If you’re looking for some great new music to discover this weekend, look no further than our weekly New Release Cheat Sheet.
New Songs and Videos
Gary Meek, “Power Station” [Song Premiere]
Saxophonist/keyboardist Gary Meek will release Monterey Groove, a stunning set of modern fusion celebrating the musicianship to be discovered in his adopted hometown of Monterey, California, on August 27 via Autumn Hill. You can listen to the premiere of the funky new single from the LP, “Power Station,” recorded at an exact Connecticut duplicate of New York’s famous recording studio of the same name. “The original concept of this song came from [guitarist/producer] Michael Lent,” explains Meek. “To make it more in line with this project, I rearranged the song, rewrote a couple of melodies and added a different solo section. The result is this funky co-write.” Pre-order Monterey Groove here.
Tatiana Eva-Marie and Terry Waldo, “Take a Picture of the Moon” [Song Premiere]
Jazz vocalist Tatiana Eva-Marie and pianist/composer/historian Terry Waldo join forces on I Double Dare You, due out August 6 via Turtle Bay Records. On this album, the dynamic duo offers upbeat renditions of jazz and pop songs from the ’20s and ’30s, including this version of “Take a Picture of the Moon.” Waldo is considered one of America’s premier performers and presenters of ragtime and early jazz. Here, he’s also heard leading his Gotham City Band. Pre-order I Double Dare You here.
Brandee Younger, “Reclamation”
Genre-busting harpist/composer Brandee Younger has shared “Reclamation,” the lead single from her forthcoming album, Somewhere Different. Produced by Dezron Younger and featuring a sterling lineup of musicians, Somewhere Different finds Younger offering that seamless fusion of classical music, R&B, hip-hop, jazz and funk that we have come to know and love from her. The album will be released on August 10 via Impulse! Records, marking her major-label debut full-length. Pre-order Somewhere Different here.
New Albums
Keith Loftis, Original State (Long Tone)
Saxophonist/composer Keith Loftis releases today his first album in about a decade and his fourth as a leader overall. Original State is a fine swinging showcase of his compositional abilities, featuring an all-star cast including pianist John Chin, bassist Eric Wheeler and drummer Willie Jones III. The idea was “to assemble a new quartet with the ability to walk in the door and breathe life into my compositions,” explains Loftis via a press release. Order Original State here.
William Parker, Mayan Space Station / Painters Winter (AUM)
William Parker releases this month a pair of new trio albums. The first, Mayan Space Station, is a collection of psych-rock and multi-hued blues performed with Ava Mendoza on electric guitar and Gerald Cleaver on drums. The second, Painters Winter, adds a decidedly more meditative component to the deep grooves and melodies, with the bass great performing alongside Daniel Carter (reeds, trumpet, flute) and Hamid Drake (drums). Order them here.
Orrin Evans, The Magic of Now (Smoke Sessions)
Pianist Orrin Evans leads a quartet of A-list partners, including bassist Vicente Archer, drummer Bill Stewart and saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins on his 20th album as a leader. The Magic of Now is an eight program exemplifying state-of-the-art modern jazz, including three tunes apiece by Evans and Wilkins, and recorded during the second weekend of December 2020. Order it here.
Featured photo by Jacob Perl.
Like this article? Get more when you subscribe.