Recent Releases

July 2025
Some Recent Releases

A few words about recent releases / reviews:

Apart from where they are included in articles on this website, I don't have a 'Reviews' section for a number of reasons:

I receive so many requests to review recordings it is impossible to include them all.
Unlike some publications/blogs, Sandy Brown Jazz is not a funded website and it is not possible to pay reviewers.
Reviews tend to be personal opinions, something a reviewer likes might not suit you, or vice versa.
It is difficult to capture music in words, so much better to be able to listen and see whether the music interests you.

For these reasons in particular I just include a selection of recent recordings below where I share the notes issued by the musician(s) as an introduction and links to samples so you can 'taste' the music for yourselves. For those who like to read reviews, these, of course, can be checked out on other sites.

Some albums are priced in dollars or other currencies. These are marked ^. There are currency options if you proceed to order. Recordings are now regularly available on different formats (CD, mp3 downloads, vinyl) or platforms e.g iTunes, Spotify, etc. I am unable to list them all so it is worth checking if you have a favourite platform).

Featured In July 2025

UK

Ant Law - Unified Theories
(self-release) - Released: 27th June 2025

Ant Law (guitar & compositions); Brigitte Beraha (voice & lyrics); Will Vinson (alto sax); Gwilym Simcock (piano); Orlando le Fleming (bass); Ernesto Simpson (drums)

' ... The title “Unified Theories” refers to people in the world (or in this case, these six musicians) deciding on agreed, common ground as a starting point – a unified theory – rather than focusing on differences. And with much of the music evolving from musical experimentation, it is important to note how well all of the musicians combine as a collective – bringing the best out of Law’s compositions. An open, characterful palette of sound courses its way through the album, at times beautifully textural, at times passionate and free-flowing, always engaging and absorbing.... (UK Vibe)

Details and Samples : Listen to Where Would We Be? : Video for A-Z

Tom Lyne - Well Mixed Blue
(ECN Records) - Released: 13th June 2025

Tom Lyne (double bass); Dave Milligan (piano)

'Well Mixed Blue is the latest release of original music from acclaimed bassist, composer, producer and sound designer Tom Lyne. The album marks a significant artistic milestone – one in which Lyne moves beyond his usual role in the rhythm section to take centre stage with a distinctive musical voice. It also stands as a celebration of his enduring creative partnership with pianist Dave Milligan. “He’s a dear friend and I adore his piano playing,” says Lyne. “We’ve improvised together a lot. You need good songs, but improvisation is the art of conversation. There’s humour and invention when we play, because we’re constantly exchanging ideas.” During the pandemic, Lyne committed himself to the double bass with renewed intensity, developing a disciplined practice regime and reconnecting with the instrument – while composing specifically for the pared-back duo setting with Milligan....... (album notes)

Details and Samples : Listen to Three Sides Now : Listen to Slow To Home :

Sandra-Mae Lux - Seasons In Jazz
(ECN Records) - Released: 30th May 2025

Sandra-Mae Lux (vocals); Rob Barron (piano); Tristan Paxton (guitar); Calum Gourlay (bass); Sebastiaan de Krom (drums)

'From the late 1920's-50's, a golden age of songwriting emerged, creating The Great American Songbook. Songs filled with love, wonder, meaning & craft. I love songs that make me feel something. I love songs that tell a story, take me on a journey, that are filled with meaning and can become eternal. Songs that want to be sung. The Great American Songbook did all of that and more. I've tried in this album to both honour and tap into the same rich source that inspired the likes of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer, Frank Loesser, Rodgers & Hart, Oscar Hammerstein, Dorothy Fields, and so many more. Writing and recording these songs has been an absolute joy. Each one is like a snapshot that captures a moment of the human experience. The highs, the lows, the loves and the losses. The contrast that makes life the wonderful celebration that it is. I hope the pleasure I had in bringing this music to life, with some of the finest musicians I've ever worked with, rubs off - just a little bit - on you the listener.' (album notes)

Details and Samples : Listen to Everyone Else Knew : Listen to It's Only Spring :

Dime - Resolution Way

(self-release) - Released: 21st May 2025

Peter Hill (drums); Sam Warner (trumpet); Max O'Donnell (guitar / mixing); Basile Petite (bass)

'After a year of jam sessions in railway arch in South London Ambient / Electronic collective DIME emerged. Comprised of Max O’Donnell, Pete Hill Sam Warner and Basile Petit. Favouring melodic themes rather than traditional song structures DIME utilise collective improvisation to move seamlessly between genre, tempo and textures creating captivating sound worlds unique to each performance.) (album notes)

Details and Samples : Listen to Midnight Cowboy: Listen toVaults

Alexander Hawkins - Song Unconditional

(Intakt Records) - Released: 16th May 2025

Alexander Hawkins (piano)

Alexander Hawkins Song Unconditional.jpg

'British pianist and composer Alexander Hawkins is one of Europe’s most innovative pianists, working in a variety of creative contexts and always constructing a unique sound world. As a style-defining and imaginative voice in contemporary jazz, Hawkins provides further testimony to the art of his solo playing, six years after his last solo album (Intakt #330). Song Unconditional is as playful as it is intense – firmly rooted in tradition, yet endlessly searching and adventurous. Each of the 13 short pieces explores one or more expressive possibilities of the piano and are, in the words of Adam Shatz in the liner notes, “... marvels of compressed exploration. To listen to them in succession, as they’re meant to be heard, is to enter a vast, sophisticated, and deeply considered sound-world. Song Unconditional is also gorgeous, sometimes startlingly. It belongs, I think, in the company of the most impressive solo piano albums of recent years, notably Craig Taborn’s Avenging Angel and David Virelles’ Nuna." (album notes)

Details and Sample : Listen to Polyphonic Song

America

Daniel DeLorenzo - We Probably Wouldn't Get Along

(self-release) - Released: 16th April 2025

Daniel DeLorenzo (guitar); Theous Jones (drums); Casey Toll (bass); Doug Sours (guitar, track 4)

Daniel DeLorenzo We Probably Wouldn't Get Along.jpg

'A distinctive collection of original music composed by Daniel DeLorenzo. Drawing from jazz tradition while incorporating modern elements and a singular musical approach, "We Probably Wouldn’t Get Along" is primarily a trio record, propelled by the dynamic drumming of Theous Jones, the prodigious bass playing of Casey Toll, and the unique composition and guitar stylings of Daniel DeLorenzo. Also featured is a duo performance by DeLorenzo and longtime collaborator Doug Sours.' (album notes)

Details and Samples : Listen to Clam Chowder : Video for Ill Will :

Dan Weiss Quartet - Unclassified Affections
(Pi Recordings) - Released: 6th June 2025

Peter Evans (trumpet); Patricia Brennan (vibraphone); Miles Okazaki (guitar); Dan Weiss (drums)

Dan Weiss Quartet Unclassified Affections.jpg

'Unclassified Affections is the entrancing new release from drummer and composer Dan Weiss that features the convergence of some of the most intriguing musicians on the scene: Peter Evans on trumpet, Patricia Brennan on vibraphone, and Miles Okazaki on guitar. The new compositions, which were written by Weiss specifically for these musicians, range from deep, meditative moments to intense, high-energy peaks, while every track unveils a new layer of exploration. Brennan’s sonorous mallet work contrasts with Evans' sharp, inventive trumpet lines, while Okazaki’s guitar weaves intricate webs of harmony and dissonance, all underpinned by Weiss’ hypnotic rhythms. The Layers of rhythmic and contrapuntal interaction flow effortlessly, framed by a ghostly silence, with plenty of room given to improvisation. Together, they weave a profound, mysterious spell that is shrouded with concealed meaning. It’s another transcendent project from a truly unclassifiable artist.' (album notes)

Details and Samples : Listen to Perfection's Loneliness : Listen to Holotype :

Hanging Hearts - Where's Your Head At
(Ropeadope Records) - Released: 13th June 2025

Chris Weller (tenor and bass saxophones); Cole DeGenova (keys, synth, synth bass); Quin Kirchner (drums, percussion).

'Rooted in Chicago’s rich tradition of forward-thinking jazz and experimental music, Hanging Hearts is a progressive trio that thrives at the intersection of energy, groove, and improvisation. Led by saxophonist Chris Weller and featuring Cole DeGenova on keyboards and synth bass alongside Quin Kirchner on drums, the band channels the city’s history of musical innovation. ' (album notes). 'These rhythmic shifts and nuanced changes in direction keep the music vibrant and unpredictable. The trio’s progressive approach yields fascinating results, making Where’s Your Head At a memorable album and a standout in Hanging Hearts’ still small yet impressive discography.' (JazzTrail)

Details and Samples : Listen to In The Garden : Listen To Rise :

Rez Abbasi Acoustic Quartet - Sound Remains
(Whirlwind Recordings) - Released: 27th June 2025

Rez Abbasi (acoustic guitars, composer, producer); Bill Ware (vibraphone); Stephan Crump (acoustic bass); Eric McPherson (drums); Hasan Bakr (percussion)

'Time never stands still for a multifaceted creator like Rez Abbasi. His ever-evolving musical journey mirrors the changing currents of his life, from personal introspection to broader social landscapes observed from his New York home. A 2021 Guggenheim Fellow, Rez’s 17th recording, Sound Remains, marks a return to the warmth and immediacy of the acoustic guitar with his long-standing ensemble, the Rez Abbasi Acoustic Quartet (RAAQ). ... This sonic world has been beautifully realized on the album. Rez uses steel string acoustic guitars throughout the record - an unusual instrument in a jazz context and one that he has made his own. "I wanted to reconnect with the intimacy of my acoustic group where all I play is acoustic guitar. This time, however, the extra element of percussion improvising with the band, gave a new edge to my tunes - I was motivated by how Guillermo Franco, one of Hasan's teachers, played with the Keith Jarrett group." A deeply personal work, Sound Remains unfolds as a meditation suite-each composition reflecting Rez's exploration of presence, mindfulness, and the dissolution of ego-driven attachment. "Meditation helps me align with the peace that comes from releasing perpetual desires and personal conditioning. When I reach that space, often the only thing that remains is sound." .... (album notes)

Details and Sample : Listen to Presence :

Joshua Redman - Words Fall Short
(Blue Note Records) - Released: 20th June 2025

Joshua Redman (saxophone); pianist Paul Cornish (piano); Philip Norris (bass); Nazir Ebo (drums), Melissa Aldana (saxophone); Skylar Tang (trumpet); Gabrielle Cavassa (vocals)

'Joshua Redman’s second Blue Note album, Words Fall Short, is a collection of original compositions that serves as the introduction of his new quartet featuring pianist Paul Cornish, bassist Philip Norris, and drummer Nazir Ebo, which formed as a working band for the world tour behind the saxophonist’s label debut where are we. As the quartet performed steadily on the road, Redman felt a vibe developing and was inspired to bring them into the studio to record a set of music he had composed during the pandemic that embraced the shifting moods of wistfulness, sadness, and resolve. The album also features special guest appearances by saxophonist Melissa Aldana, trumpeter Skylar Tang, and vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa.' (album notes)

Details : Video for A Message To Unsend :

Europe and Elsewhere

Laura Anglade - Get Out Of Town
(Nettwerk Music Group) - Released: 23rd May 2025

Laura Anglade (vocals); Ben Paterson (piano); Peter Bernstein (guitar); Neil Swainson (bass); Adam Arruda (drums)

'Anglade’s storytelling gifts come to the fore through the unfolding narrative of Get Out of Town. The album’s songs, many of them more obscure entries in the Great American Songbook sagely curated by the singer, were certainly never intended to tell a cohesive story. Nor did Anglade choose the repertoire with a sequential scenario in mind; the fact that a plotline so organically emerged is testament to her instinct for a resonant lyric. “The tunes came together chronologically as if this had always been my intention,” Anglade says. “I chose the songs individually, but they fell together and by the time the recordings were done, a single story line began taking form.” (Jazziz Magazine). “Laura has studied all the great vocal stylists of the last century. And yet she imitates no one. Her pure tone, sparing use of vibrato, and total lack of affectation are almost startling when you first hear her, because you feel convinced that no singer has ever been so absolutely honest with you.” (David Noel Edwards, The Berkshire Edge)

Details : Samples : Listen to April In Paris :

Beiggja - Morning
(Hubro Records) - Released: 13th June 2025

Kika Sprangers (saxophone);  Kjetil Mulelid (piano ); Mats Eilertsen (double bass); Per Oddvar Johansen (drums)

'In late winter 2024, pianist Kjetil Mulelid, saxophonist Kika Sprangers, bassist Mats Eilertsen, and drummer Per Oddvar Johansen gathered in Per Oddvar’s homey surroundings in Lommedalen. Everyone brought a few tunes and ideas, then hit “record” and let the music take shape. It turned out to be a beautiful first encounter, leading to the recording of the album Morning. Kika and Kjetil share: No take was the same. A 'take two' often tends to refer back to 'take one,' especially if take one sounds good. But with Mats and Per Oddvar, each take went in its own unique direction. The interplay was fantastic—it felt completely natural and organic. Even though we didn’t know each other very well yet, we were able to follow each other’s musical cues closely. You can hear that on the album—the spontaneity and curiosity.' (album notes)

Details and Samples : Listen to Swims : Listen to Encore :

Enji - Sonor

(Squama Recordings) - Released: 2nd May 2025

Enkhjargal Erkhembayar (vocals); Elias Stemeseder (piano, wurlitzer, rhodes); Paul Brändle (guitar); Robert Landfermann: (double bass); Julian Sartorius (drums); Matthieu Bordenave (soprano sax on 'Hungun'); Khasar Ganbaatar (baritone sax on 'Much')

'For a few fleeting moments during a sunset, the sky is cast a vivid shade of amber. A dramatic flare of colour, a moment belonging to both the day and the night. It is within this vibrant, ephemeral world, that Mongolian-born, Munich-based Enji has written her new album Sonor. Sonor is a record full of life and optimism, from an artist finding the beauty of existing between two worlds, much as a sunset does. Between the cultures of Mongolia and Germany, tradition and innovation, nostalgia and excitement for the future. Sonor is a musical journey marked by personal growth, introspection and acknowledgment of the bittersweet feeling of change. Enji's life has been a tapestry woven with threads from diverse cultures. Born in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, she was immersed in the rich traditions of Mongolian folk music from a young age. Her early exposure to urtiin duu, or "long song", a traditional Mongolian singing style characterized by extended syllables and free-form melodies, instilled in her a deep appreciation for her cultural roots....... (album notes)

Details and Samples : Listen to Much : Listen to Old Folks :

Kasper Rietkerk - The Happy Worrier
(Kasper Rietkerk Records) - Released: 27th June 2025

Kasper Rietkerk (saxophone); John Parricelli (guitar); Tom Herbert (double & electric bass); Jonah Evans (drums) ;Rebecka Edlund (vocals).

'Award-winning Dutch saxophonist and composer Kasper Rietkerk is set to release his highly anticipated second album, The Happy Worrier, on 27 June 2025. Encouraged by mentor and Royal Academy Professor Nick Smart, Rietkerk applied for – and won – the inaugural Brubeck Living Legacy Prize, an award that supports promising jazz musicians in the early stages of their careers. “This album represents a step in a new direction for me,” Rietkerk explains. “The BLL Prize gave me focus and discipline, and I was able to work with musicians I admire and trust. The Brubeck family’s support – both personally and financially – was invaluable. It allowed me to bring the sound world I imagined to life. .. With a more cinematic atmosphere than Rietkerk’s previous work, the album weaves in folk-inspired melodies and a deep sense of space. The opener, ‘Lost In Glow’, sets the tone with plangent guitar textures and airy saxophone motifs, while ‘The Ceiling’ explores silence and restraint. In contrast, ‘Blueberry Pancake’ grooves with Parricelli’s taut guitar, driving rhythms and Rietkerk’s carefully placed but understatedly powerful blowing. Edlund’s guest appearance on ‘Scream For Silence’ lends the track a limpid, almost sacred tone, while ‘Tea Lights’ and ‘I Don’t Remember Asking Your Opinion’ highlights the band’s improvisational chemistry..... (album notes)

Details : Introductory Video :

Kjetil Husebo - Piano Transformed : Interspace

(Optical Substance Productions) - Released: 4th April 2025

Kjetil Husebo (piano)

'Kjetil Husebø turns fifty on 2 May 2025 and will mark the occasion with the release of his twelfth album, Piano Transformed - Interspace, which will be released on April 4th. This will be his first double album and takes the listener on a musical journey through Husebø's artistic landscape. This 18-track solo double album explores a broad spectrum, from beautiful and melodic parts to abstract and minimalist expressions, and on to more challenging and confrontational soundscapes. The album embraces everything from the simple and naked to the more produced and complex.' (album notes)

Details and Samples : Listen to Floating Moments :

Reissues

Mississippi John Hurt - Ain't Nobody's Doggone Business
(Jasmine Records) - Released: 9th May 2025

Mississippi John Hurt (guitar, vocals)

Mississippi John Hurt Aint Nobodys Doggone Business.jpg

'Country Blues singer/guitarist MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT was known for his uniquely dextrous fingerpicking technique, his gentle, half-whispered vocals, and his soft-spoken songs inspired by Gospel and Folk music. The inclusion of traditional songs in his repertoire and lack of then-modern Blues influences on his style, establish Hurt as a firm link between the 19th and 20th centuries. Despite cutting a handful of memorable 78s for OKeh Records in 1928, Hurt remained largely forgotten until being rediscovered in the early 1960s, which led to him being eagerly embraced by a new generation of Blues aficionados and musicians. This compilation features the thirteen surviving sides he recorded for OKeh in 1928, augmented by eleven live tracks recorded in the early 60s, following his re-emergence. Included are his signature songs, ‘Frankie’, ‘Louis Collins’, ‘Nobody’s Dirty Business’, ‘Avalon Blues’, etc.' (album notes)

Details :

Tubby Hayes Quintet - Antibes '62
(Jazz In Britain Records) - Released: 16th April 2025

Tubby Hayes (tenor saxophone, vibraphone); Jimmy Deuchar (trumpet); Gordon Beck (piano); Freddy Logan (bass); Allan Ganley (drums)

' ... Tubby Hayes and his quintet live at the Antibes Jazz Festival in July 1962. Hayes' band including trumpeter Jimmy Deuchar, pianist Gordon Beck, bassist Freddy Logan and drummer Allan Ganley were the UK's representative on a starry festival bill also featuring US stars Jimmy Smith, Dizzy Gillespie and Fats Domino, drawing rave press reviews and the admiration of a new continental audience. Recently unearthed radio broadcast tapes in pin sharp audio quality reveal a group hitting its collaborative stride, tackling Hayes' helter skelter hard bop themes and coolly melodic adaptations of Great American Songbook standards with equal relish. Indeed, six months after the quintet's formation and two months on from the taping of their classic Fontana albums 'Late Spot at Scott's' and 'Down In The Village' this newly discovered concert recording catches the band close to its first creative peak ...... (album notes).

Details and Samples : Listen to Johnny One Note : Listen to But Beautiful :

Kid Ory, Preston Jackson, DePriest Wheeler & The Missourians 1920s–1950 - Great Jazz Great Trombones

(Upbeat Records) - Released: 2025

Kid Ory, Preston Jackson, DePriest Wheeler with various musicians

'This volume of rare sides and out-takes features three great trombonists, Kid Ory, Preston Jackson and Depriest Wheeler. The 9 Ory tracks date form the 50s and include the seldom heard I’m With You Where You Are The personnel on these tracks are Teddy Buckner trumpet, Joe Darensbourg and Pud Brown clarinet, Buster Wilson and Lloyd Glenn piano, Ed Garland string bass and Minor Hall on drums. The Preston Jackson tracks are earlier and date from July 1926. Here is a man with great technique and totally off the wall timing. His 6 tracks feature Shirley Clay clarinet, Artie Starks reeds, George Reynold piano, Leslie Corley amd Frank Pasley banjo and Elzadie Robinson vocals. DePriest Wheeler’s 5 tracks date from 1925 and these are the previously ‘lost’ and unknown Missourians tracks. Also featured on these tracks is the trumpet player Sidney DeParis. The whole Missourians band was just incredible – every player a worthy soloist. Very exciting stuff. Personnel here in addition to those mentioned were RQ Dickerson, Harry Cooper and Louis Metcalf on trumpet, David Jones, Eli Logan, Walter Thomas on saxes, Andy Preer violin, Earres Prince piano, Charles Stamps banjo and Jimmy Smith tuba.' (album notes)

Details :

Nina Simone - Three Classic Albums Plus

(Avid Jazz Records) - Released: 2025 [2 CDs]

Nina Simone (piano, vocals); Al Schackman (guitar); Jimmy Bond, Chris White (bass); Tootie Heath, Bobby Hamilton (drums); Malcolm Dodds Singers (vocals)

Nina Simone Three Classic Albums Plus b.jpg

'AVID Jazz continues with its 'Classic Album' series with a re-mastered 2CD release from Nina Simone, complete with original artwork, liner notes and personnel details. Albums include: 'Little Girl Blue', 'Sings Ellington', 'At the Village Gate', plus eight bonus singles.' (album notes)

Details :

July 2025 Some Recent Releases

Recent Releases

Featured In July 2025

UK

America

Europe and Elsewhere

Reissues

July 2025
Some Recent Releases