(Pursuance Records)

The son of a father from India and a mother from the American midwest, San Francisco-based guitartist Alex Pinto brings the fusion of these cultural elements to his debut recording, Inner State. Evident in Pinto’s sound is his love for Hindustani music, as well as the music guitar heroes like Wes Montgomery and Jimi Hendrix. The influence of traditional Indian instruments work their way through the guitar. The music here has an exploratory quality, as the quartet works through the project’s seven original compositions, all written by the group’s leader. The band includes Jaz Sawyer on drums, Dave Tranchina on bass, and Jon Armstrong on tenor saxophone. This is a fantastic debut by a promising new presence on the jazz scene.

(Motema Records)

The Storyteller , the Motéma recording debut of the venerable virtuoso pianist-composer Randy Weston, coincides with the 50th Anniversary of his landmark 1960 recording, UHURU Afrika which fused jazz and African rhythm. All these years later, Weston continues this legacy. This latest effort was recorded live at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at the Jazz at Lincoln Center complex. Featuring a cross-section of Weston compositions, the music here is brought exquisitely to life by a collection of outstanding musical talents who make up the African Rhythms Sextet. The lineup includes the great trombonist Benny Powell,(who has passed away before the release of the recording), bassist Alex Blake, drummer Lewis Nash, saxophonist and flutist T.K. Blue, percussionist Neil Clarke. The blend of such talents can’t help but produce a great work and this effort certainly fits that bill.

(Blondsongstress Productions)

From the very first note she sings on Everytime We Say Goodbye, it’s clear that Lisa Lindsley is a true jazz singer. This is made even more clear by the fact that the album came together without a rehearsal and on the strength of pianist George Mesterhazy calling Lindsley and saying “What are you doing this Saturday?”. The result of the interplay between Lindsley, Mesterhazy and bassist Fred Randolf is pure lightning-in-a-bottle magic.  Together, they take on the songbooks of Hoagy Carmichael, Billie Holiday, Ray Noble and Antonio Carlos Jobim in an engrossing musical foray. If great performances like this can result from impromptu sessions, then viva la impromptu. 

(Concord Jazz)

Bassist extraordinaire Marcus Miller was requested by the principality of Monte-Carlo to perform at its 2008 jazz festival, the result is the new release, A Night In Monte-Carlo. Miller’s deep, low notes are accompanied beautifully by the strings and horns of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic. He’s also joined by the phenomenal singer, songwriter and guitarist, Raul Midon, who performs one of his own very popular tunes, as well as Miller’s arrangement of the spiritual “Amazing Grace”. While Midon has been known more for his vocal talents, his guitar skills heard here are just as impressive. The fantastic trumpeter Roy Hargrove joins Miller and the orchestra and delivers a gorgeous rendition of “Amandla”, a Miller compostion recorded by the great Miles Davis, as well as a beautiful take on the classic ”I’m Glad There Is You”. Miller, who also picks up his bass clarinet on several tracks, is joined by piano great Herbie Hancock on his rendering of “Strange Fruit”. Also performing on the date are saxophonist Alex Hon, drummer Poogie Bell, pianist Federico Gonzales Pena and turntable scratchologist DJ Logic. It’s amazing music from what sounds like an incredible night. 

(Walt Disney Records)

Where to start? When we see a project bearing the Disney name, there’s a natural tendency to think that it’s going to be something just for kids. That’s not the case with Everybody Wants To Be A Cat. Far from Disney-fied jazz tunes, these are Disney songs put through the paces of some of jazz’s most notable talents. The project features Roy Hargrove, Dave Brubeck, Esperanza Spalding, Dianne Reeves, Roberta Gambarini, Regina Carter, Joshua Redman, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Alfredo Rodriguez, Nikki Yanofsky, Gilad Hekselman and Mark Rapp. Each artist performs their own rendition of classic Disney film-related tunes and there’s just too many standout performances to list here. Suffice it to say, this is a fantasic collection of music that absolutely must not be missed.

(Resonance Records)

Live in Beverly Hills is the latest from Italian pianist Dado Moroni, recorded in a city that’s known more for movie stars than jazz bars. Moroni and his trio of drumming great Peter Erskine and bassist Marco Panacia give a spirited performance in a front of a receptive audience at the Rising Jazz Stars venue in the world-renown Los Angeles suburb. Erskine and Panacia provide a solid musical canvas for Moroni’s broad strokes and vibrant splashes of color. The three musicians cover a range of tunes by various composers, including three written by Moroni. If hearing these three great artists work together weren’t enough, the project includes a DVD of the performances that is equally captivating and thoroughly enjoyable.

(Motema)

Let’s Fly is singer Amy London’s fantastic followup to her 2007 debut recording for Motema Records. London, a 30-year veteran of the jazz vocal scene dedicates this recording to her mentor and primary vocal influence Annie Ross (of the famed Lambert, Hendricks and Ross), who wrote the album’s classic track. It’s clear from the first note that you’re listening to a vocalist who knows her craft incredibly well. London takes on a wide array of styles and tunes from a range of songbooks, including songs by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, Charles Mingus, Peggy Lee, Irving Berlin and Joni Mitchell, among others. Providing solid musical backing are guitarist Roni Ben-Hur, bassist Santi Debriano, drummer Steve Williams, and percussionist Steve Kroon, among others. The result is simply outstanding.