jazz2love

  Album: Ride Five Artist:  Takashi Matsunaga Label:  Ride Five Label Release Date:  July 6, 2026 Website:  www.takashimatsunaga.com The pairing of pianist Takashi Matsunaga and bass player Christian McBride form an elegant choreography played off the cuff on Matsunaga's 2026 endeavor Ride Five .  Matsunaga initiates the call as McBride asserts rhythmic patterns that complement Matsunaga's statements.  Together, their dialogue is spontaneous while forming harmonious narrations that beckon the listener to be attentive during the recital. "Air in Bloom" is the most abstract piece, combining disjointed keys with curtly ticking notes from the bass, creating erratic pulses, coursing random patterns, and moving into the warm and slow simmer of "Unfolding Drops," as the bass and keys swivel and bubble softly.  Their rapport demonstrates an adaptability that is organic, loaded with agility and elasticity.  The pair boast an active mindset in "Pure, B...

  Album:  A Study in Songbook Artist:  Dr. Gianni Bianchini Label: Gianni Bianchini Entertainment LLC Release Date: August 1, 2026 Website:  www.giannibianchini.com A Study in Songbook from vocalist-pianist Dr. Gianni Bianchini presents him supported by bassist Ross Kratter and drummer Sam Hart in a classical repertoire that expresses cabaret swing in a modern light.    His vocal  inflections inject the lyrics with emotion and verve, maintaining a jovial disposition throughout the recording. “I Thought About You" pervades a happy-go-lucky mood as the prancing gait of Bianchini’s keys kindle weightless flights,  turning reflective through “Dindi," an Antônio Carlos Jobim gem that draws out the bluesy timbres of Bianchini's register.  His nimble playing on the keys infuse "After You've Gone" with buoyant undulations, sliding into the slow bluesy shimmies of “Sweet Lorraine," bolstered by a sleek and conversational swagger.  The swinging vi...

  Album:  Plays at the Wrong Time Artist:  Haruna Fukazawa Label:  Orange Paw Records Release Date:  July 31, 2026 Website:  www.harunaflute.net From frolicking jetstreams to gently flowing brooks, flutist Haruna Fukazawa dazzles and enchants audiences with her 2026 recording Plays at the Wrong Time, a collection of original works and jazz standards.  Her playing is customized and lyrical, resembling a glittering waterfall of sparkling tones and harmonic phrasing, producing a lively animation.  Joining Fukazawa along the adventure are soprano saxophonist and fellow flutist Steven Wilson, pianist David DeMotta, bass player Bill Moring, and drummer Steve Johns.  From the swinging romp of the title track to the improvised sprints of Victor Young's vintage tune "When I Fall in Love," and the smooth classical strut of "Mellow Shadow," Fukazawa's works are multi-faceted, offering audiences a ride that is filled with merriment and pleasing surprise...

  Album:  Passionata: The Music of Gregg Hill  Artist:  Technocats Label: Cold Plunge Records Release Date: August 28, 2026 Website:  www.gregghilljazz.com www.coldplungerecords.com  The Technocats is a contemporary jazz ensemble rooted in Michigan’s fertile jazz community.  Their 2026 release Passionata: The Music of Gregg Hill shows them exploring the jazz language through improvised exchanges and melodic phrasing, using the music of Gregg Hill as their source.  Led by bass trombonist Chris Glassman, alongside guitarist Nathan Borton, the group brings together a motley crew of performers, arrangers, educators, and improvisers, who develop their harmonic concepts from the straight-ahead jazz marketplace, merged with contemporary influences and individual expression. The ensemble’s arrangements are cultivated by each player contributing to the compositions progression, creating a collaborative environment where written material evolves through in...