The Bad Plus + 1

For All I Care

Heads Up

For All I Care represents the band’s egalitarian approach to all forms of music, regardless of source, genre or style. To their way of thinking, quality and integrity can be found at any point along the continuum. Drawing on sources as diverse as classical, jazz, rock, pop and beyond, they have created a singular aesthetic that forces even the most skeptical listener to rethink the commonly held notions of what differentiates one style of music from another. The Bad Plus + 1 are Reid Anderson (bass), Ethan Iverson (piano), David King (drums) plus Wendy Lewis (vocals).

Pieces of a Dream

Soul Intent

Heads Up

Pieces of a Dream revisits its original approach to songwriting and recording with Soul Intent. In many respects, the new album takes a back-to-basics approach, one that maximizes the most fundamental and enduring components of the Pieces experience. James Lloyd (keyboard) and Curtis Harmon (drums), the driving forces behind the enduring contemporary jazz collective know as Pieces of a Dream, haven’t forgotten that the

Jeff Kashiwa

Back in the Day

Shanachie

A master at creating seductive grooves, playing catchy melodies and crafting undeniably funky hooks, Jeff Kashiwa raises the bar on Back in the Day. On this new CD Kashiwa delivers the goods that have made him one of the most sought after musicians of his generation. Kashiwa (tenor/alto/soprano sax) unites with Kim Waters, Dave Kochanski, Chris Parks, Rodney Lee (keys and programming), Melvin Davis, Chris Parks (bass), Allen Hinds, Chris Parks (guitar), John James, Vivian Sessoms (vocals-lead & backing) and  Bruce Flowers (Wurlitzer & organ.old school is still the place where some of the best and most enduring musical ideas are born. Joining Pieces on the adventure are Tony Watson Jr. (sax), Eddie Baccus, Jr. (sax), Rohn Lawrence (guitar), David Dyson (bass), Bennie Sims (keyboards) and Joe Cunningham (sax).

Ernestine Anderson

A Song for You

High Note

Ernestine Anderson delivers every song with exactly what is needed, nothing more and certainly nothing less. Equally known for his consummate musicianship is Anderson’s disc-mate, tenor saxophone-master Houston Person. Together they render a program of great standards and imbue them with a lifetime of experience, wisdom and intimacy that penetrates to the very heart of the song and essence of the music. Joining Ernestine (vocals) and Houston (tenor saxophone) on A Song for You are Lafayette Harris Jr. (piano), Chip Jackson (bass) and Willie Jones III (drums).

Paul Jackson Jr.

Lay It Back

Branch Records, Inc.

Paul Jackson Jr. is one of the most recorded guitarists, having played on more than 1,000 albums for a library list of legends. Musicians contributing to the Lay It Back tracks are Patrice Rushen (piano), Bobby Lyle (keyboards), Alex Al (bass), James Reese (vocals), Ray Brown (Earth, Wind & Fire horns) and The Ricky Minor Band, which Jackson performs with on “American Idol,” awards shows and at various special events.

Kendra Shank Quarter

Mosaic

Challenge Recods

Kendra Shank reveals her most personal recording to date, Mosaic on Challenge Records, the vocalist’s fifth recording as a leader and the gripping follow up to A Spirit Free-Abbey Lincoln Songbook. Mosaic is the first CD to be released under the name Kendra Shank Quartet, which is indicative of the fact that these four musicians have had a significant impact and influence on each other’s development. The musicians are Kendra Shank (vocals), Frank Kimbrough (piano), Dean Johnson (bass) and Tony Moreno (drums), with guests Billy Drewes (soprano/ tenor saxophones and clarinet) and Ben Monder.

Ann Hampton Callaway

At Last

Telarc

At Last is a mix of jazz standards, versatile pop songs and a couple of original tunes, each woven together to create a narrative that is perhaps as cinematic as it is musical. Callaway calls this collection a “love songs for grownups,” because it offers an introspective look at the long road on her way to love that has led her to the fulfillment she has found today. Ann’s core trio is Ted Rosenthal (piano), Jay Leonhart (bass) and Victor Lewis (drums). Guest musicians include Rodney Jones (guitar), Mads Tolling (violin), Teodross Avery (sax), Marvin Stamm (flugelhorn), Wycliffe Gordon (trombone) and Emedin Rivera (percussions).

Chuck Loeb

Between 2 Worlds

Heads Up

Between 2 Worlds is a collection of material culled from sessions on either side of the Atlantic. The first seven tracks were cut in New York and the remaining four in Berlin. Between 2 Worlds dispenses with much of the technology of Loeb’s previous recordings and instead focuses on the basic trio of guitar, bass and drums. The musicians on Between 2 Worlds are Chuck Loeb (guitar); Carmen Cuesta and Lizzy Loeb (vocals); Eric Marienthal (sax/flute); Till Brönner and Nathan Eklund (trumpet); Brian Culbertson and Nathan Eklund (trombone); Pat Bergeson (harmonica); Will Lee, Geerald Veasley and Dieter llg (bass); Dave Weckl and Wolfgang Haffner (drums); and Bashiri Johnson and David Charles (percussions)