Critics have been paying keen attention to Rich Perry’s past three albums where the leader takes the centre role both as performer and composer. Dusty Groove remarked on his last release Everything Happens, “Perry is one of those secret heroes in jazz – an artist who just seems to get better and better over the years, both as a writer and soloist.” The new album here takes strength from the past endeavour and moves towards a more advanced state. Isn’t this a definition of “Progression”?

Ensuing the highly acclaimed Waiting For The Next Trane (SCCD 33115 on SteepleChase LookOut in 2014, one of NY’s most sought-after bassists Brusger assembled his new quintet with Erik Alexander and Steve Davis to present this invigorating new album which showcases Brusger’s penchant for hardbop tradition as composer and performer. “Brusger has rock-solid time, accurate intonation and formidable technique, all of which serve him well throughout the straight-ahead-set.” (Jim Ferguson – JazzTimes)

Kenny Drew (August 28, 1928 / New York – August 4, 1993 / Copenhagen) spent the last three decades of his life in Copenhagen as a stalwart of vibrant European jazz scene. He left quite a number of outstanding recordings both as leader and sideman on SteepleChase. Here on his first trio recording for the label, Kenny Drew is backed by – to quote Melody Maker – Danish bass wizard Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and intelligent purveyor of rhythm Albert “Tootie” Heath. Dark Beauty whose album cover is graced by a portrait photo of his daughter Sabrina is one of the most popular albums of his recording career. “...extremely charming main stream jazz..” (Swing Journal) “...brilliant!” (Jazz Magazine) “Kenny has a relaxed, attractive style, free from embellishments or dramatic devices, but capable of generating happy swing…” (C.W. Meloday Maker on SCS 1016) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

Trillium is Harold Danko’s third album to extract source materials from Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, arguably one of the most influential music of the 20th century. Danko then let this unique trio with Perry (tenor saxophone) and Knuffke (cornet) execute the compositions to perfection. “The beauty of listening to this recording is detecting how Danko has incorporated snippets of Stravinsky’s masterpiece into his equally striking compositions.” Ken Dryden – NYCJR on Rite Notes SCCD31931)

SteepleChase kicks off 2024 with the new recording by Dave Pietro, New York scene’s hugely in-demand alto saxophonist/composer/educator whose pure personal voice is noted as “one of the most appealing alto sounds in jazz” (Chuck Berg - JazzTimes). On this his debut album for the label Pietro put together a gripping selection of tunes new and old including an adaptation of Mahler’s adagietto from 5th symphony executed by Pietro’s hand-picked group with limitless creativity.

This 1998 recording of Paul Bley is here as 180g audiophile LP for the first time. It wholly dedicated to the music of Ornette Coleman, with whom Paul was the major participant of that exciting musical experimentation some 60 years ago. “…here is an intriguing and most stimulating date that does full justice to the writing of Ornette while showcasing the vitality and virtuosity of the creative Paul Bley in full flow with two top notch companions with him all the way…” (Mark Gardner) “…anyone who has ever enjoyed the pianist should seek out Notes on Ornette. Bley still enjoys throwing seemingly unrelated bits of improvised melody together, but here he often goes to the other extreme, spinning out lines that seem endless in which a few simple ideas continually transmogrify.” (Baker, D. – JazzTimes) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

When the bassist Mike Richmond utters the magic line “Spot on!” at the ending of the recording of track 5 of this album, the album title was decided. You can actually hear it on the disc. This is Andy LaVerne’s 36th outing as leader on this label. Our collaboration goes back to 1977 when he was touring Europe with Stan Getz. Since then he has been presenting uniquely creative albums. This new release starts with a homage to McCoy and ends with one to Chick both of whom passed away last year.

By pure happenstance this stunning SteepleChase debut album by trombonist/composer/arranger Alex Heitlinger and his 22-piece band materialized four years after the recording. The band’s drummer John Riley tipped Nils Winther of the existence of this recording in an unrelated session one day and the rest is history. Enjoy the original, vibrant sound of a big band jazz of 21st century. “Alex Heitlinger is a thoughtful trombonist and a promising composer” (Nate Chinen - New York Times)

Big G as in George Coleman, Sr. The legendary tenor saxophonist is the featured artist here on Brian Charette’s new album. George Coleman is the recipient of 2015 NEA (The National Endowment for the Arts) Jazz Masters Awards, the highest honor USA gives to a jazz musician. For B-3’s most adventurous and talented practitioner Brian Charette who has known the Coleman father and son for more than a couple of decades, this recording materialized as a musical homecoming. “Both B-3 stylist and student, serious jazz scholar and glitzy entertainer, Charette is a burning soloist who understands the tradition of the Hammond B-3 as well its future—just as certainly as he understands his place in that lineage.” (Ken Micallef Downbeat Magazine) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

Adams/Eaton duo’s new album stays in “Third Stream”, a term invented by Gunther Schuller as a way to create a new genre by bringing jazz and European classical music together. Eaton points, “We think of ourselves as jazz musicians with some classical training, but our cultural milieu was one where jazz had become a global music.” The debut album Paraphrase prompted NYCJR’s Dan Bilawsky to remark, “the tracks) illuminate the duo’s take on jazz history and where things might be headed next.”

One thing the veteran bassist/composer Ron McClure cannot stop doing is “writing”. The latest album embodies 8 tunes by this prolific composer including the famous Nimbus which he wrote at age 15 but has never recorded himself before. Ken Dryden of AAJ remarks: ”After nearly six decades on the jazz scene, McClure is recognized for inventive improvising, creative compositions in a wide variety of settings and immaculate tone.” “impressive and absolute vital jazz numbers” (Ivan Rod – GAFA)

Congolese - Danish saxophonist/composer John Tchicai (1936-2012) recorded this straight-ahead jazz album in 2009 surprising his usual followers who regarded Tchicai as the legendary leader of the 60’s free jazz scene. During the free jazz period he resided in New York associated with free jazz artists such as Archie Shepp, Don Cherry and New York Contemporary Five and left a number of famous recordings including Ascension album by John Coltrane. As “God Father” or “Guru” of free jazz Tchicai has been active on the scene but this first leader album in 22 years for SteepleChase label he also returned to play his original instrument alto sax. Tchicai interpreted works by Thelonious Monk with his striking sound. Mark Gardner who is a contributor of Jazz Journal International concludes his liner notes for the CD release of this recording by noting, “And now he's back on SteepleChase with a warm and welcome tribute to an early influence - an inspired concept, beautifully realised.” 180g Audiophile Vinyl

Recorded on the same day after the quintet session (SCCD 31046 Duke’s Delight) in a New York studio in 1975 this attractive trio recording “comprises nearly 40 minutes of sheer unpretentious enjoyment.” (Mark Gardner - Jazz Journal UK) Duke Jordan’s long association with SteepleChase started with Jordan’s visit to Copenhagen in 1973. The collaboration yielded impressive hoard of highly acclaimed albums including SCCD 31011 Flight To Denmark). This session with the very best sidemen New York could offer - the veteran bassist Sam Jones and the great drummer Al Foster (who joined Miles Davis shortly after this session - enabled Jordan to display his attractive personal touch featuring Jordan’s own melodious compositions. 180g Audiophile Vinyl

SteepleChase’s deep and expansive catalog of bassists including Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Sam Jones, Ron McClure, Jay Anderson just to mention a few welcomes here a up-and-coming double bass talent Jamale Davis, who has been active on NYC/NJ scene in the last decade. An autodidact, firmly rooted and nourished in the acoustic gut-string bass tradition, Jamale Davis leads his working band to showcase his passionate input in carrying the torch for bebop into the 21st century.

September 8, 1960 Oscar Pettiford, American bassist/cellist/composer with unparalleled recognition died abruptly at age 38 due to a virus disease in Copenhagen where he had made his permanent residence. He was one of American jazz players Denmark welcomed in in the 60s and 70s. A few weeks after Pettiford’s passing a circle of Danish jazz fans organized a memorial concert presented here to raise fund for his children with a star-studded program that included Stan Getz, Alice Babs, among others.

Already on her 2015 leader debut album (Lonely City SCCD 33118) Allegra Levy age 24 at the time was the complete artist equipped with prowess as singer-song writer of unique quality. On this fifth release Allegra compiles another intriguing concept album asking and answering all kinds of questions about life backed by all-female powerhouse quartet. “Throughout, Levy’s distinctive warm cool vide – equal part Junie London and Chris Conner – and flawless articulation shine brilliantly through.” Christopher Loudon of JazzTimes commented on Levy’s other concept album Looking At The Moon (SCCD 31852) selected as Editor’s Pick by JazzTimes. Allegra Levy is a recipient of several prominent awards as performer and composer.

November 20, 1961 Dizzy Gillespie brought on stage of Falkoner Centret, Copenhagen the quintet version of “Gillespiana Suite”, composed originally for his 16-piece orchestra by young Argentine composer/pianist Lalo Schifrin. The suite was recorded in the previous year to become a huge success. This composition paved the way for Schifrin to become one of the most popular screen music composers. The program finishes with Gillespie’s own Kush which stayed in his repertoire for the next 15 years

If you have been following Byars’ career on this label, you will realize this is his fourth album with this unique sextet of four horns, bass and drums without chord instrument. Byars’ adept ensemble writing skills provide one of a kind harmony source to the band. “Because he knows his musicians so well, Byars is masterful in his writing, blending the reeds and trombone in intricate ensembles while letting the soloists all shine throughout.” (Ken Dryden – NYCJR on SCCD 31929 R & B in the 20s)

Saxophonist and playwright Archie Shepp (b. May 24, 1937 in Fort Lauderdale. FL) then 26 years old visited Copenhagen in the fall of 1963 as a member of the famed New York Contemporary Five. Though Shepp at that time was the passionate practitioner of Free jazz, this recording in which he shared the bandstand with Sweden’s legendary baritone saxophonist Lars Gullin is something quite different from what one normally expects from Shepp in the 60s. It is Shepp playing straight jazz with audible enjoyment showing off his broad range of expression. “The topnotch rhythm section is composed of the late Catalonian pianist Tete Montoliu and a pair of “young lions,” Swedish (Danish ed) drummer Alex Riel and Danish bassist Niels–Henning Ørsted Pedersen, seventeen years old when the recording was made. Montoliu’s swinging, straight–on solos are a breath of fresh air.” (Jack Bowers – AAJ) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

The origin of this album goes back to Texas in the early 90s where young baritone student Frank Basile at North Texas Univ. met for the first time his hero baritonist Gary Smulyan. Their friendship culminates here in a studio date in NJ in late 2023. “I was really just so happy to be there playing with him” declares Smulyan the mentor. “His passionate sound and fresh ideas make Alternative Contrafacts a set well worth picking up, particularly by straightahead jazz collectors.” (S. Yanow – NYCJR)

As the superlative liner notes by C. Andrew Hoven for the album suggests, this recording marks the new chapter of trumpeter/composer Dave Scott’s musical history. Dave Scott recorded exclusively his adventurous original compositions in a series of releases in the past. Here for the first time Scott dedicates the whole album on a canon of jazz standards where he finds his roots and source for inspiration. He selected a collection of his favourite songs to complement his highly refined quartet.

Sweden in the 60s was experiencing the surge of cool jazz (Tristano tradition) and saw young alto saxophonist Rolf Billberg emerged on the scene as one of its most talented practitioners. Due to his premature death at age 35 ten months after this recording his name never made it to the stardom. This hitherto unknown album is one rare testimony to the state of Swedish jazz scene. It was recorded in November 1965 privately in the legendary live/rehearsal basement club Subland in Malmö.

Sweden in the 60s was experiencing the surge of cool jazz (Tristano tradition) and saw young alto saxophonist Rolf Billberg emerged on the scene as one of its most talented practitioners. Due to his premature death at age 35 ten months after this recording his name never made it to the stardom. This hitherto unknown album is one rare testimony to the state of Swedish jazz scene. It was recorded in November 1965 privately in the legendary live/rehearsal basement club Subland in Malmö. 180g Audiophile Vinyl

“colorful, witty, unpredictable, inventive and swinging” is what jazz critic Scott Yanow observes of cornetist/composer Knuffke. He created here an astoundingly musical sounding board by the two phenomenal double bass players: SteepleChase stalwart Jay Anderson (left channel) and Swedish born Thommy Andersson (right channel). Just like his previous “unusual” album of cornet and tuba Tight Like This. this one will be regarded as “very memorable and very entertaining ” . (K. Oleksiuk – The New York City Jazz Record)

The pianist who goes by the name of Mferghu is SteepleChase’ newest discovery. Mferghu, a native of Harlem (Manhattanville), NY has just turned 70. And this is his very first leader album. Unassuming and reserved Mferghu never seeks the spotlight but could not avoid being spotted by the producer Nils Winther during Jamale Davis’ session last year. Here as the leader of his own trio Mferghu displays his immense aptitude for performing and composing music deeply rooted in hard bop and beyond.