It was the awakening (Despertando) of a tinge of longing which inspired Diego Pinera to record this album. More than seventeen years after having left his native Uruguay, he re-visits his roots, the influences which first left their mark on him, and the legacy which made him the musician he is today.His choice of compositions is highly personal: tunes by Gato Barbieri and Ernesto Lecuona are clear cultural references to Argentina and Cuba (Pinera also studied in Havana). His own composition “Osvaldo por Nueve” is a homage to his first teacher and mentor Osvaldo Fattoruso. It is also Pinera’s modern take on the ‘candombe’ folklore tradition, popular in Uruguay. The track “Yakarito Terere” is personal too: a composition by his father, inspired by a memory from childhood, of regular excursions into the hinterland of Montevideo.

That’s another one great avant-garde jazz album, which was recorded by a duo - Elisabeth Harnik (piano) and Joelle Leandre (bass). These two avant-garde jazz musicians are famous and active members of contemporary avant-garde jazz scene. Both of them have interesting, specific and unique playing style, which is based on colorful musical language, expressive and sudden stylistic turns and huge amount of different musical expressions. Elisabeth Harnik and Joelle Leandre are experienced and creative improvisers - both of them had improvised together with many other famous jazz masters. Avant-garde jazz, bebop, post-bop, hard-bop, experimental music, soft intonations of academic avant-garde and contemporary academical music - all these elements are gently synthesized together in one place…

Wycliffe Gordon is best known for being the star trombonist with Wynton Marsalis' groups, but as he shows on the colorful Joyride, he is much more. Gordon not only plays trombone but a bit of tuba, trumpet, and even piano (on "Blessed") in addition to taking some good-time vocals. His music is inspired by New Orleans jazz while also including swing, blues, bop, and some more modern explorations. With Victor Goines also showing off his versatility (mostly on tenor but also playing some soprano and clarinet) and the rhythm section being both flexible and alert, this is a highly enjoyable and rather unpredictable set that keeps one guessing.

For his latest album NY Standard, Ari Hoenig pays tribute to the movement and tradition of playing jazz standards in New York City. Once you learn a song there are so many different directions and conversations you can have using that song as a starting point. It’s kind of like a private conversation you can have with other people who know the song. If you don’t know the song however there will be a lot you will miss. New York city has brought together people from all over the world. People that would normally never have the chance to even meet but can speak to each other on a deep level using jazz standards as the basis for the conversation…

Release of the Royal Albert Hall concert on October 13th, 2017…

In his brief life, cornetist Bix Beiderbecke cultivated a unique and personal 'voice. ' His pioneering use of introspection and understatement, the boldness of his harmonic language, his tone itself, all would echo far downstream in the course of jazz history.