Joe Martin – ‘Étoilée’ (2019)
Reaching within his household for inspiration, bass master Joe Martin takes a rare turn leading a star-studded group.

Reaching within his household for inspiration, bass master Joe Martin takes a rare turn leading a star-studded group.

Not everyone is cut out to take on such an ambitious project but one look at Michael Leonhart’s background makes it undeniably clear that he could.

Steve Kuhn just doing his regular jazz trio thing with Joey Baron and Steve Swallow – as they do on ‘To and From the Heart’ – is always exceptionally good.

Harriet Tubman continues with the lofty ideas found on 2017’s ‘Araminta,’ and one ups it with deeper experimentations into rhythms.

Pianist Denny Zeitlin’s ‘Wishing On The Moon’ presents three unique musical personalities in pursuit of the right group dynamic and their performance at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola confirms they had achieved it.

You won’t gain any academic knowledge about the human heart from listening to ‘Heart Tonic,’ but it’s clear Caroline Davis invested all of hers.

While ‘For Those About to Jazz/Rock, We Salute You’ really has nothing to do with AC/DC, Vector Families has that kind of intensity level and spunk. Only with way more improvised gumption.

‘Expedition’ continues a long, provocative journey taken by Denny Zeitlin and George Marsh along the innovative frontier of jazz.

In what will likely go down as one of the best uncategorizable releases of the year, Harriet Tubman’s ‘Araminta’ is a swaggering statement from four musicians who thrive on taking chances.

With only two albums to his name alone, Glenn Zaleski is a fully realized talent as a pianist, composer and bandleader. Fellowship is going to delight anybody who relishes Fred Hersch and Keith Jarrett trio records.