Brief Notes On New Jazz Releases

Music provides the best reminder these days that humanity has not gone completely off the rails. Here are notes on a few new jazz albums you might want to check out.

Olivia Foschi: “A Window Within” – Vocalist and composer Olivia Foschi delivers mostly original material on her new album. Joining her on this release are Mauricio Zottarelli on drums and percussion, Matt King on piano and melodica, Vinicius Gomes on guitar, and Marco Panascia on bass. She opens with album with a seriously delicious number, “Caught Me By Surprise,” which begins with a great rhythm on bass, the drums soon coming in to join it. And her vocal work quickly becomes part of the wonderful rhythm too. It’s all so good and catchy and appealing, and then it turns out this is also a love song, which we need more of. A song about love at first sight, and a true story. While the rhythm is a big part of this track’s appeal for me, there is also some very cool work on guitar and keys, particularly in the middle when they engage in a little back-and-forth. An excellent start to the album, showing she has her own great style. That’s followed by a softer, gentler number, “Pieces Of Central Park,” a song of observations, a song that features a pretty and friendly vocal performance. This track also includes some really nice work on guitar. Percussion plays a prominent role on “Live With It,” with the vocals again creating part of the rhythm early on. This feels like a wonderful jam at times. That’s followed by the album’s sole cover, “Cun La Préma Stëla,” written by Cesare Martuzzi and Aldo Spallicci. Olivia Foschi delivers a beautiful and uplifting vocal performance. She then gives us a warm and heartfelt performance on “Nona,” a song of love and loss. “You cradled my heart/Made me feel from the start/That I’d never be alone.” There is a light, almost magical quality to the piano work. “East Wind” begins on percussion, and on this track too Olivia’s voice takes part in the rhythm near the beginning. The tone then changes as the lyrics begin, and she addresses the state of the world. “Something’s gotta give/Hard to find the simple pleasures.” And soon she sings, “There’s conflict in the air again.” Indeed, and it’s so tiresome. Life is so short, and I’m continually shocked at the harmful and odious things that people will dedicate their precious time to. But this song is not a downer. The rhythm makes sure of that. And Olivia sings, “Clearing out the rage/And making room for changes/Try to let our hearts shine through.” And check out that drum work toward the end! “Subtle Farewell” has a more contemplative air, and features another pretty vocal performance. “Lost in a dream/Bidding a subtle farewell/As I let myself drift away.” The album’s final track, “John John Joel And Joan,” begins with rhythmic vocal work, and also includes some delightful percussion. It leaves us feeling good. This album was released on June 8, 2024.

Natalie Jacob: “Sooner Or Later” – This is the debut full-length solo release from vocalist Natalie Jacob. She is backed by some talented and accomplished musicians, including Tamir Hendelman on piano, Carlitos Del Puerto on bass, Clayton Cameron on drums, Scotty Barnhart on trumpet, Anthony Wilson on guitar, and Kevin Winard on percussion. For this first release, Natalie Jacob focuses on some of the great standards, opening the album with a good rendition of “Exactly Like You,” and her vocal approach tells us she knows just exactly what she needs, exactly what she wants, and exactly what she has. This track features some really nice stuff on bass, and then there is a wonderful moment when the trumpet takes off into a delicious lead. The piano lead also has a great energy, and contains some surprising and delightful touches. That’s followed by “Wave,” the first of three Antonio Carlos Jobim songs, all three featuring the work of Anthony Wilson on guitar and Kevin Winard on percussion. It isn’t just the wonderful percussion, but the sense of rhythm in Natalie Jacob’s vocal delivery that is part of this track’s appeal. Yet, the heart of this piece is Tamir Hendelman’s work on piano. Then “I Could Write A Book” features excellent work on bass right from its start, and also contains a strong lead on piano. A highlight is her touching rendition of “Smile,” a song many folks are turning to in these unsettling and divisive times. Natalie Jacob delivers a beautiful and moving performance, backed by equally moving work on piano. Another highlight is “What A Little Moonlight Can Do,” with that wonderful pace set at the beginning by Clayton Cameron on drums. And the first couple of lines are delivered with just drums backing her. Then the others come in, and the song flies along with joy, and features some fantastic work on bass and trumpet. Plus, there is a drum solo toward the end. What more could you want? That’s followed by another stellar track, ”Corcovado,” the second Jobim number, which features a gorgeous vocal performance, as well as an instrumental section you just want to wrap yourself in. The band creates a sexy bluesy atmosphere for “Sooner Or Later,” one of my favorite tracks. The trumpet is a big part of the appeal, along with the strength of Natalie Jacob’s delivery, sultry and certain. The album then concludes with the third Jobim song, “No More Blues (Chega De Saudade),” a somewhat playful choice to follow that blues song. This album is scheduled to be released on August 2, 2024.

Jazz At The Ballroom: “Flying High: Big Band Canaries Who Soared” – On this album, Jazz At The Ballroom celebrates some of the great female jazz singers. For most of the tracks, the band is made up of Champian Fulton on piano, Fukushi Tainaka on drums, and Neal Miner on bass, and they are joined by several female vocalists, including Vanessa Perea, Olivia Chindamo, Jane Monheit, Carmen Bradford and Gretje Angell. Yet the album opens with an instrumental rendition of “On The Sunny Side Of The Street.” It is a cheerful, sweet rendition featuring some wonderful work on piano. Seriously, there is such a good vibe about this track, and it does a good job of setting up expectations for the album, even without any vocals. That’s followed by “Secret Love,” which contains a delicious bass line and a strong and bright vocal performance by Vanessa Perea. There is also a cheerful instrumental section that features some great stuff on piano and excellent short drum solos. Then Olivia Chindamo takes over on vocals for “I Don’t Know Enough About You.” There is a wonderfully playful quality to her delivery. Just listen to the way she delivers lines like “And isn’t it a shame/I’m so sure that you’d be good for me/If you’d only play my game.” Vocalist Jane Monheit puts her own spin on the romantic number “I Only Have Eyes For You,” a track that also features Charles Ruggiero on drums and Mike Gurrola on bass. Champian Fulton provides the vocals, as well as plays piano, on a fun rendition of “All Of Me.” Am I the only one who still thinks of the Lily Tomlin movie whenever he hears this song? Anyway, Champian Fulton shines on this track. By the way, Champian Fulton is also the musical director and bandleader on this album. Then Carmen Bradford delivers a strong vocal performance on this disc’s rendition of “Lullaby Of The Leaves,” which also features some really nice moments on piano. I love the way Carmen works in bits of scat. And when she sings, “Don’t I feel it in my soul,” we all feel it too. She also does a great job on “Tea For Two.” Olivia Chindamo returns for a cool rendition of “Sweet Georgia Brown,” in which she cuts loose, with some fantastic results. This track also contains some delicious work on drums. Charles Ruggiero and Mike Gurrola play on “Why Don’t You Do Right,” which features Gretje Angell on vocals. Her vocal approach is seductive and cool, and this track is one of my favorites. Gretje Angell also delivers a beautiful rendition of “You Belong To Me,” which features some wonderful work on piano. Charles Ruggerio and Mike Gurrola also deliver some wonderful stuff on this track. The album closes with a delightful instrumental rendition of “Exactly Like You.” This album was released on May 3, 2024.

Brian Landrus: “Plays Ellington & Strayhorn” – As the title says, this album features material written by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, some of it composed individually and some of it together. Brian Landrus plays baritone saxophone, bass saxophone, bass clarinet, contra alto clarinet, piccolo, C flute, alto flute and bass flute on this release. He is joined by Dave Stryker on electric guitar and acoustic guitar, Jay Anderson on acoustic bass, and Billy Hart on drums. Brian Landrus kicks off the album with “Agra,” which has a wonderfully dark vibe, immediately transporting us from whatever reality we might normally call home to a strange desert landscape. And as we traverse this area, in no hurry, we are wrapped in robes and warm winds. At the end, the drums seem to announce that we’ve reached our destination. That leads to “Chelsea Bridge,” which was composed by Billy Strayhorn and recorded by Duke Ellington. The track eases in, with Brian’s work having a soothing quality early on. There is a strong sense of mood and atmosphere to this one as well. That is followed by another Billy Strayhorn composition, “A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing,” with that work on saxophone having an intimate and very human quality, like a contemplative voice. The guitar work adds a sweet texture. It’s interesting how this music gently commands our attention. “Prelude To A Kiss” is a beautiful piece written by Duke Ellington, and this rendition opens with some pretty work on guitar before gently sliding into the main body of the song. Brian Landrus delivers some gorgeous work, which is the heart of the track and which makes this one of my particular favorites. That is followed by another moving Duke Ellington composition, “Come Sunday.” I love the way Brian Landrus and Dave Stryker work together at the beginning, like taking these beautiful breaths together. The mood turns lighter and more playful with a delightful rendition of “The Telecasters,” the first of two pieces chosen from Duke Ellington’s Shakespeare-themed album Such Sweet Thunder. “Lush Life,” one of Billy Strayhorn’s most beloved compositions, is another of this disc’s highlights. As it begins, it takes us back in time, Brian’s work having a dreamlike quality in this opening section. And then once we are firmly in the musicians’ hands, they engage us in a timeless dance. “Star-Crossed Lovers,” the other piece from Such Sweet Thunder, begins with some really nice work by Dave Stryker, and features gorgeous stuff from Brian Landrus, and then another wonderful lead on guitar halfway through. Brian Landrus wraps up the album with a solo take on Duke Ellington’s “Sophisticated Lady,” which he delivers on bass saxophone. This album is scheduled to be released on July 12, 2024.

The Steve Luciano Quartet: “Under The Covers” – As you might deduce from the album’s title, this release finds guitarist Steve Luciano delivering covers of some of his favorite songs. In addition to Luciano, the quartet includes Mike Avila on piano, Charlie Siva on bass, and Walt Hubbard on drums. Dan Jordan joins them on saxophone and flute. The quartet opens the album with a rendition of Duke Pearson’s “Chant” that, as indicated on the CD case, was inspired by a performance by the Ed Cherry Trio. It features some excellent guitar work during that early lead, the guitar feeling like it is dancing. Dan Jordan soon takes over on saxophone, keeping the dance going during a relatively short lead. Mike Avila’s lead on piano feels a little more relaxed, at least at the start, but features some wonderful work. I love the energy and joy as this track reaches its conclusion. Then Mike Avila begins “I’ll Take Romance” on piano, and as the other musicians come in, it is clear that romance is always the right choice, whether or not your heart is young and arms are strong, for the music gives us all the feeling of youth and strength. The music encourages us to take romance. I love those brief solos on bass and drums toward the end. Steve Luciano starts “Like Someone In Love” with some good solo guitar work. It is almost a minute and a half into the track before the others come in. This one also features some delicious moments on drums and bass in its second half. During Steve Luciano’s excellent lead on “Hammer Head,” the music starts to swing and groove.  Dan Jordan also delivers some strong work here, and this ends up being one of my personal favorites. Another highlight is the lively rendition of “Everything I’ve Got,” which begins on drums and soon is moving along at a good clip. The guitar is flying along with a joyous force that is certain to get you smiling. “Love You Madly” also features a wonderful lead on guitar that moves with a sense of freedom and pleasure. That track also contains a really nice lead on bass. That’s followed by “On The Stairs,” which opens with a burst of energy and then moves at an energetic pace, and includes a cool drum solo. The album concludes with “The Bad And The Beautiful,” delivered as a solo guitar piece. This album was released on June 7, 2024.