New Music of Note: July

Six recently released jazz albums that will win over your heart and feet

Another month has passed, with dozens of new CDs pouring in. Here are six that stand out:

Randy Ingram—Sound Within (Chill Tone). Pianist Randy Ingram has a lovely, sensitive keyboard touch, as evidenced on this moving tribute to pianist Bill Evans. Backing Randy are Rufus Reid on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums. Both Joe and Rufus played with Evans—Joe as a member of the final Bill Evans Trio and Reid during a run at Boston’s Jazz Workshop, where I saw them play in 1978. Each track here is more touching than the previous one. Most rewarding is that Randy didn’t make the mistake of trying to mirror Evans but instead has his feel and grace but weaves the songs his way. One of the very finest Bill Evans tribute albums. The Evans tracks: Turn Out the Stars, My Foolish Heart, Ezz-thetic, Letter to Evan, For All We Know and Mother of Earl. Randy included three of his own: Aloft, Sound Within and Remembrance. To buy, go here.

Here’s Ezz-thetic…

Various—Honoring Pat Martino Vol. 2 (High Note). The late guitarist Pat Martino left a mark on all contemporary jazz guitarists. An intensive, swinging player in the late 1960s and ‘70s, he suffered a hemorrhaged arteriovenous malformation that caused a near-fatal seizure in 1980. As a result, he had to relearn the guitar and made a formidable comeback. He died in 2021 at age 77. On this 10-track album, 18 guitarists pay homage to Martino (their names are listed on the cover above) by choosing songs associated with him. If you dig Pat Martino, you’ll love this album. To buy, go here.

Here’s Howard Paul playing Lean Years…

And here’s Dave Stryker and Paul Bollenback playing A Portrait of Diana…

Ronni Ben-Hur—Abriendo Puerta (Dot Time). This is the second of Ronni’s Cuban Notes project, and it’s terrific. Ronni’s guitar is backed by Alejandro Falcón on piano, Pedro Pablo Gutiérrez on bass, Ruy López-Nussa on drums, Octavio Rodríguez Rivera on percussion with Emir Santa Cruz on tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 4, 5 and 7) and Osdalgia Lesmes on vocal (tracks 3 and 5). Recorded at DBega Studios in Havana in November, the album features powerful, authentic Cuban rhythms and music, with Ronni on top with his beautiful guitar. From boleros to son, the album is a sensual, high-energy tribute to cultural cooperation and collaboration. To buy, go here.

Here’s Mi Mejor Canción…

Fathers—Fathers (Blue Note). Fathers is a jazz groove group featuring keyboardist Kiefer Shackelford, bassist Ben Carr, drummer Nate Smith and producer Kenneth Blume. The result is a beat-forward chill album with jazz smarts and cutting-edge atmospheric instrumentals. Think of this as an updating of Pat Metheny meets Roy Ayers and Deodato. Whatever you choose to call this genre, the music sounds like Champagne. I last posted on Kiefer in June here. To buy, go here.

Here’s Pearl…

Rebecca Rafla—Fundamentally Unfinished (self-released). Rebecca Rafla’s voice has a breezy, joyous sound infused with jazz sensibility and phrasing. An Indianapolis native, Rafla also plays flute. There are six originals here centered on love along with four smartly chosen standards. She’s backed by the great Steve Allee on piano, Patrick Wright on guitar. Jesse Wittman on bass, Kenny Phelps and Richard “Sleepy” Floyd on drums, Rob Dixon on saxophone, John Raymond on trumpet, Brian Pattison on trombone and Kathryn Hershberger, Yoonhae Swanson, Anna Czerniak and Rachel Patrick on strings. To buy, go here.

Here’s Roberto Menescal’s Little Boat…

Antonio Adolfo—Balaios (AAM Music). Pianist, composer and arranger Antonio Adolfo has recorded more than 24 albums over 60 years. He grew up in a musical family in Rio de Janeiro—his mother was a violinist in the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra—and he began studying music at the age 7. By age 17, he was already playing professionally. His teachers included Eumir Deodato and, in Paris, Nadia Boulanger. On this one, he pays tribute to his early years. Translated into English, balaios means large straw or wicker baskets, which in this case carry fond memories. This album is relentlessly pretty, song after song after song. He has much in common with Joao Donato in that regard. To buy, go here.

Here’s Claudia…

And here’s Journey to the Interior…