New In Music This Week: February 9th

Certainly not everyone is going to watch the Super Bowl. Whether you are not, I have the best of what’s New In Music This Week: February 9^th for you to listen to.

My top pick is:

JAZZ: nublues – JOEL ROSS – Blue Note Records

I’ve been listening to vibraophonist Ross’s nublues for several weeks now. He’s spending time amongst the blues and ballads on this quietly powerful album. All but three of the tracks on this album were written by Ross.

The three covers (the first of which is the second track on the album – a ballsy choice I love) are Equinox by John Coltrane; Evidence by Thelonious Monk and the last track is another Coltrane composition: Central Park West.

Joining Ross on nublues are Jeremy Corren on piano; Jeremy Dutton on drums; Gabrielle Garo on flute; Kanoa Mendenhall on bass and Immanuel Wilkins on alto saxophone.

Standout tracks are mellowdee, bach (God the Father in Eternity) and the title track. But I love this album from start to finish. 

The other titles in New In Music This Week: February 9^th are:

CLASSICAL:  BEETHOVEN: THE COMPLETE SYMPHONIES – Gianandrea Noseda and the National Symphony Orchestra – NSO Recordings

A three-year journey to release recordings of all nine of Beethoven’s symphonies is realized with this digital release from the NSO in Washington, D.C. (There will be a box set coming out on February 23^rd which will include a Blu-Ray of the Ninth Symphony).

Joining Noseda and the NSO for the Ninth Symphony (which is the recording that completes this series) are bass-baritone Ryan McKinny; mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor; tenor Issachah Savage; soprano Camilla Tilling and the Washington Chorus. The recording of the 9^th Symphony is spellbinding.

Does the world need another cycle of Beethoven symphony recordings? My argument has always been that no two conductors or orchestras approach this music, no matter how often performed, the same way. 

I have appreciated all the recordings leading up to this release. Take a listen, perhaps you will, too!

JAZZ:  AZIMUTH – Azimuth – ECM Luminescence Series vinyl release only UPDATE: This release has been delayed until March 29th

This album was first released in 1977 and features pianist John Taylor, trumpeter Kenny Wheeler and vocalist Norma Winstone. All three having had substantial careers before joining forces.

Taylor worked with Cleo Laine and saxophonists Alan Skidmore and John Surman before forming Azimuth. Wheeler worked with John Dankworth (perhaps leading to Taylor’s introduction to Laine since they were married), Maynard Ferguson. Winstone, who was named top singer in the 1971 Melody Maker Jazz Poll, was married to Taylor, though they later divorced.

Whatever their work before or after, this is a fascinating album of six originals (written by John Taylor alone, but mostly with Winstone.)

JAZZ:  THREE – Pat Bianchi – 21H Records

The Hammond B3 organ is easily one of my favorite instruments to listen to. In this new release from organist Bianchi he is joined by saxophonist Troy Roberts and drummer Colin Stranahan for a recording of six jazz standards.

The album opens with Cole Porter’s Love for Sale and ends with Irving Berlin’s Cheek to Cheek. The three middle tracks stand out for me:  When Sunny Gets Blue, Wayne Shorter’s Dance Cadaverous and Eddie Harris’s Cryin Blues. They also perform Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust.

Three is an album that feels very much today and also of another period at the same time. 

JAZZ:  TINY BIG BAND 2 – Nikos Chatzitsakos – self-released

In 2022, bassist/composer Chatzitsakos released Tiny Big Band. Sadly, I didn’t know anything about that album or him until he reached out and sent a link to the album’s sequel, Tiny Big Band 2.

I have a feeling about sequels…they are usually unnecessary. But this one worked so effectively that I went back and listened to Tiny Big Band.

This album opens with All or Nothing at All and includes music written by Donald Byrd, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart and more. Plus, they make a convincing argument that The Windmills of Your Mind, written by Michel Legrand and Alan and Marilyn Bergman is a truly great song. (The first to do this, in my opinion, since Dusty Springfield.)

The members of this Tiny Big Band include Art Baden on tenor sax; Samuel Bolduc on drums; Chatzitsakos on doubles bass; Joey Curreri on trumpet; Robert Mac-Vega Dowda on trumpet; Gabriel Nekrutman on baritone saxophone; Eleni Ermina Sofou on vocals; Armando Vergara on trombone; Alexandria De Walt on vocals and Wilfie Williams on piano. 

While Tiny Big Band 2 is what’s New In Music This Week: Febraury 9^th, both albums are worth your time.

JAZZ:  LIVE IN CHICAGO – Gustavo Cortiñas – Desafío Candente Records

One look at the cover for this live album from drummer/composer Cortiñas and you’ll have a good idea what you’re in for: a fusion of Mexico and Chicago. Mexico City to be precise.

Listening to the opening track, Overature, you know that you’re in for something unique. Cortiñas is joined by saxophonist/clarinetist Artie Black; trombonist Matthew Davis; pianist Joaquin Garcia; trumpeter Drew Hansen and bassist Kitt Lyles on this two-disc album.

On the press notes for Live in Chicago, Cortiñas says, “I believe that it is a rite of passage for any jazz artist to put out a live record.” This one, filled exclusively with original compositions, is the kind of live album that makes me want to hear this music in person.

JAZZ:  COMPASSION – Vijay Iyer with Linda May Han Oh and Tyshawn Sorey – ECM Records

This incredible album came out last week. Sadly, I forgot. But I’m not going to let New In Music This Week: February 9^th make the same mistake.

Iyer composed most of the tracks on this album. As one would expect, they are terrific as always. What most impressed me about Compassion, besides the obvious need for it in all our lives and the beautiful way Iyer expresses this through his writing, is that incredible freedom he, Oh and Sorey have with each recording.

The trio previously recorded Uneasy which was released in 2021. If the previous album reflected the turmoil of our present-day lives, this album serves as a beautiful call to action. Do yourself a favor and listen to both albums.

That’s my list of What’s New In Music This Week: February 9th.

May whichever team you are rooting for be victorious this weekend.

Enjoy your weekend.

Enjoy the music.

Main Photo: Part of the album art for nublues by Joel Ross