HighNote/Savant New Releases

mjzee · April 29

Release date June 27:

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"Standard songs, especially jazz standards by my favorite composers-Tadd Dameron, Billy Strayhorn, Horace Silver, Benny Golson, and others-possess a timeless quality that is instantly memorable and beautifully constructed, both melodically and harmonically. I've been learning this craft since I was a teenager, playing through the songs of Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck. Whenever a melodic inspiration came to me, usually sparked by something that moved me, I used these masters as my models-and I still do."The songs on this album, spanning some 40 years, have been recorded in various contexts before, but this time I wanted to present them in the classic jazz format of a sextet. Together, the group spans three generations, a testament to the enduring power, seriousness of purpose, and timeless feeling of this music we love." - From the liner notes by Alan Broadbent

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"Nicole Glover's work embodies a potent paradox at the heart of the art form known as Jazz: in this music, the process of individuation is as much about belonging and sharing as it is about differentiation and idiosyncrasy. To that end, this album is as much a tour-de-force for Glover and her bandmates as it is a tapestry or family-tree of mentors, elders, and peers whose spirits resonate throughout the trio's sound. Glover's choice of working with a wide pallet compositionally (with the exception of the Glover originals, each piece on this record was written by a different composer) helps bring this trio's distinct personality into focus even more. "Glover's mastery of her instrument is so complete and self-evident that there is no attempt throughout this record to exercise virtuosity for it's own sake - if anything, one hears restraint, care, intention, and orchestration in every note and every silence." - From the liner notes by Or Bareket

JSngry · April 29

Is that Lester St. Louis lurking in the background?

Great name!

GA Russell · April 29

On 3/19/2025 at 7:43 PM, mjzee said:

Release date April 25:

Jazz pianist par excellence, Cyrus Chestnut, returns to the HighNote catalog with a superb new piano quartet recording. This highly anticipated album showcases Chestnut's rhythmic precision, emotive touch, and improvisational flair complemented by an ensemble that provides both subtlety and drive. The combination of Chestnut's expressive piano playing with the string bass of Gerald Cannon and the propulsive beats of Chris Beck creates a sound that provides a luxurious background of vibrant color for the saxophone of Stacy Dillard. Chestnut's previous recordings on HighNote Records, including Kaleidoscope, and My Father's Hands, were met with widespread critical acclaim. JazzTimes lauded his "virtuosic piano playing," while Down Beat declared him "one of the finest jazz pianists of his generation." This new recording is sure to add to that legacy, as Chestnut and his colleagues offer an imaginative set list comprised mostly of the leader's original works, spotlighting his distinctive compositional voice. It is required listening for anyone who appreciates the extraordinarily communicative depth of jazz piano ensembles.

Cyrus Chestnut
Rhythm, Melody and Harmony

Impacting
April 29th, 2025

Format: Jazz

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Artist and Track Title

Time

1.

Cyrus Chestnut - Cured and Seasoned (Instrumental)