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The cover of The Visitors by Gary Burton and Kirill Gerstein, featuring the music of Chick Corea. A darkened room frames a window through which a moonlit night is visible. The full moon, partially veiled by clouds, casts a subtle glow over a leafy tree just outside. Shadows and reflections play across the walls and glass.

ECM Releases Chick Corea’s “The Visitors,” Performed by Gary Burton and Kirill Gerstein

ECM has released The Visitors, a 12-minute work composed by Chick Corea for vibraphonist Gary Burton and pianist Kirill Gerstein. Commissioned by Gerstein with support…

The album cover for Falling From Earth by Bob Schlesinger features a blurred, grayscale image of a figure mid-air, arms extended upward in a falling or leaping motion. The title and artist's name appear in white text at the top center.

New CDs and Digital releases

Bob Schlesinger Makes His Debut With Falling From Earth

Prog News June 7, 2025 No Comments Bob Schlesinger contemporary jazz jazz jazz-rock

Pianist and composer Bob Schlesinger will release Falling From Earth, his debut album as a bandleader, on August 1, 2025. Recorded with an elite ensemble…

The album cover for Bill Laurance & Michael League – Keeping Company features a painting of two shadowy, humanoid figures blending into a greenish, misty background.

CD Reviews

Doubling Down on Dialog: Laurance & League Keep Company

Charlie Melville June 1, 2025 No Comments Bill Laurance contemporary jazz fusion jazz Michael League

Bill Laurance & Michael League – Keeping Company (ACT, 2024) Bill Laurance and Michael League’s duo collaboration, Keeping Company, is a continuation of their exploration…

The album cover for Spellbound by Shez Raja features a deep maroon background with a gold, intricately designed lotus mandala at the center. Within the mandala’s core is the “Om” symbol, also in gold. The artist's name and album title appear in the top left corner in gold serif typography.

CD Reviews

Shez Raja’s Spellbound, a Vivid Journey Through Global Jazz Terrain

Angel Romero May 25, 2025 No Comments fusion jazz jazz-rock

Shez Raja – Spellbound (Gearbox Cut, 2025) With Spellbound, Shez Raja invites listeners into a world where cultures collide, not with clamor, but with coherence.…

The album cover for Andy Pratt Trio features a red-and-black color scheme with a moody, jazz-club ambiance. On the right, guitarist Andy Pratt is shown mid-performance under a starburst-style ceiling light. On the left, three red circles contain minimalist black slashes, with “Andy Pratt” in the top circle and “Trio” in the bottom.

CD Reviews

Andy Pratt’s Trio Takes the Scenic Route Through the Standards

Charlie Melville May 22, 2025 No Comments Andy Pratt contemporary jazz jazz

Andy Pratt – Trio (Thrift Girl Records, 2024) Chicago virtuoso guitarist and vocalist Andy Pratt returns to the spotlight with Trio, a stripped-down, straight-ahead jazz…

University of Nevada Las Vegas Jazz Ensemble 1 - Let The Good Times Roll cover artwork. A red cover with a black and white photo of the ensemble

CD Reviews

Swingin’ in the Desert: UNLV Lets the Good Times Roll (and Roll… and Roll)

Charlie Melville April 9, 2025 No Comments Amy Crosley Andrés Montero Aries Harper Brandon O’Donahue Casey Davis Chris Ellis Cole Henriques David Torres Dylan Musso Edoardo Lacala Giovanni Lacala Jaren Glick jazz Joshua Alvarado Kayne Johnson Kirby Galbraith Kurt Tumbagahan Lukas Hutchinson Mateo Hurtado De Mendoza Micah Smith Owen Chichester Renzon Maballo Rob Harrover Surafael Tamre Tristan Selzler University of Nevada Las Vegas Jazz Ensemble Zach Guzman

University of Nevada Las Vegas Jazz Ensemble 1 – Let The Good Times Roll (Vegas Records VR1027, 2025) By any measure, the University of Nevada,…

The album cover for Refuge by Mitch Towne features a modern design. At the top, the artist's name is displayed in a clean, sans-serif font. Centered is a brushstroke symbol with sharp angles and a dynamic red accent above it. Below, the album title “Refuge” is spelled out in spaced, capitalized letters.

CD Reviews

Sanctuary Swings: Mitch Towne Finds His Voice on the B3

Charlie Melville March 27, 2025 1 Comment blues jazz Mitch Towne organ

Mitch Towne – Refuge (Cross Towne Records, 2025) With Refuge, Mitch Towne grooves with a commanding presence, planting his flag firmly in the lineage of…

CD Reviews

Lost in Translation, Found in Sound: Schaerer’s Anthem for No Man’s Land

Charlie Melville March 10, 2025 No Comments Andreas Schaerer contemporary jazz fusion jazz Kalle Kalima Lucas Niggli Luciano Biondini

Andreas Schaerer, Luciano Biondini, Kalle Kalima, Lucas Niggli – Anthem For No Man’s Land (ACT, 2025) Swiss vocalist Andreas Schaerer, often compared to Bobby McFerrin…

Alice & The Mountain – Stripped cover artwork. An image of dense woods.

CD Reviews

Alice & The Mountain, A Crossover Exploration of Emotion Through Voice and Piano

Charlie Melville February 4, 2025 No Comments Alice & The Mountain folk jazz

Alice & The Mountain – Stripped (Losen Records, 2024) Stripped, a duo album featuring pianist Bernt Moen and vocalist Silje Kåfjord. Known for his work…

Sara Caswell — The Way To You cover artwork. A photo of Caswell holding a violin to her chest.

CD Reviews

Sara Caswell’s violin sings with clarity, passion, and a touch of mystery

Charlie Melville January 29, 2025 No Comments contemporary jazz jazz jazz violin Sara Caswell

Sara Caswell — The Way To You (Anzic Records, 2023) After a seventeen-year hiatus as a leader, jazz violinist Sara Caswell re-emerged with The Way…