Tony Purrone – Guitarisk (SCCD 31550)

This is the third recording by the Tony Purrone Trio which has been together for five years. On their first album “The Tonester” (SCCD 31495) Aaron Steinberg of JazzTimes wrote, “… With an admirable sense for moderation and a flair for shooting sparks, Purrone combines just the right amounts of grit and harmonic sophistication. …Purrone’s tasteful playing complements his interesting choices in tunes …”

And the second album “Rascality” (SCCD 31514) received the following remarks from Jim Ferguson in JazzTimes, “… his musical abilities run deep and encompass musicality, creativity and the ability to swing….While Purrone does possess awesome skills, he exercises restraint, calling upon them when they fit into his emotional and conceptional scheme .”

1. November 68th (Joe Farrell)
2. Red baron (Billy Copham)
3. Go (Wayne Shorter)
4. Con alma (Dizzy Gillespie)
5. Inner urge (Joe Henderson)
6. Butterfly (Herbie Hancock)
7. Someone's rockin' my jazzboat (Frank Foster)
8. La mesha (Kenny Dorham)
9. Moon germs (Joe Farrell)
10. Speranze perdute (Tony Purrone)
11. Dolphin dance (Herbie Hancock)

UPC/EAN: 716043155026

Larry Schneider – It Might As Well Be Spring (SCCD 31549)

Larry Schneider teamed up with his soul mate group of Andy LaVerne (piano), Mike Richmond (bass) and Adam Nussbaum (drums) calls this album “… one of my most satisfying recording experiences…. Four friends who know how to play together and create freedom from structure …”

On his previous release Jazz (SCCD 31505) Bill Bennett of JazzTimes wrote, “ The momentum that saxophonist Larry Schneider generates here is just awesome. ….Schneider and the stellar rhythm section-so typical of SteepleChase are completely at ease in sharing roles and responsibilities…”

1. It might as well be spring (Richard Rodgers)
2. Draul (Bela Bartok)
3. Stompin' at the Savoy (Edgar Sampson/Benny Goodman)
4. If you could see me now (Tadd Dameron)
5. In your own sweet way (Dave Brubeck)
6. Beautiful love (Victor Young)
7. WYHIWYG (What you hear is what you get) (Andy LaVerne)
8. Kids are pretty people (Thad Jones)
9. Lester's line (Andy LaVerne)

UPC/EAN: 716043154920

Martin Jacobsen – Current State (SCCD 31548)

Martin Jacobsen 36, a new Danish saxophone star lives in Paris and performs there as well as in all the major cities of Europe. His quartet featuring American guitarist Doug Raney has been enjoying great reception wherever they played. “… Two acclaimed musicians …performed with a quartet de luxe, have chances to surprise many a listener! ” (Jazz Valley, France)

With this his impressive debut album we all have chance to hear how one of the most current and brilliant jazz groups in European continent sounds like.

1. Witchcraft (Cy Coleman)
2. Backwater (Martin Jacobsen)
3. Stairways to the stars (Frank Signorelli)
4. Forest flower (Charles Lloyd)
5. This I dig of you (Hank Mobley)
6. Everything I love (Cole Porter)
7. Arrival (Horace Parlan)
8. Polkadots and moonbeams (Jimmy Van Heusen)
9. Funk in deep freeze (Hank Mobley)
10. Current state (Martin Jacobsen)

UPC/EAN: 716043154821

Ryan Kisor, Jimmy Greene, Jim Pugh – Jam Session Vol. 8 (SCCD 31547)

Vol. 8 features three foremost instrumentalists Ryan Kisor on trumpet, Jimmy Greene on tenor sax and Jim Pugh on trombone on the theme of the 1960’s concept of modality. “ The players assembled for a collective review of iconic pieces from that time were all attuned to the spirit of the music and familiar with the patterns and procedures best suited to it …” (Mark Gardner)

Derek Taylor of All About Jazz wrote of the previous volumes of this series, “ The Danish SteepleChase imprint has long recognized the fertile dynamics of jam sessions,…Volume 5 and 6 in the continuing series offer up vernal combinations and surprises while upholding producer Nils Winther’s credo of “positively no rehearsal .”

1. E.S.P. (Wayne Shorter)
2. Up Jumped Spring (Freddie Hubbard)
3. Seven Steps To Heaven (Victor Feldman)
4. Never Let Me Go (Jay Livingston/Ray Evans)
5. I'm Old Fashioned (Jerome Kern)
6. Body And Soul (Johnny Green)
7. Footprints (Wayne Shorter)
8. Blue Cycle (Andy LaVerne)
9. Freedom Jazz Dance (Eddie Harris)

UPC/EAN: 716043154722

Louis Smith, Mark Turner, Billy Mitchell – Jam Session Vol. 7 (SCCD 31546)

Two veterans of bop, trumpeter Louis Smith and saxophonist Billy Mitchell joined by the young lion Mark Turner make the 7 th volume of “this essential documentation of jazz” an inspired recital. For Billy Mitchell this was his last recording session. “ Billy Mitchell was a dignified hero right to the end, and his playing here will stand as a fitting memorial to his resilient talent .” (Mark Gardner).

JazzReview’s Rick Finlay wrote, “… SteepleChase’s series of jam sessions drawing together the cream of the contemporary jazz world makes a refreshing change these days .”

1. Blues for Jimmy (Louis Smith)
2. On The Trail (Ferdie Grofé)
3. Hat Trick (Andy LaVerne)
4. My Romance (Richard Rodgers)
5. What's New (Haggart/Burke)
6. I Loves You Porgy (George Gershwin)
7. Autumn Leaves (Joseph Kosma)
8. Four (Eddie Cleanhead Vinson)

UPC/EAN: 716043154623

Joshua Douglas Smith – Major Incident (SCCD 31545)

Introducing a new talent has always been a major and satisfying incident for SteepleChase. The list of artists whose debut albums it produced includes Doug Raney, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Andy LaVerne, Hilton Ruiz, Joe Locke, Kevin Hays, Larry Willis, Rick Margitza, Rich Perry just to mention a few. The latest addition, saxophonist Joshua Douglas Smith is just turning 21 and studying jazz and economics at New York University. Joshua and his fellow NYC students formed this group and within a short time they began to display extraordinary levels of creativity.

“ Joshua Douglas Smith and his three contemporaries…make an impressive debut here and in doing so indicate a bright and optimistic future for jazz .” (Mark Gardner)

1. Orphan (Joshua Douglas Smith)
2. Thursday thoughts (Joshua Douglas Smith)
3. The awakener (Adam Fernandez)
4. Pooh bear (Joshua Douglas Smith)
5. Right coast (Justin Marx)
6. My offering (Joshua Douglas Smith)
7. Major indicent (Adam Fernandez)
8. Turn the page (Adam Fernandez)
9. Napoleon complex (Justin Marx)

UPC/EAN: 716043154524

Ron McClure – Age Of Peace (SCCD 31544)

Harvey Siders in his JazzTimes review (Dec. 2002) of the first release (“Match Point” SCCD 31517) of this group concluded his writing by remarking, “Here’s hoping this two-year-old combo stays together.”

Ron McClure Quartet does stay together, performing in and around New York area and dedicates another superb album here “ For those affected by the tragic events of the recent past, we dedicate our music and express our hopes for a long overdue Age of Peace on our Earth” .(Ron McClure)

1. Philly Bridge (Jed Levy)
2. Age of peace (Ron McClure)
3. Sideways (Bob Devos)
4. Summer's end (Ron McClure)
5. Gateway (Bob Devos)
6. Sixth sense (Bob Devos)
7. Moment of truth (Ron McClure)
8. Limited means (Jed Levy)

UPC/EAN: 716043154425

Duke Jordan – Flight To Norway (SCCD 31543)

The collaboration between Duke Jordan and SteepleChase in the 70s represents a major body of Duke Jordan’s creative output both as performing artist and as composer.

Duke led his regular trio with Wilbur Little and Dannie Richmond during the extensive Scandinavian tour in the autumn of 1978. This release is from the concert at the Art Museum at Hovikodden, Norway, filled with Duke Jordan’s melodic magic.

1. Jealous blues (Duke Jordan)
2. Undecided lady (Duke Jordan)
3. If I did – would you? (Duke Jordan)
4. The bullet (Shinkansen) (Duke Jordan)
5. I should care (Jimmy Van Heusen)
6. I'll remember April/Flight to Japan (DePaul/Raye, Duke Jordan)
7. Ornithology (Charlie Parker)
8. Dancer's call (Duke Jordan)
9. Misty (Errol Garner)
10. On Green Dolphin Street (Bronislav Kaper)
11. My heart skips a beat (Duke Jordan)
12. A night in Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)

UPC/EAN: 716043154326

Michael Cochrane – Pathways (SCCD 31542)

A sequel to the much acclaimed “Quartet Music” (SCCD 31513) features again pianist/leader Michael Cochrane’s first class treatment of the carefully chosen material for the quartet. Jack Bowers commented on the previous release on Cadence magazine, “… Cochrane, Malach, bassist Calvin Hill and drummer Jeff Hirshfield play them with remarkable ease and assurance, uncovering the beauty and charm in every number without ever appearing to be working at it. Quartet music at its best .”

1. When will the blues leave (Ornette Coleman)
2. Samba do avião (Antonio Carlos Jobim)
3. Thinking of Wayne (Michel Petrucciani)
4. Pathways (Michael Cochrane)
5. Visions (Michael Cochrane)
6. Stars fell on Alabama (Parish/Perkins)
7. Nocturnal (Sabre Marroquin/Jose Mohica)
8. Broken wing (Richie Beirach)
9. Samba two step (Michael Cochrane)
10. The line forms at the end (Michael Cochrane)

UPC/EAN: 716043154227

LeeAnn Ledgerwood – Walkin’ Up (SCCD 31541)

Pianist LeeAnn Ledgerwood’s fifth entry on the label presents her new trio with John Graham Davis on bass and Brandon Lewis on drums. With these young and immensely talented sidemen, Ledgerwood regards this album as her best trio recording to date.

Critic Dick Bogle wrote of Ledgerwood, “… She has tons of technique, handfuls of soul and volumes of ideas …”

1. This is for Albert (Wayne Shorter)
2. Lonnie's lament (John Coltrane)
3. Out of this world (Harry Arlen)
4. Black Nile (Wayne Shorter)
5. Ida Lupino (Carla Bley)
6. Walkin' up (Bill Evans)
7. If you could se me now (Tadd Dameron)
8. Passion dance (McCoy Tyner)

UPC/EAN: 716043154128