Paul Medrano - Author at BestofJazz.org

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All posts by “Paul”

Sons of Kemet – Black to the Future

Black to the Future is the fourth album by Sons of Kemet, featuring Shabaka Hutchings on tenor saxophone, clarinet, and bass clarinet, Theon Cross on tuba, and both Eddie Hick and Tom Skinner on drums and percussion. It was released May 14, 2021, on Impulse! Records and recorded in 2020 during the weeks that followed the death of George Floyd.

Jalen Baker – This is Me, This is Us.

This is Me, This is Us is the debut album of vibraphonist, composer, and bandleader Jalen Baker. The album was released June 4, 2021, on Outside in Music. The nine original compositions (plus one reimagined Stevie Wonder classic) were recorded December 7 & 8, 2020 at Big Orange Sheep in NYC.

Devin Gray – Melt All The Guns EP

Melt All the Guns is the new EP by drummer Devin Gray. Together with Ralph Alessi (trumpet), and Angelica Sanchez (piano), they recorded five original tracks after few concerts in Canada and the United States during the Fall of 2019. These tracks were released on Rataplan Records on June 4, 2021.

Raffy Bushman – Beginner’s Mind EP

Unfortunately, there are not enough Jazz EP releases, even though it is such a nice format. Of course, there are some memorable ones, but this is not the preferred format for artists. For listeners, however, an EP can be very pleasant.

One such EP is Beginner’s Mind, the second EP by Raffy Bushman, which was digitally released May 28, 2021. It has five original tracks. The trio features Raffy Bushman on piano, Mikele Montolli on double bass, and Finn Booth on drums.

Guido Spannocchi – Perihelion

Vienna-born London-based Jazz saxophonist Guido Spannocchi‘s new album – Perihelion – is out today (May 28, 2021). The album is self-released and was recorded on December 1st, 2019 (all on first takes), in London (Total Refreshment Centre Studios).

Best Jazz 2016 - Jonathan Greenstein - Vol. I

Jonathan Greenstein – Vol 1

Jonathan Greenstein’s Vol. 1 is an EP released on January 29, 2016, on Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit Records. The EP was recorded with only acoustic instruments in Brooklyn, NY (The Bunker Studio).

Jazz June 2021

What to expect in Jazz this month? This is our June 2021 Selection of albums already released or to be released this month (What to Wait For?). Albums – or EPs, or Singles – that got our full attention and should be worth your time.

A playlist with one track per selected album is available at the end of the post.

Ralph Peterson – Raise Up Off Me

Raise Up Off Me is the final recording from the late Ralph Peterson Jr., released by Onyx Productions. Raise Up Off Me was recorded on December 7, 8, and 9, 2020, at Peterson’s own Onyx Recording studio in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

Keith Brown Trio – African Ripples

Pianist, composer, and bandleader Keith Brown‘s new album, African Ripples, was released on May 20, 2021, via Space Time Records. It was recorded in November 2020 in Queens, NY (Samurai Hotel Studios) and follows the release of Sweet and Lovely (2011) and The Journey (2015).

The Best Jazz Fusion Albums

First, let’s clarify one thing: Jazz fusion and jazz-rock are the same (to start with at least). The confusion may come from the preferences on each side of the Atlantic. While Europeans will most probably say “jazz-rock”, Americans will prefer referring to it as “jazz fusion”.