“The genius of Laubrock’s compositions lies in the way they balance compositional structure with improvisational freedom.” – Troy Dostert, All About Jazz
Purposing The Air, out April 11, 2025, sets to music 60 brief yet evocative koans for the pairings of Fay Victor/Mariel Roberts, Sara Serpa/Matt Mitchell, Theo Bleckmann/Ben Monder, and Rachel Calloway/Ari Streisfeld (Duo Cortona). Hailed as a “fully committed saxophonist and visionary” by The New Yorker, Ingrid Laubrock has evolved a distinctive, fascinatingly complex and richly layered sonic vocabulary that spans her efforts as an improviser, as leader of her own diverse ensembles or, as in the case of her captivating new album Purposing The Air, as composer and conceptualist for other musicians.
Miles Davis’ much-touted ‘electric’ period was widely credited with birthing so-called jazz fusion, and because of this, it can be easy for one to forget the true breadth of its influence. A crucial ingredient in Miles’ cauldron of styles during this time was Karlheinz Stockhausen, whom he first heard in 1972 (and later collaborated with in a yet-unpublished session). This fact provides an important reminder that the binding agent in Davis’ singular blend of jazz and rock was experimentation—with texture, electronics, form, and other parameters.
release date: 04.04.2025 on Hubro Records
…Song over støv [Song over Dust] draws inspiration from the idea that we are, consciously or unconsciously, always relating to what came before, whether it’s childhood or traditions.”
The boundaries between contemporary art music and folk music are pushed as Apneseth and his all-star ensemble invite listeners into their very own musical universe.
The album can be seen as a continuation of Nattsongar from 2017, where associations with music from around the world strongly influenced the expression. Apneseth drew inspiration from his own childhood both during the creative
Out April 4, 2025 via Irabbagast Records, Pag-Ibig Ko Vol.1 features the beautiful sentimentality and national pride of the kundiman songbook
“Muñeses shows how music can provide both a respite from our daily challenges and a renewal of our motivation to persevere.” – Joe Ross, Roots Music Report review of Noli Me Tángere
“A very poetic, moving and often exciting sophomore album, Muñeses and company bring much melody and richness into this modern jazz outing that will resonate with fans of the genre around the globe.” – Tom Haugen, Take Effect review of Noli Me Tángere
Release Date: March 28th, 2025 on Link Music Lab
Shaho Andalibi, Chris Pruden, and Scott Peterson present The Trio Andalibi – Improvisations from the Doyen of Kurdish Nay
Satoko Fujii’s Tokyo Trio Dream a Dream to be released on March 28, 2025, via Libra Records
“Satoko Fujii’s Tokyo Trio isn’t even close to being a conventional jazz trio. . . . But it is a Satoko Fujii ensemble in every sense, with the grace, sophistication, surprise and ingenuity found in every other of her ensembles.” — S. Victor Aaron, Something Else!
“Ms. Fujii’s Tokyo Trio has all the requisites for a landmark avant Jazz Improv Trio.” — Grego Applegate Edwards, Gapplegate Music Review
After two previous live recordings, pianist-composer Satoko Fujii’s Tokyo Trio made their third release, Dream a Dream in the studio. The beautifully detailed recording cements their place as one of the leading piano trios of our time. The group has an innate chemistry that allows them to navigate Fujii’s compositions as well as improvise with telepathic unity. It’s an unbeatable combination of individual and collective expression that keeps the music always lively and surprising. The album will be released March 28, 2025 via Libra Records.
release date: 28.03.2025 via L & H Production
Scenes from the Dark Ages is the latest recording from Russian-born pianist Yelena Eckemoff and her latest, mostly Italian-made sextet, sporting guitarist Riccardo Bertuzzi, flautist Carlo Nicita, violinist Eloisa Manera, bassist Riccardo Oliva if not the presence of the legendary drummer & percussionist Trilok Gurtu.
Impressions, the remarkable genre-melding album from acclaimed jazz harpist/composer Isabelle Olivier exploring Impressionism in music and the visual arts, will be released this Friday, March 21, 2025 in the US.
The album brings together jazz and classical influences via a remarkably versatile electro-acoustic ensemble. With its many references to Chicago art and artists, Impressions brings together the two metropolises that Olivier calls home – the Windy City and the City of Lights. She celebrates the album on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at PianoForte in Chicago.
release date: 21.03.2025 on ECM records
Defiant Life, Smith’s powerful second duo album with Vijay Iyer, is out today, March 21 via ECM
” A shared awareness of human cruelty and its inability to permanently erase its opposition suffuses every note” – Bill Meyer, The Wire
“Sublime, meditative…a calming masterpiece” – Jim Hynes, Glide
“Disciplined, solemn music by two masters of communication that provides a serious response to serious issues” – Kevin Le Genre, Jazzwise / Editors Choice
This recording session was conditioned by our ongoing sorrow and outrage over the past year’s cruelties, but also by our faith in human possibility. – Vijay Iyer
