Andrew Rathbun – The Idea Of North (SCCD 31695)

Andrew Rathbun’s fourth leader album on SteepleChase reflects his musical ideas inspired by fellow Canadian Glenn Gould and looks into the implication of his homeland Canada on his music.

“… he displays his growing maturity as a player and more of his acclaimed talents as composer/arranger .” ( Mark Corroto – AAJ-NY on his previous release SCCD 31665 Where We are Now),

“ The result is consistently thoughtful, well-crafted music in a mature idiom.”

(Ken Dryden – AAJ-NY on SCCD 31589 Shadow Forms)

1. Echoes (Andrew Rathbun)
2. Harsh (Andrew Rathbun)
3. Across The Country (Andrew Rathbun)
4. December (Andrew Rathbun)
5. Teru (Wayne Shorter)
6. Rockies (Andrew Rathbun)
7. Minuet and Dance of the Blessed Spirits (Christoph Glück)
8. Arctic (Andrew Rathbun)

UPC/EAN: 716043169528

Dick Oatts – Two Hearts (SCCD 31694)

Dick Oatts, as shown in his “Standard Issue” (SCCD 31439) and its squeal “Standard Issue volume 2 (SCCD 31482), cherishes tunes from the great American songwriters of the 20 th century. For this new album Dick Oatts compiles a collection of evergreen “love songs” mostly written in the 40s.

“…. Longtime lead alto man with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Oatts comes from the Paul Desmond-Lee Konitz school of saxophone playing. But a sweet sound and a cerebral approach to improvising comprise only part of his style. There's also a trim muscularity in his tone and lines. And the lines can be quite angular and oblique at times. I don't hear any other alto man playing with all these qualities these days .” (on SCCD 31511 “South Paw”Owen Cordle – JazzTimes)

1. If I Should Loose You (Ralph Rainger)
2. We'll Be Together Again (Fischer/Laine)
3. You Don't Know What Love Is (DePaul/Raye)
4. Come Sunday (Duke Ellington)
5. Yesterdays (Jerome Kern)
6. My Foolish Heart (Victor Young)
7. Darn That Dream (Jimmy Van Heusen)
8. Angel Eyes (Matt Dennis)
9. But Beautiful (Jimmy Van Heusen)
10. Hello Young Lovers (Richard Rodgers)

UPC/EAN: 716043169429

George Colligan – Isolation (SCCD 31692)

Since his recording debut (1995) in Activism (SCCD 31382), George Colligan has proven to be a leading instrumentalist/composer of the younger generation, whose prolific outputs since received international acclaim from both critics and public.

On this new release – third solo album on the label, Mark Gardner remarks, “… this particular release, to my ears, is of greater significance as it reveals the unalloyed core of his music and the man's ultimate self-reliance. “

1. Song For Sinne (George Colligan)
2. Lonely Wind (George Colligan)
3. Dead Of Winter (George Colligan)
4. Flint Michigan (George Colligan)
5. The Wrong Stuff (George Colligan)
6. Isolation (George Colligan)
7. The Secret Of Andreas' Beard (George Colligan)
8. Simple Pleasures (George Colligan)
9. The Old Danish Castle (George Colligan)
10. The Road Back (George Colligan)
11. Regrets (George Colligan)

UPC/EAN: 716043169221

Peter Zak – The Decider (SCCD 31690)

Peter Zak has chosen for this his sixth album a quartet format for the first time. Saxophonist Walt Weiskopf who works regularly with Peter Zak enhances Zak’s imaginative and intelligent approach to music.

Karla Cornejo Villavicencio wrote for AllAboutJazz-NY, “ For Tomorrow (SCCD 31592 ) is chameleonic to the point of being startling. It is organic and tight, with no loose chords and no loose strings. It's the sort of satisfaction for pure spontaneity that setting your iPod on shuffle would never justly accomplish. You find yourself tapping your foot long after the last note is played, and the resonance is as striking as the music.”

1. The Decider (Peter Zak)
2. Aurora (Peter Zak)
3. The Ballad OF The Sad Young Men (Thomas Wolf)
4. Amity (Peter Zak)
5. Ready, Rudy ? (Duke Pearson)
6. Mode For Joe (Cedar Walton)
7. Through The Gate (Peter Zak)
8. Get Out Of Town (Cole Porter)

UPC/EAN: 716043169023

Harold Danko – Oatts & Perry II (SCCD 31689)

A sequel to the highly successful SCCD 31588 “Oatts & Perry I”, on which

Thomas Conrad of JazzTimes commented, “… Harold Danko played with Oatts and Perry in the Thad Jones–Mel Lewis Orchestra and always wanted them in his own band. This album is a true sleeper, a blowing date on which the blowing is epic and the date is beautifully planned and recorded. ”

Rich Perry is that rarest of tenor saxophonists—a complete musician. (Allabout jazz Donald Elfman)

…Dick Oatts's an uncompromising jazz musician, one who possesses monster chops without trumpeting them….

(JazzTimes Owen Cordle)

1. Ain't Nothing Nu (Thad Jones)
2. Blue Swedish Wildflower (Harold Danko)
3. Suspended Sentense (Wayne Shorter)
4. Soon (Richard Rodgers)
5. Chest Frenzy (Harold Danko)
6. Gregory Is Here (Horace Silver)
7. Sid's Ahead (Miles Davis)
8. I Remember You (Harold Danko)

UPC/EAN: 716043168927

Richard Doron Johnson – Battle Grounds (SCCD 31688)

Richard Doron Johnson, making his jazz debut album here, is an accomplished artist

with degrees from Berklee School of Music, Boston Conservatory and Thelonious Monk Institute.

Johnson has appeared on several of Christian Winther's CDs for SteepleChase. On this trio set he showcases his great talent both as performer and composer.

1. It's Been A Long Road (Richard Doron Johnson)
2. I Should Care (Sammy Cahn/Axel Stordahl/Paul Weston)
3. RamsiePamsie (Richard Doron Johnson)
4. I Sit And Then I Wonder (Richard Doron Johnson)
5. Pent-Up House (Sonny Rolling)
6. The Green Room (Richard Doron Johnson)
7. Battle Grounds (Richard Doron Johnson)
8. Dreams From My Father (Richard Doron Johnson)
9. Hymn Like (Richard Doron Johnson)
10. Rhythm To Run (Richard Doron Johnson)

UPC/EAN: 716043168828

Scott Lee – Leaving (SCCD 31687)

Bill Smith of JazzTimes comments on Lee’s previous release “One Thought” (SCCD.) ,” Leader and bassist Scott Lee offers simple yet thought-provoking music on the aptly titled One Thought…. Those who feel that jazz is losing its creative edge should hear this album and other basically mainstream offerings of the last few years .”

1. Taxed (Scott Lee)
2. Two Ways (Scott Lee)
3. Musing (Scott Lee)
4. JGB (Scott Lee)
5. Old Friends Talking (Scott Lee)
6. Choice (Scott Lee)
7. The Connection (Scott Lee)
8. Leaving (Scott Lee)
9. Drummersome (Scott Lee)
10. What's Up (Scott Lee)
11. Shamrock (Scott Lee)

UPC/EAN: 716043168729

Chris Byars – Bop-ography (SCCD 31686)

Following up the intriguing 2009 SteepleChase debut album “Blue Light” (SCCD 31662) shedding lights on compositions of Gigi Gryce, saxophonist/composer Chris Byars with his quintet features legendary vibraphonist Teddy Charles in an attractive program including his own compositions together with works by Donald Byrd and a unheard composition by Gigi Gryce.

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1. Festival (George Wallington)
2. Straight Ahead (Gigi Gryce)
3. Lost Love (Gigi Gryce)
4. Himalayan Sunrise (Chris Byars)
5. Nature Boy (Eden Ahbez)
6. Minority (Gigi Gryce)
7. Indra (Chris Byars)
8. Bop-ography (Chris Byars)

UPC/EAN: 716043168620

Jim Snidero, Dave Pietro, Mike DiRubbo – Jam Session Vol. 29 (SCCD 31685)

“… SteepleChase producer Nils Winther's interest in documenting spontaneous meetings of talented musicians deserves praise, demanding single takes and no rehearsals to keep the music fresh and the players on their toes …” (Ken Dryden on Vols.17 & 18 – AllAbout Jazz)

1. Matador (Grant Green)
2. Whispering High (Andy LaVerne)
3. Desolate Shore (Andy LaVerne)
4. Easy To Remember (Richard Rodgers)
5. Soul Eyes (Mal Waldron)
6. Theme For Ernie (Fred Lacey)
7. Little B's Poem (Bobby Hutcherson)
8. Samba De Stacy (William Boone)
9. Firewire (Andy LaVerne)

UPC/EAN: 716043168521

Jack Walrath – Heavy Mirth (SCCD 31683)

“…The late Whitney Balliett dubbed jazz as "the sound of surprise". Well, Jack Walrath surprises us here on every selection. He deals in the unexpected and delivers it to us with a flowing flourish – and no concessions

“ Jack Walrath not only displays tremendous trumpet playing, a rich and varied approach to composition and wonderful band, he also puts something into this fantastic CD that's missing from too much new jazz: a sense of fun and humor. That's not to say that it isn't sensitive and touching at times—"An Hour Blessed" is arguably as gorgeous as anything ever recorded…” (Francis Lo Kee – allaboutjazz-New York)

1. Bassballs (Jack Walrath)
2. Dark Star (Jack Walrath)
3. It Must Be A Holiday, So Why Do I Have The Blues (Jack Walrath)
4. Cloak And Dagger (Jack Walrath)
5. Anthropoid Epiphany (Jack Walrath)
6. A Long, Slow, Agonizing Descent Into The Depths Of Dispair (Jack Walrath, T. C. III)
7. Road Kill (Jack Walrath)
8. Drifting (Jack Walrath)
9. Blood (Jack Walrath)

UPC/EAN: 716043168323