release Birdtown Birds (SCCD 31003) by Joe Albany trio recorded live at Copenhagen’s famous Jazzhus Montmartre took the world’s jazz fans who have all but forgotten about this bebop piano legend by surprise. Joe Albany not only existed but still performed with vigor and authority. Albany concluded his engagement at Montmartre with solo recital which is presented here following the first volume SCCD 31794. “…In this previously unreleased solo set, recorded in 1973, the ideas come tumbling out so copiously that they sometimes fall over one another - but they’re all his own ideas and there’s nothing glib about them. He was a genuine original.” (Dave Gellt – The Guardian) “…this is a rare glimpse of Albany, and it may appeal both to completists and general listeners.” (Andy Boeckstaens – London Jazz News)

As Rich Perry’s previous release SCCD 31776 “Nocturne” deviated the standard quartet configuration by replacing piano with guitar, on this his 22nd album Rich tries something new again: an organ trio. With his two long-time creative partners (Gary Versace at the keyboard and Jeff Hirshfield on drums) Rich Perry opens a new chapter of the art of jazz improvisation. “This is standards-centered jazz of the best sort.” (Derek Taylor- dusted magazine on SCCD 31776 Nocturne) “Rich Perry is that rarest of tenor saxophonists — a complete musician with an understanding of space and timing, a palpable sense of color and humor and absolutely no need to showboat or compromise .…. he makes jazz that's adventurous and highly listenable with a smart and sympathetic band playing standards not frequently performed and in new ways of playing in the tradition.” (Donald Elfman - AAJ on SCCD 31558 East Of The Sun & West Of 2nd Ave.)

Since his Steeplechase debut release of “North By Northwest” SCCD 33102 in September, 2012, Joe Manis has kept this organ trio featuring George Colligan busy performing in and around Oregon where he bases his activities on. Here is their second album which clearly shows the intensity and remarkable rapport of a tightknit working band. “Adding Colligan’s B-3 to his trio provoked an enjoyably incendiary chemical reaction on their 2013 album North by Northwest, with the two soloists inspiring each other to ever more daring flights, mostly in the classic style.”— Willamette Week

The leader of this new album Kirk Knuffke has just been voted “Rising Star (trumpet)” of 2015 by the prestigious DownBeat Magazine’s Critics Poll. Kirk moved to NYC just 10 years ago and he has firmly established as one of the most sought after cornetist / composer on the scene. Kirk chose for this his 6th leader/co-leader album somewhat special material (music that relates to spirituality of passing (=funeral)) and executed beautifully with superb support from B-3 organ player Jamie Saft and legendary drummer Hamid Drake.

New York-based guitarist/composer Gene Segal was born in Russia and immigrated to USA as a young child with his musician family. His upbringing in European music tradition combined with American contemporary music including jazz enabled Gene Segal to create his unique universe of multi-layered music. “…the energy on this CD is different/better in major ways….if raw energy in jazz is your forte – GET THIS one!..I give Gene & all his players a definite MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED…” (Improvijazzation #146 on SCCD 33114 “Mental Images”)

Concept Art Orchestra is an occasionally performing Czech big band comprised of first class Czech jazz musicians, led and conducted by trumpetist/composer Štepánka Balcarová. Their album, The Prague Six, contains six first-time recordings of contemporary compositions by the young Czech composers who formed the group of the same name, the majority of them also ranking among the band’s members. Large original compositions lie at the border of jazz and classical music, using all expressive possibilities and orchestral interplay, as well as the improvisational skills of its individual members.

Awarded 'Best British Vocalist' on more than one occasion, singer Liane Carroll has a 'deeply soulful' voice and a fearless approach to singing. 'Seaside' is a mix of original songs and covers broadly following a seashore theme, with sterling accompaniment comprising piano trio, guitar and brass. Liane brings a refreshing approach to Billie Holiday's 'I Cover The Waterfront', Kurt Weill's 'My Ship' and Nina Simone's 'Wild is the Wind', plus 'Almost Like Being In Love' - famous as the closing track to the blockbuster hit Groundhog Day. The title song, 'Seaside', was specially written for Liane by Joe Stilgoe which sees the singer return Liane's favour of guesting on his cover of Brian Wilson's 'I Just Wasn't Made For These Times' from his latest album 'New Songs For Old Souls'. The album reunites Liane with multi-GRAMMY nominated producer and trumpeter James McMillan who worked on her previous two albums. Liane's rhythm section comprises Malcolm Edmonstone (piano), Mark Edwards (piano), Ian Thomas (drums) and Steve Pearce (bass) with guest musicians Rob Luft (guitar) and Andy Wood (brass). Liane Carroll is a multi award-winning jazz singer described by Jamie Cullum as 'one of the greatest singers we have in this country'. Her awards include 'Best British Vocalist' (BBC Jazz Awards, 2005 & 2013), 'Best Female Jazz Vocalist' (Ronnie Scott's Awards, 2007) and 'Best Jazz Album of the Year' (Parliamentary Jazz Awards, 2013). A popular live performer, Liane has headlined at the legendary Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club for over two decades, as well as performing at the 2007 Glastonbury Festival with her trio in a headline performance broadcast to over 300,000 listeners on BBC Radio 3.

The intrepid experimental jazz trio Aka Moon has represented an approach to jazz that has seen them collaborate with a multitude of artists from different backgrounds in their richly filled career. Their new collection ‘The Scarlatti Book’ is devoted to the music of Italian Baroque composer Domenico Scarlatti. (Outhere)

Internationally acclaimed soprano, Alyson Cambridge, takes a step away from the opera stage and classical repertoire that has defined her career thus far for this album, and showcases her full range of vocal talents, never before heard on recording... that is, until now! "I couldn't be more excited about "Until Now," because it has been a long time in the making. My hope for the album has always been to give an eclectic and thoughtful representation of me, in a range of non-operatic musical tastes, influences and vocalism. It truly is a side of me and my voice that I have never really shared until now." - Alyson Cambridge

Giving voice to poetry, and poetry to the voice

More than just a collection of delightful tunes, the track list of Kings of Swing Opus 2 takes us on a journey through the golden age of swing. After the positive reception of Kings of Swing Opus 1, the SWR Big Band presents a new list of classics, including Satin Doll, Love Me or Leave Me, One O’Clock Jump, and many more. Under the direction of Pierre Paquette, the SWR Big Band is one of the most acclaimed big bands in Germany. Vocalist Fola Dada is featured on this album, and is widely recognized as one of the most versatile vocalists of our time.

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.

Veteran altoist Andy Fusco makes his belated SteepleChase leader debut here with this 2003 quintet recording showcasing his intense and strong command of the instrument in the bebop tradition. Growing up in New Jersey his interests were music and football. He first studied at the Syracuse University with football scholarship. After almost making it to NFL Fusco diverted his attention to music and landed the lead altosax post at the Buddy Rich Big Band (1978-1983). He has performed and recorded with Gerry Mulligan, Mel Lewis and Walt Weiskopf, to mention a few. Fusco is also a dedicated educator currently a member of the Music Faculty of Kean University, New Jersey. “Andy Fusco is a player's player, a steely-edged bopper whose wide swaths suggest Bird as well as Trane…” (Chuck Berg – Jazztimes) “…we can be grateful for being exposed to yet another substantial jazz man who is on the rise and will hopefully be bringing us much more great music in the coming years.” (Andrew Hovan – AAJ)

Award winning Austrian drummer Bernd Reiter has already, in spite of his young age, played with jazz’s luminaries like Charles Davis, Kirk Lightsey, Mundell Lowe, Steve Grossman, to mention a few. Reiter formed the quintet presented here in 2015 to perform a tribute program of Hank Mobley’s music featuring American tenorsax Eric Alexander whom he started to work with in 2012. The band’s extensive European tour produced this live album from the last two concerts from the Bird’s Eye in Basil, Switzerland. One of the reviews of the live performances simply put it “Jazz at its best!”.

Sylvia McNair has won two Grammy Awards, and is today’s leading interpreter of American Popular Song. After a thriving opera career, she recorded several albums, including her award winning albums with pianist Andre Previn. This programme includes a mix of new and old standards, such as Orange Colored Sky, Love Is In The Air, Summertime, and One Hundred Easy Ways. Jazz musicians Ted Taylor, Jeremy Allen, and Steve Houghton accompany McNair for this recording.

Award-winning pianist/composer Joel Weiskopf has long been established in the main-stream jazz scene in the USA and abroad. While he has released a number of leader albums, this is his debut leader outing on SteepleChase. On this new album Joel Weiskopf brings out his time-tested repertoire for quintet date with his Syracuse compatriots Joe Magnarelli (tp) and Andy Fusco (as). “…pianist Joel Weiskopf is a serious jazz pianist with an individualistic style that is an amalgam of a great number of influences from American jazz to Brazilian samba….” (C. Andrew Hovan, CD Review)

A good part of pianist/composer/educator Harold Danko’s strength lies in his creative intelligence in composition of originals as well as in recasting or reinventing the existing melodies like in this new release. “Danko's approach is one of subtlety and sophistication, not of pyrotechnics (though his technical facility is formidable). He often takes a recognizable tune and changes the setting and mood to produce performances that are pleasantly surprising.” (Francis Lo Kee, AAJ on Escapades SCCD 31674)

On January 3rd this year one of the greatest contemporary jazz pianists Paul Bley passed away. Bley left a younger generation of inspired artists behind. Greg Burk is one of them, not that he plays like Bley who was his mentor/teacher but he inherited Bley’s nonconformist approach to music. Burk currently a resident of Rome, Italy is no newcomer to the scene. Quite a few of his recordings has been highly acclaimed throughout the world. This strikingly original solo recital is his first release on SteepleChase Lookout with a bonus of a captivating short story by the pianist himself.

Guitarist/composer Craig Brann’s new album here finds the leader in a classic guitar trio format, a change of pace from the two previous sextet releases, bringing his rich tone and blazing chops to the fore. "Brann’s solos are tastefully muscular, his accompaniment invariably melodic; he even punctuates his own improvised phrases with appropriate chords in the manner of Barney Kessel." (Tom Greenland - NYC Jazz Record on Mark My Words SCCD 31789)

Peter Zak presents himself here as a pianist in his inherently natural format of a piano trio performing “Standard” tunes. Michael Bailey of AAJ commented on Zak’s previous release The Disciple SCCD 31771 that “… The smarter artists, like Zak, add a program or theme to their recordings, something that gives an otherwise disparate collection of pieces some continuity or integrity.” The program or theme on this album is the standards interpreted and performed for here and now in order to give them a lasting life.

While Eugenia Choe is a relatively new face on NY jazz scene, she has been one of the most sought-after pianists around and her own group presented here has been actively performing in NY area for some time. Korean-born Choe also a prolific composer compiles an intriguing repertoire mostly based on her original works fit for the debut album of a burgeoning young artist.

This month’s LookOut features an exciting New York ensemble co-led by bass/drum team of Ambrosio and Meissner. Bassist David Ambrosio has a wide spectrum of musical background from classical composition to jazz performance including Afro/Cuban Bata drumming which gives a unique color to this album. Drummer Russ Meissner grew up in Toronto, Canada and studied music at William Patterson University in NJ. Since late 90s Meissner has been one of the most sought after drummers on NY scene. With this strong backbone duo New York’s foremost instrumentalists present this inventive and creative set here.

Danish avant-garde, modern jazz guitarist/composer and most famously leader of “one of Europe's most sophisticated bands” (Norman Weinstein) has always prided himself on the longevity (since 1980) of his constantly active New Jungle Orchestra. On this new live recording Dørge features his favourite American cornetist Kirk Knuffke and writes music with Kirk’s sound in mind. With the help of engaging audience in Copenhagen NJO delivers one amazing concert here.

To quote Danish critic Niels Overgaard, Andy LaVerne is “one of jazz’s analytical workmen”. The enormous body of his work as pianist, composer and educator over the five decades does not stop LaVerne from being creative to add new dimension to his artistry as evidenced in this new album. “… pianist Andy LaVerne possesses talent that should be commensurate with a much broader public awareness. (C. Andrew Hovan – AAJ) “LaVerne's writing chops are as impressive as his playing.” (Harvey Siders – Jazztimes on Pianissimo SCCD31512)

This year is the 10th anniversary of Gregory Tardy’s tenure with SteepleChase label which started with his superlative release “The Truth” SCCD 31583. “One of the bright hopes, Tardy sounds like a seeker, absolution and salvation in every solo.” (New York Times) Since then Tardy has, except for a short sabbatical leave from the commercial music scene, kept on creating spiritually inspired music that appealed and reached out to people of all faiths and convictions. On this new album Tardy combines his own new music with a handful of intriguing compositions by other artists from the past to set up a scene for this stellar sextet featuring his long-time friend and great trumpeter Alex Norris