Hyeseon Hong Jazz Orchestra

Things Will Pass

Pacific Coast Jazz, 2024

8/10

Listen to Things Will Pass

The esteemed composer and arranger Hyeseon Hong leads her 19 piece jazz orchestra through 9 originals that mesh American jazz with Korean influences for a very unique East swings West experience.

“Road To Hana” starts the listen with bouncy keys from Broc Hempel, well timed brass and plenty of adventurousness that enters the rich climate, and “Memoirs Of Ladies” follows with Jeff Davis’ thumping drums adding much to the busy versus soft gestures that use the winds in soothing ways.

“Run Away” lands in the middle and showcases Aubrey Johnson’s bright pipes amid the layered brass and animated gestures, while “Waltzing With Dad” in an intimate moment of sublime beauty via the mature piano and Evan Gregor’s meticulous bass.

Close to the end, “Night Climbing” is a more minimal exercise of soulful and dynamic sax prowess in a cautious environment, and “We Will Meet Again” exits with the horns and winds meeting at a cozy place of timeless jazz.

Rich Perry’s tenor sax adds much appeal to this well thought out record, and the no lack of grooves, swingin’ fun and moody bouts makes every track here memorable.

Travels well with: Paul Kendall- My Shining Hour; Randy Weinstein- Harmonimonk

Vincent Varvel

Mystery Street

Self-Released, 2024

8/10

Listen to Mystery Street

The inimitable guitarist Vincent Varvel brings along Joel Vanderheyden, Eric Warren and Joe Meyer to these ethereal jazz tunes that unfold across 8 distinct tracks.

“On The Lam” opens with 11+ minutes of intricate guitar from Varvel, as Vanderheyden’s bright sax enters alongside Warren’s fluid bass lines, and “Mistaken Continues” the radiant climate with some restraint, where Meyer’s well timed drums flow alongside the dreamy guitar.

The middle tracks belong to “For ALD” and “From Whence She Comes”, where the former is intimate and packed with rich sax, while the latter comes with a mesmerizing quality via the meticulous rhythm section and soulful wind.

The last 2 tracks don’t disappoint, either. “Osiria Rose” carries an intimate demeanor of beauty and reflection, and the title track finishes with both minimalism and busy bouts, as all 4 players emit their respective talents in spades for the rhythmic jazz finish.

Varvel was born and raised in St. Louis, and picked up a guitar at age 15. A professional musician since college, he’s in fine form and excellent company here, for 8 songs that you won’t soon forget.

Travels well with: Jake Hertzog- Longing To Meet You; 9 Horses- Strum

The Felice Brothers

Valley Of Abandoned Songs

Million Stars, 2024

9/10

Listen to Valley Of Abandoned Songs

A collection of songs leftover from their 2019 and 2023 albums, The Felice Brothers settle in quite nicely at their new label run by Conor Oberst.

“Crime Scene Queen” opens, and brings James Felice’s fluid keys and soulful backing vocals to the textured folk, and “Flowers By Roadside” follows with Ian Felice’s warm acoustic guitar and poetic singing that benefits much from Will Lawrence’s light drumming.

Deeper into the 13 tracks, “So Long John” welcomes a dreaminess thanks to Jesske Hume’s well timed voice and Ian’s distinct pipes, while “Raccoon, Rooster And Crow” offers a crisp and throwback flavor that carries a festive spirit.

Further yet, “Tomorrow Is Just A Dream Away”, the album’s best, is a timeless folk tune that’s pretty yet rugged and intimate as well, and “To Be A Papa” exits with a more Americana focused appeal that’s rich, heartfelt and timeless.

Plenty of artists dump their leftover songs onto albums like this with often mediocre results. When The Felice Brothers do it, it’s absolutely engaging and creative, where their indie-folk ways are as colorful and intriguing as the cover art.

Travels well with: The Felice Brothers- From Dreams To Dust; Joe Pug- The Flood In Color

The Magnolia Janes

The Light Years

Be A Jane, 2024

9/10

Listen to The Light Years

The duo of Sarah Bonsignore and Ashley Riley, as The Magnolia Janes the pair bring their respective talents to 11 rich and diverse versions of Americana.

“Stones On The Road” starts the listen with warm vocal harmonies, as Bonsignore’s graceful keys are met with thumping drums for a folk-rock presence, and “Speed Of Life” follows with Riley’s cozy acoustic guitar complementing the stirring intimacy of the gentle delivery.

Further along, “Pretty Baby” welcomes soulful ideas via the dreamy guitar and expressive singing, while “Gotta Leave A Good Thing” spotlight Dubi Silverstein’s meticulous acoustic guitar, as the duo sing with much beauty and poeticism.

The title track lands near the end and uses emotive keys and stirring vocals, and “This Old World” exits with a powerful, piano ballad, where the pair both lend their inimitable voices via the passionate finish.

Riley and Bonsignore both have accomplished solo careers, and their combined talents make for a classical, rock, folk and opera influenced affair that’s universally relatable and tugs on the heartstrings.

Travels well with: Surrender Hill- River Of Tears; Lynne Hanson- Just A Poet

Hollaway

Jazz-ish

Nembleu, 2024

9/10

Listen to Jazz-ish

The vocalist Eric Hollaway bring his bass tone to these 8 timeless tracks that welcome some excellent help for a jazz listening experience.

The upbeat and rich “Playing Your Game” starts the listen with Josh Green’s gentle drums suiting Hollaway’s deep, expressive voice amid much warmth, and “Feel Like Makin’ Love” follows with Benito Gonzalez’s dreamy piano, as Hollaway enunciates every word with prettiness in the romantic setting.

The middle spot belongs to “Here I Stand”, where Will Slater’s agile bass lines complement the sublime beauty of the album’s best, while “Pure Imagination” builds into a frisky and playful delivery of memorable jazz qualities.

Arriving close to the end, the intimate keys and sophisticated gestures of “In The Wee Small Hours” uses Peter Mongaya’s calm guitar in elegant ways alongside the flawless pipes, and “Lush Life” exits with Hollaway’s craft unfolding via a captivating spirit, where the mature musicianship is textured with gorgeous sounds.

You may have heard some of these songs before, but they’ve never sounded quite like this, as Hollaway and his company flesh out a stunning, acoustic jazz performance with a soulful bass voice that you won’t soon forget.

Travels well with: Jim Clayton- Lookout; Marcus Persiani- In Motion

Papo Vazquez Mighty Pirates Troubadours

Songs Del Yucayeke

Picaro, 2024

8/10

Listen to Songs Del Yucayeke

The Grammy Nominated Papo Vazquez returns with his 11th disc, where his band, Might Pirates Troubadours, are along for 14 new selections of his jazz fusion ways.

“NYP 9 Hudson” opens with Vazquez’s vibrant trombone alongside Rick Germanson’s flowing keys with plenty of worldly flavor, and “Guaracatu” follows with Alvester Garnett’s fluid drumming that complements the brass and percussive climate.

Elsewhere, the lively mood of “Dos Tito’s” welcomes Carlos Maldonado’s timbales to the rhythmic album highlight, while “Gate Of Lost Souls” trims the pace back with intimacy via the graceful keys, soulful trombone and Ivan Renta’s well timed tenor sax.

Closer to the end, “Donde Esta al Amor” is an intimate instrumental that tugs on the heartstrings thanks to the soft and romantic musicianship, and “End Percussion Jam” is deeper still, where acrobatic drumming and percussive prowess unfold with incredible attention to detail.

A skilled display of Puerto Rican folkloric music and plenty of other Afro Caribbena sounds, Vazquez and company continue to make some of the the most exciting Latin jazz that exists today.

Travels well with: Greg Chako- Standard Roots; Olin Clark- Ephemera

Elevation

Are You Looking For Me?

Self-Released, 2024

8/10

Listen to Are You Looking For Me?

A collection of choral works by many different composers, the 9 selections here welcome 39 vocalists for a very well thought out sophomore album from Elevation.

“Laus Trinitati”, by Faith Zimmer, starts the listen with the textured vocals harmonizing with incredible warmth and tonality, and Christopher H. Harris’ “Were You There?” follows with a stirring beauty via the soft singing and strong attention to mood.

Further along, “Tides”, by Reginal S. Wright, pairs the stirring strings with dreamy vocals that emit much elegance, while “Joy Never Leaves” allows the firm keys to shine alongside glorious and powerful voices for the album’s best thanks to Harris’ vision.

“Hymn To Time” (Lee R. Kesselman) and “Worthy Of All The Praise” (Kevin B. James) exit the listen. The former is very much gospel influenced and radiates wisdom and serenity, and the latter takes that a step further with soul and R&B influences with plenty of worship songwriting.

An introspective body of work that includes all world premiere recordings, the Delaware ensemble embrace expertise, passion and dedication to their craft, and that’s evident from every authentic moment here.

Travels well with: The Crossing- Tower And The Garden; The Crossing- Rising w/ The Crossing

La Cozna

Ni Nuit Ni Jour

Raffut Collectif, 2024

9/10

Listen to Ni Nuit Ni Jour

A French quartet with a penchant for folk and experimental ideas, these 12 songs are as diverse as they are distinct.

“Réveillez-vous” opens the listen with Clémence Baillot d'Estivaux’s expressive singing alongside Clémentine Ristord’s elegant clarinet for the soft opening of eloquence, and “Marguerite” follows with Benjamin Garson’s dreaming guitar complementing the poetic pipes of the intimate landscape.

Further along, “Les transformations” takes on a mesmerizing mood via Pierre-Antoine Despatures’ sophisticated contra bass that suits Bruno Ducret’s heartfelt singing, while “Lá-haut dedans la tour” emits much ambience amid an atypical droning and Baillot d'Estivaux’s pretty singing.

Later on, “Le jardin des amours” uses agile string bowing, calm guitar and flawless singing to its advantage, and “Songez á votre monde” exits with a backdrop of mystery that illuminates the cultured vocals.

A body of work that’s inspired by La Nóvia, Pagans or Hart Brut and that tells stories of love, violence and freedom, every moment here is filled with intrigue and gracefulness.

Travels well with: tellKujira- tellKujira; Lovataraxx- Sophomore

David Finck

BASSically Jazz

Burton Avenue, 2019

8/10

Listen to BASSically Jazz

An artist with 4 decades of experience with his instrument, David Finck has an impressive resume including collaborating with George Michael, Dizzy Gillespie and Ivan Lins, among others, and BASSically Jazz, Finck’s 3rd album as leader, again illustrates his unparalleled talent on bass.

“Old Devil Moon” starts the mostly instrumental album with crisp, fluid jazz sounds as swift percussion and spirited vibraphone complement Finck’s strategic bass playing, and “O Barquinho” follows with tumbling musicianship where softer ebbs are intertwined with the busy, flowing rhythm of bossa nova.

The instrumentation remains intricate and playful the entire listen, as middle tracks like the sparkling “Moment’s Notice” and the slower, contemplative “When I Look In Your Eyes” illustrate much diversity, and album highlight “Alfie” offers gentle bass plucking amid a mysterious, alluring setting.

Near the end, “Walkin’ My Baby Back Home” recruits creative interplay between the keys and bass, and “All My Tomorrows” concludes the album with expressive vocals from Finck in a romantic, light jazz exit.

An extremely well done affair where flutes, trombones, guitars and drums are all also delivered sublimely, the production is also top notch, making this a ‘basically jazz’ record that is impossible not to enjoy.

Travels well with: Christian McBride- Kind Of Brown; John Patitucci- Line By Line