NEW IN MUSIC THIS WEEK: JUNE 27th

The last weekend in June isn’t loaded with a lot of new releases, but what it lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in quality. Welcome to New In Music This Week: June 27^th.

My top pick is:

CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL: DUNBAR/MOORE SESSIONS. VOL.  2 – WILL LIVERMAN – Lexicon Classics 

In October of 2023, baritone Will Liverman released The Dunbar/Moore Sessions, Vol. I. They are a series of original art songs Liverman wrote using the poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar and Alice Dunbar-Moore.

Dunbar used racial injustice as one of the foundations of his poetry, novels and plays. Dunbar-Moore’s writing was in support of civil rights and was politically centered.

For this second collection of Liverman’s original songs, he’s called on special guests Joshua Blue, Jacqueline Echols, Lady Jess, Mykal Kilgore, Isabel Leonard, Erin Morley, Adam Richardson, Lindsey Sharpe and Ann Toomey. They represent a variety of disciplines from Broadway to Opera. Some of these artists appeared on the first volume.

I’m not sure what the market is for art songs in 2025. But this album makes a case for people unfamiliar with them to immediately check out what Liverman has created here. These are beautiful songs that perfectly fit with the poetry that inspired them. These ten songs are powerful and moving.

The performances are terrific throughout. Not the least of which is Liverman’s singing.

I’ve long been a big fan of Liverman and think he’s one of the most thoughtful and talented of singers. Take a listen to either of these records and you’ll be a fan, too. 

On July 25^th, Lexicon Classics will release both volumes on limited edition CDs and vinyl. 

Here are the other fine releases found in New In Music This Week: June 27^th:

CLASSICAL: TRUMPET CONCERTO/PLETNEV/RACHMANINOFF INTERNATIONAL ORCHESTRA

Mikhail Pletnev may be best known as a conductor. He’s also a pianist and, as this fine album proves, quite the composer. 

The album opens with his Trumpet Concerto which was completed in 2024. Sergei Nakariakov is the soloist. The concerto features a particularly playful trumpet in the first movement. 

In the second movement the trumpet is a much more forceful and dramatic presence as this movement begins, but then moves into a more melancholy mood. The last movement is propulsive and the dialogue between the orchestra and the trumpet goes through a wide range of emotions before concluding on the simplest of notes.

Pletnev’s 14 Mémories musicales (also from 2024) concludes this 86-minute recording. This is a fascinating suite of music.

Under the composer’s direction, the Rachmaninoff International Orchestra plays this music as if it this was music they’d been playing for decades. There’s an assured nature to their approach to Pletnev’s music.

JAZZ:  4.24 (Live) – CYRILLE AIMÉE – Big Shoulders Records

My bad! I meant to include this terrific live album a couple of weeks ago and simply forgot. 

But you won’t forget this wonderful album once you listen to it. Aimée is one of the finest vocalists today.

I’ll start with the last track: But Not For Me by the Gershwins. Amongst the lyrics is “they’re writing songs of love, but not for me.” They should be writing songs of love, lust, joy, heartbreak and more for Aimee. Her performance of this great song is almost 11 minutes and never ceases to entertain and amaze. It’s as if the song was written for her.

Thankfully she doesn’t have to rely on songwriters to come up with material for her to sing. Most of 4.24 (Live) finds Aimée singing her own songs.

I’ve not yet had the chance to see Aimée I concert, but this terrific live album has once again reminded me that I need to see Aimée live at the next possible opportunity.

Until then, we have 4.24 (Live) to get us through…happily.

JAZZ: PACK ANIMALS – JEFF WALTON

I love to encounter musicians I hadn’t heard before. Such is the case with tenor saxophonist Walton’s new album, Pack Animals. Joining Walton are drummer Chase Elodia, bassist Eli Heath and pianist Santiago Leibson. This is his first album as a leader.

Walton clearly is exploring his own life and his varied musical interests on this album. We’re all a product of what we’ve taken in throughout our lives. Walton’s journey has allowed him to create an album that reflects a man who is clearly an old soul with a very present-day perspective.

Elodia, Heath and Leibson are fully on board for Walton’s journey. I was, too, when I played Pack Animals. 

JAZZ: SHADOWS & SILENCE: THE ERIK SATIE PROJECT – TESSA SOUTER – NOANARA Music 

One doesn’t associate lyrics with composer Erik Satie. We think of quiet miniatures for solo piano. Leave it to vocalist/lyricist Souter to find a way, as she has with other instrumental compositions, to find a way to make these songs fully respectful of Satie’s works and uniquely her own.

She states in the press release that she’s “surprised there aren’t more jazz tributes to Satie.” It frankly never occurred to me and I’ve played these works myself for decades.

It speaks to her creativity that she did think of it and brought along a great line-up of musicians to fully realize her vision: Billy Drummond on drums, Yasushi Nakamura on bass, Nadje Noordhuis on trumpet, Luis Perdomo on piano and Steve Wilson on soprano saxophone.

There are two pieces not based on Satie melodies: Mood by Miles Davis and Avec Le Temps by Leo Ferrer.

JAZZ: THE SURROUNDING GREEN – FRED HERSCH – ECM Records

I love how prolific composer/pianist Fred Hersch is. What I love even more is how good each and every album is. The Surrounding Green continues his beautiful recordings.

This recording has Hersch performing with drummer Joey Baron and bass player Drew Gress. A classic trio configuration that here is as sublime as you’ll ever hear. These three gentlemen have performed for decades (on and off) and that history is alive and well on this record.

Amongst the 7 tracks are three original by Hersch and an eclectic mix of covers. Music by Ornette Coleman, George & Ira Gershwin, Egberto Gismonti and Charlie Haden with Abbey Lincoln round out the record.

Deceptively simple, seductively enchanting and stunningly meditative, The Surrounding Green is superb.

JAZZ: UNDER THE SURFACE: ALCHEMY SOUND PROJECT – ARC 

I wasn’t entirely sure what I thought of this album and then the second track Saveur came on. I stopped considering doing anything else. Time stood still and for nearly nine minutes I was enraptured by this completely unique track.

That’s when I started the album again and went on the journey composer/pianist Sumi Tonooka had created about “the secret world of trees” as the press release says.

Tonooka’s trio at the center of this recording are bassist Gregg August and drummer Jonathan Blake. But this isn’t just a trio album.  

Alchemy Sound Project is Tonooka’s ensemble and its members, trumpeter Samantha Boshnack, tenor saxophonist Erica Lindsay, trombonist Michael Ventoso and multi-instrumentalist Salim Washington all contribute enormously to this recording.

As I went through the album, I found myself seduced by Tonooka’s writing and the musicians’ performances.

It just goes to show you there’s more Under the Surface if you’re willing to take the time to explore there.

That’s all for New In Music This Week: June 27^th.

Enjoy your weekend!

Enjoy the music!

Quick Note: Cultural Attaché will be on vacation June 30th – July 9th. We will return on Friday, July 11th with New In Music This Week.

Main Photo: Part of the album cover of Cyrille Aimée’s 4.24 (Live) (Courtesy Big Shoulder Records)