The liner notes for John Hart’s new album authored by C Andrew Hovan touched upon the subject of longevity. Hart’s four decades of performing as an A-player on the world elite jazz scene epitomizes the virtue of consistency and continuance. We have here a bit unusual trio of guitar/cornet/bass featuring thrilling interactions between Hart’s guitar and Kirk Knuffke’s horn. “Hart is a guitar player of refinement and taste...through a merely flexible and swinging gait”. (F.v.d.Linde – Jazz Journal)

While Allegra Levy’s second album “Cities Between Us” (SCCD 31827) cemented her strong talent as a singer/songwriter, here on this her third album Allegra the singer steps up to the front interpreting time-tested as well as newer moon–themed songs. “Levy is a gifted lyricist and she writes often light thoughts and observations but from a personal point of view. Vocal fans should seek this out as Levy fills a spot that is fresh and rewarding in the pantheon of vocalists. A carefully produced CD full of rewards.” (Robert D. Rusch – Papatamas on SCCD 31827 Cities Between Us). “Levy is a fresh new voice, with songs steeped in the tradition and primed to join the canon.” (Jim Motavalli – New York City Jazz Record on SCCD 31827 Cities Between Us) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

Ken Micallef of JazzTimes noted, "Guitarist Nate Radley has the one thing that all musicians would kill for: He makes you want to listen." This his fourth leader album will be again the proof of the above statement as Radley formed the quartet with his favorite rhythm section to premiere all his intriguing original compositions written for this session.

No half-way measures: high-class debut of a German-Dutch sextet. Between Barcelona and Arnhem: strong debut of the band of Maximilian Hering. Butter on the herring-straight to the point: multi-layered debut with personal touch.

Three main elements thread through the compositions and arrangements of this collection. Firstly, the presence of irregular time signatures.�Secondly, I am captivated by the magic that happens when a melody is accompanied by words: lyrics seem to emancipate a melody from the composer's original intent; what has been a tune becomes a song.�And thirdly, I am fascinated with textures, with the changing colours of intertwining wind instruments.

The Background Our planet houses over 8 billion humans at the moment, and we move around an awful lot. Migration is not new. It's been going on for millennia. The reasons may be geological, climate based, oppressive, work related or voluntary. This album focuses on one small aspect of migration, the eviction and subsequent migration of farmers and crofters from the Scottish highlands during the Clearances. The Album Internationally renowned harp and electronica duo FitkinWall follow threads of migration, loss and longing in their new album Uist. Composer Graham Fitkin has produced new work based on old Gaelic songs and Highland tunes. Scottish harpist Ruth Wall performs on concert, electro and wire-strung harps with Fitkin conjuring up mesmerising soundworlds with electronics, samples and loops. Ruth and Graham combine the very old with the very new placing ancient instruments in unusual contexts. The Music The music is constructed with care, precision and space to breathe - eery melodic fragments, pulsating patterns, sumptuous harmonies - drawn together in a beguiling but understated synthesis. Allusions can be drawn to new-classical, folk, even ambient and systems music, with hints of artists such as Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Lau or Haushka somewhere in the ether. FitkinWall Ruth Wall performs on wildly different harps - Gaelic wire-strung, Bray, Concert and Electro harps. Graham Fitkin uses a Moog Voyager, Ableton and various FX modules. Their work combines the very old with the very new. They provide unusual contexts for these ancient instruments. Their previous albums Still Warm and Lost, toured with live VJ, through the UK and Europe, before heading out to Japan. Uist has toured in the UK in 2024 and will tour mainland Europe in 2025 with a light installation from artist Peter Freeman. Both artists work independently too. Ruth has worked with Goldfrapp, Kathryn Tickell, RLPO, BBC Orchestras and film composers John Lunn and Clint Mansell. She tours extensively in venues from Radio City New York and Glastonbury Mainstage to Sydney Opera House and Roskilde Fest. Graham's music has been performed by artists such as Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, New York City Ballet, BBC Philharmonic, Yo-Yo Ma, Will Gregory, choreographer Wayne McGregor and artist Shezad Dawood. His music has been released by Decca, Sony, BIS, Naxos and many others. He has won three BASCA Composer Awards, an International Grand Prix Dance Music Award and the Royal Philharmonic Society Composer Award

SPIN is the 9th release of the working band RONIN since it's foundation in 2001. Since the last release AWASE (ECM 2018) the band has developed the repertoire continuously further. �SPIN shows the phase in which the band is now: looking back and forward at the same time. The RONIN rhythm culture based on pattern, cycle and groove developments and refined beats is still presented and combined with playfulness and the consciousness for freedom within the clear structures.

With a unique and unmistakable approach to music and his instrument,�Julien Tassin�is a one-of-a-kind guitar player. Using non-traditional techniques and original tunings, he creates music that combines elements of blues, jazz, classical, Oriental and African music. The result is music born out of openness and freedom. Stubbornly he repeats musical ideas until the tension reaches a boiling point, the lyricism of his melodies becomes inevitable, and the rawness of the sound takes center stage.

Dick Sisto (vibraphone) and Andy LaVerne (piano) were fellow faculty members of the famed Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop and have been close colleagues since 1996. During the last seasons of the Workshop in 2018 and 2019 Dick and Andy performed concerts as duo dedicating the program for Bill Evans and Scott LaFaro. This album is derived from those four concerts recorded live. Andy LaVerne who studied with Evans contributes also a very informative, insightful and fascinating liner notes here

Storyville Records is pleased to announce the release of In Rome, a new album by Danish bassist Thomas Fonnesbaek alongside esteemed jazz musicians, pianist Enrico Pieranunzi, saxophonist Rosario Giuliani, drummer Roberto Gatto and singer Valentina Ranalli. The album is set for release on November 1, 2024. This recording consists of 11 original compositions, 9 by Pieranunzi, 1 by Fonnesbaek and 1 by Gatto. Thomas Fonnesbaek is considered one of the most important and distinctive bassists on the European jazz scene today. His virtuosic technique, "Nordic sound" and ability to craft cohesive solos place him in the lineage of Danish bassists like Niels-Henning orsted Pedersen, Bo Stief and Jesper Lundgaard, while also showing kinship with greats like Dutch bassist Hein van de Geyn and prominent Swedish bass players. Nevertheless, Fonnesbaek's style is uniquely his own, honed through a self-taught journey that captivates audiences with a rare ability to evoke Duende - the inexplicable power of attraction that moves listeners emotionally, a concept coined by Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca. For those who have had the privilege of experiencing Fonnesbaek live, they will recognize this Duende in his playing. He often takes risks that challenge both his fellow musicians and audiences, creating moments of magic. In Rome captures these moments, highlighting Fonnesbaek's collaboration with some of Europe's finest musicians. At the core of the album is the partnership between Fonnesbaek and Enrico Pieranunzi, one of Europe's most revered pianists. Pieranunzi, known for his collaborations with the likes of Chet Baker, Mark Johnson, Paul Motian, and the legendary film composer Ennio Morricone, brings his extensive jazz and classical music background to this recording. Having recorded numerous albums together, Pieranunzi and Fonnesbaek share a musical chemistry that fuels this project. Joining the trio is Roberto Gatto, a drummer celebrated in European jazz circles. His elegant, sensitive approach enhances the group's interplay, while Rosario Giuliani on saxophone and Valentina Ranalli on vocals further elevate the music. In Rome is a testament to the creativity and mastery of European jazz. This album is jazz at it's finest!

BASta! Is the solo project of double bass player and composer Joris Vanvinckenroye, in which he explores and pushes the limits of the double bass. In this project, using looping and effect pedals, Joris creates an almost orchestral sound, using the full range of his instrument - from the deepest basses to the highest notes. These layered compositions weave complex rhythms and melodies into a rich and compelling soundscape.

David Janeway has long been a stalwart of NY jazz scene. Though under-recorded, Janeway’s undisputable talent has been under the radar. He formed a trio with Cameron Brown (b) and Billy Hart (dr) in 2020 and released the album “Distant Voices” on which D. McClenaghan of AAJ noted, “The trio makes the Janeway compositions sound like classics… these three virtuosos sound like one, like a group settled into the comfort zone… they go into the studio and turn out a compelling and polished product.”

Canadian-born saxophonist/composer Andrew Rathbun has been holding the position of Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo since 2012. Rathbun, however, is not the one who confines himself in the ivory tower but has been active in performing and recording in New York and internationally. He presents here his 10th leader album on SteepleChase. All but two titles were penned by the leader having guitar (played by Nate Radley) as featured instrument creating as always intellectual and at the same time thoroughly emotionally moving music.

John Hart’s collaboration with SteepleChase started in 2016 with sideman role on the late alto sax Andy Fusco’s Turmoil (SCCD 31843). The guitarist/composer/educator Hart since has kept releasing a barrage of highly acclaimed leader albums. On this his fifth outing he has assembled an impeccable quartet featuring Rich Perry on tenor and Brian Charette on B-3. “He has just released Resonance (2023) on SteepleChase, his fifth date for the legendary Danish label headed by Nils Winther. Labelmate, tenor saxophonist Rich Perry joins him along with organist Brian Charette and longtime collaborator Steve Johns handling the percussion duties. The breadth and eclecticism of Resonance’s playlist is plainly evident from Hart’s illustrious recording pedigree. We hear a refreshing mix of five originals and four standards.” (Frank Griffith – UK JAZZ NEWS) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

Anthony Ferrara for his third album here teams up again with the dream rhythm section of Versace/Anderson/Drummond. Ron McClure who was one of Ferarra’s teachers at NYU once commented on this group, “This is a four-way conversation between four men who have a mutual respect of the process of making music, always cognitive of the group effort. Had they played the Manhattan phonebook, they would have made it work.” “What is particularly impressive about Ferrara is that he not only has a mature, confident and appealing sound, but also is finding his own voice. Ferrara is also a capable composer, penning a diverse set of songs that invite repeated hearings, a huge challenge for any musician at the beginning of their career.” (Ken Dryden – NYCJR on SCCD 31938 Cold Faded)

Alex Norris has been one of the most sought-after elite trumpeters for the past three decades on NY scene. Norris received a Master's degree from the Manhattan School of Music and a Doctor’s degree from the Univ. of Miami Frost School of Music. He has kept busy schedule performing principal post in renowned large and small ensembles all over the world. Despite his impressive achievement Alex Norris’ leader albums are scarce. This is his fourth album and the second for SteepleChase. Norris forms a time-tested yet distinctive trumpet trio with some contemporary twists superbly collaborated by Paul Bollenbach on guitar and Paul Gill on bass. “…Norris writes and plays with rare assurance and seldom walks on overly familiar paths…. he’s not an aggressive stylist and his penchant for thoughtful dynamics gives him the confidence to leave space and unexpected intervals in his solos.” (The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD)

Drummer/composer/educator Steve Johns moved to New York after graduating from the New England Conservatory of Music in 1982. While still a student, he won the Outstanding Drummer Award at the Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival. His musical career then took off performing with a barrage of luminaries of the world jazz scene. Here is Johns’ SteepleChase leader debut showcasing not only his versatile dexterity but his astounding talent as composer.

“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). 180g Audiophile Vinyl

It's a gift that has been handed to Jasper: the ability to choose a musical partner for a unique project where the sum of the parts far exceeds the normal mathematical result. The result is the epitome of synergy. These great live recordings are addictive. Not merely because of their lovely tones, thrilling turns, subtle waywardness and the restrained calm that pervades them. No, it is first and foremost the overall vibe that makes this release so special. You're literally transported to a sound world that breathes, where a liberating space prevails. Your sense of time wavers and you feel connected to the language of the players. Listening to them places you fully in the Now.

Gabi Hartmann

Flo� og Fjara is Gulli Gudmundsson's new project. The Icelandic bassist has been a cornerstone of the Dutch jazz scene for many years. His new trio has a chamber music-inspired setup. With pianist Jeroen van Vliet and trumpeter Koen Smits, he has found two musicians who share his pursuit of similar sound ideals.

I share my personal experiences with the ensemble using materials ranging from graphic scores and written melodies, to photos and stories.�These materials function as unfinished compositions and as such challenge us to creatively connect our own ideas and sounds to the music, over and over again. To deal with this freedom in a musical way, we developed strategies for collective improvisation during a two-year artistic research process focussed on the Dutch tradition of free improvisation from the 1960s. This combination of recollection and improvisation has resulted in a record that is playful and personal, yet has an evocative, nostalgic, and impressionist character.

This album is all about Tadd Dameron (1917 - 65), one of the most important American jazz composer/musicians. The master baritone saxophonist and perennial pole winner Gary Smulyan conceived the brilliant idea of recording Dameron compositions with lyrics. The vocal part is phenomenally rendered by the young talent Anaïs Reno. Three songs including the lovely This Night Of Stars have hitherto never been recorded. “While Smulyan solos brilliantly throughout, Reno is the real treat here.” (Bill Milkowski – DownBeat on SCCD 31936). “Smulyan here brings to light Dameron’s heretofore unknown Library of Congress trove of standard-quality off-Broadway gems.” (Fred Bouchard – NYCJR on SCCD 31936) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

NY’s venerable veteran bassist Ron McClure’s new release is a case of “Lost and Found”. The recording was made 32 years ago at Manhattan’s upper Eastside nightclub Danshaku (Baron in Japanese). McClure was hired to play a gig and formed a trio with pianist Don Friedman (1925-2016) and guitarist Vic Juris (1953-2019). The gig was privately recorded but the tape was lost. Long story short, the missing tape was found last year in a NY apartment and its sound has been restored meticulously for us to experience a fabulous night of NY jazz scene three decades ago. “McClure is recognized for inventive improvising, creative compositions in a wide variety of settings and immaculate tone.” (Ken Dryden – NYCJR on 31935 Night Quest)

Erik Palmberg Trumpet, flugelhorn, compositions Anton Dromberg Piano Niklas Wennstrom Double Bass Sebastian Voegler Drums "We have had a busy, yet inspiring time since our last album. I began working on the new material just back from our tour, after weeks not only spent playing the music, but also talking about music with my band mates. The discussions and musical exchange sowed the seeds for the new songwriting. I was inspired by a new understanding and awareness towards the different musical styles and ideals that were existing within the group. " /Erik