Brief Notes On New Jazz Releases

I hope everyone is doing all right. This country is neck-deep in fascism, and seems to be in a rush toward complete oblivion. I'm doing my best to avoid the entire mess, but it's getting more and more difficult. Fortunately, there is still a lot of great music out there to help ease our troubled spirits. Here are notes on a few new jazz albums you might want to check out. It's interesting that some of these artists are also teachers.

Naseem Alatrash: "Bright Colors On A Dark Canvas" - Bright Colors On A Dark Canvas seems like a perfect and promising title for these dark and frustrating times. Naseem Alatrash is a talented cellist and composer, who is based in Boston and is a part-time faculty member at Tufts University. This album features all original material. It opens with "Prelude," and immediately the music transports us to another place and perhaps another time. There is a history here that we can feel, a shared sadness. This beautiful piece contemplates that and raises its voice in reaction. Then pianist Chase Morrin and percussionist George Lernis are featured on "Riwaya (Narrative)," which also includes the string orchestra, so there is a fuller sound that seems to celebrate a place. We are taken along its streets, invited to taste its foods, and get caught up in its spiritual passion. There are more somber spots too, which are not kept hidden from us. Yet as we navigate them, we find that these spots also contain a dance. There is beauty, joy, and fondness expressed here, and we feel welcome. The orchestra is conducted by Eugene Friesen. Things then become more intense in "Ramad (Ashes)," and we soon feel pursued. We are on the run before we even know why. There is not time for questions. There is some exciting and excellent work by Chase Morrin on piano, and in the second half we are immersed in a more chaotic environment. But the pursuit seems to continue from that place. There is a more lonesome feel to "Lifta" as it begins, as if weary from the earlier pusuit, and we are now taking stock of where we are, what is left of what is behind us. Yet there is beauty here, almost in defiance of a world grown cold. And it has a rather gentle ending. "Echoing In The Hollow" begins with some pretty, though perhaps tentative, work on piano. The cello is gorgeous, moving. There is sadness, but also hope. "Risala (Message) - Part I" quickly establishes a good rhythm, and there is the sense of a grander picture, a grander landscape, and some intrigue. And now the movement is more deliberate, more certain. This track features some excellent and powerful work on cello. It leads straight into "Risala (Message) - Part II," which soon moves quickly. This time it is not running away, but running toward some more desired future. Here we experience a different kind of excitement, more positive. I love the percussion. This album was released on February 27, 2026.

Wayne Alpern: "Alchemy" - You can always count on composer Wayne Alpern to deliver something interesting and wonderful. Alchemy is an album of original pieces composed for woodwinds. The group that performs the pieces, Imani Winds, is made up of Brandon Patrick George on flute, Tovin Spellman-Diaz on oboe, Kevin Newton on horn, Mark Dover on clarinet, and Monica Ellis on bassoon. The album opens with a playful number titled "Stomp," which has a delicious, comedic bent, reminding me of some of the great cartoons I watched when I was a child. So, yes, the kind of thing that should immediately raise your spirits and return you to a less stressful time. The fun continues with "Gigue," which has a delightful sense of mischief about it. You know that someone is up to no good, but you also know that no harm will result from it, so you can just enjoy the action. The characters are so clear, as is the action. The same is true for "Burlesca," though the characters and action are so different. This one takes us into more of a folk realm, a foreign town or community, where there is also humor, but here it comes from a collective space rather than individual behavior. "Impromptu" has a stronger presence, demanding attention at its start, before easing back at moments, and finding some truly pretty areas in the second half. "Masquerade" is a total delight, a playful number that swings and teases and promises that life can be lighter, even when some mystery is acknowledged. "Partita" becomes exciting toward the end, and then the music changes gears with "Elegy," which, as you'd expect, has a more somber vibe. Yet there is also something uplifting here, something that encourages people to maintain a certain amount of hope. And there is a dramatic sense to the second half. It's interesting that this album includes a piece title "Overture" in its second half, but it's a fun, lighthearted and adventurous number. One of my favorites is "Rag," which, as you likely gathered from the title, plays with some ragtime themes, which I've always found appealing. It's totally enjoyable, and includes a nod to Gershwin, which of course I appreciate. Another highlight is "Capriccio," which is like a lively dance of sprites and pixies and other playful spirits, yet a dance that has some function in mind, some goal. Like, by the end, you find they've built an entire little town. It builds to an exciting climax. This album was released on December 19, 2025.

Darren Litzie: "On My Own Time" - Darren Litzie is a pianist and composer who released his first album as leader in 2022. His new release, On My Own Time, features mostly original material. with Chris DeAngelis on bass, and John Riley on drums. It opens with its title track, which eases in with a short introduction on piano. Then it kicks in, taking on a fun rhythm that quickly has us feeling good. There is a Brazilian influence here, and some interesting changes. I especially like when Darren gets loose in the middle of the track. Both Chris and John then get chances to shine in the second half. That's followed by the album's first cover, "Moonlight In Vermont," this being a more somber rendition than most, a bit sadder in its contemplation. Darren delivers some beautiful work, and does find lighter moments. There is a gentle, thoughtful bass lead in the second half. Then "Just After Three" has the feel of a pleasant dance, when all of nature seems to be encouraging a lighthearted, joyous approach to life. This is one of my personal favorite tracks, everything coming together perfectly to create a better world. "Maybe We'll Try" urges a different type of dance, and the Brazilian influence is heard again on this one. Chris delivers an excellent, impressive lead on bass early in this track, things popping there. And it just gets more fun from there, with some delicious, lively work on piano, becoming another of this disc's highlights. The trio then gets bluesy with "If Only I Could Forget," and gets even cooler with "Busy Work," which features more excellent work on bass. When "Before Tomorrow" starts to take off, it too becomes another standout track. I love its loose feel combined with that attitude of really going for something. I find that's often when magic occurs. Plus, this track features some really good drumming. "A Short Walk From Here" has a light vibe, music that seems to push cares aside. The album's second cover is Thelonious Monk's "In Walked Bud," this version given a good, somewhat funky groove, with lots of wonderful touches throughout. The final cover is perhaps the most surprising choice, The Zombies' "Time Of The Season," a song I love. It begins with something of a mysterious air, starting to take form in the mist, and growing from there. It's an interesting approach that I ended up really digging. This album was released on February 6, 2026.

Pat Petrillo: "Contemporaneous" - Pat Petrillo is an accomplished drummer and composer. Contemporaneous features all original material, written or co-written by Pat, tracks that bring several different musical areas together in one great creative eruption. Joining him on this album are Scott Ambush on bass, Gary Grainger on bass, Blake Aaron on guitar, Oz Noy on guitar, Chieli Minucci on guitar, B.D. Lenz on guitar, Matt Rohde on keys, Mark Baron on keys, Chris Fischer on keys, Plinky Giglio on keys, Mike Cordone on trumpet, Steve Jankowski on trumpet, Lemar Guillary on trombone, Scott Mayo on tenor saxophone, Tom Timko on tenor saxophone, and Phillip Wack on alto saxophone. The album gets off to an energetic start with "Fused," which, as you might guess from its title, combines rock and jazz. There is some fantastic drumming here. There are also some surpisingly heavy moments mixed in. What an exciting and great start. That's followed by "Late Night Diner," which has a cool vibe and seems to celebrate the city life and atmosphere. It might be late night, but things are still happening, still hopping, and this track features some delicious stuff on sax. Then some wonderful work on bass sets "How's The Weather?" in motion, and it isn't long at all before we are treated to some excellent drumming. This is another lively number with a sense of excitement. Will Donato joins the group on both tenor sax and flute on "Summer In Philly," which has a more laid back and sexy vibe. It also includes some good work on both guitar and keys. Pat begins "On The Regular" with some great drumming, and soon we are immersed in a fantastic funky realm from which we have no interest in emerging. There is a lot of stuff happening here, all of it delicious, but it is the drumming that really makes this track stand out. The album's title track is an odd little number on which Pat Petrillo plays all the instruments. This track features spoken word vocals, but I'm not certain who is speaking. By the way, Pat Petrillo plays keys on several tracks. "Grizzle" then has a different feel, due in part to Rob Paparozzi's presence on harmonica. There is something of a New Orleans feel to this one. "Dirty Jerz" will get you on the dance floor, as will "Sunset Sound Studio 2," both having some 1970s vibes. "Weekend Vibe" will help turn any workday into a more relaxing and enjoyable time. And "Glide In My Stride" leaves us in a good mood. This album was released on July 11, 2025 (okay, so maybe it's not quite new, but in the larger scheme of things, it certainly is).

Erica von Kleist: "Picc Pocket" - Erica von Kleist plays several instruments, including saxophone and flute, and on her new album, the playfully titled Picc Pocket, she plays piccolo. She is joined by Yago Vazquez on piano, Noriko Ueda on bass, and Anton Kot on drums, along with John Ellis on tenor saxophone and Jennifer Krupa on trombone on certain tracks. The album features all original material. It opens with "We Know How To Picc 'Em," a totally fun number that begins on drums. Maybe you don't think of the piccolo as a cool instrument, but you likely will after listening to even a few moments of this track. It has a familiar vibe that you'll immediately enjoy, and features some fantastic work by Erica on piccolo. There is also a delicious lead on bass that is not cut short. It's a fun, lively and cool start. It's followed by "Let Me Picc Your Brain." And, yes, before you ask, all the song titles, like the album's title, contain plays on "pick" and "picc." There is a mellower feel to this one at the start, and yet soon we get some excellent drumming. It's kind of an intriguing track that, before you know it, develops its own delightful energy, and features a wonderful lead on piano. In the second half, there is a surprising and excellent section where Erica's piccolo is backed just by bass. "Bone 2 Picc" is a playful number featuring some absolutely wonderful work by Jennifer Krupa on trombone. The piccolo is then like a sprite dancing about. When the two instruments work together, is there anything more delightful? "Picc & Choose" has a sweeter vibe. There is a pleasant feel to this one, even as the bass and drums push things forward. "Picc Up Lines" is great fun from its opening on drums, this one featuring excellent stuff from John Ellis on saxophone. Everything moves along at a good clip, leaving all our troubles behind. And we are treated to a drum solo in the second half, so all is right with the world. The album concludes with "Picc A Peck," which is surprisingly bluesy, proving once again that the piccolo is cool. And here Erica gets loose over that good rhythm. This album is scheduled to be released on April 23, 2026.