Spring is usually a time for a lot of new releases. So New In Music This Week: April 10th has a fair number of first-rate releases. But the rest of the month is going to be very busy, particularly with Record Store Day taking place next Saturday, April 18th. I’ll have a special column on Wednesday detailing all the releases I think you’ll be interested in.
Here is my top pick:
CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL MUSIC: WHAT IS ~NOIS – ~Nois– New Amsterdam Records
From the opening minute of Darian Donovan Thomas’ Sun Thrower, I found myself enraptured with this recording from ~Nois. They are a saxophone quartet that regularly commissions composers to write for them.
On this extraordinary album they worked with Travis Laplante, Francisco del Pino, Aeryn Jade Santillan and Thomas.
Sun Thrower builds to a point where electronic drums combine with the four saxophones to create a piece that inspires retrospection and the desire to get your body moving. alternate endings by Santillan moves in a completely different direction – one of anger and frustration that would fit in with punk music.
Del Pino’s Invisible offers perfect counterpoint to alternate endings by adding gentle acoustic guitar to the quartet. The intensity that builds throughout the piece and then it just ends. A wonderful conclusion to Invisible as it becomes what its name suggests.
Closing out the album is Laplante’s Running in a Field of Flowers which is structured in three movements: Meditation, Descent and Searing Joy. You will never listen to saxophones the same way again after hearing Laplante’s imaginative and adventurous piece.
That’s also true of the entire album. I don’t think What Is ~Nois is going to be for everyone. But there’s only one way to find out what you think of it…give it a listen.
Here are the other fine recordings on Cultural Attaché’s New In Music This Week: April 10th:
CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL MUSIC: VIPERS AT THE ONYX – Dave Soldier / Filharmonic Orchestra Prague / Adam Klemens– Bright Shiny Things
This was the first time I received a press release about a composer and neuroscientist. That means, of course, that I wasn’t previously familiar with Dave Soldier.
Vipers at the Onyx features the first recordings of his symphonic compositions and arrangements (some of the pieces were re-worked for orchestra but played and/or recorded by others.)
Anchoring the album is Stuff Smith’s Unfinished Concerto: Music Starts When Words Leave Off. Soldier was a big fan of the jazz violinist best known for the song If You’re a Viper. Smith had been working on a violin concerto but never finished it. Soldier, with permission from one of Smith’s grandchildren, took the unfinished six minutes and has expanded it to a 17-minute work. Soldier says he “added new themes, harmonies, orchestration and sections I imagine Stuff would have liked.”
On this recording, Curtis Stewart of PUBLIQuartet is the soloist. It’s a highly imaginative and satisfying work. In fact, I listened to this first when I received the album and then went back and listened to the whole recording. It was that compelling.
As are Soldier’s other compositions. Who knew music and neuroscience could yield such impressive music?
JAZZ: HOUSE PARTY – Champian Fulton– Turtle Bay Records
Last March at a home in New York City, pianist/vocalist performed for at this private event. And she had the good sense to record her performance.
Champian is no stranger to performing in small spaces and recording the magic that takes place. For House Party she is joined by Fukushi Tainaka on drums; Hide Tanaka on bass with special guests Klas Lindquist on alto sax and Cory Weeds on tenor sax.
The album opens with The One I Love (Belongs to Somebody Else) which has a gentle swing to it. I Cried For You follows and Fulton and her band elevate the swing about 1:40 into the song and it keeps going throughout the rest of the song. This is my favorite track.
Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust, Wayne Shorter’s One by One, Cole Porter’s Get Out of Town and Charlie Parker’s Billie’s Bounce close out the planned set. By the time Fulton and her band get to Billie’s Bounce the party is at its peak.
Someone requested they do Carry Me Back to Old Manhattan. A perfect way to conclude this thoroughly enjoyable album. It isn’t perfect and Fulton seems to be relishing in the challenge – foibles and all.
This House Party is one we can all enjoy. Can I get an invite to the next one?
JAZZ: REDSTONE – David Smith Quintet– Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records
This was my first exposure to trumpeter/composer David Smith. For an album that is filled with tunes dedicated to friends and family who had passed away, it’s a remarkably spirited album.
Five originals written by Smith open the album. Blackley (track #1), Elegy (track 3) and Redstone (track #4) are those dedicated to those he has lost. The second track, Almost, features impossibly beautiful playing by Smith.
One of the two covers is the Rodgers & Hart tune It Never Entered My Mind from their 1940 musical Higher and Higher. Miles Davis recorded it for Workin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet. In no way does Smith imitate Davis, but that recording must have inspired him.
The other is the final track, Central Park West by John Coltrane from his album Coltrane’s Sound. This track blew me away with Smith taking a 2 minute and 42 second solo before the other musicians join him. It’s certainly a livelier version of Coltrane’s tune and I loved it.
I plan to spend more time with Redstone and his previous recordings.
JAZZ: RITUAL – Caleb Wheeler Curtis– Chill Tone Records
Composer/multi-instrumentalist Curtis wrote all 9 tunes on this completely hypnotic and beautiful album. He is joined by Vicente Archer on drums, Orrin Evans on piano, Emmanuel Michael on guitar, Henry Pax on tenor Sax and flute and Michael Sarin on drums.
Curtis’ main instrument is the straight, non-curved alto saxophone known as a stritch. The opening track, Fantasmas is a composition that has ancestors at its core. It appears the whole album is calling out to musical ancestors while maintaining an identity completely Curtis’ own.
One of my favorite tracks is Black Box Extraction. It is followed by a beautiful tune; You Just Can’t Keep the Music. The song is a duet between Curtis and Evans and it is beautiful as is Pond which follows.
The album closes with the one-two punch of The End of Power which leads into the title track. I feel that Curtis is making a statement about the artistic process with the pairing of these two pieces. So many artists discuss being a vessel for their work and not trying to control it. To do that requires years and years of practice to get to the point where you can trust relinquishing that power. He beautifully celebrates the ritual of being an artist on this album.
JAZZ: STEPS TAKEN – Eli Howell– D Clef Records
Opening your debut album with Matchmaker from Fiddler on the Roof is a bold move. There will certainly be those who love it and those who wonder what a young musician is doing playing show tunes.
Trombonist/composer Howell takes several bold steps on this impressive album. The second track, I Remember Al, was written by fellow trombonist Wycliffe Gordon who joins Howell for this track. It’s absolutely beautiful.
It isn’t until the fourth tune, A Clear Sky, that we get our first original by Howell. The next two, One for Steve and Reimagined are also his. Color me impressed by all three. Before the album is done there is one more original: Dear Helen. I’m looking forward to hearing more of Howell’s originals in the future.
His core sextet on the album includes Sharel Cassity on sax, Xavier Davis on piano, Brian Lynch on trumpet, Ulysses Owens Jr. on drums and Rodney Whitaker on bass.
Howell endured numerous challenges, both personal and professional, before this album could come to fruition. It is a testament to him that so successful a recording emerged for us to enjoy. Keep an eye on Eli Howell.
MUSICALS: CHESS – 2025 Broadway Cast Recording– Ghostlight Records
I have never seen any version of this musical by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Tim Rice and Danny Strong. I have listened to the concept album and the original Broadway cast recording but never felt compelled to see the show.
I’m not sure it would even be my first choice were I to go to New York while it’s playing. HOWEVER, I now would have it on my list due to the outstanding performances found on this recording.
The cold war is represented by two grandmasters of chess (one American and the other Russian) who not only compete against each other and for their countries, but for the love of a woman. Aaron Tveit is the American, Nicholas Christopher is the Russian and Lea Michele is the woman.
Also in the cast are Hannah Cruz, Bradley Dean, Sean Allan Krill and Bryce Pinkham.
Together they bring an urgency to this musical I’ve never found in the other recordings. This was a very pleasant surprise. Checkmate for the Chess 2025 Broadway Cast Recording. I surrendered to it.
MUSICALS: PADDINGTON THE MUSICAL – Original Cast Recording– Decca Records
On Sunday it is highly likely that Paddington The Musical will sweep the Olivier Awards (the British equivalent to the Tony Awards) and will shortly announce plans to open in New York. And for good reason, this is an absolutely, positively, thoroughly enjoyable new musical; based just on this cast recording.
In short, the story revolves around a bear from Peru who finds himself in London in hopes of finding a new family. He meets up with the Brown family. Paddington’s presence there helps a family having troubles of their own and gives them purpose when Paddington is kidnapped.
James Jameed voices Paddington while Arti Shah performs in-costume as the beloved bear. The Brown family are played by Amy Ellen Richardson, Adrian Der Gregorian, Delilah Bennett-Cardy and four younger actors share the role of Jonathan Brown. Millicent Clyde, the taxidermist who kidnaps Paddington is played by Victoria Hamilton-Barritt.
Tom Fletcher wrote the infectious music and lyrics and the book is by Jessica Swale. The musical is based on Michael Bond’s books and the 2014 film.
I’ve never read any of the Paddington books. I’ve not seen the movies that have been made. But I am totally smitten with this musical and can’t wait to see it at the earliest opportunity. One listen to this delightful musical and you’ll feel just the same.
That’s my list of New in Music This Week: April 10th. What are you listening to? What did you like (or not) from this week’s list? Leave a comment!
Enjoy your weekend and enjoy the music.
Main Photo: Part of the album art for Paddington The Musical (Courtesy Decca Records)