Vocalist Laird Jackson is known for her personalized renditions of pop and jazz standards and also has a few originals to her credit. She is recorded and released Quiet Flame in 1994. It would be eight years until she she made another album.

Louis Hayes, one of the chief architects of modern jazz drumming, was the rhythmic drive for historic recordings by Horace Silver, Cannonball Adderley, Oscar Peterson, Joe Henderson, Dexter Gordon and McCoy Tyner. When he reformed the Jazz Communicators, the band that he co-founded in the late 1960s with Freddie Hubbard and Joe Henderson, Hayes purposefully deviated from a conventional quintet lineup by featuring vibraphone and tenor saxophone out front. It’s the esteemed pair of Steve Nelson and Abraham Burton respectively, and their chemistry with Hayes, pianist David Bryant and bassist Dezron Douglas makes "Return of the Jazz Communicators" an inspired and rewarding set.

Steve Nelson is an American vibraphonist, and has been a member of Dave Holland's Quintet and Big Band for more than a decade. He graduated from Rutgers University with both Master's and Bachelor's degrees in music, and his teaching activities have included a position at Princeton University. He has appeared at concerts and festivals worldwide and has made recordings as the leader of his own group. This release for Japanese Venus Records features Massimo Farao’ on piano behind the others.

Steve Nelson is an American vibraphonist, and has been a member of Dave Holland's Quintet and Big Band for over a decade. He graduated from Rutgers University with both Master's and Bachelor's degrees in music, and his teaching activities have included a position at Princeton University. He has appeared at concerts and festivals worldwide and has made recordings as the leader of his own group. As a resident of the New York City area he has performed and recorded with many musicians, including Kenny Barron, Bobby Watson, Mulgrew Miller, David "Fathead" Newman, Johnny Griffin, and Jackie McLean.

Legendary drummer Louis Hayes makes his Blue Note debut with this loving tribute to his mentor and friend, the great pianist, composer and bandleader Horace Silver. Hayes was 19 years old when he moved to New York City in 1956 and joined Silver’s quintet, putting his stamp on several timeless Blue Note recordings. Co-produced by Don Was and bassist Dezron Douglas with the eminent Maxine Gordon acting as executive producer, "Serenade for Horace" presents Hayes leading an ensemble that revisits 10 Silver classics in addition to the Hayes original Hastings Street, a dedication to his hometown of Detroit. The album's first single "Song for My Father" features Grammy-winning vocalist Gregory Porter.

"Imaginary Cities", an album of great power and expressive range, is the recording premiere of saxophonist Chris Potter’s new Underground Orchestra. At the core of this larger ensemble is the personnel of his long-established Underground quartet – with Adam Rogers, Craig Taborn and Nate Smith – now joined by two bassists, a string quartet, and Potter’s old comrade from Dave Holland Quintet days, vibes and marimba virtuoso Steve Nelson.

A decorated veteran of the Betty Carter Trio, pianist Cyrus Chestnut came out the experience relatively unscathed with a style and directive clearly his own. It's one steeped in the gospel church traditions of his native Baltimore, but also enlivened by an open ear aimed at a multitude of other influences. He has enjoyed stints with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Vanessa Williams, Freddie Hubbard and Joe Lovano. He also speaks fondly of his valuable tenures with vocalists Jon Hendricks and Joe Williams. With the fleetness of Bud Powell and his own distinctive two-handed lushly impressionistic harmonies, Cyrus offers an imaginative setlist with his long-time friends Buster Williams and Lenny White and together they breathe new life into the vernerable jazz piano trio format.