Paul Brusger – Waiting For The Next Trane (SCCD 33115)

SCCD 33115 Paul Brusger “Waiting For The Next Trane”

Bassist/composer/arranger/ Paul Brusger is one of the most sought-after bassists in the New York jazz scene, known for his rock-solid time and his penchant for hard-bop tradition (and for his past as professional baseball player).

Here on his SteepleChase LookOut debut album Brusger displays his formidable talent as composer/arranger with his dream quartet comprising of Gary Smulyan (baritone sax), Mike LeDonne (piano) and the legendary Louis Hayes (drums).

1. In A Minor Funk (Paul Brusger)
2. It's In There Somewhere (Paul Brusger)
3. When Will You Ever Learn (Paul Brusger)
4. Waiting For The Next Trane (Paul Brusger)
5. Andrea's Delight (Paul Brusger)
6. Quintessence (Paul Brusger)
7. Bird's In The Yard (Paul Brusger)
8. Bringin' Home The Silver (Paul Brusger)
9. All But One (Paul Brusger)

UPC/EAN: 716043311521

Chris Byars – The Music Of Duke Jordan (SCCD 31787)

SCCD 31787 Chris Byars “The Music Of Duke Jordan”

Award-winning saxophonist, composer, bandleader and educator Chris Byars, apart from his focus on composing his own music, has been highly interested in studying the vast repertoire of jazz composers of the 20th century. His endeavour has so far culminated in Blue Lights (SCCD31662) – music of Gigi Gryce, Lucky Strikes Again (SCCD 31713) – music of Lucky Thompson, Music Forever (SCCD 31743) – music of Freddie Redd. Now to add to this impressive listing Chris Byars compiled 11 gems from the book of Duke Jordan (1922 – 2006) who was one of the early and most original bebop pianists.

Israeli-born singer Yaala Ballin wrote lyrics and sang two of the Jordan melodies (Sultry Eve and Lesson In Love).

1. Jordanish (Duke Jordan)
2. Undecided Lady (Duke Jordan)
3. There's A Star For You (Duke Jordan)
4. If I Did – Would You? (Duke Jordan)
5. The Bullet (Shinkansen) (Duke Jordan)
6. Gabrielle's Wish (Duke Jordan)
7. Lesson in love (Duke Jordan)
8. Paula (Duke Jordan)
9. Glad I Met Pat (Duke Jordan)
10. Sultry Eve (Duke Jordan)
11. Table Chess (Duke Jordan)

UPC/EAN: 716043178728

Michael Cochrane – Discovery (SCCD 31786)

SCCD 31786 Michael Cochrane Trio “Discovery”

After a 7-year hiatus from the recording scene pianist Michael Cochrane came back strong with his new trio consisting of two Johns: Steve Johns, who’s been Cochrane’s colleague in the Sonny Fortune band, on drums and his prodigious 17-year-old son Daryl on bass.

“…  his music has sincerity and polish… Its execution within an honored tradition is so error-free that piano-trio addicts (and there are many out there) can simply trust it and relax. We can rely on it at any time of the day or night for sustenance and consolation. Not junk food. Comfort food .

(Thomas Conrad, JazzTimes on “ Right Now ” (SCCD 31627)

1. Yesterdays (Jerome Kern)
2. Visitation (Sam Jones)
3. How Deep Is The Ocean (Irving Berlin)
4. Quiet Now (Denny Seitlin)
5. Discovery (Michael Cochrane)
6. M. C.’s Bossa (Michael Cochrane)
7. Oblivion (Bud Powell)
8. Fantasy (Michael Cochrane)
9. Erie Blues (Michael Cochrane)

UPC/EAN: 716043178629

Andy LaVerne – I Have A Dream (SCCD 31782)

SCCD 31782 Andy LaVerne’s One Of A Kind “I Have A Dream” live at Kitano II

Veteran pianist/composer/educator Andy LaVerne has been a stalwart of SteepleChase Label for almost four decades. His latest album here is the sequel to “Live At The Kitano” with his unique piano/organ trio named One Of A Kind , which aptly describes its out-of-the-ordinary nature of the ensemble.

C. Andrew Hovan of AAJ commented on the first SteepleChase release of the group Intelligent Design (SCCD 31618) , “ Really one of the most welcomed surprises of the season, Intelligent Design lives up to its name as one of LaVerne’s best efforts thus far and one of the finest jazz releases of the year.”

1. Fire Wire (Andy LaVerne)
2. Memoir (Andy LaVerne)
3. Upside (Andy LaVerne)
4. Refried Bananas (Andy LaVerne)
5. I Have A Dream (Herbie Hancock)
6. I Fixed The Moon (Andy LaVerne)
7. Cantaloupe Island (Herbie Hancock)

UPC/EAN: 716043178223

Andrew Rathbun – Numbers & Letters (SCCD 31781)

SCCD 31781 Andrew Rathbun Quintet “Numbers & Letters”

Ian Patterson of AAJ remarked, “ Rathbun's music is intellectually challenging and yet immediately accessible…”, when he was reviewing The Idea of North (SCCD 31762) Rathbun’s previous album.

New York-based Canadian saxophonist/composer Andrew Rathbun has been releasing series of innovative albums which delight us with consistent creative and entertaining quality. Here on his latest recording Rathbun joins forces with NY’s finest rhythm section to produce another unique instrumental jazz.

“ This outstanding release remains fresh with each hearing, as new facets of these performances become apparent to the listener .” (Ken Dryden – AAJ on Shadow Forms SCCD 31598)

1. Bad Call (Andrew Rathbun)
2. Tears And Fears (Andrew Rathbun)
3. Playpen (Andrew Rathbun)
4. Pencil And Paper (Andrew Rathbun)
5. Crawl Out (Andrew Rathbun)
6. Sleep Please (Andrew Rathbun)
7. Swing Set (Andrew Rathbun)
8. Counterpoint (Andrew Rathbun)
9. Sculpy (Andrew Rathbun)
10. Again? (Andrew Rathbun)
11. Etude (Andrew Rathbun)

UPC/EAN: 716043178124

Gene Segal – Mental Images (SCCD 33114)

SCCD 33114 Gene Segal “Mental Images”

Russian-Born Gene Segal, who moved to USA as a child, is one of the elite guitarists of younger generation from the New York scene. After receiving Master’s Degree in composition from prestigious William Patterson University Gene immersed himself in New York’s competitive and creative milieu to find his own voice as an instrumentalist and composer.

This Gene Segal’s SteepleChase Lookout debut is the first glimpse into an ever-evolving artist revealing his fascination with Olivier Messiaen, one of the most important composers of the 20 th century.

1. Healing Feeling (Gene Segal)
2. Allegory Of The Cave (Gene Segal)
3. Minds Eye (Gene Segal)
4. Irrational Drives (Gene Segal)
5. The Bearded Lady (Gene Segal)
6. Trapeze Act (Gene Segal)
7. The Ringmaster (Gene Segal)
8. Elephants (Gene Segal)

UPC/EAN: 716043311422

George Colligan – Ask Me Tomorrow (SCCD 31783)

SCCD 31783 George Colligan “Ask Me Tomorrow”

More than a decade ago critic C. Andrew Hovan cited Colligan “One of New York’s finest”. George Colligan has since evolved into a matured and yet adventurous artist on the world stage.

This latest album showcases his new New York trio performing all Colligan originals.

“His own intelligent and emotional talents create room for the best to play at their very own best…..With George Colligan at the helm, the horizon is not the limit .” (Travis Rogers – JazzTimes on “The Facts” SCCD 31752)

1. Ask Me Tomorrow (George Colligan)
2. Two Notes Four Chords (George Colligan)
3. Prague (George Colligan)
4. Return To Copenhagen (George Colligan)
5. Insistent Linda (George Colligan)
6. Jesper's Summer House (George Colligan)
7. Cathexis (George Colligan)
8. Jet Blue (George Colligan)

UPC/EAN: 716043178322

Kirk Knuffke, Jesse Stacken – Five (SCCD 31779)

SCCD 31779 Kirk Knuffke/Jesse Stacken “FIVE”

The twosome of cornettist Kirk Knuffke and pianist Jesse Stacken made SteepleChase

Debut in 2009 with the highly acclaimed album “Mockingbird” (SCCD 31677) with subtitle The Music of Thelonious Monk & Duke Ellington. Martin Longley of AAJ commented, “… it's refreshing to find the two pianist/composers united in a single conception, pointing out that they probably have more similarities than differences. …This is nostalgia made vibrant, played with precision, depth, good taste and a leisurely refusal to overcrowd its sonic space.”

Here on this new album the Knuffke/Stacken duo challenges the similar concept of unifying two composer/pianists Carla Bley and Bill Evans. The result is

an intriguing amalgam of two artists who seemingly do not have much in common

except their genius.

1. Closer (Carla Bley)
2. Syndrome (Carla Bley)
3. Very Early (Bill Evans)
4. Batterie (Carla Bley)
5. Your Story (Bill Evans)
6. Epilogue (Bill Evans)
7. King Korn (Carla Bley)
8. Sugar Plum (Bill Evans)
9. Around Again (Carla Bley)
10. The Donkey (Carla Bley)
11. Epilogue (Bill Evans)
12. Five (Bill Evans)

UPC/EAN: 716043177929

Dexter Gordon – Candlelight Lady (SCCD 31785)

SCCD 31785 Dexter Gordon Quartet “Candlelight Lady”

Loose Walk the gritty soulfulness of his playing reminds us just how much we miss the greats of his generation. They don't make 'em like this anymore.”

1. The Rainbow People (Dexter Gordon)
2. Old Folks (Dedate Hill)
3. There Is No Greater Love (Isham Jones)
4. Candlelight Lady (Dexter Gordon)
5. Sticky Vicket (Dexter Gordon)
6. Montmartre (Dexter Gordon)

UPC/EAN: 716043178520

Dick Oatts, Harold Danko – Sweet Nowhere (SCCD 31778)

SCCD 31778 Dick Oatts/Harold Danko “Sweet Nowhere”

The friedship and collaboration between Dick Oatts (born Iowa, 1953) and Harold Danko (born Pennsylvania, 1947) go way back into the late 1970s when the two young musicians cut their teeth in the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra. Although they have performed together in all types of groups and bands over the years, this is the first time they perform in a duo setting where “ there is never a dull or wasted moment as two minds connect in perfect harmony.” (Mark Gardner from the linernotes)

1. I'll Remember April (Gene DePaul)
2. Summertime (George Gershwin)
3. Alone Together (Arthur Schwartz)
4. I Should Care (Sammy Cahn, Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston)
5. Sweet Nowhere (Dick Oatts, Harold Danko)
6. Solar (Miles Davis)
7. My Romance (Richard Rodgers)
8. I Hear A Rhapsody (George Fragos, Jack Baker, Dick Gasparre)
9. Con Alma (Dizzy Gillespie)
10. On Green Dolphin Street (Bronislav Kaper)
11. Star Eyes (Gene DePaul, Don Raye)

UPC/EAN: 716043177820