Great Italian trumpeter Flavio Boltro applies his warm and beautiful trumpet sound to standards including "I Remember Clifford", the instrumental written by jazz tenor saxophonist Benny Golson in memory of Clifford Brown, the influential and highly regarded jazz trumpeter who died in an auto accident at the age of 25. Also included are "Whisper Not", "Ceora", "I Can't Get Started", "Mamacita", "There Is No Greater Love", "Nutty", "Con Alma" and Boltro's own "Wasabi Blues". Japanese Venus Records release.

Milano, Paris, New York: Finding John Lewis is a superb piano trio album by Sir Roland Hanna Trio, dedicated to the classic pianist John Lewis. On this release, Hanna is joined by George Mraz on bass and Lewis Nash on drums. The music here is stylish and alluring.

No Borders focuses on classical pieces as a basis for improvisation, and, on the other hand, also contains a completely composed original composition by Beirach: "Steel Prayers", a piece for the victims of 9/11. To take classical pieces and open them for improvisation, without depriving them of their character, is also the basic principle in the cooperation with violinist Gregor Hübner.

Pianist Steve Kuhn, accompanied by David Finck and Billy Drummond, explore classical works by a number of top composers from the 19th and 20th centuries on this Japanese release, though they are used as a launching pad for improvisation.

Sir Roland Hanna has released both jazz and classical albums, but this may be his most successful attempt to form a seamless blend of the two forms of music. On this album, Roland Hanna, Ron Carter and Grady Tate play nine tracks — eight written by classical composers, one Hanna original, and suprisingly enough for a piano trio session, not one blues. Schubert's "Serenade" swings like mad, Dvorak's "Going Home" sounds like a pop tune with a funk beat, Hanna's own "Like Grains Of Sand" and Rubinstein's "Melody In F" make for great bossa nova! Other highlights include Chopin's "Prelude Op. 28, No. 20", which is a superb feature for Ron Carter, and a suprisingly fresh version of Mozart's "Elvira Madigan, Concerto No. 21 C Major K467".

Cyrus Chestnut is a highly-regarded, Baltimore-born jazz pianist, who embraces a range of influences from hard bop, and modalism, to gospel. For this release for Japanese audiophile label, Venus Records, he is joined with the bassist Dezron Douglas and drummer Neal Smith to re-imagine the classics from Beethoven and Chopin to Bach and Tchaikovsky in Piano Trios jazz arrangements.

Denny Zeitlin is an American jazz pianst and composer. He's recorded more than 35 albums including more than 100 original compositions. On this release for Japanese Venus Records he's joins the bassist Buster Williams and drummer Al Forster to perform the Great American Songbook favorites and more jazz standards.

After her superb debut from the Japanese Venus Records (Someday My Prince Will Come), her eagerly awaited second album is something of a coup — she recorded the entire album with the all-star hard bop group One For All. The supergroup that includes Eric Alexander and David Hazeltine has never accompanied a singer for an entire album. The familar standards are tastefully and intelligently arranged, and Cole's attractive voice and the ability to swing are in full display. Her voice is rich and strong. She has impeccable technique and control, and a confident jazz style that hints an influence from Carmen McRae. And, as expected, the ensemble and solo work of the band is simply phenomenal! A rare album that satisfies fans of vocal jazz and fans of serious hardbop, instrumental jazz!

With a voice praised as “a deep contralto as smooth and dark as the richest espresso”, award-winning jazz vocalist Alexis Cole has made an impressive impact on audiences ever since she first took the stage as a teenager. Called "one of the great voices of today", Alexis Cole has been compared to classic jazz singers such as Sarah Vaughan and Anita O'Day. Her luxurious voice and innovative interpretations make her an instant favorite with audiences of all ages. Cole is the recipient of a Swing Journal Gold Disk award, and has won the NY Jazzmobile and Montreux Jazz Festival vocal competitions. "Someday My Prince Will Come" is her first album for Japanese Venus Records.

On this release for Japanese Venus Records, Sayaka Tsuruta joins Ken Peplowski and the world-class Ted Rosenthal piano trio to complile a 12-track SACD full of jazz favorites.

Throughout a career of a half-century and counting, Steve Kuhn has earned renown as one of the most lyrical and affecting pianists in jazz, with an unfailingly beautiful touch and a sophisticated sense of swing. Recorded over the same three-day stretch in May 2002 as "Waltz: Blue Side", Steve Kuhn features nine standards and originals with Gary Peacock on bass and Billy Drummond on drums.

For this Japanese Venus Records' release, Sayaka Tsuruta joins Dan Nimmer, David Wong and Pete Van Nostrand, to compile a 12-track SACD full of jazz's favorite staples from Bart Howard, Cole Porter and many more.

Crescent with Love features tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders accompanied by a supportive rhythm section. Although there are some passionate moments, this is actually one of his mellower sessions and he explores such songs as "Misty," "In a Sentimental Mood," "Too Young to Go Steady," "Body and Soul," "Naima," and "After the Rain" in a ballad style not that different than John Coltrane's of the early '60s. There are some heated moments on some of the other selections (such as "Wise One" and "Crescent") but Sanders' trademark screeches are at a minimum on this set.

Throughout a career of a half-century and counting, Steve Kuhn has earned renown as one of the most lyrical and affecting pianists in jazz, with an unfailingly beautiful touch and a sophisticated sense of swing. This piano-trio release for Japanese Venus records, features George Mraz on bass and Pete LaRoca Sims on drums.

One of the veteran American pianists who release new recordings from Venus Records regularly, Steve Kuhn has been admired and loved by jazz fans both in the U.S. and Japan. I Will Wait For You features recording of the music of Michel Legrand. The lyrical, romantic and memorable melodies written by the French composer — many of which have become part of the standard jazz repertoire — are brilliantly interpreted and performed by a superb trio that includes George Mraz on bass and Billy Drummond on drums. Kuhn and co. add a muscular, driving sense of swing to the faster tunes while digging deep emotionally on beautiful ballads. A wonderful piano trio release!