Mussorgsky's classic "Pictures at an Exhibition," here gets a new and electrifying presentation. This jazz project with a dash of rock energy and electronics showcases the perfect alchemy between these three experienced musicians. C�cile Broch� studied classical music, contemporary music, improvisation, and took jazz courses. As a violinist, C�cile Broch� has been involved in many different projects, including contemporary music ensembles, free music, working with dancers, with actors, with jazz musicians featuring strings and solo performances. Percussionist Antoine Cirri has been reinventing the jazz scene for twenty years. He studied classical percussion at the Academie de Chenee before joining the improvisation class at the Conservatoire de Liege. The rest, as they say, is history. Born in Liege, Jacques Pirotton began playing guitar at age 14. First interested with rock and blues, he discovered jazz in the seventies. He has been touring as a professional musician for more than thirty years.

Since Stephen Riley made his recording debut as a leader on SteepleChase with piano-less trio SCCD 31584 Inside Out (2005), this trimmed down format has stayed with Riley on many recordings including this latest album, which pays tribute to the great Sonny Rollins who first recorded this format in 1957. “The tenor saxophone trio is one of the great, if somewhat underutilized line-ups in jazz. Stephen Riley has made a study of the format and delivers a fine addition to a limited canon with Hart-beat…. Hart- Beat is a really solid recording, with some noteworthy playing making it a worthy successor in a lineage of great tenor saxophone trio records.” (Greg Simmons – AAJ on “Hart-Beat” SCCD 31742)

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Susheela Raman's voice, whether solo or in unearthly harmonies, performs it's unique magic drawing the musical world together. With it's bold meddling with tune and tempo, this fresh set of songs threatens not to work but achieves a compelling integrity. Susheela Raman's Ghost Gamelan is a rich new landscape unlike any of her previous work and quite unlike anything else. Born in London to South Indian parents, singer Susheela Raman, alongside producer/guitarist Sam Mills, has released a chain of adventurous albums and is known as an intense, captivating live performer. Spirited encounters with musicians from a wide range of backgrounds has been a hallmark of her work. Now a new ambitious collaboration with Indonesian musicians is bearing fruit. Raman has delivered this extraordinary album, the body of which was recorded in Solo, Indonesia in 2016. The album is a collaboration with Javanese contemporary gamelan composer Gondrong Guanarto and his team of virtuoso gamelan players. Gamelan, for non-initiates, is the music of Bali and Java, played mostly on tuned gongs, which has long inspired smart western music makers from Debussy, Messaien, Philip Glass and Steve Reich to Sonic Youth. Traces of it's shimmering, loopy DNA are over everything from modal jazz to electronic dance music.

As some of the critics have predicted, Richmond put together another quality cello album here again. Mike Richmond the Philadelphia-born award-winning bass player with vast experience including playing with Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Horace Silver, to mention a few is also a dedicated educator receiving a Teacher of the Year Award from New York University (1994). After the release of his previous album “The Pendulum” SCCD 31826 Richmond has been frequently performing cello as his main instrument. “Mike Richmond’s beautiful new recording – his 11th as a leader - is the first on which he plays cello exclusively .… Richmond and his quartet of seasoned players give the music a ‘singing’ quality something Richmond seeks in all his playing.” (Donald Elfman - New York City Jazz Record on The Pendulum SCCD 31826)

Morten Haxholm is ready to release his sixth album. It is an album that once again sees him joining forces with US jazz stars Jonathan Kreisberg (guitar) and Ari Hoenig (trumpet), as he did on his first and second albums Equilibrium and Quintessence of Dust. This time he is also joined by Frederick Menzie (sax) and Nikolaj Hess. Morten Haxholm is an upcoming Danish bass player, but he has already established himself on the Danish and international jazz scene. He graduated in 2013 from the prestigious soloist education at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen, and with four albums in his own name and several tours with his own bands in Denmark, he has emerged on the music scene as a new composer and bass player to be reckoned with.

Two years after the release of her latest album - the widely critically acclaimed Imprints - Karin Hammar now releases her new album Circles. Like last time, Hammar works with her group Karin Hammar Fab 4 to help her shape 8 new compositions and an interpretation of Nina Simone's "Four Women" into her own musical landscape. The new compositions draw inspiration from such diverse encounters and places: Brazil, Morrocco, her daughter Ella, fellow musician Hildegunn Öiseth, to name a few. The title track was written in a small compartment backstage at Malmö Arena in Sweden prior to a show with Swedish pop star Orup. The Karin Hammar Fab 4 line up includes some of Sweden's finest jazz players: Niklas Fernqvist on bass, Fredrik Rundqvist on drums and new member, guitarist, Andreas Hourdakis who brings a new form, shape, and level to the group's sound. Karin Hammar is widely seen as one of Sweden's foremost trombone players, with four studio albums as a solo artist and numerous collaborations under her belt since debuting in the nineties. She's been given numerous awards in Sweden, including a prize from the Alice Babs foundation.

The rhythms and music of the world have aroused my curiosity for many years and have allowed me to color my musical universe with borrowed jazz, popular, and other music. With the poetry and talent of Heloise Lefbvre and Crestiano Toucas, the project 'Elbasan' is the culmination of my quest for a musical melting pot, an Indo-Balkano-Hispanic melting pot that will speak to the Slavic soul. (Thierry Vaillot) Guitarist and composer Thierry Vaillot produces music that is stunningly rich, conjugating Iberian rhythms and Indian ragas with the exhilarating spirit of the Balkans. Together with violinist Helo�se Lefevre and accordionist Crestiano Toucas, Thierry Vaillot and his Trio Elbasan reinvent the imaginary folk music of the "Total-world" in a genre that follows the wind, filled with rare strength and an expressiveness that is heterogeneous and many-colored.

Two extraordinary talents from the two totally independent discipline of art forms are meeting here to create a genuinely unique musical experience for us. Kirk Knuffke one of the most prominent of jazz cornetist and New York’s up and coming operatic baritone singer Steven Herring present here, to quote the liner-note author Neil Tesser, “an album that juxtaposes conservatory and nightclub, improvisation and spoken word, the sacred and the secular, into one of the most unusual and inventive projects of Knuffke’s career” Knuffke’s previous release “Cherryco” SCCD 31832 was awarded National Public Radio (USA)’s Jazz Album of the Year 2017.

In the past, jazz musicians had both a tradition of playing for dancers and a tradition of picking inspiration and music from other genres. LSD does the same thing on this record. Harmonically simple, singable songs with a clear groove are the foundation that is then allowed to blossom in all it's splendor or maybe become something completely different. "It brings the music to the people, for the people, and by the people". (Jason Marsalis) The trio feels like a three-headed beast when they play together. One organism, one unit that can do whatever it wants. LSD has worked together since 2011 and has since then been touring a lot in Sweden and even in Nordic neighboring countries. They also toured in Canada in 2017 and have previously released two albums: "Trio Colossus" in 2012 and "Soon" in 2014, which both received brilliant reviews internationally. So great that even Sonny Rollins has expressed his appreciation of LSD's Trio Colossus.

Lars Jansson is a jazz pianist, composer, arranger and educator. He was born in 1951, and grew up in Örebro, Sweden, where he was bored by his lessons at the community music school. In his early teens, a relative lent him records with Miles Davis, Ben Webster, and Mose Allison, creating a solid foundation for his musical education. Jansson's career has been in full flourish since 1970, and he has for the main part been focusing on the trio format. Lars Jansson Trio has long been one of the most renowned jazz groups in his native Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia as well. In 1998, he was nominated for the Danish Jazzpar Prize and he became the first jazz professor in Aarhus, Denmark. He was honored in Denmark with a Grammy in 2001 for "Best International Album," with the album Hope. Lars Jansson Trio are now ready to release their new album Just This. Assisted by Thomas Fonnesbæk on bass and Paul Svanberg on drums, Jansson has created a body of work that deals with various themes of life, and pays tribute to some of Jansson's heroes. Fonnesbæk is a well-respected bassist in his own right, playing with the likes of Justin Kauflin and Alex Riel, and Svanberg, who is Jansson's son, is a widely used drummer on the Danish jazz scene. The album, 13 tracks in total, comes by as a beautiful and diverse collection of tunes that display the collective talents of three very gifted and experienced musicians.

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Kem, in ancient Epypt, means the color Black, like the limon of the Nile, the black earth, fertile. An extremely positive word for a color, often seen as negative, or evil . It is in that symbolic earth that (the mystery of) Kem grows new rhythmical aspects whose schemes, dances and improvisations take roots in the Yin and Yang complementarity of rhythmical pulses. For this journey, Stéphane Galland is surrounded by daring and talented young musicians: Sylvain Debaisieux, Bram De Looze, and Federico Stocchi, and one of the most prominent Carnatic Flute players in the world from South India, Ravi Kulur. The album also features Ibrahim Maalouf as a very special guest. With (the mystery of) Kem, Stéphane Galland visits the rhythmical roots where all the musical traditions that he has rubbed together and integrated into his own language converge and explores a specific space that allows the integration of all these concepts without a priori or stylistic limitation. Welcome to the black and mysterious earth of Kem.

Classical Music

"Kristin Korb is a jewel of jewels. The bassist and vocalist commands both of her instruments with panache, engaging them simultaneously with an ease comparable to breathing." (Tyran Grillo, All About Jazz) There are few bassists who can sing and there are even fewer who can do it well. Kristin Korb is one of those artists who make you forget that she is playing the bass when you hear her crystalline voice. Inspired by the days when music was romantic and made you want to dance, Kristin and her trio embody that spirit and carry their audiences along for the ride. Love eventually brought the American bassist and vocalist to Denmark in 2011. On her new release, Kristen Korb explores the Holiday season, performing traditional classics as well as twentieth century new classics

Since his CD debut “Circle Of Life“(SCCD 33109) in 2013 followed by two more albums on SteepleChase LookOut label, Turkish/Armenian pianist-composer Bedikyan has been highly acclaimed by the international critics and public alike. New Beginning marks his recent relocation from Istanbul to New York where he feels blessed to be a part of the big jazz scene. “For improvisational music fans there is very little here not to like, flawless. An elegant yet diverse exploration of melodic possibilities. Burak Bedikyan is one of the finest artists on the horizon.” (Brent Black – criticaljazz.com on 33119 Leap of Faith)

Korean-born New York-based pianist/composer Eugenia Choe received quite a few superlative reviews for her 2016 debut album “Magic Light” (SCCD 33127) from international press. Eugenia’s second album here is an impressive display of her original and intriguing compositions presented superbly by her working trio. “Eugenia Choe rode her personally distinctive currents into this amalgamated music and made a magnificent record.” (James Nadal – AAJ on SCCD 33127 Magic Light) “Everything's here: the pianist's exquisite touch, her compositional acumen infused with an alluring and idiosyncratic intelligence, her soul, sympatico trio mates, adept sequencing, and a cool cover photo and design. This could be the debut of the year.” (Dan McClenaghan – All About Jazz)

All About Jazz once stated, “Andrew Rathbun is an artist who takes chances with his recordings. You don’t hear any paint-by-the-numbers jazz discs from him.” This latest release proves again how accurate this statement is. Canadian-born Rathbun has established himself as one of the most compelling voices of American jazz scene today both as performer and as composer. While the composer’s socio-political awareness is manifested in the tune titles, the music which is intellectually emotional speaks louder to our consciousness. “Reedman Andrew Rathbun’s recording dates — dependably rhapsodic, songful, rational — each have plausible logic and worked-out thematic.” (Fred Bouchard – Downbeat on SCCD 31781 Numbers & Letters)

Internationally acclaimed pianist Eric Legnini recorded his first two albums as a leader on Igloo Records. The multifaceted pianist's releases are resolutely jazz: he released Essentials in 1990 with Stephane Galalnd and Jean-Louis Rassinfosse, and Rhythm Sphere in 1995 with Philippe Aerts, Joe Lovano, and Felix Simtaine. Now, Essentials is once again available. Three energies, three personalities, three experiences merge to form a trio with the hope of transcending the sound and conception of the conventional piano-bass-drum trio. These musicians in tandem have already received a warm welcome on the Belgian jazz scene and at various festivals. The repertoire is made essentially of original pieces by Eric Legnini, and the trio is joined for some pieces by horn players Fabrizio Cassol, Michel Massot, and Pierre Vaiana.

Outi Tarkiainen writes of her new release with the Norrbotten Big Band: "During my year as composer in residence with the Norrbotten Big Band in 2017, I wrote eight compositions that strongly capture my voice as a composer while at the same time focusing from many angles - maybe some of them surprising - on this immensely adaptable jazz orchestra. I decided to call the set Unpainted Portraits, my aim being to paint musical portraits of people and prospects past, present and future. Literature, and especially poetry, has always been a source of inspiration for me in my work, and many of my new portraits are dedicated to writers I admire: the early 20th-century English modernist Virginia Woolf, the Finnish visionary playwright Minna Canth, and the contemporary S�mi poetess Rauni Magga Lukkari now living in Troms�, Norway. One of the pieces pays tribute and is dedicated to the Suffragettes campaigning for votes for women in early 20th-century England. Others make a respectful nod in the direction of the jazz tradition, and the listener may here detect echoes of some of my favorite jazz composers, such as Gil Evans, Charles Mingus and Maria Schneider."

This new release is a musical journey of two jazz musicians through the land of melody, harmony, rhythm and the fully acoustic sound of instruments. These pieces offer up a clash of classical instrumental texture with the freedom of jazz improvisation. All of the music heard here was written especially for this duo, who extend what is between the notes, filling the space with dialogue and creation of new sounds, textures, and colors. Preludes - by definition - are short instrumental pieces, often of an improvised character, which are an introduction to a larger musical work. And here the author of the album, Marcin Wadolowski, has invited one of the best bassists, Piotr Lemanczyk, to explore these short pieces with him. The result is an exciting sound journey.

DHD presents a very energetic show loaded with improvisation, joy, and a lot of groove. The group is in constant search for that distinctive sound that reflects the depth of Afro-Cuban rhythms as well as the beauty of the harmonies and colors that come from jazz. All this constitutes a mix of flavors and experiences with which they try to transport the listener to a supernatural dimension. Their repertoire consists mostly out of original compositions, but also a few Jazz and Latin classics which they arrange in their own way. Established in 2015, the band has appeared at the prestigious North Sea Jazz Festival and has toured around Spain and the Netherlands. In March 2018 the band won the jury award and the public prize at the Leiden Jazz Award 2018 and the best soloist prize at the Erasmus Jazz competition. The group writes: "With this album, we are trying to expand the boundaries of Latin jazz by using influences like modern jazz, odd meters and classical music. The compositions tell a broad storyline, and they take the listener on a journey where playful melodies come and go. We like to use rhythm and polyrhythms to play with the listener's ear, and to express our interpretation of the music. Abriendo Camino means opening the path or leading the way in Spanish. This album represents the break of a new force, a strong one, full of colors, joy, and love..."

Viento Zonda is Eric Vloeimans' new adventure that exudes the warmth of the Argentine breeze along the Andes. The gentle, even tickling sensation surprises as Eric and his musical brother, the virtuoso pianist Juan Pablo Dobal take the listener to new aural delight. Eric Vloeimans has been active in a wide variety of ensembles all over the years. He has toured the US twice with his acoustic 'chamber/jazz' 'Fugimundi' trio, featuring the surprising Anton Goudsmit on guitar and rising star Harmen Fraanje on piano. Their broad repertoire ranges from contemporary jazz, hymns, world music to occasional standards, all of which is presented with warmth and wit. His other band is Eric Vloeimans' Gatecrash, which features soundscape master Jeroen van Vliet on Fender Rhodes and keyboards, the inventive Gulli Gudmundsson on bass, electric basses and effects, and the up and coming Jasper van Hulten on drums.

Among today’s modern jazz piano players Russ Lossing stands out as one of the unique breed of artists who travel intelligently and with clarity between jazz and new music. For this his first release on SteepleChase Lossing focuses on standards, of course, with his trademark, innovative improvisation. “Lossing is a thinking man’s pianist. He intelligently creates and refashions themes within a variety of frameworks.” (Glenn Astarita – Jazzreview.com) “Russ Lossing is a pianist of extreme depth and intensity whose music exists between jazz improvisation and modern classicism.“ (Budd Kopman – AAJ)

Trumpeter Dave Scott’s 5th SteepleChase release here finds him leading his other New York ensemble “The Dave Scott Violin Band” which features some of America’s finest instrumentalists including Sarah Bernstein on violin. Dave Scott’s compositions allow each musician to fully engage in individual expression and the band as a whole to create distinctive tapestry of interactive improvisation. The group performs regularly in the New York City area.

One of the few exponents of that most unrelenting instrument, baritone saxophonist Ronnie Cuber has spent for more than a half century performing, composing, arranging and leading his own groups. His robust, no-nonsense playing has been acknowledged to be one of the greats among jazz instrumentalists. “…Best of all, there’s Cuber himself, whose playing has, incredibly, grown more authoritative with each passing year. His sound, huge and affable, brims with personality, and it’s hard not to be awed by the freshness…” (J. D. Considine – JazzTimes on Ronnie’s Trio SCCD 31848)

This quintet was gathered by John Heward to open the Guelph Jazz Festival in September 2014. The recording is from a concert given in Montreal several days before the festival opening. The music is free improvisation: no score, just a resolution to make music. It was a special occasion to have Heward and legendary bassist Barre Philips, both at the age of 80 at the time of the recording, at the core of the quintet. They are joined by a stellar group of long-time Heward collaborators: Lori Freedman, Joe McPhee and Dana Reason. The release of this record is sadly a memorial tribute to John Heward (1934–November 2018). Heward, from Montreal, was an internationally recognized percussionist in free jazz as well as a renowned painter and sculptor. He was an influential figure in the development of abstraction and improvisation in both visual art and music.