Anthony Stanco Keeps the Hard Bop Flame Burning with In the Groove, a Live Album Bursting with Spirit and Tradition

Out October 17, 2025, on OA2 Records – Recorded Live at The Alluvion in Traverse City, MI

With his new live album In the Groove, trumpet virtuoso Anthony Stanco captures the heat, joy, and immediacy of a band firing on all cylinders before a crowd of passionate jazz lovers. Due out October 17, 2025, via OA2 Records, this vibrant set is both a heartfelt tribute to the hard bop tradition and a fresh, forward-looking expression of Stanco’s modern voice as a composer, bandleader, and educator.

Following up 2024’s critically acclaimed Stanco’s Time, which reintroduced him as a master craftsman fluent in the bebop vocabulary, Stanco now steps fully "in the groove"—a term rich with multiple meanings, from rhythmic momentum to geological transformation, all perfectly fitting this live performance captured at The Alluvion, a celebrated jazz venue in Traverse City, Michigan.

A Live Jazz Experience that Feels Like a Homecoming

While Detroit remains Stanco’s home city—and central to his musical DNA—it’s in Traverse City where this album took root. He holds a monthly residency at The Alluvion and has fostered meaningful ties to the community there through Building Bridges with Music, an education-focused nonprofit founded by club owner Jeff Haas.

“Traverse City has become a second home,” says Stanco. “I’ve managed to create a lot of great musical and personal relationships there.”

That sense of belonging radiates throughout In the Groove. Featuring an all-star quintet—Randy Napoleon (guitar), Xavier Davis (piano), John Webber (bass), and Joe Farnsworth (drums)—the recording crackles with the energy that only a live audience can inspire.

Paying Tribute, Pushing Forward

The album is a full-circle moment for Stanco. It honors the classic live hard bop recordings of the late ‘50s and ‘60s while affirming his own voice as a contemporary torchbearer. Tracks like the album-opening “T. Sea” (a Traverse City nod with a wink) and the swaggering “Riptide” channel the earthy groove and blues-based roots of the style.

“You just can’t get a convincing boogaloo in a studio the way you can live,” says Stanco. That truth is fully realized here, especially on the title track, where the audience breaks into call-and-response with Stanco’s growling, muted trumpet—an electric moment that embodies the communal spirit of jazz.

Family, Humor, and Heart

Stanco’s music is not only steeped in tradition but also brimming with heart. “Sonny Boy,” written for his infant son, features the audience joining in to sing a lullaby—mirroring the participatory spirit of Stanco’s Time, which included a tribute to his daughter, “Josie Rosie.” The intentional connection between the two compositions shows Stanco’s deepening artistry and personal investment.

“I couldn't have them fighting about which one was better for the rest of their lives,” he jokes.

Detroit Roots, Global Resonance

Born and raised on Detroit’s east side, Stanco is a fifth-generation Detroiter who studied under Marcus Belgrave and Rodney Whitaker—two titans of the city’s jazz scene. His musical values—respect for lineage, love for swing, dedication to craft—are firmly planted in the Detroit tradition, but they bloom anew on In the Groove.

One such bloom is “Pyramid Point,” a reflective piece inspired by a scenic spot overlooking Lake Michigan. Opening with a harp-like solo from Davis, it reveals the album’s contemplative side, counterbalancing the high-octane fire found elsewhere.

A Carefully Chosen Band of Equals

The album’s quintet comprises musicians who know each other deeply:

• Randy Napoleon and Xavier Davis are fellow MSU faculty and played on Stanco’s Time.

• Joe Farnsworth, a hard bop master, returned eagerly for the live follow-up.

• John Webber, a longtime partner of Farnsworth’s, provides a rock-solid bass foundation.

Their chemistry is evident throughout, from the gentle clapping on “Hey Cute One” to the blazing finish of “Just a Moment,” a contrafact of Coltrane’s “Moment’s Notice.”

Stanco even includes a Detroit-flavored homage to Donald Byrd via Duke Pearson’s “Say You’re Mine,” connecting the dots between eras, cities, and inspirations.

A Living, Breathing Homage to Hard Bop

In the Groove isn’t just a concert—it’s a living document. A snapshot of an artist in stride, a scene in bloom, and a tradition renewed. It affirms that hard bop isn’t a relic—it’s a living, breathing force, especially in the hands of musicians who honor it while carving new paths.

As Stanco puts it:

“We’re paying our homage and playing the tradition of the blues—but doing our own thing with it.”

Anthony Stanco – 2025 Tour Dates

September 28 – Blue Llama Jazz Club, Ann Arbor, MI

October 16 – UrbanBeat, Lansing, MI

November 1–2 – TC Philharmonic Center, Traverse City, MI

November 20–22 – Cliff Bell’s, Detroit, MI

Mark Turner’s Magnum Opus: Reflections on The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man Brings Literature, Legacy, and Jazz into Vivid Focus

In a world where albums are frequently produced but fewer works truly resonate as statements, tenor saxophonist Mark Turner has crafted a landmark musical and social commentary with Reflections on The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. Set for release on October 10, 2025, the album arrives via Giant Step Arts as part of its Modern Masters and New Horizons series, curated by Jason Palmer and Nasheet Waits.

Turner, often cited as one of modern jazz's most influential saxophonists, turns inward and outward in this powerful suite—melding his personal lineage with literary resonance to explore deep and often unspoken themes of identity, race, history, and the human condition.

“A cult hero and musician’s musician in jazz circles… a tenor player with a sound and language of his own.”
– Josef Woodard, DownBeat

From Harlem Archives to Harmonic Truths

The genesis of the album dates back more than 20 years, when Turner—engaged in a self-guided study of African-American history—visited Harlem’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Among the many essential texts he discovered was James Weldon Johnson’s The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. First published anonymously in 1912, Johnson’s semi-fictional narrative explores the life of a biracial man who “passes” for white in post-Reconstruction America.

For Turner, the story wasn’t just historical fiction—it echoed his own family history.

“My mother can pass. My great aunts did exactly what the protagonist does in the book,” he shares. “I hadn't ever read a book that talked about passing before… at least not one that early on. The nuance with which Johnson handles these issues struck me. It’s still profoundly relevant.”

Literary Inspiration, Musical Innovation

Turner doesn’t attempt to write a programmatic score for the novel. Instead, he creates a musical suite inspired by the book’s emotional and philosophical gravity, embedding spoken excerpts throughout the album. Phrases like:

“Sometimes it seems to me that I have never really been a Negro... at other times I feel that I have been a coward, a deserter…”

linger long after the notes have faded.

Each composition follows the arc of the book without being bound to it. The track titles mirror the novel’s chronology, and the album culminates in a touching quote of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”—the Black National Anthem written by Johnson and his brother J. Rosamond Johnson—performed by pianist David Virelles, who also anchors the album’s ensemble.

The Ensemble: Long-Term Collaborators and Creative Allies

Turner’s band features trumpeter Jason Palmer, bassist Matt Brewer, drummer Nasheet Waits, and pianist/synthesist David Virelles—a group of long-standing creative collaborators who first premiered the suite during a Village Vanguard residency in 2018.

Each player brings a deep understanding of Turner’s aesthetic vision, resulting in a sound that is cerebral, soulful, exploratory, and emotionally gripping. Highlights include the twin tracks “New York” and “Europe”, where Virelles employs synthesizers in a nod to Sun Ra’s Afrofuturist palette.

“You will come to see that evil is a force… to attempt to right the wrongs and ease the sufferings of the world in general is a waste of effort…”
— Spoken excerpt from The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man featured in the suite

Craft and Cohesion: A Compositional Triumph

“I wanted to have music that was enhanced with words, not words that were enhanced by music,” Turner explains. “The compositions are musically interconnected—through harmonic motifs, forms, even keys. The book gave me an emotional thread to follow.”

Turner’s attention to structural cohesion is unmistakable. Each track serves as a reflective lens—not just on the protagonist of Johnson’s book, but on the broader implications of identity, generational trauma, and cultural duality.

A Defining Release in a Bold Series

Turner’s album is part of Giant Step Arts’ Modern Masters and New Horizons initiative—a platform for contemporary jazz’s most vital voices. Curated by Jason Palmer and Nasheet Waits, the series honors musicians who are both architects and avant-gardists, pushing the art form forward.

Upcoming entries in the series will spotlight saxophonist Neta Raanan, drummer Eric McPherson, and the Edward Pérez/Michael Thomas Band, among others.

A Bold, Reflective Work for Our Times

Reflections on The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man is not just an album. It is a musical essay, a cultural meditation, and a spiritual reckoning. Turner’s voice—instrumental and literary—stands as a testament to jazz’s enduring ability to speak the unspeakable, to articulate what lies between words, and to connect deeply personal stories to universal themes.

Release Date: October 10, 2025
Label: Giant Step Arts
Series: Modern Masters and New Horizons
Personnel:

• Mark Turner – tenor saxophone, spoken text

• Jason Palmer – trumpet

• David Virelles – piano, synthesizers

• Matt Brewer – bass

• Nasheet Waits – drums

Awakening to Love: Cecily's Awakening Pt. II Illuminates the Power of Unconditional Love

Cecily, the acclaimed Washington, DC-born vocalist and songwriter, returns with Awakening Pt. II—a deeply soulful and spiritual album that continues the powerful journey she began on 2019’s Awakening Pt. I. Known for her soothing soprano voice and tender, poetic songwriting, Cecily invites listeners to explore the transformative nature of love—beyond romance and into the realms of self, family, community, nature, and the divine.

Rooted in a timeless blend of mid-century soul, jazz, 90s R&B, and reimagined folk, Awakening Pt. II is not just an album—it’s a philosophy in sound. Inspired by bell hooks’ seminal work All About Love, Cecily builds upon the idea that “all awakening to love is spiritual awakening.” Through this lens, she unpacks the different forms of love that sustain and heal us. Her lyrics, rich in honesty and introspection, are elevated by sophisticated arrangements and collaborations with artists such as Jenna Camille, Muhsinah, Allyn Johnson, Zachary Cutler, and Jacob Ungerleider.

A Love Letter to Home

The album's focus track, “Come Home,” is a nostalgic and moving reflection on childhood and the comforts of home. With vivid imagery—“baked apples in the morning,” “Nintendo in the attic,” and “dancing to Jackson 5 tunes”—Cecily paints a picture of joy and safety that lingers in memory. Her delicate vocals float gently above warm instrumentation, echoing the tender yearning in the repeated refrain: “Please come home.” The song captures both the innocence of youth and the adult longing for a return to a simpler, more connected time.

Dedication and Intention

Awakening Pt. II is dedicated to three profound influences in Cecily’s life: bell hooks, Thich Nhat Hanh, and George Alexander Bumbray Jr. Each of these figures helped shape Cecily’s understanding of love as a spiritual, ethical, and transformative force. As she shares in her notes: “bell hooks said, ‘All awakening to love is spiritual awakening’ and that’s how I felt when I wrote these songs and more broadly in my journey to awakening to love.”

Supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council, Montgomery County Government, and the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County, the album was created with thoughtful purpose and intention. Each track on the LP possesses its own identity, traveling across musical styles and emotional tones while staying grounded in the central theme of love as awakening.

A Journey Born of Passion and Purpose

Though Cecily studied Political Science and Black Studies with plans for a career in public service, she soon found herself disillusioned by traditional politics. At 21, she left her international relations classroom to follow a deeper calling. After 10 years of singing as a hobby, Cecily committed herself fully to music, determined to use her voice and songwriting to uplift and inspire.

With a sound shaped by her parents’ record collection—Miles Davis from her father, Smokey Robinson from her mother—and a deep connection to poetry, Cecily’s artistry is both refined and emotionally raw. Her music celebrates vulnerability as a strength, unconditional love as a foundation, and joy as a basic human right.

A Celebrated Career

Cecily’s debut album Songs of Love and Freedom won a Wammie Award for Best Soul Album and was named Best New Soul on Bandcamp. Awakening Pt. I continued her rise, earning a SoulTracks Readers’ Choice Award nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year, an Indie Soul Music Award for Best Female Artist of the Year, and another Wammie for Best Soul Song with “Clumsy.”

Now, with Awakening Pt. II, Cecily returns with her most personal and profound work yet—a musical meditation on love that feels both timely and timeless.

Conrad Herwig Explores New Rhythmic Terrain with Reflections–Facing South, Featuring Eddie Palmieri & Luques Curtis

Multiple Grammy-nominated trombonist and composer Conrad Herwig returns with a bold new statement in Latin jazz: Reflections–Facing South, out August 29 on Savant Records. A continuation of his legendary “Latin Side of…” series, this new release breaks with tradition while honoring the rhythmic and emotional intensity that has long defined Herwig’s music.

Teaming up with Latin jazz icon Eddie Palmieri and bassist Luques Curtis, Herwig strips down the ensemble and goes drum-less — an almost unheard-of move in Latin jazz. But instead of losing intensity, this daring trio arrangement results in raw, exhilarating grooves where Palmieri’s percussive piano takes center stage and Curtis’s melodic bass becomes the heartbeat. Over it all, Herwig’s trombone delivers soaring solos that marry virtuosity with deep feeling.

“The real McCoy would have loved it.” – Chris Pearson, The London Times

An Evolution of the “Latin Side” Legacy

For over 25 years, Herwig has redefined jazz classics through a Latin lens with his celebrated series of albums: The Latin Side of John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver, Joe Henderson, and most recently, Charles Mingus. These projects have earned him Grammy nominations, international acclaim, and a well-earned reputation as a boundary-pusher in jazz.

His most recent release before this was The Latin Side of McCoy Tyner, and with Reflections–Facing South, Herwig explores yet another level of harmonic richness and rhythmic innovation.

A Career Rooted in Innovation and Excellence

Beyond his own recordings, Herwig has appeared on more than 200 albums across a 40-year career, performing with luminaries like Joe Lovano, McCoy Tyner, Tito Puente, Clark Terry, Frank Sinatra, and Quincy Jones. He’s a regular member of the Mingus Big Band, serving as musical director and arranger, and is currently the Artistic Director of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University.

He has received accolades including #1 Jazz Trombonist in DownBeat’s Critics Poll, the Paul Acket Award from the North Sea Jazz Festival, and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Reflections–Facing South Track Listing:

1. Bianco’s Waltz – 5:10

2. C’mon (Mi Guajira) – 4:56

3. Que Viva Barry – 5:08

4. Reflections–Facing South – 5:33

5. Listen Lady – 7:59

6. Augmented Blues – 5:30

7. Cuando se Habla de Amor – 6:14

8. Monica – 5:09

9. El Guerrero Solitario – 6:02

A Must-Hear for Fans of Modern Latin Jazz

Reflections–Facing South is an invigorating listen — both intimate and explosive, cerebral and sensual. It’s a reminder that innovation in jazz doesn’t require more; sometimes, it thrives on less. Without drums, the music finds a new kind of space and depth — one that makes every note count.

If you're a fan of Latin jazz, straight-ahead jazz with a twist, or just brilliant musicianship, this album is essential listening.

Chicago IX: Chicago’s Greatest Hits (50th Anniversary Expanded Edition)

Chicago’s music is forever etched into the soundtrack of American pop and rock. Their blend of brassy rock, jazz fusion, ballads, and progressive arrangements helped define the 1970s — and their chart dominance remains undeniable. Now, 50 years after its original release, Chicago IX: Chicago’s Greatest Hits is getting the deluxe treatment it deserves.

Arriving this Friday, August 8, 2025, via Rhino Records, the 50th Anniversary Expanded Edition of Chicago IX more than doubles the track count from 11 to 21. It not only preserves the original's spirit but refreshes it for longtime fans and new listeners alike.

First released for the 1975 holiday season on Columbia Records, Chicago IX served as the band’s first compilation, covering material from 1969's Chicago Transit Authority through 1974’s Chicago VII. The original LP was a massive success, topping the Billboard 200 and earning 5x Platinum certification while staying on the charts for a staggering 72 weeks.

Now, Rhino Records is expanding that legacy. The new gold-hued edition of Chicago IX takes the concept further, revisiting not just the original tracks but also incorporating songs from 1975 to 1980, closing the chapter just before the band’s dramatic shift into the David Foster-produced era.

Unlike the original compilation, which began with the smash “25 or 6 to 4,” the new edition opens with the band’s very first single — “Questions 67 and 68” — featuring a powerful vocal blend between Robert Lamm and Peter Cetera.

The track order has been rearranged to follow a chronological arc, making it a more accurate reflection of the band’s stylistic evolution. “Beginnings,” which once closed the album, now follows the opener. Several tracks also appear in newly remixed forms, thanks to Steven Wilson’s 2017 stereo edits, including:

• “Make Me Smile”

• “25 or 6 to 4”

• “Colour My World”

➕ 10 Bonus Tracks That Fill In the Gaps

This expanded version not only re-sequences and remixes, but adds ten more songs, rounding out the band's first prolific decade:

From earlier albums:

• “Free” (Chicago III), a notable omission in 1975, finally makes the cut.

• “Dialogue (Part I & II)” (Chicago V) adds a socially conscious, two-part dynamic.

From Chicago VIII and beyond:

• “Old Days” (No. 5, 1975) finally joins the mix.

• “If You Leave Me Now” (No. 1, 1976), the band's first Grammy winner and soft rock classic.

• “Baby, What a Big Surprise” (No. 4, 1977) continues Cetera’s melodic legacy.

• “Alive Again” and “No Tell Lover” (both Top 20 hits in 1978) capture the band's later horn-pop polish.

• “Street Player” (1979), although it didn’t chart, became a cult favorite and a sampling staple in house music.

• “Thunder and Lightning” (No. 56, 1980), co-written by drummer Danny Seraphine, closes the chapter before the band’s sonic pivot in the early 1980s.

🎶 Full Track Listing:

(asterisk denotes tracks not on the original 1975 release)

1. Questions 67 and 68 *

2. Beginnings

3. Make Me Smile (2017 Steven Wilson Remix/Edit)

4. 25 or 6 to 4 (2017 Steven Wilson Remix/Edit)

5. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?

6. Free *

7. Colour My World (2017 Steven Wilson Remix)

8. Saturday in the Park

9. Dialogue (Part I & II) *

10. Feelin’ Stronger Every Day

11. Just You ’N’ Me

12. (I’ve Been) Searchin’ So Long

13. Call on Me

14. Wishing You Were Here

15. Old Days *

16. If You Leave Me Now *

17. Baby, What a Big Surprise *

18. Alive Again *

19. No Tell Lover *

20. Street Player *

21. Thunder and Lightning *

In many ways, this expanded Chicago IX feels less like a repackaged reissue and more like a proper retrospective anthology of the band’s first ten years — one that captures their evolution from jazz-rock pioneers to adult contemporary superstars.

Whether you're discovering their catalog for the first time or replacing your worn-out LP, this release offers a definitive overview of a band whose sound defined a generation.

Jussi Reijonen Launches sayr: salt | thirst — A Meditative Solo String Journey

Acclaimed Finnish guitarist, oud player, and composer Jussi Reijonen unveils sayr: salt | thirst, the first installment in his intimate new series of solo string instrument recordings. Available October 24, 2025 via unmusic, this album offers a haunting meditation on finding stillness amid the chaos of motion, inviting listeners into a deeply personal musical world.

Building on the critical acclaim of his ambitious 2022 large ensemble album Three Seconds | Kolme Toista — hailed as “one of the best recordings of 2022” by All About Jazz — Reijonen’s sayr series explores a more introspective and minimalistic approach. sayr: salt | thirst was recorded in a single, fully improvised take at his home studio on a vintage 1940s Gibson LG-2 steel-string acoustic guitar.

The album is divided into two contrasting arcs, “salt” and “thirst,” mirroring the dualities of life, memory, and transformation. Its sound draws from a rich tapestry of string traditions around the world: from the Finnish kantele and Arabic oud to the Moroccan sintir and West African kora. This evocative blend channels influences such as Hamza El Din, Paco de Lucía, Umm Kulthum, and Ali Farka Touré.

The word “sayr,” rooted in Arabic music, means “course” or “motion.” For Reijonen, it represents a musical pathway unfolding through improvisation in a “memory palace” of sonic experiences. The album reflects his lifelong journey across Northern Finland, the Middle East, East Africa, and the United States — intertwining personal history with sound.

Reijonen shares, “I have found myself drawn to solitary reflection, to the small and simple, to roots and branches. The music is an exploration of motion and stillness — a dance captured beautifully by T.S. Eliot’s poetry.” The album’s improvisational nature reveals emotional landscapes that shift between lament, unease, brightening, and transformation.

sayr is the first in a planned series of improvised solo recordings. Reijonen will record the next installment live on steel-string acoustic guitar and Arabic oud during a concert at Helsinki Music Centre on September 19, 2025, kicking off an international solo tour. This performance will be filmed and recorded for future release.

Born in Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle, Jussi Reijonen’s unique artistry is shaped by his multicultural upbringing in Finland, Jordan, Tanzania, Oman, Lebanon, and the U.S. His work traverses jazz, world, and contemporary music, collaborating with luminaries like Jack DeJohnette and Pepe de Lucía. His previous album, Three Seconds | Kolme Toista, received rave reviews and multiple accolades, establishing him as a leading voice in genre-defying music.

Acclaimed Jazz Vocalist Mark Winkler Releases 22nd Album HOLD ON

Mark Winkler, a celebrated vocalist and prolific lyricist on the Los Angeles jazz scene, is back with his 22nd album, HOLD ON. Known for his collaborations with jazz legends like Dianne Reeves, Randy Crawford, Claire Martin, and Dee Dee Bridgewater, Winkler continues to push creative boundaries with this latest collection of mostly original tunes, complemented by a few well-chosen jazz standards.

Over his extensive recording career, Winkler has worked alongside some of the finest jazz vocalists, including Jackie Ryan, Steve Tyrell, Claire Martin, and Sara Gazarek. His collaborations with Cheryl Bentyne of The Manhattan Transfer and pianist David Benoit earned high praise, with Jersey Jazz calling him “one of the best male vocalists on the jazz scene.” Yet Winkler never rests on past accolades; he constantly evolves, creating fresh musical experiences with each release.

For HOLD ON, Winkler teamed up with six outstanding pianists—including Grammy winner John Beasley, Rich Eames, Tamir Hendelman, Eric Reed, Greg Gordon Smith, and Jamieson Trotter—each bringing a unique style to the album’s rich sonic tapestry. Supported by a top-notch Los Angeles band featuring Gabe Davis (bass), Christian Euman (drums), Bob Sheppard (sax), and others, Winkler’s new album reflects a broad spectrum of jazz sounds and moods.

Unlike many artists who pick songs based solely on aesthetic appeal, Winkler selects material that resonates personally. He explains, “I didn’t think of a particular theme when I chose the material — but after it was completed, I realized the songs all have biographical elements that attracted me.”

The album opens with the title track “Hold On,” co-written with Greg Gordon Smith, which encourages perseverance during difficult times. Other highlights include the witty Dave Frishberg classic “A Little Taste,” and an inventive take on Frank Loesser’s “If I Were a Bell,” arranged by Smith and featuring Hendelman on piano.

Winkler’s love for film noir and campy sci-fi shines in “Cat Women on the Moon,” a cha-cha tribute inspired by 1950s cult classics. His emotional depth comes through in a bossa nova version of “It Was a Very Good Year,” featuring a lush flugelhorn solo by Brian Swartz.

Other original songs such as “My Future’s Just a Memory” and “Train in the Desert” explore themes of aging, loss, and new beginnings, while “My Electric Car” offers an optimistic vision of a cleaner future. The album closes with “I Dream of You Each Night,” inspired by the 1950s gay experience and arranged by Spencer Day with Eric Reed on piano.

Produced by Barbara Brighton, who has worked on nine of Winkler’s albums, HOLD ON is a captivating mix of swing, humor, and heartfelt storytelling. With each song, Winkler invites listeners into his world—an elegant, soulful space where jazz’s timeless spirit thrives.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to his music, HOLD ON offers a rich listening experience filled with fresh originals and classic jazz gems.

HOLD ON Track Highlights:

• Hold On (Original)

• A Little Taste (Dave Frishberg)

• If I Were a Bell (Frank Loesser)

• Cat Women on the Moon (Original)

• It Was a Very Good Year (Bossa Nova Style)

• My Future’s Just a Memory (Original)

• Vienna (Billy Joel Cover)

• Train in the Desert (Original)

• My Electric Car (Original)

• I Dream of You Each Night (Original)

Jon Batiste To Release New Album Featuring Randy Newman — ‘Big Money’

Academy Award® and multi-Grammy® winner Jon Batiste is set to release his highly anticipated new album Big Money on August 22 via Verve/Interscope Records. This bold project marks a significant artistic statement, rooted deeply in American musical traditions from gospel and soul to blues, folk, and rock & roll.

The album’s second single, “Lonely Avenue,” features the legendary Randy Newman and is a standout track that offers a stripped-down, intimate reinterpretation of the Doc Pomus classic made famous by Ray Charles. The official music video, directed by David Henry Gerson, captures Batiste wandering through a quiet, timeworn apartment, drawn toward Newman’s soulful voice from another room. Their meeting at the piano becomes a beautiful moment where music bridges memory, imagination, and connection.

Recorded live in a single take in Newman’s living room, “Lonely Avenue” was born out of an organic conversation about life, family, and music, captured spontaneously on a handheld recorder. Batiste shares, “Ray is my patron saint. Just as the Big Money songs are in conversation with each other, I’m in conversation with Randy and Ray.”

The album’s title track, “Big Money,” is a groove-forward anthem featuring Batiste’s guitar work alongside soaring vocals from The Womack Sisters — granddaughters of soul legend Sam Cooke — who echo the refrain: “Might as well live for something you can feel…something that’s real.”

Co-produced by Jon Batiste and longtime collaborator Dion “No ID” Wilson, Big Money spans nine tracks showcasing a wide range of moods and styles. Highlights include the vintage soul-inspired duet “Lean on My Love” featuring Andra Day, and the genre-defying closer “Angels,” performed by Batiste’s alter ego Billy Bob Bo Bob.

Batiste describes the album as an “explicit Americana blues statement” and part of a larger “repatriation process” in Black American artistry — reclaiming heritage and authorship across genres born from the Black experience.

Coming off a landmark year that included a Super Bowl performance, two GRAMMY® wins for American Symphony, and the success of Beethoven Blues (which topped Billboard’s Classical Albums chart for nine weeks), Big Money promises to be a deeply serious and fun artistic milestone.

Big Money Tracklist:

1. Lean on My Love (feat. Andra Day)

2. Big Money

3. Lonely Avenue (feat. Randy Newman)

4. Petrichor

5. Do It All Again

6. Pinnacle

7. At All

8. Maybe

9. Angels (feat. No ID & Billy Bob Bo Bob)

BLOW GLOBE: John Sturino’s Boundary-Breaking New Jazz Ensemble

Awarded the 2024 Chamber Music America New Jazz Works Grant, BLOW GLOBE is a ten-piece ensemble led by Juilliard-trained drummer and composer John Sturino. This unique group fuses the sounds of jazz, classical chamber music, contemporary electronic, and pop/rock, creating an expansive and vibrant sonic universe.

Featuring a stellar lineup of NYC’s brightest jazz talents — including Nathan Reising (alto sax), Abdias Armenteros (tenor & soprano sax), Garrett Wingfield (bass clarinet & baritone sax), Summer Camargo (trumpet & flugelhorn), Kazunori Tanaka (French horn), and others — BLOW GLOBE channels the energy and diversity of cultures from across the world. The ensemble also regularly features vocalist Mar Vilaseca, whose lush voice brings a haunting, lyrical dimension.

John Sturino’s journey to BLOW GLOBE stems from his desire to create music that reflects his eclectic tastes and embraces a wide range of styles. Inspired by the lush yet intimate soundscapes on Walt Weiskopf’s Song For My Mother, Sturino envisioned an ensemble capable of producing big band richness while maintaining a light, buoyant feel.

“This album is a true celebration of the music that has shaped my own identity and taste,” Sturino says. “From composing to recording and mixing, it’s been a labor of love and exploration.”

• Year Of The Globe
  The opening track captures the album’s ethos — blending diverse sounds, textures, and grooves in a melodic yet straightforward way.

• Renewal
  Originally composed for a group with classical strings and jazz quartet, this piece moves from dark introspection to energetic celebration, featuring standout solos from Abdias Armenteros and Chris McCarthy.

• Only In Dreams (feat. Mar Vilaseca)
  A stunning cover of Weezer’s classic, reimagined with serene vocals and rich jazz textures.

• Slug
  Inspired by Sturino’s life in NYC, this piece contrasts slow physical movement with rapid mental activity, highlighted by Garrett Wingfield’s expressive bass clarinet.

• Bonafides
  A straight-ahead swing with a Latin twist — spotlighting vibrant solos from Summer Camargo and Garrett Wingfield.

• Morning Sun (feat. Mar Vilaseca)
  A joint composition between Vilaseca and Sturino, this track personifies sunlight through music, enriched by soprano sax melodies.

• PLG (Prophets Lefferts Gardens)
  A love letter to Sturino’s Brooklyn neighborhood, this track blends jazz and electronic influences, featuring guitar and trombone solos.

A Juilliard graduate and drummer with a passion for composition, Sturino has spent years crafting a voice that spans genres and traditions. BLOW GLOBE is his boldest statement yet — an ensemble where acoustic instrumentation meets contemporary sounds in a vibrant conversation.

Chasing Calm — Pianist/Composer Michael Ragonese Announces Deeply Personal New Album,

Jazz pianist and composer Michael Ragonese returns this fall with Chasing Calm, his highly anticipated third album — a beautifully introspective project reflecting his ongoing search for stillness, balance, and peace in an often chaotic world.

Set for worldwide release on October 10, 2025, Chasing Calm showcases Ragonese's continued growth as a composer and bandleader, drawing on jazz traditions, classical influences, and his Italian heritage. The music is at once modern and grounded, lyrical and complex, exploring that elusive space between tension and serenity.

Ragonese kicks things off with the release of “Alone Together” on August 8 — a jazz standard reimagined in 9/8 meter. “This arrangement flows differently,” Ragonese says, “but it still feels lyrical and natural. It opened up new rhythmic ideas I hadn’t explored before.”

Featuring his trio with Luca Alemanno on bass and JK Kim on drums, the track sets the tone 

Ragonese describes Chasing Calm as “probably the most personal record I’ve made so far.” Written and recorded in January 2025, the album blends modern jazz, classical harmony, and improvisational dialogue in compelling and innovative ways.

“It’s not about achieving peace,” he explains, “but about the search for it — how my mind is always moving, always thinking, yet striving for presence and focus. The music reflects that in its structure and flow — a balance between clarity and complexity.”

The album features a top-tier lineup:

• Michael Ragonese – piano

• Walter Smith III – saxophones

• Luca Alemanno – bass

• JK Kim – drums

Smith, who appeared on Ragonese’s debut album Day to Day, brings his signature voice to the project, while Alemanno and Kim provide a deeply intuitive rhythm section that balances energy with restraint.

Beyond his work as a performer, Ragonese is also a passionate educator and mentor. He founded the Rags School of Music in 2021 and co-created the Modern Artist program in 2023 to guide high school students toward creative careers.

His most recent initiative, the Libretto Conservatory (in partnership with Libretto Jazz Club), supports college musicians preparing for professional careers. Students from his programs have gone on to earn top honors from DownBeat Magazine and gain acceptance to elite music schools across the country.

“A fresh, transcendent level of expression – high energy, hard swinging and off the charts imaginative improvisational trad jazz.”
– Jonathan Widran, JW Vibe

“Michael Ragonese falls into that category as evidenced by his latest release ‘Stracci’… a propulsive and unpredictable trio.”
– Pierre Giroux, AllAboutJazz