Eliot Zigmund - Time Was (SteepleChase LookOut 2017)

A New York City native, veteran drummer Eliot Zigmund has performed with numerous jazz luminaries throughout his long career. Here on his new album Zigmund leads a consummate quartet featuring saxophone star Chris Cheek.

Zigmund is most well-known for his tenure with Bill Evans in the '70s where Zigmund's sensitive and tasteful support to the great pianist was always present. He's also played with Gary Peacock, Eddie Gomez, Michel Petrucciani and others. 

"Zigmund is that breed of percussionist who does not count their pride alongside their visible signs of virtuosity. He is in every way a musician with extensive experience but above all the art of listening." - Jazzman Magazine

1 Supposition (Written-By – Morrie Louden) 8:05

2 Liebslied (Written-By – Kurt Weill) 6:33

3 Duke Ellington's Sound Of Love (Written-By – Charles Mingus) 4:36

4 Eiderdown (Written-By – Steve Swallow) 7:52

5 Ohla Maria (Written-By – Antonio Carlos Jobim) 6:32

6 Time Was (Written-By – Miguel Prado) 5:28

7 Elsa (Written-By – Earl Zindars) 5:39

8 Goodbye (Written-By – Gordon Jenkins) 6:36

Eliot Zigmund (drums)

Chris Cheek (tenor and soprano saxophone)

Mike Eckroth (piano)

Morrie Louden (bass)

Gene Segal - Spiral (SteepleChase Records 2017)

Guitarist/composer Gene Segal is rapidly becoming a stalwart regular player of SteepleChase Lookout with this his 3rd album, for which Gene assembles an organ trio. With his unpredictable, open, unconventional style still intact Segal applies a mini paradigm shift to straighter jazz and reveals a new dimension.

1 SPIRAL (Gene Segal) 6:15

2 CREEPER (Gene Segal) 5:40

3 TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY (Gene Segal) 7:50

4 US (Gene Segal) 5:47

5 DHARMA (Gene Segal) 6:14

6 HIDDEN PLACE (Björk Guðmundsdóttir) 6:11

7 SUNKEN TREASURE (Gene Segal) 5:53

8 INTO NIGHT (Gene Segal) 4:41

9 BLUES OUT (Gene Segal) 4:27

10 SOULSTICE (Gene Segal) 6:34

GENE SEGAL guitar

BRIAN CHARETTE Hammond B3 organ

BRUCE COX drums

Andy Fusco - Joy-Riding (SteepleChase Records 2017)

Veteran alto saxophonist Andy Fusco, despite his long-time active career which had begun with the 5-year tenure with the Buddy Rich Big Band in the late 70s, has been notoriously under-recorded as a leader.

His SteepleChase debut album last year “Whirlwind” SCCD 31811, though it took 12 years before its release, has marked the new era for the virtuoso instrumentalist.

Here on his new album (only one year has passed since the last one) Fusco leads his hand-picked band to present a tasteful and full-blooded program.

1 EZZ-THETIC (George Russell) 9:08

2 TENDER LEAVES (Walt Weiskopf) 5:39

3 TODAY (Joel Weiskopf) 8:09

4 SKYLARK (Hoagy Carmichael) 7:35

5 ERIN’S BLUES (Andy Fusco) 10:19

6 WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES (Maria Grever) 4:39

7 RELAXIN’ WITH ANDY (Walt Weiskopf) 6:45

8 JOY-RIDING (Walt Weiskopf) 6:25

9 HOT HOUSE (Tadd Dameron) 7:16

ANDY FUSCO alto saxophone

WALT WEISKOPF tenor saxophone

JOEL WEISKOPF piano

Mike Karn bass

Jason Tieman drums

Allegra Levy - Cities Between Us (SteepleChase Records 2017)

Burgeoning vocalist/composer/lyricist Allegra Levy grabbed attention of critics and public with her 2014 debut album “Lonely City” SCCD 33118.

Allen Morrison of Downbeat remarked, “Allegra Levy has a pleasing alto, a sultry delivery and a propensity to swing. Her debut album, Lonely City, is consistently engaging.”

“Discovering a fresh, dynamic jazz voice is always a delight. When the singer proves an equally gifted songwriter, the pleasure is squared. Allegra Levy is one such double-barreled talent.” (Christopher Loudon – JazzTimes)

Here on her new album, Allegra teamed-up with a powerhouse quintet tells her stories in both contemporary and timeless fashion.

1. Cherry Blossom Song 6:38

2. Lullaby of the Orient 5:13

3. I Shouldn't Tell You 5:24

4. Misery Makes the Music 4:12

5. Yesterdays 5:07

6. Dear Friend 5:14

7. Sleepwalk with Me (In Sek Tong Tsui) 5:28

8. Soy Califa 4:37

9. Leaving Today 8:40

10.Down Sunday 6:18

11. Cities Between Us

Allegra Levy vocal

Kirk Knuffke cornet

Stephen Riley tenor saxophone

Carmen Staaf piano

Jay Anderson bass

Billy Drummond drums

Peter & Will Anderson - Clarinet Summit (SteepleChase Records 2017)

Young Anderson Brothers (Peter and Will are identical twins) both on clarinet here band together with two veteran clarinetists Ken Peplowski with rich background in big band jazz and multiple Grammy Award winner Paquito D’Rivera to perform live to a jubilant audience.

“They are sparkling virtuosos and their clever, tidy arrangements for various combinations of clarinet, alto and tenor saxophone are smart and refreshing…. everything they play sounds fresh, creative and in the moment.” (Paul de Barros – Soundposts)

01. How About You? 6:37

02. When You Wish Upon a Star 6:08

03. Very Saxy 6:43

04. Prelude to a Kiss 2:14

05. I'll Never Be the Same 2:06

06. Cry Me a River 2:42

07. Make Someone Happy 5:33

08. How Insensitive 4:23

09. Groovin' High 6:12

10. Creole Love Call 8:41

11. A Night in Tunisia

Will Anderson clarinet

Peter Anderson clarinet

Paquito D'Rivera clarinet

Ken Peplowski clarinet

Tardo Hammer piano

David Wong bass

Kenny Washington drums

Mike Richmond Cello Quartet - The Pendulum (SteepleChase Records 2017)

Mike Richmond, Grammy Award-winning bassist with vast experience with leaders such as Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Horace Silver, Jack DeJohnette, Gil Evans, Chet Baker to mention a few, leads here his own group with cello as his instrument for the first time. Cello as a jazz instrument is still a rarity but its history goes back to the 50s when Oscar Pettiford broke new ground. Richmond put together this all-Pettiford-composition album to honor the pioneer.

“…Dance for Andy is one of those rare CDs that sustain interest through a 70-minute-plus duration.” (Richard Cook & Brian Morton – The Penguin Guide on SCCD 31267)

“Richmond is as nimble fingered and resourceful a bassist we have heard in some time.” (New York Daily News)

01 THE PENDULUM AT FALCON’S LAIR 6:43

02 CELLO AGAIN 6:21

03 TWO LITTLE PEARLS 8:59

04 LAVERNE WALK 6:18

05 WHY NOT? THAT’S WHAT? 7:29

06 TRICOTISM 7:01

07 TAMALPAIS LOVE SONG TO THE WINDS 7:33

08 MY LITTLE CELLO 6:39

09 OSCALYPSO 8:53

MIKE RICHMOND cello

PETER ZAK piano

JAY ANDERSON bass

BILLY DRUMMOND drums

Bob Hanlon & Mark Minchello - Camaraderie (SteepleChase Records 2017)

Camaraderie – a partnership of organist Mark Minchello and saxophonist Bob Hanlon – is a follow up to their first Steeplechase release Trinomial. This CD features the outstanding guitar work of Vic Juris and Bob Devos as well as newcomer Charlie Sigler and drummers Andy Watson and Pete McDonald.

“AH! The Hammond B3 trio with sax and drums, and Hammond hitter Mark Minchello makes the team wheeze, groove and fog up an interesting and well thought collection of tunes. They keep away from the blues and instead venture into uncharted waters by doing tunes not usually associated with this genre.” (George W. Harris – Jazz Weekly on Trinomial SCCD33117)

01 WILL YOU STILL BE MINE (Matt Dennis) 7:38

02 LOVESSENCE (Bob Hanlon) 6:50

03 SAMBESQUE (Mark Minchello) 7:09

04 JAZZ ORBITS (Bob Hanlon) 6:33

05 CLOSE YOUR EYES (Bernice Petkere) 8:49

06 EVERYTHING HAPPENS TO ME (Matt Dennis) 11:41

07 A SOUND FOR SORE EARS (Jimmy Heath) 6:49

08 YOUNG AND FOOLISH (Albert Hague) 6:01

09 FLAT TIRE BLUES (Bob Hanlon) 5:40

MARK MINCHELLO Hammond B3 organ

BOB HANLON tenor saxophone

PETE MACDONALD drums (track 7, 8 & 9)

ANDY WATSON drums (track 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6)

VIC JURIS guitar (track 1, 2 & 3)

BOB DEVOS guitar (track 4, 5 & 6)

CHARLIE SIEGLER guitar (track 7 & 8)

ANTON DENNER alto saxophone (track 9)

Jason Palmer - Beauty 'N' Numbers (The Sudoku Suite) 2016 SteepleChase Records

Trumpeter / Composer / Arranger / Educator / Actor, Jason Palmer is one of the most in demand musicians of his generation. This Fall Jason will be on tour in Portugal, Spain and will be featured on the East Coast Tour of The Miles Davis Experience 1949-1959, a Collaboration with Blue Note Records, managed by Cami Music, see "Schedule" for dates. This past summer Jason toured Austria, Germany and was featured in multiple festivals in the East Coast and Canada with the Grace Kelly Quintet, spent a week in residence with FLY at Langnau Jazz nights in Langnau Switzerland. 

Also in 2011 Jason is an awarded Fellow in composition for the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Jason has worked with icons such as Roy Haynes, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Smith (the organist), Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Kurt Rosenwinkel (first trumpeter ever hired by this highly acclaimed guitarist), Ravi Coltrane, Geri Allen, Patrice Rushen, Clarence Penn, Jeff Ballard, Kenny Barron, Phil Woods, Common (hip-hop icon), Roy Hargrove, and Lewis Nash.

Jason took 1st Place ($10,000 prize) in the 2009 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition. The June 2007 issue of Downbeat Magazine cited Jason as one of the "Top 25 trumpeters of the Future".

In addition to performing on over a dozen albums as a sideman, Jason has recorded three albums under his own name and is currently a Steeplechase Records Recording artist. His debut recording entitled "Songbook" (Ayva Musica) features guest saxophonists Ravi Coltrane and Greg Osby. The record garnered rave reviews upon its' release and appeared on several "Best of 2008" lists including All Music Guide's list for best jazz album.

Jason is has toured the world extensively with Greg Osby, Grace Kelly's 5tet, Matana Robert's Mississippi Moonchile, The Round Trip Trio (France), as well as projects lead by bassist Michael Janisch, performing at major jazz festivals in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Finland, Croatia, Serbia, Bratislava, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, France, Malta, The Netherlands, and numerous clubs and major jazz festivals in the U.S. Jason's quintet has been leading the house band every weekend at Boston's historical Wally's Jazz Café for the past eleven years. His band was nominated as one of the "Best Jazz Act" by the Boston Phoenix in 2011. He has presented his band at the Tanglewood Jazz Fest, Sculler's Jazz Club, the Stone and the Jazz Gallery in NYC, the Studio in Hartford Ct, as well as numerous venues throughout New England.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council selected Jason as an Artist Fellow in Music Composition for 2011. In 2007 Jason Palmer was commissioned by the Festival of New Trumpet Music in NYC to premier a new work (based on a Sudoku game) for his quintet at the Jazz Standard.

In addition to a heavy performing schedule, Jason Palmer continues to maintain a busy schedule as an educator. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Ensembles at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. The '08-'09 school year also saw Jason commuting from Boston to New York City to serve on the faculty at the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music. Jason has been teaching trumpet and directing ensembles in the Prep and SCE division at New England Conservatory for the past eleven years and has been the woodwind and brass director at the Mission Hill School for the past six years. He was faculty member at the Aquinas College Jazz Camp (Grand Rapids, MI, 2004-2010). Mr. Palmer has given master classes in Portugal, France, the UK, and Mexico.

Applying his trumpeting skills in a new medium, Jason is the lead actor in Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench, written and directed by Damien Chazelle. The movie received great reviews after premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2009. Since then the film has been screened at film festivals in Greece, Denmark, Austria, Australia, Bratislava, Martha's Vineyard (MA), Houston, Denver, Seattle, Los Angeles, Calgary (Canada), Minneapolis, Mill Valley (CA), was released in select theaters in North America and is released worldwide on DVD.

Recorded December 2015

01. Beauty 'N' Numbers 5:05

02. Obsessive 4:05

03. Compulsive 5:35

04. Disorder 7:18

05. Is 5:40

06. Now 6:36

07. Under 2:44

08. Control 4:56

09. Thanks 2:12

10. To The 2:08

11. Guidance 6:16

12. Of Fun and Games 5:39

13. So 6:13

14. If You Would 5:25

15. Allow Me To Be 5:08

16. In The Moment 0:45

Jason Palmer(tp)

Mike Moreno(g)

Edward Perez(b)

Lee Fish(ds)

Jason Palmer Website