Jochen Rueckert

2019 is a milestone year for altoist Will Vinson. It’s twenty years since he relocated to New York from his native London, and commenced an exploration that led him into the heart of that city’s legendary scene, where the tradition and the avant-garde intersect. Seven records as leader have confirmed his stature: now, for his debut on Whirlwind, titled four forty one, he’s dug into his contact book to present the realization of a long-held dream - to record with five of the greatest contemporary piano masters. Sullivan Fortner, Tigran Hamasyan, Gerald Clayton, Fred Hersch, and long-time associate Gonzalo Rubalcaba are each matched with their respective bass and drum team of Matt Brewer and Obed Calvaire, Matt Penman and Billy Hart, Matt Brewer and Clarence Penn, Rick Rosato and Jochen Rueckert, and Larry Grenadier and Eric Harland, to create five dream trios for Vinson to play off “as a bystander and participant at the same time.”

The second album with the legendary NDR Bigband. the Hamburg radio broadcast orchestra. recorded live to two track analog tape in a similar set up as the Duke Ellington Big Band from the late 50ies. All music composed and arranged by Nils. Somehow old school with some of Nils` contemporary ideas. Some great solos from the band members and guest Jochen Rueckert and Bojan Z.

After a decade working as a jazz pianist in NYC, GRAMMY-nominated pianist and composer Pascal Le Boeuf took a leap of faith and enrolled in Princeton University’s PhD program to explore the boundaries of jazz improvisation and contemporary classical composition. Seven years later, “Ritual Being” is a compendium of his explorations featuring leading performers Linda May Han Oh, Justin Brown, Friction Quartet, Sara Caswell, Todd Reynolds, Jessica Meyer, Nick Photinos, Remy Le Boeuf, Ben Wendel, and others. The title track “Ritual Being” is about the effects of mankind’s behaviors on the planet and each other.

Rising tenor saxophone star & 2013 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition winner (first female instrumentalist & first South American in the history of the competition) Melissa Aldana releases her second trio album (and fourth as a leader), unveiling powerful music by herself and her illustrious bandmates with the explorative and deeply swinging "Back Home". Pablo Menares, Aldana's fellow native of Santiago, Chile, is on acoustic bass. On drums is the in- demand Jochen Rueckert, bringing a supple and unpredictable rhythmic élan to the session.

Brian Charette, one of the most innovative B3 organists today, presents his daring and exciting project departing from the traditional organ jazz approach. With "the sound of a reed choir plus organ" in mind, Charette wrote challenging and dazzling original material for this special band.

2019 is a milestone year for altoist Will Vinson. It’s twenty years since he relocated to New York from his native London, and commenced an exploration that led him into the heart of that city’s legendary scene, where the tradition and the avant-garde intersect. Seven records as leader have confirmed his stature: now, for his debut on Whirlwind, titled four forty one, he’s dug into his contact book to present the realization of a long-held dream - to record with five of the greatest contemporary piano masters.