Fresh off their 2nd consecutive win for “Jazz Group of the Year” in the DownBeat Readers Poll, ARTEMIS returns with their third Blue Note album ARBORESQUE. Featuring a quintet line-up helmed by pianist and musical director Renee Rosnes, the band has been deemed “a femme fatale supergroup” by NPR Music with a stellar line-up of pre-eminent jazz musicians: trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, saxophonist Nicole Glover, bassist Noriko Ueda, and drummer Allison Miller. ARBORESQUE is a vibrant 8-song set that presents original compositions by each of the band members as well as arrangements of pieces by Wayne Shorter, Burt Bacharach, and Donald Brown.

Madrid-based pianist Daniel Garcia carries within him a deep sense of the history that has made him. This is not least because he was born and grew up in Salamanca, a city steeped in history, with several important archaeological sites. In the centuries ever since the middle ages, student priests have walked in their flowing robes along the Calle Compañia, a street in the centre of the city shadowed by tall baroque buildings. The city was also one of the main stopovers on the Vía de la Plata (‘the silver way’), a Roman route from North to South of the Iberian peninsula.

Nicolas Masson’s acquaintance with his fellow quartet travelers Colin Vallon, Patrice Moret and Lionel Friedli goes back roughly two decades – in this time the players have developed an intimate musical bond, expressed purely and beautifully on Renaissance, the group’s second recording for ECM after 2018’s Travelers. Comprised exclusively of originals by the Swiss saxophonist and one collective improvisation, the album’s spotlight shifts between contrasting moods and shapes, capturing the venturesome leader stretching his compositional muscle in evocative interplay with his colleagues. The band is in a searching spirit on rubato exercises like the expressive “Tremolo” or the ambient “Tumbleweeds”, mathematical on the more cerebral cuts like “Renaissance”, but always operate with a lyrical disposition at heart, as heard elsewhere on the record and with a particularly gripping melodiousness on “Anemona”. The album was recorded at Studios La Buissonne in Southern France.

Formed under the midnight sun in Lofoten in 2005, the Engegard Quartet has rapidly become one of Norway's most sought after ensembles. Completing their Mozart String Quartets recording project, this final volume features Mozart's Viennese Quartets K.168-173. Previous volumes have been very well received by the critics: "Three major key quartets in succession might seem on paper to be too much of a good thing, but listening to the Norwegian Engegard Quartet's 'Haydn' quartets is a rich, satisfying experience." The Arts Desk on LWC1219. "…..the Engegards bring an easy grace and bustling energy to the music that feels appropriate." BBC Music Magazine on LWC1349. "Elegant, understated yet sparkling playing of Mozart's 'Haydn' quartets." The Strad on LWC1219.

Freddie Hubbard is featured during a 1991 Warsaw concert just a few weeks after the death of Miles Davis, though by this point in his career the trumpeter's chops are not consistently up to par. Joined by pianist Ronnie Mathews, tenor saxophonist Don Braden, bassist Jeff Chambers, and drummer Ralph Penland, the ambitious program kicks off with a furious-paced take of Cedar Walton's "Bolivia," though the high notes give the leader some trouble and he quickly abandons them. Likewise, Hubbard's solo introduction to "God Bless the Child" is erratic and the rather pedestrian attempt at Miles Davis' landmark composition "All Blues" is frankly dull, as it doesn't take enough chances. The final track, "Dear John," is Hubbard's reworking of the chord changes to John Coltrane's "Giant Steps," but his intonation problems make it difficult to enjoy.

With Philip Catherine and Jean-Louis Rassinfosse. Recorded on April 20, 1985 at Teatro Delle Celebrazioni. "The perfect setting for Chet Baker in his latest years was in a quiet trio with guitar and bass. This CD brought out a previously unreleased, but well-recorded live set. Baker's trumpet playing is in fine form throughout the date, which includes George Shearing's "Conception" and "My Funny Valentine." - AMG

John Mellencamp confirms a reissue of his beloved 1985 album Scarecrow (on Mercury/UME) and shares “Small Town (2022 Remaster)” as well as two previously unreleased versions, “Small Town (Writer’s Demo)” and “Small Town (Acoustic Version).” The Scarecrow Deluxe reissue is set for release November 4 as a box set including 2 CDs of newly remixed and remastered songs plus previously unreleased bonus tracks and alternate versions, a booklet full of rare photographs and all new liner notes by acclaimed author and music critic Anthony DeCurtis. His eighth studio album, Scarecrow was originally released in 1985 and is one of Mellencamp’s most beloved albums. The album contains three chart topping hits—“R.O.C.K In The U.S.A. (A Salute To 60’s Rock)” “Lonely Ol’ Night” and “Small Town”—and reached #2 on the U.S. chart.