jazz2love

    New Release:  Stomp Your Stuff from Oliver-Smith Incomparables Release Date:  August 28, 2026 Label:  Turtle Bay Records Website:  https://www.halsmithjazz.com/ Roaring '20s ragtime, Tinpan Alley romps, Vaudeville hootenannies, and Prohibition Era hot jazzz merge together on Stomp Your Stuff , the 2026 recording from the Oliver-Smith Incomparables.  Reimagining nostalgic material from the Chicago-based Melrose Brothers publishing catalog, and channeling the chutzpah of vintage Jelly Roll Morton, pianist Andrew Oliver and drummer Hal Smith are joined by Colin Hancock on coronet and alto sax, Andy Schumm on clarinet and cornet, T.J.  Müller on trombone, cornet and vocals, Jacob Alspach on guitar and banjo, and Dan Anderson on string bass and tuba, forming the 7-piece ensemble the Incomparables. Together, they induce a party atmosphere, curating some of the best traits of Americana-inspired, speakeasy jazz.  From its cheerful syncopated groo...

  New Release:  Hard Bop: For The Record from Greg Chako Label: Mint400 Records Release Date: September 4, 2026 Website:  https://gregchako.com Hard Bop: For The Record is the 25th offering from composer-leader-guitarist Greg Chako, a piano-less two-horn quintet recording that places Chako's guitar at the center of the ensemble while demonstrating his commitment to the hard bop language and traditional jazz idioms.  Inspired by the classic quintets of Horace Silver and Art Blakey, the album features shards of swing alongside hard bop, blues, and chillout jazz, most notable in the tribute tune "Bop for Bud," paying homage to pianist-composer Bud Powell.  Chako's improvised thrumming on the guitar is embellished by the frilly tooling of Brooks Giles's saxophone on "Mr. Higgins," a nod to drummer Billy Higgins that is keeled by the steady pulse of David Lloyd's bass and Alex Merk's drumming, while Spencer Mark's lyrical phrasing on the trombone...

  New Release:  The Man Who Would Be King from Adam De Lucia Label: Independent Release Date: August 7, 2026 Website:  https://thetektonics.com/ Guitarist, leader and composer Adam De Lucia amasses a symphony of improvised solos and mutable support structures on his recording The Man Who Would Be King , a title inspired by John Huston’s adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling story.  Integrating jazz fusion, funk, blues, and flaming Santana-esque riffs, De Lucia delivers a sonic adventure for the listener through psychedelic soundscapes, rollicking rhythms, and sizzling interplay.  Comprised of 8 original tracks by De Lucia, the music has a spontaneous slant, moving in various directions as the musicians build from one another's threads in each piece.  "Will You Follow” is a prime example, developing solo parts from a single motif that causes shifts in the melodic patterns, heightening in scope and intensity.  The funky furls of Michael Ghegan's tenor sax cr...

  Album:  Earth Travelers Artist:  Asai Kastan Duo Label:  Space2Groove Records Release Date:  April 23, 2026 Website:  http://www.takeshiasai.com/index.html https://www.space2grooverecords.com Earth Travelers is a kaleidoscopic voyage helmed by pianist Takeshi Asai and Brian Kastan on fretless bass.   Their prismatic inflections, multi-hued tones, and free flowing sound waves craft an atmospheric expedition that delights audiences.  The pair demonstrate a smooth repartee formed by the piano and bass, rarely experienced in music.  Their lyrical improvisations and random dynamics keep the tracks in a state of flux that heightens the listeners senses from the fiery exchanges of "We Made It" to the silky conversing through the title track.   The cresting and ebbing motions of "Sonic Pathways" permeate an emotive vibe, while the lulling swells of "This Is The Way" project a consolatory stroking.  The duo travel from the ether...

  New Release:  Fool's Fate from Rik Wright and the Fundamental Forces Label:  HipSync Records Release Date:  July 10, 2026 Website:  www.rikwright.com Seattle-based guitarist and composer, Rik Wright is at the helm of Fundamental Forces, a quartet that hones psychedelic jazz soundscapes,  balancing improvised movements with melodically structured motifs.  Their 2026 recording Fool's Fate , comprised of original material written by Wright, shows the quartet's malleable quality to be spontaneous, riffing off one another while maintaining the core thread.  Tracks like "Nothin' But A Thang" and "Freezer Jam" are hold together by a recurring motif that each musician builds from, exercising their extemporaneous leanings.  The soft splendor of "Luminescence" is tasseled in James DeJoie's dulcet saxophone twirls, cradled in the lounging bass pump of Geoff Harper and steady beats of drummer Greg Campbell, as Wright's unbridled musings on th...

  New Release:  Girl Talk from Jennifer Madsen Label: SingBaby Productions, LLC Release Date: June 26, 2026 Website:  https://www.jennifermadsen.com A sleek and beguiling crooner, Jennifer Madsen radiates a lively persona on her latest project Girl Talk .   Sowing big band zest with the opulence of swing, Madsen is a galvanizing storyteller, illustrating an intimacy with her audience that is entrancing.  The classic orchestration honors jazz tradition while tweaking the tunes with Madsen's own personalized touch.  Her rendition of Cy Coleman's sultry number "You Turn Me On, Baby" enlivens the romantic ambience while her nuanced vocals throb with anticipation, promising an enchanting interlude along "You and the Night and the Music," anchored by a slow burning mambo rhythm.  "Misty" accentuates her smooth, crooning vocalese, highlighting the emotional depth of the lyrics as she purrs wistfully, "Look at me / I'm as helpless as a kitten up a...

  Single Release:  "It Can't Rain All The Time" from Sarah Harralson Label:  Synapse Publishing & Entertainment, LLC Release Date:  April 10, 2026 Website:  https://sarahharralson.com/home Vocalist Sarah Harralson twines country, pop, blues, and soul with youthful agility and emotive phrasing.  Her single "It Can't Rain All The Time" is a calling card to her distinct style.  Her eerily reflective vocals are silhouette in rollicking keys and a moaning harmonica, carriaged by a slow, steady beat.  The chorus touts, "It can't rain all the time / all that gray up in the sky / it's just a flip side of blue / It's got to make a little room / for a new beginning to a happy ending / pretty soon we will be soaking up the sunshine / it can't rain all the time."  The single's title is extracted from a phrase made famous in the '90s film The Crow.  Harralson co-produced the song with Dale Penner (Nickelback, Loverboy), and penned th...

  Album: This Is Now Artist:  Pete Mills Label:  Mighty Ernie Records 1003 Release Date: April 3, 2026 Artist Website:  www.petemills.com Tenor saxophonist and Toronto-born Pete Mills fires up a swinging compilation of original material and one cover tune on his 2026 release This Is Now .   Joining him are drummer Matt Wilson, bassist Martin Wind, guitarist and co-producer Pete McCann, and pianist Kenny Banks Jr.   Moving in time with each other, Mills's band demonstrates a synchronicity that reels audiences in, spawning adventurous twists and honing smooth curves. The band blazes on the title track with a fun and swinging romp that slinks into a balmy samba through "Sunset STX" with STX referring to the airport code for St. Croix.  The bluesy swagger of "Daddies" has an easy-going fluidity, shifting to a succession of improvised excursions along "Up To Go Down," as Mills's sax carves out peculiar angles interlacing with McCann's guitar strin...

  Album:  Plaid Pants Artists:     Ron Cyger and Brent Butterworth, Label:   Outrageous 8 Records Release Date:   March 13, 2026 Website: https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/ https://www.angelamaeoneill.com/ao8records https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ron-cyger/1482212553   Plaid Pants from saxophonist Ron Cyger and guitarist Brent Butterworth moves along rhythmically, harmoniously, and collaboratively.   The duo's rapport produces a friendly environment for the listener, as they correspond casually between each other and their band mates: drummers Dimitris Terzpiis and Leo Oliveira, and bongo player Larry Salzman.     The pair spruce up " Pequeña Diabla " with a sexy, Latin salsa shimmy, while wielding a bluesy jazz gait along "Round & Round."   A slow trot drives "Clunky," contrasting the bopping beats propping the title track, as Cyger's saxophone seeds the track with a swinging pulsation.   The reflective mood of "L...

  Two Nights - Live from Steven Husted Label:  Self-Released Release Date: October 3, 2025 Website: stevenhusted.com A jazz bassist, composer, and bandleader, Steven Husted displays a dedication to traditional jazz idioms on his newest release Two Nights - Live, featuring mostly original works by Husted mixed in with a handful of jazz standards.   Starting off with the brisk flying pace of "This I Dig of You" by Hank Mobley, the track spotlights the impromptu maneuvers of Grant Teeple: on saxophone interlaced by the nimble doodles of Milo Hehmsoth on keys.  The bluesy vibe of Clifford Brown's “Sandu” is anchored by the light pulse of Husted's double bass fraternizing with Matt Berger's lyrical guitar strokes, as the blazing beats of Israel Yanez's drums inject a copious amount of octane into the gears.  Husted's original piece"Bop Top" is a nod to the seamless paddling and sleek musings of hard bop masters, while the creamy frothing of Berger...

  New Release: Bite Your Tongue from Interplay Jazz Orchestra Label:  Bigtime Records Release Date:  February 26, 2026 Website: https://www.facebook.com/InterplayJazzOrchestra IG: https://www.instagram.com/interplayjazzorchestra The youthfulness in Interplay Jazz Orchestra's performance penetrates the listener from the get-go.  The orchestra's present lineup sees their sophomore offering Bite Your Tongue out of the gate in 2026.  An assortment of covers and originals, the compositions are abound with bopping harmonies, swinging horns, jangly keys, and romping beats.  Layers of trombones, saxophones, and trumpets produce a party atmosphere that keeps the music bustling through numbers like "The Congregation," penned by Johnny Griffin and "Go Figure," written by the band's baritone saxophonist Chris Scarnato.  The bluesy cool jazz glaze of "My Foolish Heart," composed by Victor Young, is a wondrous serenade sprinkled in sparkling horns, coasting...

  New Release:  Moonshine from Marc Ciprut Label: White Label Release Date: July 11, 2024 Website: www.marcciprut.com Jazz fusion guitarist Marc Ciprut has a pint of bluesy Bayou mixed in with a dollop of funky Detroit City soul while flexing southern rock muscles.  Ciprut stirs the listener's aural senses with his original material on his recording Moonshine , where he performs with Jon Cowherd, Jeremy Manasia and Etienne Lytle on keyboards, James Genus, Jimmy Haslip, Akos Forgacs on bass, Tommi Rautiainen, Tobias Ralph, Charles Ruggiero on drums, and Danny Sadownick on percussion.  The smoking fumes emanating from Ciprut's guitar on "Who Got Next" are bolted to Jimmy Haslip's funky bass lines and Tobias Ralph's crisp drumbeats, turning to cool frothy licks along "Cutie" with Lytle's simmering organ padding the underbelly of the track.  Ciprut's octane-loaded extemporizing on guitar produce craters through "No Mas Blues," cresting ...

  New Release:  It Gets Better from Jeff Rupert Release Date: September 6, 2024 Label: Rupe Media Website:  www.facebook.com/JeffRupertSax Saxophonist, composer, and leader Jeff Rupert has enjoyed four and a half decades of performing, producing, creating, and teaching jazz styles from swing to blues, from straight-ahead to smooth, from big band dancehall to post bop fervor.  His 2024 project It Gets Better contains 6 originals by Rupert and 3 jazz standards.  Taking a look at his original "Lana Turner," Rupert illustrates his forte for cool jazz atmospheres as the smooth furls of his sax float above the slow, steady, bopping swells of Peter Washington's bass and Joe Farnsworth's drums, while the paddling motions of Kenny Barron's piano keys sow harmonious formations, foddering the cushion-laden climate.  There is an overall amiable presence throughout the assortment of jazz styles on display, whispering gently in the listener's ear through his iteration o...

  Album:  Two Piece Artist:  Jonivan Jones Label:  Buffalo Music/Jonivan Jones Music Release Date:  March 28, 2024 Website:  https://www.jonivanjonesmusic.com Jonivan Jones's offering Two Piece is a rootsy Ozark mountain blues cook-out, roasted in Americana anecdotes and barbed in country folk nostalgia.  The singer-songwriter-guitarist is joined by upright bass player Mike West, whose whistling strokes shroud the tracks in a willowy, outdoorsy ambience.  Mastered by James Plotkin of Plotkinworks, Jones pours his heart and soul into his creation, giving the songs an authenticity reminiscent of the pastoral folkscapes of Woody Guthrie and the musky, rustic palette of John Prine.  Jones's songwriting straddles the line of traditional folk and experimental blues, dipping into the psychedelic zone of prismatic colors resonating in his guitar reverberations dancing across "Drifter's Suit."  The raspy texture of Jones's vocals are kilted in f...

  Shikiori from Sinne Eeg Label:  Stunt Records Release Date:  July 11, 2025 Website:  https://sinnemusic.com Danish vocalist Sinne Eeg teams with up pianist Jacob Christoffersen on her 2025 offering Shikiori .  Setting the stage, Shikiori is the name of the 150-year-old traditional Japanese home-turned-concert venue where she and Christoffersen recorded the live album.  The set comprises of a mix of originals by Eeg and Christoffersen beside personalized interpretations of songs by Billy Strayhorn, Leonard Bernstein, and Annie Lennox.  The music is stirring, manteled by the bluesy soulful intonations of Eeg's register, resonating an entrancing lilt liken to Sade and an impaling quality reflective of Adele.  Encircled in a breezy ether, Christoffersen's pulsating playing pervades a poetic canter alongside Eeg's ruminating vocals.   “Don’t Be So Blue," composed by Eeg is a luxuriating and spacious ballad that highlights her luminous tone ...

  My America 3: My Country from Jim Self Label:  Basset Hound Music Release Date:  June 13, 2025 Website:  https://www.bassethoundmusic.com Tuba player and fluba (part tuba, part flugelhorn) practitioner Jim Self presents his 24th album My America 3: My Country with arrangements by Kim Scharnberg.  A collection of jazz-izfied country tunes that pay respect to their Americana roots, coalesce square dance meters with Dixieland decor, swing-themed embellishments, southern rock riffs, synth pop glitter, and big band swells.  Opening with Self's original work “Chomping at the Bit,”  the track is tethered to a country-folk shuffle supporting Self's meandering toots on the fluba, with guitar inserts countered by intervals of a slinking fiddle and puffing horns.  “Wabashed” is a mash up of the hillbilly anthem “Wabash Cannonball” and Ervin T. Rouse's “Orange Blossom Special,” two songs about trains with the percussive beats and chugging fiddle loops allu...

  New Release:  Glimpse from Jennifer Lee Label:  SBE Records Release Date:  June 6, 2025 Website:  https://www.jenniferlee.xyz Singer-songwriter Jennifer Lee teams up with her guitarist Peter Sprague for her 4th release Glimpse .  A montage of original songs and jazz standards that showcase her prowess as a blues vocalist, the music travels between the suave sonorous of swing, the plush serenity of bossa nova, and the comfy aesthetics of adult pop, bound together by Lee's scintillating vocals.   The recording features jazz musicians from California, including:  Adam Shulman on piano and Rhodes, Gunnar Biggs, Doug Pohorski, and John Wiitala on acoustic bass, Duncan Moore and Vince Lateano on drums, Tommy Aros on percussion, Derek Cannon on trumpet, Tripp Sprague and Anton Schwartz on saxophone, Rich Kuhns on accordion, Justin Grinnell on electric bass, and East Coast flugelhornist Randy Brecker.  "Vivid Technicolor Love" echoes an adult ...

  Treasury, Volume 2 from Terry Waldo Label:  Turtle Bay Records Release Date:  May 30, 2025 Website:  https://terrywaldo.com The foxtrot, the Charleston, the Lindy Hop, and the Collegiate Shag are all social dances that emerged out of ragtime, Dixieland bluegrass, and swing music.  Pianist and bandleader Terry Waldo is a jazz historian, who specializes in the music and dances of such turn of the century-Prohibition Era trademarks.  Audiences will find samples of this musical stock on his 2025 recording Treasury, Vol. 2 , as well as on his podcast edition of Waldo's radio show "This is Ragtime."  Subsequently, Waldo has a book about this stock, by the same title as the radio series, published by Jazz at Lincoln Center.  The music on his recording sizzles, soars, and shimmers, grilling a bubbly fare of Dixieland boot-tapping hoots, ragtime blues and swinging romps.  His rendition of "Wabash Bash" features the ruminating wails of Jerron Paxton'...

Lizzy  Shaps, the founder, lead singer, and frontwoman of Lizzy and the Triggermen, was infatuated with Swing Era music and its glamorous artists while growing up.  What she did not realize is how swing music has become a global phenomenon in present day circles.  Serendipitously, she is relishing being a part of it. She reveals, "I have always enjoyed listening to music from the Swing Era - but I had no idea that swing music was so alive and well in modern times until I was putting together my band." "In search of an arranger," she recalls, "I went to hear a band play at a little dive bar in Burbank that hosted swing music every Monday.  As I pulled up to what looked like a sports bar, I was shocked to find inside a room full of young people in vintage outfits dancing their hearts out to a super swinging band. It felt like being transported to another time."  "Turns out," she illuminates, "there is this whole vibrant scene of swing dancers,...

  New Release:  LateNights from Brad Schrader Label: Self-Released Release Date: November 21, 2025 Website:  www.latenightsjazz.com After hours jazz with a candlelight ambience is what vocalist Brad Schrader offers for his 2025 self-released LateNights , bringing together "a cross-section of standards – and not-so-standards – with fresh arrangements to make things easy and interesting. Our superb band of jazz veterans builds a chill groove under and around the vocals, drawing the listener in to the track,” explains Schrader in the press release.  Classic jazz at its most amicable pipes through the tracks, creating a fireside atmosphere through "I Wish I Knew" and transitioning into a light, swinging rhythm along "It's Alright with Me." a signature piece by Cole Porter.  His sensitive articulation is reminiscent of vocalist Mark Winkler, intimating thoughts and images to the listener with poignant pauses and emotive vocal inflections.   His interpretati...