Henri Salvador Révérence (Circular Moves) French singer and songwriter Henri Salvador is no newcomer to Brazilian music. He spent four years in the country in the 1940s, cultivated a fondness for the culture and fostering friendships with such noted composers and musicians as Ary Barroso and Dorival Caymmi. So beloved [...]

Joshua Redman Back East (Nonesuch) This album’s title is thickly layered with meaning. It represents California native Redman’s return to the East Coast for the sessions. It also nods toward the multiple tracks (“East Of The Sun [And West Of The Moon],” “Indian Song,” the title track, “Mantra #5,” “Indonesia” [...]

Fred Hersch Trio Night & the Music (Palmetto Records) Let’s get right to it: Fred Hersch is one of the best contemporary mainstream jazz pianists. That’s why it’s a shock to learn that this is his first trio recording in a studio in more than a decade. It’s a welcome [...]

Yellowjackets featuring Mike Stern Lifecycle (Heads Up) Few artists are as identifiable after a few notes as the Yellowjackets or Mike Stern. Their distinctive styles mesh well on Lifecycle, a studio recording inspired by their performances together at the 2007 Montreal Jazz Festival. Guitarist Stern adds muscle to the quartet’s [...]

Brad Mehldau Trio Live (Nonesuch) Carving out a niche amidst a crowded field of jazz pianists can be a daunting process. Practically every conceivable pianistic approach invites comparisons to the reigning deities, whether it’s Oscar Peterson (patron saint of the chops-laden blues) or Hank Jones (guardian angel of the tastefully [...]

Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath Eclipse At Dawn (Cuneiform) The Brotherhood of Breath had one of the great sounds in jazz. Comprised of South African musicians fleeing apartheid and luminaries from the British free jazz scene, this big band concocted a vibrant mix of joyful township jazz, Ellingtonian swing, and [...]