Simon Moullier - Ceiba

Label: Self released, 2026

Personnel - Simon Moullier: vibraphone; Lex Korten; piano; Rick Rosato: bass; Jonkuk Kim: drums; Keita Ogawa: percussion (#2,5).

Dexterous 32-year-old vibraphonist and composer Simon Moullier offers new revelations with a keen sense of balance on Ceiba, his sixth album as a leader. Drawing from a broad musical vocabulary, the France-born, New York-based artist takes credit for all of the album’s vitally engaging compositions, delivering music that feels both fresh and firmly grounded. Inspired by the ceiba tree—a symbol connecting time, place, and people—the album benefits greatly from the extensive live work Moullier has done with his working quartet, featuring pianist Lex Korten, bassist Rick Rosato, and South Korean drummer Jonkuk Kim. Japanese percussionist Keita Ogawa appears as a guest on two tracks.

The enveloping title track, inspired by a Mozambican drum groove, opens the album with modal sophistication, occupying a space somewhere between Bobby Hutcherson and Kenny Garrett. Both Moullier and Korten display penetrating lyricism in a piece whose complex thematic material sounds remarkably effortless and smooth on the ear. “Lotus Pt. 2” extends the ideas introduced in the first installment on Elements of Light (2024), unfolding as a soothing ballad propelled by brushwork and crowned by a gorgeous vamp-driven finale.

“Fuji”, inspired by the iconic Japanese mountain, feels as though post-bop and Latin music have merged, recalling the emotionally charged fusion side of Pat Metheny. The piece is distinguished by advanced improvisational language and Ogawa’s colorful percussion, which also enhances the Brazilian-flavored “Baião”, a harmonically rich composition whose melodic contours evoke both Djavan and Toninho Horta. Pushing in a slightly different direction, Moullier also cites Djavan as an influence on “Apollo”, where a triumphant six-beat groove takes command.

“Iron Giant” is another modal tour de force, built around a bright and inquisitive theme, with Rosato and Kim laying the ideal foundation for the sure-footed improvisations that follow. “Ancient Ones” radiates post-bop brilliance in a waltzing meter, shifting the music’s weight without increasing its density. Written in Peru and inspired by the Andes, it balances elegance with momentum. “Mr. Hutcherson” is an uptempo post-bop romp driven by Rosato’s snappy walking bass and Kim’s effervescent drumming, serving as an unmistakable homage to the late vibist Bobby Hutcherson.

With a highly percussive attack, Moullier seems to sing through his instrument, functioning both as a commanding improvisational force and as the glue that gives the ensemble its distinctive identity. A refined melodicist with an exceptionally fluid musical language, he continues to deepen and expand his artistic voice.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Ceiba ► 02 - Fuji ► 03 - Iron Giant

Helen Sung Big Band - Oracles

Label: Sunnyside Records, 2026

Personnel - Trumpets & Flugelhorns: Tatum Greenblatt, Mike Rodriguez, Alex Norris, Nathaniel Williford; Trombones: James Burton III, Sara Jacovino, Willie Applewhite, Gina Benalcázar (bass); Saxophones: Dave Pietro (alto), Alejandro Aviles (alto), John Ellis (tenor), Nicole Glover (tenor), Andrew Gutauskas (baritone + bass clarinet); Rhythm section: Helen Sung (piano), Vicente Archer (double bass); Adam Cruz (drums), Samuel Torres (percussion). 

You’ll find exquisitely crafted arrangements conducted by trombonist Alan Ferber on Helen Sung’s big band outing, Oracles. The 17-piece ensemble tackles her original compositions alongside tributary renditions with lyrical grace and passion. Here, Sung pays homage to her former teachers at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, those who have most profoundly shaped her artistic journey.

With faultless attention to dynamics and timbres, she opens the album with “Convergence”, a marvelous piece culled from her album Sung With Words (Stricker Street, 2018). A beautifully layered introduction places Andrew Gutauskas’s robust baritone saxophone one step ahead, prior to trumpeter’s Alex Norris energetic solo, embellished by vibrant horn fills and orchestral excitement. The piece then settles into a swinging drive that invites Sung and tenor saxophonist John Ellis to build daring statements.

“Samba Da Gumz”, by legendary trumpeter Clark Terry, receives a chamber-like, horn-centered treatment that flows directly into “Positively C.T.”, Sung’s affectionate dedication to him. This animated, swing-infused romp features spirited solos from alto saxophonist Dave Pietro and trombonist Willie Applewhite before erupting into a trumpet-driven climax involving all four trumpeters over a galvanizing, double-time blues form.

Fully committed to the date, Ellis remains a central presence throughout, especially on the pieces honoring saxophone giant Wayne Shorter: on “Diana”, soprano saxophone and keyboards intertwine gracefully in a measured duet, while Sung’s “Wayne’s World”, flowing effortlessly in five, combines rich harmonic movement, rhythmic ingenuity, and compelling improvisations from tenor and piano.

Authoritative bass master Ron Carter is celebrated in “Mr. Virtuoso”, a time-shifting composition that highlights vigorous activity in the lower register while baritone saxophone and bass trombone solos unfold with commanding presence. The band also delivers Carter’s uptempo “R.J.” with equal measures of exhilaration and conviction.

The album concludes with Horace Silver’s “Peace”, a performance focused on the serenity of the melody without relying on featured soloists. But before that, one indulges in the Pianism triptych, dedicated to Barry Harris, Kenny Barron, and Herbie Hancock. “Pianism III”, propelled by sharp rhythmic accents and Torres’ Latin percussion, finds Sung trading fours with several horn players in one of the album’s most engaging exchanges. 

Sounding more mature and imaginative than ever, Sung rises to the occasion with dazzling virtuosity. Based on what unfolds throughout Oracles, her mentors have every reason to be proud of her sophisticated orchestrations.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Convergence ► 05 - Wayne’s World ► 06 - Mr. Virtuoso ► 11 - Pianism III

Florian Arbenz feat. Bill Frisell and Greg Osby - Quiet Lights

Label: Hammer Recordings, 2026

Personnel - Florian Arbenz: drums; Bill Frisell: guitar; Greg Osby: alto and soprano saxophone.

Swiss drummer and composer Florian Arbenz, known for his Conversation series, returns with Quiet Lights, featuring regular collaborator Greg Osby on saxophones and a new addition to his circle of musical associates: the remarkable Bill Frisell on guitar.

Boasting a deep Americana feel, “Homenaje” is layered with percussive dexterity, a coherent saxophone narrative, and a blend of bluesy and folksy guitar textures. Osby and Frisell drift in and out of the musical landscape before gradually bringing their lines into closer dialogue around the second minute. The trio becomes even more integrated as Frisell expands his chordal work, radiating beauty through his unmistakable tone. Osby responds with denser phrasing and a confident attack that heightens the tension, while the trio eventually plunges into a sleek, dance-like 12-beat rumba-inspired cycle. Also highlighting Arbenz’s affinity for Latin rhythms, “Rhumba” closes the album with a percussive pedal effect—emulating a bass line—and unexpected atmospheric gestures from Frisell, who subtly shapes the environment with electronics.

The mysterious “Chant” is initially underpinned by a sparse, dark-hued drone that, gradually allows light to seep in. Soft guitar textures are joined by shimmering cymbal colors and reflective soprano saxophone musings. The title track, “Quiet Lights”, carries a vibing quality and ambient pulse, weaving an elegant and refined texture. Arbenz employs custom-made percussion instruments alongside the drum kit, and the piece proves immediately accessible to the ear, much like “Lueget vo Berg und Tal”, a heartfelt reinterpretation of a traditional Swiss song reharmonized with cultivated taste.

On “Jammin’ in the Children’s Corner”, written by Arbenz for saxophonist Dave Liebman, the trio reveals especially compelling aspects of its chemistry. Here, rigorous preparation meets genuine spontaneity in an exhilarating journey marked by precise accentuation and a gravitational energy surrounding the alto saxophone lines over agile brushwork. Frisell’s punctuated observations emerge with sharp motivic instinct. “The Barradas Opening”, which alludes to Portuguese accordionist João Barradas, is a bluesy, groove-oriented slow burner distinguished by strong interplay and finely shaped unisons, bridging Americana and contemporary elements with ease.

Quiet Lights doesn’t really pack a punch, but unfolds gracefully without ever needing to force its impact, offering a charming and often introspective listening experience.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Homenaje ► 02 - Chant ► 03 - Jammin’ in the Children’s Corner

Lakecia Benjamin - We Dream

Label: Artwork Records, 2026

Personnel - Lakecia Benjamin: alto saxophone; Oscar Perez: piano; Miki Hayama: piano; Elias Bailey: acoustic bass; Jonathan Barber: drums + Guests - Terence Blanchard: trumpet (#1,2); Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah: trumpet (#4); Sean Jones: trumpet (#3,6); Chris Potter: tenor saxophone (#6,8); Jeff Tain Watts: drums (#6); Hiromi: piano (#8,9); Tarriona “Tank” Ball: vocals, spoken word (#7); Bilal: vocals (#10); Kassa Overall: vocals (#10)

American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Lakecia Benjamin responds to the present times and the world around her with We Dream, her sixth album as a leader. Determined to serve as a bright light in dark times, Benjamin expands her soulful musical language—venturing beyond the influence of the Coltranes here—with renewed purpose and the support of an impressive roster of guest artists.

“First Light” plunges into an atmospheric jazz ambiance, gradually brought to a simmer through spoken word and the aching trumpet cries of Terence Blanchard. The opening piece flows seamlessly into “Beyond the Dawn”, which paints a spiritual 3/4 modal landscape elevated by terrifically articulated solos from Benjamin and Blanchard, while drummer Jonathan Barber reinforces the track’s sweeping élan with expressive mallet work.

Exploring themes of isolation and endurance, “My Only” carries a modern jazz-hop sensibility enriched by shifting tempos and a strong contribution from trumpeter Sean Jones. “Mi Gente”, promoting collective unity, features another commanding trumpet voice: Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, formerly known as Christian Scott. What begins with a soft R&B touch soon blossoms into a glorious Latin-infused section filled with exuberant unisons and swinging momentum.

Hip-hop and R&B are embedded in the DNA of the title track, which features spoken word by New Orleans poet Tarriona ‘Tank’ Ball. This fusion of styles remains vibrant on “Right Now”, where progressive soul singer Bilal and drummer-producer Kassa Overall join forces. Benjamin delivers a forceful, twangy solo here, infused with wah-wah effects and raw energy.

Saxophonist Chris Potter and pianist Hiromi are two especially welcome additions to the lineup. Potter propels “Dream Breaker” into ecstatic post-bop territory alongside Jones and drummer Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts. Hiromi, beyond grooving delightfully on “Hiromi Jam”, also energizes the funk-fusion dimensions of “Flame Keeper”, an eccentric and satisfying romp packed with playful synthesizer flourishes.

While juggling a wide range of genres, Benjamin rarely loses her grip in this contemporary treatise on both creativity and political consciousness. We Dream secures its place—right here and right now—within her increasingly significant body of work.

Favorite Tracks:
02 - Beyond The Dawn ► 04 - Mi Gente ► 08 - Flame Keeper

Pedro Molina - A Name I Knew

Label: Carimbo Porta-Jazz, 2026

Personnel - Hugo Ferreira: guitar; Miguel Meirinhos: piano; Pedro Molina: double bass; Gonçalo Ribeiro: drums.

Spanish-born, Portugal-based bassist and composer Pedro Molina reunites his working quartet—featuring Portuguese musicians guitarist Hugo Ferreira (subbing for Filipe Dias), pianist Miguel Meirinhos, and drummer Gonçalo Ribeiro—for a well-designed, artfully executed sophomore album centered on Alzheimer’s disease. Blending contemporary jazz with art-rock and alternative influences, the group evokes the conflicting sensations of forgetting and remembering, structure and freedom, reverie and reality.

Imbuing his eight original compositions with an organic and carefully balanced inner logic, Molina and his cohorts open the album with “Denial”, whose odd-meter pulse never compromises the ensemble’s effortless flow. Meirinhos and Ferreira understand their roles within the framework, skittering around the rhythmic core yet always landing exactly where they should. Despite what the title may imply, nothing here feels wasted or unresolved, and Ferreira’s solo—dreamlike on one side, piercing on the other—unfolds over a striding rhythmic cadence.

Exploring the possibilities of post-bop and alternative rock, “Acceptance” carries echoes of Radiohead in an emotionally charged ride through multiple metered passages whose timbral effects shape the tune’s texture. “I’m Not the Same” is sprinkled with polyrhythmic activity, subtle undercurrents, and a nuanced sense of motion throughout its unfolding.

“Será Que Não Há Mesmo” resembles a strange and inventive tango, driven by experimental determination, rhythmic punctuations, and openness. Rim shots and pizzicato bass combine immaculately within a broad emotional spectrum, and the tune naturally evolves into increasingly exploratory terrain. In turn, “Valadas”, with its rubato feel, atmospheric quality, and intimate interaction, emerges as a poignant ballad energized by a subtle rock undercurrent.

Another ballad, “Who Helps Me When I Can’t Remember Anything”—shaped as a polished waltz—closes the album with more reflection and lyricism than irreverence. Yet the standout track is the angular and persistently thrilling “Familiar As Fog”, which finds pure joy within its fragmented avant-garde process. Propelled by an erratic rhythmic pulsation, it later introduces dynamic wah-wah guitar lines over a steady pulse.

Each composition unfolds methodically and without excess, while the band’s commitment and control lend the project remarkable depth. Molina is a musician to follow.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Denial ► 02 - Acceptance ► 06 - Familiar as Fog

Joe Lovano - Paramount Quartet

Label: ECM Records, 2026

Personnel - Joe Lovano: tenor axophone, G mezzo soprano saxophone, tarogato; Julian Lage: guitar; Asante Santi Debriano: bass; Will Calhoun: drums.

Joe Lovano, a saxophonist and composer with an unmistakable touch and tone, introduces a new quartet—Paramount—working alongside guitarist Julian Lage, bassist Asante Santi Debriano, and Living Colour drummer Will Calhoun. Across seven tracks—five Lovano originals and two carefully chosen covers—the album creates expansive settings for conversational interplay and individual expression, balancing solid post-bop foundations with adventurous improvisational freedom.

With “First Song”, written by Charlie Haden, the quartet embraces the minor mode with almost mystical elegance. Introduced by a lyrical guitar prelude, the piece unfolds as a poignant, deeply beautiful ballad that breathes with longing and emotional warmth. Its harmonic cycle becomes fertile ground for expressive solos from Lovano—whose singing lines radiate melodic richness—and Lage, whose soaring phrases are packed with harmonic sense. The other cover, Wayne Shorter’s “Lady Day”—composed in honor of Billie Holiday—retains the romanticism and emotional gravity of the original while filtering it through a sophisticated post-bop lens.

Originally featured on Lovano’s 2001 album Flights of Fancy, “Amsterdam” ventures decisively into avant-garde territory. Looser and more ambiguous in structure, it favors improvisational exchanges centered on one or two instruments at a time. Lovano and Lage articulate the theme together before the music opens into simultaneous improvisation, later shifting into a bass solo over guitar textures and a saxophone meditation supported only by drums. Similarly unconcerned with conventional forms, “The Great Outdoors” rejects standard harmonic progressions in favor of spacious rubato exploration. Haunting, fluid, and open-ended, it finds Lovano weaving in and out of the ensemble texture with commanding soprano sax work.

The album’s rhythmic engine comes fully alive on “Fanfare For Unity”, an animated and playful piece elevated by Calhoun’s exceptional drumming. The quartet sounds genuinely exhilarated here, and that joy transfers directly to the listener through their sharp wit and dynamic interaction. In contrast, “The Call” adopts a more atmospheric approach: Lovano’s G mezzo-soprano saxophone pours out dense streams of notes over arco bass drones and nuanced percussion, while Lage’s serene guitar lines evoke rays of light piercing grey clouds. The piece closes with beautifully intertwined saxophone-guitar unisons.

The final track, “Congregation”, carries a subtle Americana flavor, allowing the quartet’s narrative sensibility and exploratory spirit to emerge through notes that shimmer and dance with melodic instinct, blues-inflected phrasing, and effortless cool. Lovano has always been an endlessly inventive musician with expansive creative horizons, and this Paramount Quartet reveals yet another compelling chapter in his prolific career. Marked by deep listening, trust, and instinctive communication, this music deserves the highest attention and admiration. 

Favorite Tracks:
01 - First Song ► 02 - Amsterdam ► 04 - Fanfare For Unity

Pat Metheny - Side-Eye III+

Label: Uniquity Music / Green Hill Records, 2026

Personnel - Pat Metheny: guitar, synth; Chris Fishman: keyboards, piano, organ; Daryl Johns: bass; Joe Dyson: drums + guests.

World-class guitarist and composer Pat Metheny establishes a fruitful partnership with keyboardist/organist Chris Fishman and drummer Joe Dyson on Side-Eye III+. This core trio—composed of younger-generation musicians with remarkable versatility—is further strengthened by bassist Daryl Johns, while Metheny also enlists 15 additional musicians and vocalists for the project, including harpist Brandee Younger and keyboardist James Francies (he contributes organ textures to the gospel and R&B-infused “Urban and Western”).

The opener, “It On It”, launches the album with kinetic energy and a superbly polished sound shaped by the trio’s extensive touring experience. Metheny’s unmistakable guitar tone propels the central riff forward, while Fishman supplies sleek harmonic momentum over Dyson’s restless, bubbling drumming. The piece thrives on strong thematic development, leading naturally into colorful patterns, soulful guitar improvisations, vocal embellishments, rhythmic staccatos, and fluid key changes. A calmer backdrop supports Fishman’s expansive synth solo before Dyson reasserts himself with explosive stamina ahead of the theme’s return.

“Don’t Look Down” emerges as one of the album’s true highlights—a marvelous 3/4 composition blessed with an irresistible groove and a memorable melody steeped in Americana. Metheny’s solos, alternating between crystalline clean tones and synth-inflected textures, soar over Dyson’s consistently impressive rhythmic work. “Make a New World” unfolds with warmth and a subtle gospel flavor, while “Se-O”, refusing to switch gears entirely, introduces Latin-tinged undercurrents without abandoning its contemporary jazz foundation. Fishman particularly shines on the latter, delivering a fluid fusion-style improvisation, but there are also incredible rhythmic accents, dynamic drum fills, and shimmering cymbal splashes.

Metheny’s compositions, at once haunting and forward-moving, encourage the ensemble to discover new freedoms through constant interaction and stylistic elasticity. Yet, the closing ballad “So Far So Good” offers a gentler, more introspective atmosphere, distinguished by the soothing resonance of Metheny’s acoustic guitar. His unwavering commitment to narrative expression, combined with the ensemble’s palpable dedication to the music, makes Side-Eye III+ a first-class addition to his ever-evolving body of work.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - It On It ► 02 - Don’t Look Down ► 03 - Make a New World

Jo Berger Myhre - Penta

Label: Rare Noise Records, 2026

Personnel - Jo Berger Myhre: double bass, 8-string bass guitar, drum machine, additional synths; Morten Qvenild:  hyper(sonal), grand piano, synthesizers; Kaveh Mahmudiyan: tombak, daf, bandır; Jo David Meyer Lysne: guitars, una corda piano, electromagnets; Synnøve Sætre Hveem: vocals.

Norwegian bassist and composer Jo Berger Myhre approaches patterns, drones, and general ideas with curiosity on Penta, his third release for Rare Noise Records. The album, where cultures and disciplines intersect with remarkable fluidity, reunites the core quartet from Live Maneuvers (2023). Myhre specifically composed this music with keyboardist Morten Qvenild, percussionist Kaveh Mahmudiyan, and guitarist Jo David Meyer Lysne in mind, and their contributions become essential to the album’s immersive arc. Guest vocalist Synnøve Sætre Hveem appears on two tracks, adding further textural depth.

“Theme and Variations” opens by weaving emotional tapestries through piano, understated percussion, and bass, all suspended against a grainy white-noise backdrop. The piece feels like a meeting point between Olivier Messiaen and Philip Glass. “Abyss in B-flat Minor”, a tribute to Norwegian shoegaze band Serena Maneesh, unfolds like a meditation steeped in longing, while “Solo Improvisation”, with Myhre stepping fully into the foreground, provides one of the album’s finest moments—deeply grounded, introspective, and rich in tonal nuance.

Myhre, who alternates between acoustic bass—often played arco—and a vintage Hagström eight-string bass guitar, uses chordal textures and dexterous fingerpicking to broaden the music’s sonic possibilities. “Augmentation in G-flat” moves through a 5/8 pulse, combining radiant guitar currents, counterintuitive piano splashes, and astral synth effects while Hveem’s ethereal vocals occasionally merge with the keyboard’s lower register. Its fusion of jazz, ambient textures, and world-music inflections gradually dissolves into a floating atmosphere.

“Ancohemitonic Turn of Events” feels simultaneously ritualistic and spontaneous, incorporating syncopated drum machines, resonant bowed bass, and acidic synth bursts into a globally inflected electronic soundscape enriched by rhythmic noodling and whistled melodies. The album closes with “Ending on a Low Note”, whose title aptly reflects its poignant and mournful character. Small percussive eruptions and subtly Eastern melodic contours shape a lament of quiet emotional power.

Myhre’s music pulses with a vital, searching energy, exploring the fragile spaces between breath and sound. His patterned imprints, often reinforced by adapt post-production, casts an occasional spell.

Favorite Tracks:
02 - Augmentation in G flat ► 03 - Abyss in B-flat minor ► 05 - Solo Improvisation

Alexander Hawkins - No Nation But Imagination

Label: Intakt Records, 2026

Personnel - Alexander Hawkins: piano, synthesizer, sampler; Rhodri Davies: harp; Hamid Drake: drums; Nicole Mitchell: flute; Matthew Wright: turntables, live sampling.

With No Nation But Imagination, British pianist and composer Alexander Hawkins delivers a radical and fascinatingly complex work that may leave listeners wondering how its intertwining layers of piano, synths, harp, flute, drums, turntables, and samples fit together so naturally. Yet Hawkins—already proven capable of leading large ensembles (Togetherness Music) and engaging in adventurous duos with cellist Tomeka Reid, saxophonist Evan Parker, and vocalist Sofia Jernberg—continues to push boundaries, reshaping the language of modern improvised music through another ambitious and experimental undertaking.

“Solo Way Far Gone” opens the album in a restrained glide, its slightly distorted synth waves evoking obscure Sun Ra recordings. The real enchantment begins with “Resolution Each and Every”, a hypnotic Afro-jazz-rock excursion driven by a tight backbeat, magnetic groove, and chant-like flute lines. Drummer Hamid Drake constantly reshapes the rhythmic terrain, at times merging hip-hop-inflected pulses with echoes of global musical traditions.

“Mirror No Border” thrives on incisive abstraction and staccato-driven attacks. Expansive in its instrumental convergences, the piece gradually intensifies into an electrifying sonic buzz. In complete contrast, “Circles in the Celestial Garden” unfolds as a serene meditation on beauty and spirituality, pairing Rhodri Davies’ harp with Nicole Mitchell’s airy yet resonant flute.

“Lullaby Much Further” layers eerie humming drones, piercing synth textures, resonant toms and cymbals, and dreamlike flute passages into a haunting soundscape. Similarly flamboyant in its balance of restraint and excess, “Hocket Fierce Peaceful” rests upon celestial drones before shifting into a fanfare-like mode, carrying the listener through a dizzying carousel of hallucinatory sounds where spectral keyboards and propulsive drumming eventually give way to an exuberant march.

On “Joy Beyond Blazing”, Davies’ harp takes on the ferocity of an electric guitar against a backdrop of vigorous piano harmonies and tireless flute flights. “Open Sea Boat’s Land” returns to a hip-hop-driven boom-bap groove with funk undertones, incorporating Matthew Wright’s live electronics—including a muffled electric bass effect—alongside Hawkins’ sweeping piano gestures. The album closes with “Coda Over the Fence”, a soulful, gospel-inflected finale radiating the spiritual warmth of Abdullah Ibrahim’s South African-inspired chants.

No Nation But Imagination sounds unlike anything else—an avant-garde manifesto steeped in postmodern experimentation, unusual melodic logic, singular textures, and meticulous post-production detail. Hawkins, one of the most imaginative keyboardists in contemporary jazz, once again demonstrates how advanced technique and fearless creativity can yield music that is both intellectually challenging and deeply substantive.

Favorite Tracks: 
02 - Resolution Each and Every ► 04 - Circles in the Celestial Garden ► 06 - Hocket Fierce Peaceful ► 08 - Open Sea Boat’s Land

Olivier Le Goas Ensemble Pulse - The Chaining Loops

Label: Double Moon Records, 2026

Personnel - Frédéric Borey: saxophones; Médéric Collignon; cornet, voice; Gueorgui Kornazov: trombone; Michael Felberbaum: guitar; David Patrois: vibraphone; Yoni Zelnik: double bass; Olivier Le Goas: drums.

Intrepid French drummer Olivier Le Goas reunites his Ensemble Pulse—a high-spirited septet formed during a creative residency in 2021—to perform five new original compositions. A devoted explorer of odd meters, animated rhythmic patterns, and kinetic grooves, Le Goas delivers exactly that on The Chaining Loops.

His compositional strengths become evident from the outset in the expansive, constantly shifting title track. Vibraphonist David Patrois introduces the piece with an enchanting prelude before an asymmetrical pulse emerges, opening space for trombonist Gueorgui Kornazov’s improvisation. Chamber-like guitar-sax passages soon give way to another sharply accented odd-meter section, this time supporting a nervy cornet solo from Médéric Collignon, followed by a more cerebral soprano saxophone statement from Frédéric Borey. The orchestration continuously evolves, and the ensemble remains tightly unified in both melody and rhythm before settling briefly into a slower 4/4 passage over which guitarist Michael Felberbaum stretches out. The piece ultimately circles back to its origins, once again centering the vibraphone.

Played with uncanny intensity, “Direction” rests initially on a stern bass pedal point and unfolds in septuple meter, at times recalling the warm, expansive feel of the Dave Holland Quintet. Each musician fits seamlessly within the framework, and the track offers especially compelling guitar and saxophone improvisations over a rich chain of harmonies.

The polyrhythmic “Friction” thrives on curious juxtapositions and shifting tonal centers, while “Fifteen Miles” maintains the album’s rhythm-driven spirit even if it initially appears more restrained. Gradually, the ensemble reignites the momentum through a sequence of nine-beat cycles and an accelerated section that highlights Collignon’s expressive scat singing.

“Light in the Sky” closes the album on an uplifting note. Jazz fusion allusions emerge through vigorous drumming and an excellent vibraphone solo, while a soulful, catchy melody bridges into the cornet improvisation before rock and jazz merge once again with infectious vitality. The piece reaches ecstatic heights during its final coda, only to dissolve through Le Goas’ playful decrescendo.

Le Goas is the kind of musician who is constantly shifting gears rhythmically and texturally. His hyperactive pulse not only supports the soloists but also fuels consistently engaging interplay. In perpetual transformation across layered rhythmic cells, The Chaining Loops may feel dense and flamboyant at times, yet it remains a stimulating album to explore.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - The Chaining Loops ► 02 - Direction ► 05 - Light in the Sky

Chris Potter - Alive With Ghosts Today

Label: Edition Records, 2026

Personnel - Chris Potter: tenor and soprano saxophone; Bill Frisell: guitar; Burniss Travis: electric bass; Nate Smith: drums; Rane Moore: clarinet; Zekkereya El-magharbel: trombone; Sara Caswell: violin. 

Chris Potter, a top-tier saxophonist and composer with a brilliant 35-year career in contemporary jazz, unveils a compelling new suite inspired by abolitionist John Brown’s Raid of 1859. The music addresses the complexities and contradictions of America within an encouraging, deeply expressive framework, where Potter’s full-bodied tenor sound emerges through surging solos marked by clarity, emotion, and conviction.

For this septet project, Potter assembles a remarkable group of musicians who share his fearless creative vision, many of them interpreting his compositions for the first time—among them guitarist Bill Frisell, clarinetist Rane Moore, trombonist Zekkereya El-Magharbel, violinist Sara Caswell, and bassist Burniss Travis, whose grounded presence anchors the music. The sole returning collaborator is drummer Nate Smith, who previously appeared on Underground (2006) and Imaginary Cities (2015) albums.

The album is framed by the two-part title track, “Alive With Ghosts Today”. The opening section offers a luminous, atmospheric canvas where composed lines unfold with rich color and resonance. Its concluding counterpart, imbued with a Coltrane-like spirit, draws on blues-inflected phrasing and American folk sensibilities.

“Osawatomie Brown”, a highlight, is a buoyant, multi-meter composition shaped by intricate form. Its refined jazz-funk character, with crossover appeal, rests on Travis’ five-note bass groove in 4/4, seamlessly interlocked with Smith’s supple drumming. Potter’s solo is particularly captivating, enriched by purposeful horn interjections, while Frisell contributes a distinctive voice within a subtly off-kilter, blues-based framework.

Activated by Travis’ introductory statement, “The Heavens in Scarlet” begins as a ballad before evolving into a gently grooving, almost reggae-like feel, enhanced by Caswell and El-Magharbel’s textural support. Frisell’s warm, Americana-tinged voicings permeate the piece, which pairs naturally with “This Earth Would Have No Charms for Me”, a chamber jazz waltz introduced by wistful guitar.

“Sister Annie”, named after Brown’s daughter, reintroduces a sleek, funk-inflected pulse with a hopeful, R&B-tinged atmosphere and bright harmonic shading. Meanwhile, “Into Africa” stands out for its dynamic time shifts, opening with a saxophone-led groove quickly taken up by the rhythm section, with Frisell’s exceptional comping underpinning Potter’s forward-looking improvisation. Equally striking, “Mine Eyes” unfolds like a modal work song, gradually building into a mesmerizing, tour-de-force saxophone solo. Its layered polytonal counterpoint—featuring trombone, clarinet, and violin—subtly draws from the melody of the marching song “John Brown’s Body”.

Advocating freedom and peace for everyone, Potter plays his absolute truth with harmonic rigor and wholehearted improvisation. For its message and artistry alike, Alive With Ghosts Today is a precious offering.

Favorite Tracks:
02 - Osawatomie Brown ► 06 - Into Africa ► 07 - Mine Eyes  

Ben Wendel - BaRcoDe

Label: Edition Records, 2026

Personnel - Ben Wendel: tenor saxophone, EFX; Joel Ross: vibraphone, marimba; Patricia Brennan: vibraphone, EFX; Simon Moullier: vibraphone, chromatic balafon, EFX; Juan Diego Villalobos: vibraphone, mallet station, percussion, EFX.

In BaRcoDe, born from a commission by The Jazz Gallery, the accomplished and eclectic saxophonist Ben Wendel explores a bold instrumentation, assembling four mallet specialists—Joel Ross, Patricia Brennan, Simon Moullier, and Juan Diego Villalobos—to interpret five originals and one cover. Showcasing his confident tenor swagger, Wendel weaves together jazz, classical, and new music within an electroacoustic context.

“Clouds” opens the album as a lush homage to the minimalist aesthetic of percussion quartets, pairing ecstatic saxophone lines with uninterrupted streams of vibraphone. Its ternary feel enhances the tune’s exotic character, while the vibraphonists’ layered parts cohere with remarkable precision. “Mimo”, meaning ‘outside’ in Czech, finds Wendel navigating rhythmic dexterity in his soloing. Though the melody carries a strong folk inflection, its blues sensibility remains evident, supported by a percussion section that delivers groove across shifting meters.

For this project, Wendel drew inspiration from the Grammy-winning Sō Percussion ensemble, known for its collaborations with Vijay Iyer, Philip Glass, and Steve Reich. “Repeat After Me”, also featured on Kneebody’s 2025 album Reach, foregrounds unison lines and percussive effusiveness, gradually settling into a gentle groove that takes on a subtle Latin tinge. The vibraphone–marimba combination yields a particularly rich blend of harmony and rhythmic motion.

The extended rendition of Antônio Carlos Jobim’s “Olha Maria”, flowing with a delicate, undulating pulse, preserves the poignancy and reflective tone of the original within a finely crafted arrangement introduced by a memorable preamble. One of the vibraphonists states the main melody before Wendel joins, leading into a focused and emotive improvisation. In contrast, “Birds Ascend”, loosely inspired by British pianist Kit Downes and Scottish folk fiddler Aidan O’Rourke, is largely through-composed, showcasing virtuosic interplay centered on a quick-witted phrase that shifts in pitch.

The accompanists’ use of extended techniques, effects, and impeccable sense of time proves invaluable, reinforcing Wendel’s position at the forefront of expansive, 21st-century post-bop.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Clouds ► 03 - Olha Maria ► 04 - Repeat After Me

Eric St. Godard - New Beginnings

Label: Self released, 2026

Personnel - Eric St. Godard: piano; Niall Cade: saxophone; Ilya Osachuk: bass; Kieran Wallace: drums.

Hailing from Winnipeg, Canada, pianist and composer Eric St. Godard leads a flexible quartet on his debut alum, New Beginnings. Across eight original compositions, the ensemble—featuring saxophonist Niall Cade, bassist Ilya Osachuk, and drummer Kieran Wallace—draws from a melting pot of influences, with jazz at its core.

“Lovely Rose” opens the album as a Wayne Shorter–esque 3/4 enchanter, favoring tranquility and lyricism over turbulence. The spacious atmosphere allows Godard, Cade, and Osachuk to stretch out with confidence. In a similar vein, “Home” stirs emotion with delicate nuance and subtle fragility, beginning in a rubato setting before settling into a gentle waltz for its improvisations.

Despite its hard-bop flair and lively theme, “Tippin’” bears no relation to Horace Silver’s tune of the same name, even if it shares a comparable spirit. Its energetic framework provides a platform for a cleanly articulated saxophone solo, initially unfolding over bass accompaniment alone. Meanwhile, “Changing Winds” offers a clear nod to Pat Metheny’s “Bright Size Life”, concluding with a reflective solo piano passage.

“Letter”, with its strong ballad character, crisp backbeat, and fusion-tinged expression, could easily be mistaken for a Metheny composition, showcasing well-developed phrasing rooted in diatonic harmony. The uplifting title track, “New Beginnings”, gets a separated, multi-rhythmic piano introduction, curiously longer than the piece itself, which opens with a chant-like saxophone line later matched by piano. It reveals a melody enriched by luminous harmonic color.

The album closes with “Chicken Strut”, which subtly evokes New Orleans jazz-funk through its direct melodic lines and splashy chordal accents, ending on an energetic note. The rhythm section swings assertively beneath Godard’s poised piano runs.

Though somewhat conservative in form and structure—occasionally feeling constrained—New Beginnings nonetheless introduces a promising new voice in jazz, one intent on blending styles and forging a personal path.

Favorite Tracks:
02 - Tippin’ ► 05 - New Beginnings ► 08 - Chicken Strut

Sean Imboden Large Ensemble - Uncharted Realms

Label: Self released, 2026

Personnel - Sean Imboden: tenor and soprano saxophone, composer.

Last year, on Communal Heart, his debut album with a 17-piece large ensemble, shrewd Indiana-based composer and saxophonist Sean Imboden demonstrated impressive command as an orchestrator. Now he continues to explore expansive big-band writing with Uncharted Realms, which he describes as an invitation to envision better possibilities in our world—expressing a longing for connection, understanding, purpose, and safety.

The album opens with “Flowing Currents”, an anthemic, chamber-like piece layered with stimulating motifs that elevate the ensemble’s collective energy. Originally written for a smaller group, it features Imboden (on tenor) and rock-leaning guitarist Joel Tucker as soloists, both offering glimpses of their distinct voices within a gradual emotional crescendo. The pair also ride powerful waves of improvisation on “When You Look Beyond”, where the energy skyrockets via marching snare authority and an epic-ness that stems from remarkably coordinated contrapuntal passages, allowing contrasting timbres to emerge with clarity and intent.

Imboden gravitates toward rich, thoughtful jazz sonorities, avoiding cliché while crafting detailed and engaging soundscapes. “Balcony”, composed nearly a decade ago and continually refined, exemplifies this approach. Bassist Nick Tucker establishes a firm pedal point over which classically influenced gestures unfold. A seven-beat passage transitions into a sultry, tango-tinged section that frames the theme, opening space for expressive contributions from trombonist Zac Granger and Imboden on soprano. The closing track, “Follow the Kite”, offers a feel-good contrast, propelled by brushes, bass, and guitar in a relaxed flow, with bass clarinet subtly emerging from the texture. Despite its breezy surface, the piece tightens into punchy counterpoint, incorporating lush volleys within occasionally shifting meters.

“The Gentle Giant” revolves around a nuanced six-beat pattern that anchors the bass line. This adventurous piece—partly inspired by Philip Glass and Stravinsky—explores shifting dynamics and features flugelhornist John Raymond in a performance that is both serene and impassioned.

Imboden’s contemporary vision unfolds with clarity and creativity, reflecting a composer who understands how to draw the best from his ensemble. Uncharted Realms is another ambitious and cohesive musical statement.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Flowing Currents ► 03 - When You Look Beyond ► 05 - Follow the Kite

Jonny Wartel / Mathias Landæus / Georgia Wartel Collins / Henrik Wartel - Celebrating Live

Label: Brotz Records, 2026

Personnel - Jonny Wartel: saxophone; Mathias Landæus: piano; Georgia Wartel Collins: bass; Henrik Wartel: drums.

The Wartels—a Swedish family of devoted practitioners of adventurous jazz and free improvisation—appear here alongside pianist Mathias Landæus in a live session recorded at Blow Out Oslo in 2024. Saxophonist Jonny Wartel leads the frontline, supported by his brother Henrik on drums and his daughter Georgia, now based in New York, on bass.

Their musical conversation, rich in nuance and strikingly organic, begins with Landæus’ meditative and harmonically balanced piano playing. Occasionally stirred by brief whirlwinds, his pianistic language gains momentum as the bass’s exploratory figures, the drums’ dynamic activity, and the saxophone’s floating lines enter the fold. The layered atmosphere gradually intensifies, with the rhythm section driving a frenetic swing that provides direction for Landæus’ inquisitive intervallic narrative. He is followed by Jonny, whose left-leaning lyricism generates both heat and agitation while maintaining a thread of sincere melodicism.

In the aftermath of this surge, the quartet—formed in 2024—navigates calmer terrain: reflective piano, gently bowed bass creating drone-like textures, understated percussion, and clearly shaped saxophone lines that remain open to “outside” exploration. The ensemble steadily rebuilds tension, shifting gears instinctively, with no fixed structure—allowing the music to flow freely as the musicians respond to evolving dynamics and intensities.

The following section turns notably melodic, offering moments of quiet intimacy that arrive with disarming grace. As weightless piano chords unfold, these passages stand among the album’s most compelling, revealing the musicians’ deep sensitivity to sound and texture. The final section begins with slippery, rolling drum figures before expanding into a Coltrane-inspired A Love Supreme atmosphere, with piano at the center of a swinging framework. Fleeting hints of folk-like melody emerge, adding a playful dimension before the piece culminates in avant-garde exuberance. This is a confident effort by full-fledged free jazz explorers.

Elijah Shiffer and The Robber Crabs - Callithumpian

Label: Star Jelly, 2026

Personnel - Elijah Shiffer: alto saxophone; Christian Cail: guitar; Max Kutner: electric bass; Colin Hinton: drums; Maya Luz: vocals (#9,10).

Recorded live at three different New York venues (Brooklyn, Queens, and Rochester), Callithumpian marks the second release by vibrant saxophonist and composer Elijah Shiffer with his punk-infused jazz ensemble Robber Crabs. Delivered with earnestness and charged with passion, the album features a completely renewed lineup, with guitarist Christian Cail, bassist Max Kutner, and drummer Colin Hinton excelling across 11 tracks that highlight their expansive and adventurous musical stance.

The hyperactivity of Shiffer’s “Mustang Mascot”—with its barrage of accents, acerbic guitar chords, and locomotive-paced drumming—serves as an ideal vehicle for the quartet’s irreverence and empowering sound. Cail’s frantic, often disorienting solo evokes Brandon Seabrook’s psychedelic tantrums, while Shiffer navigates a hard-swinging framework delineated with a post-rock edge. Toward the end, its marching thematic parade gives way to unaccompanied drum exploration. By contrast, “The Socialite” feels comparatively more conventional, shifting between tempo and intensity while toggling from elegant trad jazz to abrasive punk rock.

“Swindler’s Dream” arrives at full throttle, its melody tinged with Eastern inflections and driven by spirited saxophone–guitar interplay, while the title track “Callithumpian” resembles a cabaret for the future, propelled by an animated strut, unexpected staccato figures, and a confident embrace of dissonant deconstruction.

Penned by Mexican composer Conlon Nancarrow, “Player Piano Study 3a” emerges as an irresistible hybrid of bluesy rock ’n’ roll, punk, and avant-garde jazz. The seemingly smoother textures of “Tentacle Mind, Part 1” soon thicken and intensify, culminating in tense multiphonics and an insistent rhythmic heat that favors turbulence over stability. As in other cases, the performance enhances rather than overshadows the composition.

Cail’s “Zero Pleasure Tolerance” bursts forth with a mix of motifs over a blistering, motorik-like pulse, while guest vocalist Maya Luz contributes two of her own pieces—the rhapsodic “Manicures and Mood Swings” and the pop-leaning ballad “My Thrill”. Though contrasting in mood, both integrate effectively within the album’s broader tonal palette.

Constantly on the edge, Robber Crabs’ music allows for freedom and discipline alike. Callithumpian transpires loud energy, playfulness, and character via hooky themes, blistering improvisation, and tight-knit interaction. All in all, fun material.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Mustang Mascot ► 04 - Callithumpian ► 07 - Tentacle Mind, Part 1

Caleb Wheeler Curtis - Ritual

Label: Chill Tone Records, 2026

Personnel - Caleb Wheeler Curtis: stritch, soprano saxophone (#8), sopranino (#9), trumpet (#9); Hery Paz: tenor saxophone (#2,3,4,9), flute (#6,7); Orrin Evans: piano (#3,4,5,6); Emmanuel Michael: guitar; Vicente Archer: bass; Michael Sarin: drums.

Caleb Wheeler Curtis, the insightful saxophonist and composer who impressed with Heat Map (2022) and The True Story of Bears and the Invention of the Battery (2024), returns with Ritual, a new album of originals performed with a strong collective spirit and pronounced individuality. Focusing primarily on the stritch—a straight alto saxophone associated with Rahsaan Roland Kirk—Curtis is joined by rising guitarist Emmanuel Michael, bassist Vicente Archer, and drummer Michael Sarin. Cuban saxophonist and flutist Hery Paz contributes compelling lines on six tracks, while pianist Orrin Evans appears on four.

The powerful emotional arc of “Fantasmas”, a searching invocation of ancestry, opens the album with an open-ended bass-and-drums flux, creating fertile ground for the lyrical melody shaped by Michael and Curtis. The guitarist balances inventive phrasing, volume swells, and harmonic color, while Curtis consistently finds the right tone and intensity for his focused yet exploratory narratives. “Bleakout”, conceived during a blackout in Madrid, shifts into modernistic funk with angular vision and rhythmic density, featuring Curtis and Paz in fluid dialogue, united by a shared conversational sensibility.

Slower but steadily purposeful, “Florence” introduces a chamber-like delicacy in a measured 4/4 tempo, enhanced by guitar harmonics and atmospheric piano minimalism. “You Just Can’t Keep the Music”, a duet with Evans, moves from a precise theme in (4+5) additive meter into a brisk 3/4 for its improvisational passages. Evans also features on “Black Box Extraction”, where counterpoint and an energized funk-rock feel—sparked by Sarin’s drumming—are layered with avant-garde intensity. Curtis remains relentless in his fluid ideas, while Paz injects a touch of Latin groove before expanding outward; Michael brings the piece to a close with unrestrained creativity.

“Tenastic” and “The End of Power” may be the most direct pieces on the album, yet they retain an element of surprise. The former’s dense, driving swing—topped by vigorous interplay between Curtis and Paz (on flute) as well as Michael’s tense lines and harmonies—contrasts with the latter’s dreamlike atmosphere where a refined, almost pop-like sensibility is anchored by Sarin’s nimble brushwork.

Curtis’ compositional voice is serious, often intricate, and deeply imaginative. Demonstrating a near-telepathic rapport with his ensemble, he achieves a striking balance between grounded structure and abstract exploration, resulting in music that is consistently engaging and thought-provoking.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Fantasmas ► 02 - Bleakout ► 04 - Black Box Extraction

Nick Fraser - Areas

Label: Elastic Recordings, 2026

Personnel - Tony Malaby: tenor and soprano saxophone; Kris Davis: piano; Nick Fraser: drums, piano harp; John Kameel Farah: electronics and sound processing (#1,4,7).

Toronto-based drummer and composer Nick Fraser reunites his exploratory trio for a third outing, Areas. There’s a remarkable synergy within this forward-looking, bass-less group, rounded out by two fearless musicians: pianist Kris Davis and saxophonist Tony Malaby. With Fraser’s unobtrusive yet ever-present rhythmic drive anchoring the foundation, Davis injects rich harmonic color and angular melodicism, while Malaby—a force to be reckoned with in contemporary jazz—consistently impresses with gruff, confident tenor attacks.

Three of the album’s six pieces are credited to Palestinian-Canadian pianist John Kameel Farah, who digitally processes duo improvisations by Fraser and Malaby. “In the Wreckage” opens the record in a dispersed, disorienting, and gloomy mode; “Howling Circuits” leans on drone-based processing, with Fraser on piano harp; and “Brood” sustains an eerie, incantatory languor within its sinister atmospherics.

“Mimic” is a highlight, unfolding with simultaneous intensity, shadow, and complexity. Ominous low-register percussive attacks—emerging from a clever blend of standard and prepared piano—alongside shimmering cymbal textures, invite Malaby to expand into a high-powered middle-register vortex, unleashing guttural multiphonics and cyclic sweeps with growling force.

Equally striking is “There Are Other Ways”, which brims with excitement. Malaby’s solo introduction finds contrapuntal support in Davis’ quasi-mechanical motion. As the saxophonist delves into brooding sonorities, emphasizing an earthy tone and impressive range, Davis locks into a woozy, spiraling, almost robotic march, with Fraser’s active drumming providing propulsion. The trio transports us into an uncharted, rambunctious sonic universe where textures are fragmented and reassembled with daring intent.

“Area” adopts a more ruminative stance. Initially, Malaby resists steering his expressive horn toward a fixed destination, while Fraser and Davis anchor an angular terrain with curiosity and tension. This unease soon erupts into a storm, marked by weighty, cacophonous saxophone interjections delivered with biting tone and piercing acuity. It ends calmly, though, melodically driven by soprano. Initially tense, the closer, “Sketch 57”, suggests a meditation, with gradually harmonized passages underpinned by rattling percussion and ample space for free interaction. The trio engages in a fluid sonic conversation whose sinuous paths lean into abstraction, with a brief but effective surge in intensity.

Fraser’s compositions foster a flowing improvisational language, allowing each musician to showcase distinctive timbres and dynamic interplay in service of the collective. Areas offers a compelling mix of surprise and atmosphere, striking a thoughtful balance between formlessness and structure.

Favorite Tracks:
02 - Mimic ► 03 - Area ► 05 - There Are Other Ways

Miho Hazama - Frames

Label: Edition Records, 2026

Personnel - Miho Hazama: composer, conductor + Danish Radio Big Band.

New York-based Japanese composer Miho Hazama, who has garnered accolades with her contemporary large ensemble m_unit, displays a maturity far beyond her years. On Frames, the Grammy-nominated composer honors the legacy of the influential Danish Radio Big Band, crafting a new suite inspired by its musical directors, including Bob Brookmeyer, Thad Jones, Ray Pitts, Palle Mikkelborg, and the recently departed pianist Jim McNeely, to whom the album is dedicated.

The album opens with a sense of optimism and devotion to the music. “And The Door Unsealed” unveils cascading sonic layers in succession before settling into a mid-tempo, soulful flow. Driven by a warm swinging energy, the piece features improvisational contributions from guitarist Per Gade—supported by lush horn arrangements—and tenor saxophonist Peter Fuglsang, who extemporizes over an alternate backdrop. A vamp with vertiginous rhythmic accents closes the piece. “Rondo” unfolds with percussive delicacy, showcasing saxophone and muted trumpet in parallel over a gently waltzing cadence that subtly evolves.

“LuLu”, introduced with calm restraint by piano and trumpet, highlights bassist Kaspar Vadsholt in a beautifully integrated solo woven into a low-register texture. “Aura II”, imbued with a Brookmeyer-like sensibility, is framed by illuminating five-beat cycles, while its improvisations drift between rubato passages and a 3/4 pulse. The colorful post-bop of “The Pioneer’s Quest” presents its rich thematic material in dense unison layers, featuring exuberant piano and trumpet solos across lilting 4/4 measures and a contrasting 7/8 section, respectively. The album closes with “The First Notes”, maintaining constant motion in a playful, buoyant spirit.

With compositions rich in memorable themes and thoughtfully structured sections, Hazama sustains cohesion while continually propelling the music forward, demonstrating her refined voice as a modern jazz orchestrator.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - And The Door Unsealed ► 04 - The Pioneer’s Quest ► 05 - Aura II

Gregory Hutchinson - Kind of Now: The Pulse of Miles Davis

Label: Warner Music, 2026

Personnel - Ambrose Akinmusire: trumpet; Ron Blake: tenor saxophone, bass clarinet; Gerald Clayton: piano; Jakob Bro: guitar; Emmanuel Michael: guitar; Joe Sanders: bass; Gregory Hutchinson: drums.

Drummer and composer Gregory Hutchinson, who consistently uses timbre and cymbal color to his advantage, embarks on an enjoyable and occasionally surprising program of tunes connected to and paying homage to the groundbreaking jazz trumpeter Miles Davis. Hutchinson—known for his collaborations with Roy Hargrove, Joe Henderson, Joshua Redman, Ray Brown, and Kurt Rosenwinkel—blends tradition and modernity in his approach, assembling a group of contemporary jazz players whose quality and flexibility fully serve his vision.

Charlie Parker’s hard-bop strut “Ah-Leu-Cha”—a brilliant contrafact of “Honeysuckle Rose” and “I Got Rhythm”—wastes no time drawing listeners in. The initial symbiotic interplay around the theme allows ample space for bassist Joe Sanders and Hutchinson to assert themselves. Not as uptempo as Miles’ version, the piece thrives through a strong, refined statement by trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, followed by pianist Gerald Clayton’s candid phrasing and tenor saxophonist Ron Blake’s expansive reach.

Hutchinson and his group render three Miles compositions representing distinct phases in jazz history: “Fran-Dance” is delivered in a simpatico trio setting of piano, bass, and drums; “Bitches Brew” channels experimental curiosity, relying on the contrast between high-pitched trumpet and low bass clarinet before settling into an ostinato-driven funk infused with bluesy hues; and “Circle in the Round” features compelling work by up-and-coming guitarist Emmanuel Michael, who later joins Akinmusire and Blake for the final thematic statement.

Of the album’s 12 tracks, four come from the pen of Wayne Shorter: “Fall” and “Feio” are shaped by evocative guitar textures, as Jakob Bro interacts with Michael over Hutchinson’s inventive figures. “Orbits” and “Water Babies” similarly evoke the composer’s incantatory ambiguity.

Hutchinson’s take-no-prisoners mentality surfaces in Victor Feldman’s “Seven Steps to Heaven”, a nod to Miles’s second great quintet propelled at full swing, while Tony Williams’ “Black Comedy” includes slick lines and solo turns from Blake and Clayton. The album also features three solo drum tracks, each statement purposeful—one of them paying tribute to the drummers who played with Miles.

In an album that never defaults to strict convention, Hutchinson avoids the obvious, favoring nuanced shadings and tuneful rhythms that elevate the material’s overall impact.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Ah-Leu-Cha ► 06 - Feio ► 09 - Bitches Brew