Brad Goode, Ira Sullivan – Toy Trumpet (SCCD 31491)

Like his mentor Von Freeman, trumpeter Brad Goode has been a star player in the Chicago scene for quite some time. Though classically trained in violin, trumpet and contrabass and with Bachelor and Master degrees in music, Brad Goode learned and shaped his style as jazz musician by performing with numerous local musicians in Chicago including his partner on this recording legendary saxophonist/trumpeter Ira Sullivan.

This is Brad Goode’s first CD on SteepleChase.

1. Toy trumpet (Raymond Scott)
2. You and the night and the music (Dietz/Schwartz)
3. I should care (Jimmy Van Heusen)
4. Resolution (John Coltrane)
5. Serenata (L. Anderson/M. Parish)
6. Make someone happy (Jule Styne)
7. Invitation (Bronislaw Kaper)
8. Alone together (Arthur Schwartz)
9. I hear a rhapsody (Fragos/Baker)

UPC/EAN: 716043149124

Harold Danko – Night Scapes (SCCD 31490)

With his quartet of almost 10 years’ close working relationship, Harold Danko gets the chance to engage his talent both as performer and as composer to the fullest. In this latest album composer Harold Danko invites us into his impressionistic night.

“ Harold Danko’s Nightscapes are drawn with insight and beauty and with his own distinctive touch of mystery ….” (Mark Gardner – from the linernotes.)

1. Prologue and episodes (Harold Danko)
2. Night space (Harold Danko)
3. First dream (Harold Danko)
4. The idea loop (Harold Danko)
5. Fourth hour (Harold Danko)
6. Insomnique (Harold Danko)
7. Weightless (Harold Danko)
8. Times' irony (Harold Danko)

UPC/EAN: 716043149025

Louis Smith – The Bopsmith (SCCD 31489)

SCCD 31489 The Bopsmith / Louis Smith Quintet

Trumpeter Louis Smith’s formative period as a jazz performer some 50 years ago was in the midst of developing/establishing stage of Bebop. Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro and Clifford Brown are the greatest influence on Louis Smith’s trumpet style. Here on his first release in the new millennium Louis is joined by some of the best bebop players of the younger generation.

1. Val's blues (Louis Smith)
2. For heaven's sake (Meyer/Brown/Edwards)
3. The way you look tonight (Young/Washington)
4. I love you (Cole Porter)
5. Ed's love (Louis Smith)
6. A ghost of a change (Young/Washington)
7. Sweet Clifford (Clifford Brown)

UPC/EAN: 716043148929

Marc Copland, Tim Hagans – Between The Lines (SCCD 31488)

SCCD 31488 Between The Lines / Marc Copland & Tim Hagans

Pianist Marc Copland and trumpeter Tim Hagans need no introduction, having been in the fore front of international jazz scene in the past two decades. In the intimate duo setting, the two great talents found in each other the perfect match to bring the unique approach and daring harmonies to the jazz repertoire.

1. Nefertiti (Wayne Shorter)
2. Passing giants (Tim Hagans)
3. Three in one (Thad Jones)
4. I loves you Porgy (George Gershwin)
5. When will the blues leave (Ornette Coleman)
6. Estaté (Brunos Martino)
7. On Green Dolphin Street (Bronislav Kaper)
8. Rainy night house (Joni Mitchell)
9. Canteloup Island (Herbie Hancick)

UPC/EAN: 716043148820

George Cables – One For My Baby (SCCD 31487)

SCCD 31487 One For My Baby / George Cables Trio

George Cables has proved again to be one of the most imaginative trio performers of today’s jazz scene with this his latest CD.

“ Listening to this absorbing recital by Mr. Cables, it seemed to me that he now epitomises the best of jazz mainstream piano. Here is a session which even the untutored lay listener can enjoy, with the familiarity of most the songs helping the process ….” (Mark Gardner from the linernotes)

1. Drop me off in Harlem (Duke Ellington)
2. Virgo (Wayne Shorter)
3. My foolish heart (Victor Young)
4. I should care (Jimmy Van Heusen)
5. Capricious (Billy Taylor)
6. Emily (Johnny Mandel)
7. Anna Maria (Wayne Shorter)
8. One For My Baby And One For The Road (Johnny Mercer)

UPC/EAN: 716043148721

Dave Ballou – The Floating World (SCCD 31486)

SCCD 31485 The Floating World / Dave Ballou Quartet

Japan’s leading jazz magazine Swing Journal hailed Dave Ballou on his SteepleChase debut CD (SCCD 31436 Amongst Ourselves) by saying

“… here comes a new artist with solid beautiful sound and tremendous imagination and technique who can tell his own story… ” But it also said, “… if you are not used to this type (free) of music, you may find it hard to follow… ”.

Not on this his third release under his own name. Dave Ballou chose a quartet format with piano (George Colligan) and, besides his own compositions, some of the popular titles from the jazz repertoire letting us know that he belongs to a tradition.

1. All the things you are (Jerome Kern)
2. Bronk (Dave Ballou)
3. Pannonica (Thelonious Monk)
4. Memories of you (Eubie Blake)
5. Don and Dewey (Dave Ballou)
6. I hear a rhapsody (Fragos/Baker)
7. The floating world (Dave Ballou)
8. Time remembered (Bill Evans)
9. Plan (Dave Ballou)

UPC/EAN: 716043148622

George Colligan, Jesper Bodilsen – Twins (SCCD 31485)

SCCD 31485 Twins / George Colligan & Jesper Bodilsen

“ Somebody find this guy a high profile gig !” was how Willard Jenkins set out to review Colligan’s earlier release “Stomping Ground “ (SCCD 31441) in the December issue of JazzTimes.

George Colligan is undoubtedly one of the most exciting pianists on the scene today. And the high profile gigs are pouring in. One of those gigs took him to Copenhagen early this year giving SteepleChase a chance to team him up with one of the best Danish bassists of the younger generation Jesper Bodilsen. The meeting of two hugely talented musicians produced an electrifying album. A new DUO was born!

1. Twins (George Colligan)
2. Nobody else but me (Jerome Kern)
3. Behind the door (Raoul Soot/Oskar Ling)
4. Wrap your troubles in dreams (Ted Koehler)
5. Consolation (Kenny Wheeler)
6. Scandinavian rhythm (George Colligan)
7. Heavens of a hundred days (John Stetch)
8. So tender (Keith Jarrett)
9. Arioso (James Williams)

UPC/EAN: 716043148523

Elisabeth Kontomanou, Jean-Michel Pilc – Hands & Incantation (SCCD 31484)

SCCD 31484 Hands and Incantation / Elisabeth Kontomanou & Jean-Michel Pilc

Following her sensational debut CD on SteepleChase (SCCD 31467 “Embrace”), Elisabeth Kontomanou with Jean-Michel Pilc presents here the intimate, ultimate product of a 13-year partnership and a shared musical philosophy which places spontaneity as a performance priority. Singer/composer Elisabeth Kontomanou and pianist/composer Jean-Michel Pilc have been the closest of associates since 1987 when they first met and discovered their mutual dedication to true improvisation.

1. What a difference a day makes (Grevers/Adams)
2. Incantation (Elisabeth Kontomanou)
3. Ne me quitte pas I (Jacques Brel)
4. Colors (Elisabeth Kontomanou)
5. Body and soul (Johnny Green)
6. I want to be free (Elisabeth Kontomanou)
7. Avec le temp (Leo Ferret)
8. Sunnyland (Elisabeth Kontomanou)
9. La vie en rose (Edith Louigvi/Piaf)
10. Love that never ends (Elisabeth Kontomanou)
11. Three movements (Elisabeth Kontomanou)
12. You've changed (Fischer/Carey)
13. Hands (Elisabeth Kontomanou, Jean-Michel Pilc)
14. Ne me quitte pas II (Jacques Brel)
15. Round midnight (Thelonious Monk)

UPC/EAN: 716043148424

Vic Juris – Songbook (SCCD 31483)

SCCD 31483 Songbook / Vic Juris Trio

“ A keen technician ” who loves “ to vary the pace on all of his own albums ” (The Penguin Guide to Jazz On CD),

Vic Juris chose here on this his latest recording for SteepleChase the spare and challenging trio format. Together with his long time friends and partners bassist Jay Anderson and drummer Jeff Hirshfield, Juris found a new artistic horizon.

“ The outcome is arguably Vic’s most powerful and compelling series of jazz statements, summing up his 35 years’ involvement with the guitar .” (Mark Gardner -linernotes)

1. Billie's bounce (Charlie Parker)
2. I won't dance (Jerome Kern)
3. Luiza (Antonio Carlos Jobim)
4. All the things you are (Jerome Kern)
5. Soul eyes (Mal Waldron)
6. Touch me lightly (Benny Golson)
7. Nuages (Django Reinhardt)
8. Moment to moment (Henry Mancini)
9. Time remembered (Bill Evans)
10. Songbook (Vic Juris)
11. Milestones (Miles Davis)

UPC/EAN: 716043148325

Dick Oatts – Standard Issue Volume 2 (SCCD 31482)

SCCD 31482 Standard Issue Vol. 2 / Dick Oatts Trio/Quartet

A brilliant sequel to the highly acclaimed Standard Issue (SCCD 31439) of 1998, this volume has a welcome addition of pianist Harold Danko on three of the five tracks. In the warm atmosphere of live house, the band gets extra energy from the appreciative audiences. Dick Oatts’ personal sound on alto sax (and tenor sax on one track) is once again a real treat for all listeners.

1. Stella by starlight (Victor Young)
2. On Green Dolphin Street (Bronislav Kaper)
3. Love thy neighbor (Harry Revel)
4. Moonlight in Vermont (Suessdorf / Blackburn)
5. You stepped out of a dream (Brown/Kahn)

UPC/EAN: 716043148226