Peter Zak – Down East (SCCD 31715)

Peter Zak continues his high quality trio recordings, this time, with bassist and Zak’s old friend Peter Washington and Rodney Greene on drums providing a strong new entry to his impressive discography.

Thomas Conrad of JazzTimes wrote on Zak’s earlier release “Seed of Sin” (SCCD 31641), “ To “get” Zak, you have to pay close attention. The surfaces of his music seem conventional until you notice how imaginatively his improvisations are developed, and how intelligently they tie. Zak invariably comes upon lovely notes you never anticipated …”

On Zak’s solo album “My Conception” (SCCD 31619) Terrell Kent Holmes of AAJ commented, “ Zak always makes the right choices, and audiences will continue to reap the benefits of hearing this wonderfully talented piano man”.

1. Is That So ? (Duke Pearson)
2. Who Cares ? (George Gershwin)
3. Sector 7 (Peter Zak)
4. Gallop's Gallop (Thelonious Monk)
5. I didn't Know About You (Duke Ellington)
6. Tiny Capers (Clifford Brown)
7. Dreamsville (Henry Mancini)
8. Invisible (Ornette Coleman)
9. Love Thy Neighbor (Harry Revel)
10. He Said / She Said (Peter Zak)
11. Down East (Peter Zak)

UPC/EAN: 716043171521

Steve LaSpina – Destiny (SCCD 31714)

Bassist Steve LaSpina for this new recording put together a quartet in order to create a quieter and lyrical instrumentation with his new compositions.

“…. an exceptional piece of work.” (Steve Greenlee JazzTimes on “Play Room” SCCD

“… The music is lively, contemplative, playful and always involving.” (Terrell Kent Holmes – AllAboutJazz on Play Room

1. Odd Times (Steve LaSpina)
2. Destiny (Steve LaSpina)
3. Aberration (Steve LaSpina)
4. Beyond (Steve LaSpina)
5. Possibility (Steve LaSpina)
6. Up (Steve LaSpina)
7. Sunday (Steve LaSpina)
8. Frags (Steve LaSpina)

UPC/EAN: 716043171422

Chris Byars – Lucky Strikes Again (SCCD 31713)

Chris Byars-saxophone/composer/arranger in continuing his pursuit of tapping into the rich musical legacy of unsung heroes of jazz pays tribute this time to Lucky Thompson.

“Chris Byars, who leads an octet through the enclosed tribute to the compositional achievements of Thompson, studied Lucky's canon with the same love and understanding that he has brought to the music of Gigi Gryce, Teddy Charles and Jimmy Cleveland…… I hoped that Lucky's spirit was hearing it too, for he had good reason to feel pride in this creative music.” (Mark Gardner – from the linernotes)

1. Theme (Lucky Thompson)
2. Munsoon (Lucky Thompson)
3. Old Reliable (Lucky Thompson)
4. Passionately Yours (Lucky Thompson)
5. Tiptop (Mark Lopeman)
6. Fanfare (Lucky Thompson)
7. Minik Koosh (Chris Byars)
8. Notorious Love (Lucky Thompson)
9. Another Whirl (Lucky Thompson)
10. Could I Meet You Later? (Lucky Thompson)
11. Just One More Chance (Arthur Johnston)
12. Two Steps Out (Lucky Thompson)
13. Down The Stretch (Lucky Thompson)

UPC/EAN: 716043171323

Stephen Riley – Lucky Seven (SCCD 31712)

To cut this new album tenor saxophonist Stephen Riley brings his quartet from the highly successful previous release “El Gaucho” (SCCD 31682), “ one of my top listening experience of the year ” (Derek Taylor – Bagatellen) back to studio.

“… Playing jazz is not simply about mood, emotion, creativity, it has technical aspects which can be frustrating. But on the Lucky Seven date, Stephen and horn were on song, as a reliable reed did its job to perfection and a further challenging chapter in the musical Life of Riley was written.” (Mark Gardner – from the linernotes)

1. Heigh Ho, The Gang's All Here (Burton Lane)
2. Dance Cadaverous (Wayne Shorter)
3. Lovely To Look At (Jerome Kern)
4. 26-2 (John Coltrane)
5. Sandu (Clifford Brown)
6. Try To Forget (Jerome Kern)
7. Lucky Seven (Arthur Schwartz)

UPC/EAN: 716043171224

Marcus Printup – A Time For Love (SCCD 31711)

The crystal clear beauty of the sound of Riza Hequibal’s harp was first heard on a few tracks of Printup’s 2007 album “Bird of Paradise” (SCCD 31626). On this new album Hequibal enhances Printup’s lyrical performances through out as an essential member of his trio.

Incidentally Riza and Marcus were married several months after the recording of this aptly titled album A Time For Love .

Ken Dryden of All.About.Jazz-NY described Printup “ as an open-minded player who gives his all in any setting, whether playing standards or time-tested jazz compositions or new music given to him on a record date. ”

1. Blue Bossa (Kenny Dorham)
2. Besame Mucho (Carlos Velazquez)
3. I Remember Clifford (Benny Golson)
4. A Time For Love (Johnny Mandel)
5. Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered (Richard Rodgers)
6. Song For My Father (Horace Silver)
7. Maiden Voyage (Herbie Hancock)
8. Dahil Sa'yo (Traditional)
9. It Might As Well Be Spring (Richard Rodgers)

UPC/EAN: 716043171125

Brian Charette – Learning To Count (SCCD 31710)

Brian Charette, hailed as the best of the new breed of B3 players ”(Bill Milkowski of JazzTimes) brings here a new trio format with Mike DiRubbo on alto saxophone for his second outing for the label.

Charette’s SteepleChase debut album “Upside” (SCCD 31678) met enthusiastic acclaims. Among others, “…. he does have something valuable to say as evidenced by the pleasures and strengths indicative to this debut “ (Derek Taylor – Master of A Small House)

1. Air On A Sunny String (Brian Charette)
2. Hungarian Bolero (Brian Charette)
3. Juju (Wayne Shorter)
4. Lawrence Of Detroit (Brian Charette)
5. Milestones (John Lewis)
6. Partita Boy (Brian Charette)
7. Flippin' The Bird (Brian Charette)
8. Two Slightly Different Indian Scales (Brian Charette)
9. Good Tipper (Brian Charette)
10. Empty Pages (Steve Windwood)
11. Learning The Count (Brian Charette)

UPC/EAN: 716043171026

Kim Bock – Flow (SCCD 31709)

Danish saxophonist Kim Boch has established himself firmly on the New York jazz scene. In addition to his regular quartet heard on SCCD 31603 Secrets and SCCD 31667 Live In Copenhagen Boch embarked on an organ trio giving the tradition- filled format a new exciting dimension.

This recording took place during the trio’s US tour in 2010. In 2011 another tour in USA and Europe is scheduled.

1. To Part (Soren Moller)
2. Tip Of The Hat (Kim Bock)
3. Ellis Island (Soren Moller)
4. Graceful Motions (Kim Bock)
5. Yin Yang (Kim Bock)
6. Different Bag Of Tricks (Kim Bock)
7. Dial's Waltz (Soren Moller)
8. True Blues (Soren Moller)

UPC/EAN: 716043170920

Helen Sung – (re)Conception (SCCD 31708)

W inner of the Kennedy Center's Mary Lou Williams Piano Competition , pianist Helen Sung makes her SteepleChase debut here with her “Rolls-Royces” rhythm section consisting of Peter Washington on bass and Lewis Nash on drums to showcase her original and adept sense of (re) concepting jazz standards and beyond.

1. (Re)conception (George Shearing)
2. I Believe In You (Frank Loesser)
3. Far From The Home I Love (Jerry Bock)
4. Duplicity (Helen Sung)
5. C Jam Blues (Duke Ellington)
6. Wives And Lovers (Burt Bacherach)
7. Crazy, He Calls Me (Carl Sigman)
8. Teo (Thelonious Monk)
9. Everything But You (Duke Ellington)

UPC/EAN: 716043170821

Billy Hart – Sixty Eight (SCCD 31707)

Since his SteepleChase debut with pianist Hal Galper on an album entitled "Reach Out" (SCCD 31067) in 1976, drummer Billy Hart and label have kept a long, productive relationship. This release marks his 68 th recording and his 1 st leader album for SteepleChase. Billy Hart has not only been the company's most recorded drummer but also one of the most influential voices in the label’s creative decision making.

“… Hart is widely regarded as one of the most capable of modern-jazz drummers …” (The New Grove Dictionary of JAZZ)

1. What Reason (Ornette Coleman)
2. Number Eight (Eric Dolphy)
3. Serene (Eric Dolphy)
4. Fire Waltz (Mal Waldron)
5. Beatrice (Sam Rivers)
6. Cyclic Episode (Sam Rivers)
7. That's Just Lovely (Jason Palmer)
8. Mrs. Parker Of KC (Jaki Byard)
9. Punctuations (Dan Tepfer)
10. Out There (Eric Dolphy)

UPC/EAN: 716043170722

John Abercrombie, Andy LaVerne – Live From New York (SCCD 31706)

Abercrombie/LaVerne partnership goes back in the 60s when both musicians studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston. The duo released a number of studio sessions on SteepleChase in the past decades but this time their exciting concert from Baruch University, NY is captured live.

JazzTimes’ Jim Ferguson commented on their earlier release SCCD 31538 “Timeline”, “ Although John Abercrombie has done his fair share of experimentation over the years, at the heart of his work is a musicality-as evident throughout Timeline… pianist Andy LaVerne joins Abercrombie for a musical celebration of the influential, historic collaborations between Jim Hall and Bill Evans,… Abercrombie and LaVerne bring their own values and sensibilities to bear throughout the set. …”

1. How Deep Is The Ocean (Irving Berlin)
2. Impromptwo (Andy LaVerne)
3. Al The Cat (John Abercrombie)
4. Portrait In Jazz (Andy LaVerne)
5. BW (John Abercrombie)
6. Something You Said (Andy LaVerne)
7. Short Stuff (John Abercrombie)
8. Undercurrent (Andy LaVerne)
9. Witchcraft (Sy Coleman)
10. I Hear A Rhapsody (George Fragos/Jack Baker/Dick Gasparre)

UPC/EAN: 716043170623