Harold Danko – Unriched (SCCD 31735)

Harold Danko’s trio is in fact Harold Danko Quartet without Rich Perry – thus the album title “Unriched”. This latest Harold Danko Trio was cut right after the Quartet session fully warmed up and is rich with intense creativity and sophistication. Harold Danko has been a mainstay of SteepleChase label since the early 80s producing a number recordings in various settings with highest quality.

1. Sweet And Lovely (Gus Arnheim/Harry Tobias/Jules Lemare)
2. Search For Peace (McCoy Tyner)
3. The Blessing (Ornette Coleman)
4. You Don't Know What Love Is (Gene DePaul/Don Raye)
5. Criss Cross (Thelonious Monk)
6. The Nearness Of You (Hoagy Carmichael)
7. Beautiful Love (Victor Young)
8. What's New (Bob Haggart)

UPC/EAN: 716043173525

Ronnie Cuber – Boplicity (SCCD 31734)

For this latest and the fifth album on SteepleChase Ronnie Cuber brought his working band to the studio to appraise the classic BeBop repertoire, “ proving in the process the viability of material that has weathered more than 60 years and still sounds super hip and contemporary ” (Mark Gardner).

On Cuber’s previous release “RONNIE (SCCD 31680) Ken Drydon of AllAboutJazz wrote, “ This is his fourth CD for Steeplechase and one of his best sessions .” and London’s Sunday Express commented, “ it is the intelligence and subtlety of his playing that shines through …An astonishingly lyrical player on that most unforgiving of instruments… ”

“Ronnie Cuber is a baritone sax player strong enough to bring out the lyricism of the weighty instrument.” (Aaron Cohen – Downbeat)

1. Ow (Dizzy Gillespie)
2. Quasimodo (Charlie Parker)
3. Cheryl (Charlie Parker)
4. Boplicity (Cleo Henry)
5. Groovin' High (Dizzy Gillespie)
6. My Little Suede Shoes (Charlie Parker)
7. Now's The Time (Charlie Parker)
8. Out Of Nowhere (Johnny Green)
9. A Night In Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)

UPC/EAN: 716043173426

Brian Charette – Music For Organ Sextette (SCCD 31731)

Brian Charette, one of the most innovative B3 organists today presents here his daring and exciting project departing from the traditional organ jazz approach. With “the sound of a reed choir plus organ” in mind Charette wrote challenging and dazzling original material for this special band and took the art of jazz organ to a new height.

“ Riliably smoking B3 player ” (Bill Milkowski – JazzTimes)

1. Computer God (Brian Charette)
2. Fugue For Katheleen Anne/Ex Girlfriend Variations (Brian Charette)
3. Risk (Brian Charette)
4. The Elvira Pacifier (Brian Charette)
5. Equal Opportunity (Brian Charette)
6. Prayer For An Agnostic (Brian Charette)
7. Late Night TV (Brian Charette)
8. French Birds (Brian Charette)
9. Mode For Sean Wayland (Brian Charette)
10. Tambourine (Brian Charette)

UPC/EAN: 716043173129

Marcus Printup – Homage (SCCD 31730)

Ken Dryden of AllAboutJazz has once described Marcus Printup as “an open-minded player who gives his all in any setting.” In this his latest album the setting is a fertile ground for a trumpeter. Printup pays profound tribute to a dozen of the most significant and influential tumpeters of our time.

“ Marcus reveres those trumpeters who came before, along with those contemporaries still making their mark. He is a vitally important participant in the long and impressive tradition celebrated in this landmark CD .” (Mark Gardner –from the linernotes)

1. Weather Bird (King Oliver)
2. Nardis (Miles Davis)
3. Mr. Kenyatta (Lee Morgan)
4. Later (Wynton Marsalis)
5. Liquid Streets (Roy Hargrove)
6. Con Alma (Dizzy Gillespie)
7. Mr. Clean (Freddie Hubbard)
8. Sunday (Jule Styne)
9. Theme For Maxine (Woody Shaw)
10. Nostalgia (Fats Navarro)
11. Tiny Capers (Clifford Brown)

UPC/EAN: 716043173020

Olegario Diaz – Having Fun (SCCD 31733)

Composer/pianist Olegario Diaz was born in Venezuela and studied music in USA graduating with Master’s degree in Jazz Composition from The Manhattan School of Music in New York City. For his SteepleChase debut album here he surrounds himself with the finest of artists one can find on the NY jazz scene: Rich Perry on tenorsax, Ron McClure on bass and Billy Hart on drums.

Diaz is active in performing both in USA and South America.

“His visions and efforts resulted in a fresh and spontaneous performance of this fine selection of jazz standards and Diaz originals.” (Ron McClure – from the linernotes)

1. In Walked Bud (Thelonious Monk)
2. Salvador (Olegario Diaz)
3. To Mom (Olegario Diaz)
4. In Love In Vain (Jerome Kern)
5. Having Fun (Olegario Diaz)
6. It's You Or No One (Jule Styne)
7. No Moon At All (Redd Evans/Dave Mann)
8. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me (Jimmy McHugh)
9. Groovin' High (Dizzy Gillespie)

UPC/EAN: 716043173327

LeeAnn Ledgerwood – Breaking The Waves (SCCD 31732)

One year after her long-awaited comeback album (from a lengthy leave of absence due to illness) “Simple Truth” (SCCD 31705), pianist LeeAnn Ledgerwood compiled this latest album with 100% original material, showcasing her extraordinary talent as composer as well.

Carlo Wolff of JazzTimes commented on “Simple Truth”, “ Ledgerwood is not interested in impressing with technique and daring; hers is an artistry of nuance and emotional layering. ….. inviting album. ”

“ … pianist Lee Ann Ledgerwood is part of an ever growing contingency of extremely talented jazz musicians of the female persuasion… and first crack at a piano trio record. Ultimately, it proves to be one of the best of its kind in recent memory. Simultaneously adventurous but also emotionally direct… ” (C. Andrew Hovan, aaj on “Transition” SCCD 31468)

1. Breaking The Waves (LeeAnn Ledgerwood)
2. Save The Wolves (LeeAnn Ledgerwood)
3. Audrey Girl (LeeAnn Ledgerwood)
4. The University Of Free Will (LeeAnn Ledgerwood)
5. Chilli's Walk (LeeAnn Ledgerwood)
6. Lutheran For Jesus (LeeAnn Ledgerwood)
7. The Great Smoking Mirror (LeeAnn Ledgerwood)
8. Deep Six (LeeAnn Ledgerwood)

UPC/EAN: 716043173228

Dave Stryker – Blue Strike (SCCD 31729)

C. Andrew Hovan of AllAboutJaz once observed, “ What has marked all of Stryker's previous SteepleChase sides has been his penchant to not repeat formats or ideas. Each session sports a different group of musicians and the material covers new ground .” Mr. Hovan’s observation proves true here on Stryker’s latest recording of mesmerizing organ quintet with repertoire raging from Michael Jackson to Clifford Brown together with his originals.

“( Stryker) combines tradition and modernity in equal balance, arranges with skill and imagination, teases optimum performances from associates with good-natured relish, and plays the blues with deep felt conviction .” (Mark Gardner – from the linernotes)

1. Joy Spring (Clifford Brown)
2. Billie Jean (Michael Jackson)
3. Different worlds (Dave Stryker)
4. Daahoud (Clifford Brown)
5. Pursuit (Dave Stryker)
6. Blue Strike (Dave Stryker)
7. Jordu (Duke Jordan)
8. The Crusher (Jared Gold)
9. Jabali (Dave Stryker)

UPC/EAN: 716043172924

Pierre Dørge, New Jungle Orchestra – Sketches Of India (SCCD 31728)

India and Indian music have intrigued Pierre Dørge ever since his teenage. Here on his latest album Dørge compiles his impressions of several trips there and the result of his recent field studies.

Donald Elfman of AAJ once remarked, “ Pierre Dørge has what seems like a magical ability – he can re-imagine and rethink the way that music is voiced thus creating entire new worlds out of worlds we think we know .”

His magical ability is at full throttle here on this extraordinary musical depiction of a fascinating country.

1. In The Tiger Cave (Pierre Dørge)
2. Papanasam Mood (Pierre Dørge)
3. Swaralaya (Shashank Subramanyam)
4. Elephants On The Road (Pierre Dørge)
5. Dawn By The Sea (Pierre Dørge)
6. Indian Night Sky (Irene Becker)
7. Mumbai Nights (Pierre Dørge)
8. Afternoon In Delhi (Pierre Dørge)
9. Another Raga (Pierre Dørge)
10. Trivandrum Express (Pierre Dørge)

UPC/EAN: 716043172825

George Colligan – Living For The City (SCCD 31727)

Chuck Berg of JazzTimes remarked several years ago, “SteepleChase producer Nils Winther apparently liked what he heard when first checking out George Colligan because he gave the pianist a chance to cultivate his original voice as a vital SteepleChase artist. …..Colligan shows signs of becoming one of the best pianists and composers of his generation.” Colligan indeed became “one of the brightest and most articulate new pianists on today’s scene”.

With this 2011 album George begins a new collaboration with the label where he made his debut album “Activism” (SCCD 31382) 15 years ago.

1. It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing (Duke Ellington)
2. Water Babies (Wayne Shorter)
3. Living For The City (Stevie Wonder)
4. Close To You (Burt Bacharach)
5. I Can't Make You Love Me (Mike Reid/Allen Shamblin)
6. Keep Me Hanging On (Holland/Dozier/Holland)
7. Along Came Betty (Benny Golson)
8. Cold Duck Time (Eddie Harris)
9. The Girl From Ipanema (Antonio Carlos Jobim)

UPC/EAN: 716043172726

Rich Perry – Grace (SCCD 31726)

Saxophonist Rich Perry has been a mainstay of the NY jazz scene for more than 30 years. Here on his 15 th album Rich put together a piano-less trio with Jay Anderson on bass and Jeff Hirschfield on drums whom Rich describes as “two of my favourite musicians”.

“ Perry … dazzles with his facility and impeccable taste and further asserts himself as one of the most gifted saxophonists of his generation .” (Francis Lo Kee – AllAboutJazz)

1. Falling Grace (Steve Swallow)
2. Very Early (Bill Evans)
3. Funkalero (Bill Evans)
4. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (Charles Mingus)
5. Eronel (Thelonious Monk)
6. Modinha (Antonio Carlos Jobim)
7. Thedia (Thad Jones)
8. Time Remembered (Bill Evans)
9. Israel (Johnny Carisi)

UPC/EAN: 716043172627