CD Releases: A Handful of New and Noteworthy Albums

Luis Russell: At The Swing Cats Ball Newly Discovered Recordings From The Closet – Vol. 1 – 1938-1940 (Dot Time Record) is a compendium of recordings from 1938 through 1940. The 20-track CD includes stride piano solos and newfound recordings of Russell with Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra and his own Luis Russell Orchestra, captured mainly from air checks and featuring music never recorded or released in studio versions. Born in Panama in 1902 (died New York City, 1963), Russell was a leader, arranger, composer and pianist whose early work here set the stage for the following decade of his most fruitful creative output.

Molly Ryan: Sweepin’ The Blues Away (Turtle Bay Records) is joined by her husband Dan Levinson on tenor sax and clarinet, pianist Rossano Sportiello, bassist Rob Adkins and drummer Kevin Dorn. The CD has 11 songs, classics from 1909 to 1941, infused with new life by the singer. The progression of the songs trace the beginning, prime, decline and aftermath of a relationship, beginning with “Get Yourself A New Broom and Sweep The Blues Away,” and ending with “If You Want The Rainbow You Must Have The Rain.” In between are numbers including “The Folks Who Live On The Hill,” “A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square” and “A Cottage or Sale.”

Emilie-Claire Barlow: Spark Bird (Empress Music Group) was born of the COVID pandemic wherein, unable to perform or tour, the Canadian singer questioned if she would ever want to make another record. But as she writes in her liner notes, “A bird arrives and changes everything.” The Spark Bird is one who inspires an ongoing curiosity and passion for a new collection of songs. “Birds have the power to completely transport me,” says Barlow, “So, when I decided to do the album, I started going down this path of gathering songs about birds. They’re my joy, my fascination. These songs tell a story.” Thus, each song has its own signature bird illustration

Joshua Blue: Black & Blue (NYFOS Records) is the debut solo album of the British-American operatic tenor, exploring themes of racial equality and human resilience, is told in songs spanning over five decades. Blue performs together with New York Festival of Song (NYFOS) Artistic Director Steven Blier at the piano. The disc includes two songs receiving their first-ever recordings: “Freedom Train” and “Negrita.” Also included are mainstream pieces such as “Black and Blue” and “Day Dream,” as well as a number of songs that haven’t been heard in many decades, including “Red Beans and Rice” and “The Yellow Dog Blues.” Highly curated, the album, according to Blue, is about “a celebration of the music that shaped me as an artist before opera was even a blip on my radar.”

Champian Fulton: Meet Me at Birdland is a live album featuring bassist Hide Tanaka and drummer Fukushi Tainaka, recorded at Birdland Jazz Club in September 2022. The album captures the energy of a live recording, especially the depth of Fulton’s sensual vocal style and elegant piano playing. The New York-based jazz vocalist and pianist arrived on the scene in 2003, establishing her reputation since and gaining notice for her vast repertoire of jazz standards. Included on the CD are tunes such as “Too Marvelous for Words,” “I Didn’t Mean A Word I Said,” “Happy Camper” and “I Don’t Care,” among others. The 6-panel CD containsa photos by Leslie Farinacci and liner notes by the Grammy Award winning Ricky Riccardi.

Ben Cassara: What a Way to Go (Audiophile Records) is an eclectic collection of standard songs culled from the Great American Songbook, gems by Dave Frishberg and Antonio Carlos Jobim and four originals by jazz pianist Ronny Whyte, who also produced the CD and plays piano on several compositions. This is Cassara’s second CD from a vocalist whose style has been called “a mid-toned tenor with hints of Barry Manilow and Bob Dorough”—urbane and conversational. His mentors were Carol Fredette, Roz Corral and Marlene Ver Planck, jazz singers known for their ability to swing while telling stories with honesty. Accompanying the singer is a crew of prime New York musicians.

Danny Fox Trio: Time Took Care of It features the long-time trio of bassist Chris van Voorst van Beest and drummer Max Goldman. The album showcases the group’s wide-ranging interests in chamber music, bluegrass and rhythm and blues, anchored by their roots in jazz. The album’s 15 original tracks navigate through a vast array of grooves, harmonies, time signatures, tempo shifts, free improvisations and dynamics while remaining grounded in the thematic material. The album begins with the dramatic “Altbauer” and continues with tunes such as“Dr. Bob,” “Papa Joe” and the eponymous “Time Took Care of It,” among others. Fox, also known for his cooking has produced Time Took Care of It: A Cookbook Companion featuring dish and drink pairings for each track alongside stories and illustrations.

Lizzie Thomas: Duo Encounters demonstrates her warm, sultry vocal stylings and swing sensibility alongside a dozen of her favorite collaborators. The album was birthed in COVID lockdown when it was possible to finally enter the same room and create musically with one other musician, yielding a musical conversation between voice and and instrument. The album begins with “Love For Sale” with pianist Helio Alves, followed by bassist Ron Carter and “Willow Weep For Me.” The classic “Lush Life” is sung with saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, while cellist Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf is on hand for “Round Midnight.” Also appearing on the album are guitarist Russell Malone, bassist Noriko Ueda and pianist Rossano Sportiello, among others.