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:  Sea Spell from Jeff Rupert Quartet Release Date:  June 26, 2026 Label:  Rupe Media Website:    https://www.facebook.com/JeffRupertSax/ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxg1Yv6cuyD5f8AaZdfvSlALbKqXInpKm Smooth jazz tenor saxophonist Jeff Rupert leads his quartet on a blissful voyage along his 2026 installment Sea Spell from Rupe Media.  Joining him are Richard Drexler on piano, Ben Kramer on bass, and Marty Morell on drums.  The sumptuous raptures of his sax elevate the senses in tracks like "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" and "A Breeze Through the Keys," inducing waves of calm in numbers like "Blue Steel" and the title track.  The quartet shines on the Latin swing shimmies of "Mambo Inn," and shifts to a ballroom waltz through "Polka Dots and Moonbeams," illuminating a romantic mood. The swinging pulse of "Orca-Stration" has an undercurrent of jumping blues beats, and softens to a caressing bree...

    New Release:  Let's Take A Trip from Anthony Caceres Release Date:  February 27, 2026 Label:  Jig In G Website:  www.anthonycaceres.com Jazz crooner, bass player and leader Anthony Caceres serenades audiences with a vocal prowess reminiscent of Wayne Newton and a swinging strut reflective of Michael Feinstein.  His 2026 release Let's Take A Trip shows his affinity for swing.  Accompanied by Tamir Hendelman on piano, Jostein Gulbrandsen on guitar and Joe Farnsworth on drums, Caceres's vocals drive the melodies while his performance on the upright bass subtly brushes across the tracks.  "A Slow Hot Wind," written by Henry Mancini and Norman Gimbel, displays Caceres's sensitive vocalese as a penetrative narrator.  His poignant vocal inflections along "I Just Dropped By To Say Hello," a Johnny Hartman gem, is laden with emotional depth.  Caceres's retooling of Depeche Mode's hit song "Strange Love" is refashioned with swing jazz tr...

  New Release:  Treasury Volume 3 from Terry Waldo Label:  Turtle Bay Records Release Date:  June 5, 2026 Website:  https://terrywaldo.com Treasury Volume 3   is pianist, historian, cultural preservationist, and bandleader Terry Waldo's latest installment in his Ragtime Classics series.   From Creole to Storyville jazz, from bluesy tin pan alley grooves to jaunty vaudeville tempos, and from ragtime to swing, Waldo demonstrates his affection and fidelity to early American jazz, shaped by improvisation, interplay, and spirited harmonies.   Joining Waldo on the recording are:  Jay Lepley on drums and vocals, Jim Fryer on trombone and vocals, Mike Davis on trumpet and vocals, Jerron Paxton on banjo and vocals, Evan Arntzen on clarinet, Ricky Alexander on clarinet, Colin Hancock on trumpet, Nick Russo on banjo, Brian Nalepka on bass and Arnt Arntzen on banjo.  His reworking of Jelly Roll Morton's fan favorite “Frog-I-More Rag,” crea...

  New Release:  Keep Holding On from Leigh Pilzer Label:  Strange Woman Records 010 Release Date:  June 19, 2026 Website:  www.leighpilzer.com Leigh Pilzer's dexterity on the baritone saxophone will inspire audiences to remember the hard-bop extemporizing of iconic saxophonists like Dexter Gordon and Zoot Sims.  Her 2026 endeavor Keep Holding On blends traditional jazz precepts with contemporary sensibilities  A bulk of the compositions are original material written by Pilzer, crisscrossing between the freestyle call and respond conversations of her original work "Swinging at the Station" and the fluid riffs of her tuneful "When It's Gone."  Her interplay with trombonists Jen Krupa and Joe Jackson, trumpet players Kenny Rittenhouse and Ally Hany Albrecht, and Hammond B3 organist Paul Bratcher is spicy, bold and expressive.  The tracks are tweaked by the fiery and combustible playing of drummer Greg Holloway, who make every track pop and crac...

  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:  Eklektika from Carolyn Lee Jones Label:  Catn’round Sound Release Date: June 15, 2025 Website: www.carolynleejones.com Singer-songwriter Carolyn Lee Jones showcases a vocal swagger that exudes confidence and total command of the progression of the melodies in her performance, emblematic of the elegant charisma of Jane Monheit and the sentimental persuasion of Wayne Newton.  Her 2026 release Eklektika presents a complementing range of material from Broadway standards like George and Ira Gershwin's "Embraceble You" to the uplifting narration of "That’s What Being in Love Is All About," written by Roger Boykin and propelled by a swinging rhythm and balmy embers.  The classic bopping tremors of "Out of Nowhere,” by Johnny Green and Edward Heyman, features a sizzling saxophone solo from Shelley Carrol and a striking piano vamp played by Peter Rioux.  The cushiony bossa nova ambience of Michael Franks's ruminating tune "Tell Me All About...

  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...

    New Release:  Uncharted Realms from Sean Imboden Large Ensemble Label:  Self-Released Release Date:  May 1, 2026 Website:  https://www.seanimboden.com/ Indianapolis-based saxophonist, composer and leader Sean Imboden returns with his 17-piece big band for his second recording with his orchestra entitled Uncharted Realms .  Their program reimagines traditional big band instrumentation with contemporary perspectives, multi-faceted improvisations, dynamic interplay, and harmonious phrasing.   Opening with "Flowing Currents," the arrangement moves steadily, seaming bulging horns that fluctuate from silky gliding to refined twirling, billowing and flaring.  The recording cruises into a melodic phrasing binding "When You Look Beyond," layering a marching cadence with blazing horns and piercing guitar patterns that transition into the serpentine curves of "Balcony," stringing tangoesque musings and a comfy rhythmic beat.  The album clo...

    New Release:  Shifty Paradigms from Dave Slonaker Label:  Origin Records Release Date:  February 20, 2026 Website:  https://daveslonaker.com   Bandleader, arranger and composer Dave Slonaker presents his third recording, Shifty Paradigms , expanding on his perception of big band arrangements remaining true to tradition while exploring uncharted terrain.  He composed seven of the eight arrangements on the album, highlighting his extensive influences in the field of swing and writing for large jazz ensembles.  He opens the album with “Dash Cam,” structuring the composition to mirror the diverse flow among the instruments, moving between peaceful and bustling.  On the 1925 standard “Bye Bye Blues,” written by Fred Hamm, Dave Bennett, Bert Lown, and Chauncey Gray, Slonaker weaves a jazz waltz for baritone saxophonist, Adam Schroeder, traveling into a straight-ahead up-tempo section for Ron Stout on trumpet.  The title track is a che...

  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...

  Album:  Strange Meadowlark Artist:   Mark Christian Miller Label:   Self-Released Release Date:   February 6, 2026 Website:   www.markchristianmiller.com   Jazz vocalist and Los Angeles native Mark Christian Miller releases his fourth album as a bandleader Strange Meadowlark .   In true crooner fashion, Miller blends vintage swing with modern sensibilities, engaging listeners by directing the lyrics to his audience, creating an intimacy that is magnetic.   His re-iterations of jazz standards display an amore for swing.   His phrasing is stylized and charming.   His delivery is upbeat and lyrical, in sync with the rhythmic swells.   His resonance is nuanced and animated, demonstrated in his rendition of "Mister Kicks."   A whistling flute embellishes "You Make Me Feel So Young" with elegant furls, turning reflective through the title track, accentuating the warm serenade.   The wandering ruminations of the saxophone ...

  Album:  Thank You Notes: The Music of Gregg Hill Artist:   Paul Keller Orchestra Label: Cold Plunge Records Release Date: March 27, 2026 Websites: https://www.coldplungerecords.com www.paulkellerjazz.com www.gregghilljazz.com   String bass player and bandleader Paul Keller helms an 18-piece orchestra on Thank You Notes: The Music of Gregg Hill .   Packed with interpretations of Gregg Hill's original works,   Keller's orchestra captures the opulence of classic big band vitality, liaising with a modern playfulness and easy-going repartee.     The classic big band finish of "Bopportunity" is liken to the orchestras of the 1960's with a contemporary arc.   The spirited vibe of Finkbeiner's trumpet trotting through "Dollah Hollah" has a striking flair, as though building a story about the day in the life of a single individual.   The listener can easily imagine the character being played by the late actor Jack Lemmon, mirroring the actor'...

  Agua Con Gas from Dave Schumacher and Cubeye Label:   Cubeye Music Release Date:   April 17, 2026 Website:   cubeyemusic.com   Baritone saxophonist and Chicago native Dave Schumacher leads his jazz ensemble Cubeye along a whirlwind ride on Agua Con Gas.   A mix of Schumacher's originals sprinkled with jazz standards, Schumacher entwines Latin jazz with swing, bop, and improvisation.  Their tailored creations are finely detailed and seamlessly threaded.  Schumacher's original tune "Al Rosé" is harnessed in a bopping strut as he performs a series of dynamic acrobatics on the sax while Alex Norris carves out a path of spiraling toots on the trumpet.  Their embellishments on B. Reid's softly ambient "The Gypsy" demonstrates Schumacher's nimble playing, threading sprightly curlicues along Silvano Monasterios's lightly stroking keys, followed by the billowy ruffles of Jesus Ricardo's trumpet.  "Amosaya,"composed and arranged by Schumach...

  Songs of My Dreams from James Judson Label:  Self-Released Release Date:  January 30, 2026 Website:  https://www.jamesjudson.com Swing jazz that once filled the casino halls along the Vegas strip is reignited by singer-songwriter James Judson on his debut recording Songs of My Dreams .  Endowed with the honey-soaked register of Joey Bishop, the charming eloquence of Steve Lawrence (of Steve and Eydie Gormé fame), and the deep resonance of Sammy Davis Jr., Judson's vocals shine with a smoothness that emotes intimacy with his audience on the handful jazz standards and originals written by him.  His duet with Laura Cole on “All of Me" vibrates a romantic lyricism akin to Steve and Eydie, and the elegant strut of his vocals along "Holding On" is reminiscent of the caressing crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck.  "Candlelight or Roses" is a warm serenade that bridges into the upbeat palpitations of "Walking a Sidewalk," swinging with bopping beats and a...

  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:  Steppin' Out from Mike Davis Label:  Turtle Bay Records Release Date:  April 5, 2024 Website: https://mike-davis-jazz.com/ Traditional ragtime transcribed in a modern language for contemporary listeners is cornetist and arranger Mike Davis's forté.  His new disc Steppin' Out has the leisurely lollygagging gait of vintage 1920's jazz and the liberating romps of flapper era kicklines, popularized through the Roaring Twenties.  Davis's music takes audiences back in time to the halls of speakeasies like 21 Club, the Stork Club, and the Cotton Club in New York City.   Recalling of artists like cornetist Bix Beiderbecke and pianist Jelly Roll Morton, the compilation is a blend of New Orleans jazz, Dixieland swing, and Tinpan Alley ragtime.  Davis sprouts a jubilant collection of standards and one original, “Half-Seas Over,” created by the band's pianist, Andy Schumm.  The arrangement nestles flaring horns beside a kickline rhy...

  New Release:  The New Jersey Sessions from Jeremy Monteiro Label: Jazznote Records Release Date:  May 31, 2024 Website:  jeremymonteiro.com Pianist, composer and leader Jeremy Monteiro celebrates his 48th CD, The New Jersey Sessions , accompanied by tenor saxophonist Sean Hong Wei and featuring saxophonist Houston Person, bassist Jay Anderson, drummer Evan Sherman, and Alex Sipiagin on trumpet.  There is a big band feel to the arrangements, made by a handful of musicians on deck.  The posh ambience that Monteiro creates with the keys in tracks like "A Weaver of Dreams" and "Dewey Square" enshrouds the listener in waves of elegance.  The swinging rhythm bodes nicely with the refined extemporizing from the saxophone, giving these numbers a lively vibe.  Slow simmering tunes like "I Want To Talk About You" and "Life Goes On" pave the way for stirring dialogues performed by the saxophone.   The graceful phrasing of Wei's sax enlivens the w...