Jed Levy – Rain (SCCD 31745)

Frequent leader on the label Jed Levy called upon for this new album pianist George Colligan and bassist Ron McClure both of whom were the sidemen of Jed’s remarkable SteepleChase debut “Sleight of Hand” (SCCD 31383).

“ Very impressive and about as inventive a departure from the standard tenor-and-rhythm conventions as one can hope for… ” (The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD – on “Sleight of Hand”)

“… saxophonist Jed Levy delivers one of the most enjoyable albums of the year. It's also accessible, straight-ahead music that everyone can enjoy …” (George Kanzler AAJ on “One Night At The Kitano” SCCD —-)

1. Stomp In F Sharp Minor (Jed Levy)
2. Step Waltz (Jed Levy)
3. Make Someone Happy (Jule Styne)
4. Rain (Jed Levy)
5. Cry Me A River (Arthur Hamilton)
6. The Producer (Jed Levy)
7. Reflections (Thelonious Monk)
8. The Q (Jed Levy)
9. Fran-Dance (Miles Davis)
10. P. T. Blues (Jed Levy)

UPC/EAN: 716043174522

Peter Zak – Nordic Noon (SCCD 31744)

Pianist Peter Zak has in a relatively short time since his arrival at the NY jazz scene

firmly established himself as “ a top-flight modern mainstream player who appears regularly with respected artists …” (Joel Roberts –AAJ)

On this his eighth album Peter Zak continues his ever-evolving approach

to piano trio jazz.

(Thomas Conrad AAJ on “Seed of Sin” SCCD 31641)

1. Rara Avis (Peter Zak)
2. Joshua C (Woody Shaw)
3. Legs (Peter Zak)
4. So Sweet My Little Girl (Duke Pearson)
5. Herzog (Bobby Hutcherson)
6. Out Of The Night (Joe Henderson)
7. Nordic Noon (Peter Zak)
8. The Touch Of Your Lips (Ray Noble)
9. East Of The Sun (Brooks Bowman)
10. Love Letters (Victor Young)
11. Scotch And Water (Joe Zawinul)

UPC/EAN: 716043174423

Chris Byars – Music For Forever (SCCD 31743)

Following the successful tribute album to Lucky Thompson’s music “Lucky Strikes Again” Chris Byars and his 8-piece band dedicate this latest album to the music of Freddie Redd.

Chris Byars notes, " Everything he has written is meaningful and has his own special perspective on beauty. I feel that this was an overdue tribute to an admirable artist, who continues to perform and write with great spirit at the age of 83 ."

“ Lucky Strikes Again coaxes a huge sound out of five horns, a credit to the quality of the arrangements. They're musically expansive, getting the most out of the instruments at hand, but are also compact and well-organized, with only one running more than seven minutes. Byars has put together a set of concise, rewarding tracks with a band that turns in a terrific performance of outstanding material .” (Greg Simmons of AllAboutJazz on Lucky Strikes Again SCCD 31713)

1. Somewhere / Music For Ever (Freddie Redd)
2. Minor Interlude (Freddie Redd)
3. Time To Smile (Freddie Redd)
4. Just A Ballad For My Baby (Freddie Redd)
5. Emily Reno (Freddie Redd)
6. Old Spice (Freddie Redd)
7. The Thespian (Freddie Redd)

UPC/EAN: 716043174324

Stephen Riley – Hart-beat (SCCD 31742)

Saxophonist Stephen Riley and drummer Billy Hart who have shared mutual admiration of each other’s work collaborated for the first time to present this compelling trio album.

“….(Riley’s) lushly-conceived tone and phrasing are instantly recognizable, a post-millennial alloy of Lester Young disciples running from Don Byas through Teo Macero to Warne Marsh an on to Wayne Shorter and beyond . …” (Derek Taylor – Master of a Small House)

1. Just You Just Me (Jesse Greer)
2. Isotope (Joe Henderson)
3. Lonnie's Lament (John Coltrane)
4. When It's Sleepy Time Down South (Leon René/René Otis/Clarence Muse)
5. Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are (Thelonious Monk)
6. The End Of A Love Affair (Edward Redding)
7. Mr. Sandman (Pat Ballard)
8. Black Narcissus (Joe Henderson)
9. All God's Chillun Got Rhyrhm (Bronislav Kaper /Walter Jurmann)

UPC/EAN: 716043174225

Vincent Gardner – The Good Book Chapter Three (SCCD 31741)

Since his highly successful debut album “Elbow Room” SCCD 31580 – “… a top-flight maiden voyage for Gardner .” (Terrell Kent Holmes – AAJ) in 2006 trombonist/composer/arranger Vincent Gardner has been pursuing to compile series of theme albums based on great compositions from the past. This third chapter, a book of Bebop showcases again Vincent’s unique talent as arranger and his musicality to reflect that exciting era of jazz’s history 70 years ago.

“ a unique flavor, a quality that pretty much permeates the entire disc. This, of course, elevates the recital beyond your typical tribute album and bodes well for Gardner's further development as an individualist with something important to say .” (C. Andrew Hovan – AAJ on The Good Book Chapter One SCCD 31616)

Previous release by Vincent Gardner “……..” has recently been nominated for the Indipendent Music Award of 2012.

1. Double Talk (Tadd Dameron)
2. Another Hair-do (Charlie Parker)
3. I Waited For You (Gil Fuller)
4. Compulsion (Miles Davis)
5. One Bass Hit (Ray Brown)
6. Darn That Dream (Jimmy Van Heusen)
7. Dizzy Atmosphere (Dizzy Gillespie)
8. Charlie's Wig (Charlie Parker)
9. There'll Never Be Another You (Harry Warren)
10. Sid's Ahead (Tadd Dameron)

UPC/EAN: 716043174126

Stanley Cowell – It’s Time (SCCD 31740)

After his active performing/recording period in the 80s and 90s Stanley Cowell has devoted his enormous talent in music education at the renowned Rutgers University in

New Jersey, USA. Cowell’s previous release SCCD 31704 “Prayer For Peace” in 2010 was his first album in over a decade which evoked Mike Shanley of JazzTimes to comment, “… his phrasing, chordal voicings and use of space are impeccable….a hard-swinging trio never goes out of fashion …”

Here on his new album Stanley formed a new trio with his two former students from Rutgers University to reveal that he remains a master of his material and instrument.

1. Cosmology (Stanley Cowell)
2. El Space-O (Stanley Cowell)
3. Vishnu On The Serpent (Stanley Cowell)
4. Krishna (Stanley Cowell)
5. Glass Balls & Couch Bed (Stanley Cowell)
6. Brawl Inducer (Stanley Cowell)
7. I Never Dreamed (Stanley Cowell)
8. It's Time (Max Roach)
9. King (Roland Alexander)
10. We Shall 2 (Traditional)
11. Long Vamp (Stanley Cowell)
12. Abstrusions (Stanley Cowell)

UPC/EAN: 716043174027

Jesse Stacken, Kirk Knuffke – Like A Tree (SCCD 31739)

The partnership between cornetist Kirk Knuffke and pianist Jesse Stacken has so far produced two

brilliant tribute albums to jazz’s great composers (SCCD 31677 Mockingbird – music of Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk, SCCD 31717 Orange is the color – music of Charles Mingus). On this their third album for the label Knuffke& Stacken comes into their element of new jazz with adventurous twists with modern composers: Steve Lacy, Carla Bley, John Coltrane, Albert Ayler and Misha Mengelberg.

“…. a set that rises above the heap of albums paying tribute to jazz god fathers ” (Mark Shanley on “Orange Was The Color” – JazzTimes)

“ This is nostalgia made vibrant, played with precision, depth, good taste and a leisurely refusal to overcrowd its sonic space.” Martin Longley on “Mockingbird” – AllAbout Jazz)

1. No, Baby (Steve Lacy)
2. Olhos De Gato (Carla Bley)
3. Peace (Ornette Coleman)
4. Hypochristmutreefuzz (Misha Mengelberg)
5. Art (Steve Lacy)
6. Saturn (John Coltrane)
7. The Crust (Steve Lacy)
8. The Painter (Julius Hemphill)
9. And Now The Queen (Carla Bley)
10. Free (Ornette Coleman)
11. A Man Is Like A Tree (Albert Ayler)
12. Jesus Maria (Carla Bley)

UPC/EAN: 716043173921

Dick Oatts – Lookin’ Up (SCCD 31738)

In his new album “Lookin’ Up” Dick Oatts teams up with his colleague and friend of 34 years, veteran trombonist John Mosca. Dick Oatts notes, “I’ve always liked the way alto sax and trombone blend together and I’ve always been meaning to do a CD with John but the music was never quite right for it. So I sat down over the holiday break and wrote the music around John, the alto and the trombone.”

Derek Taylor of Master of a Small House describes Dick Oatts’ previous release “Two Hearts (SCCD 31694) as “ testament to Oatts’ improvisatory powers”.

1. One For Benny (Dick Oatts)
2. Alaina's Song (Dick Oatts)
3. Just Us (Dick Oatts)
4. Mood For Moody (Dick Oatts)
5. Lookin' up (Dick Oatts)
6. Brook's Blues (Dick Oatts)
7. Tap And Strut (Dick Oatts)
8. Auctioneer (Dick Oatts)

UPC/EAN: 716043173822

Niels Vincentz – Early Reflections (SCCD 31737)

This special debut album by saxophone player Niels Vincentz, who is, to quote Mark Gardner,

“ one of the best kept secrets of Danish Jazz ” reveals a picture of the current state of jazz music in the world. Jazz has attracted and nourished an enormous herd of talented young musicians to secure a deep

reservoir of its true new voices. SteepleChase is proud to welcome Niels Vincentz to the label.

1. Scandicci (Niels Vincentz)
2. Boy's Birthday (Niels Vincentz)
3. Little Sister (Niels Vincentz)
4. I Remember You (Victor Schiertinger)
5. It's You Or No One (Jule Styne)
6. Happy Medium (Niels Vincentz)
7. Reaching (Niels Vincentz)
8. Repetition (Niels Vincentz)
9. 26-2 (John Coltrane)

UPC/EAN: 716043173723

Ron McClure – Crunch Time (SCCD 31736)

Precisely a year ago then 17-year old high school student, Gabe Terracciano from Portland, Maine with his violin in his hand walked into a NYU classroom where the veteran bassist/educator Ron McClure held his jazz ensemble class. McClure, after playing a few tunes together with this young violinist, started to plan this recording session with him. Ron McClure states in the linernotes, “ I knew instantly that I was listening to someone who is going to make it!…… I felt like I was a witness to something unique, as much as being part of this event ….”.

1. Beautiful Love (Young, Victor)
2. The Wind (Ron McClure)
3. Crunch Time (Ron McClure)
4. My Pal Al (Ron McClure)
5. Another Day (Ron McClure)
6. Dibs (Roni Eytan/Deborah Dery)
7. New Standard (Ron McClure)
8. Handprints (Ron McClure)
9. Yes, We Can (Ron McClure)

UPC/EAN: 716043173624