Zero Again

Begin Again, Hersch's new Palmetto release featuring the Cologne-based WDR Big Band, arranged and conducted by six-time Grammy winner Vince Mendoza, serves as both an expertly curated overview of the pianist's oeuvre and a singular new entry in his expansive discography. The album features nine of Hersch's original compositions, plucked from throughout his various projects and preferred formats, including one previously unrecorded piece.

Few would argue with the statement that there is not an excess of guitar-trombone duet albums. In fact, in terms of instrumentation, this date may very well be somewhat unique in jazz history. Trombonist J.J. Johnson had already been the pacesetter on his instrument for nearly 40 years at the time, while guitarist Joe Pass proved in the 1970s that he could make his axe fulfill all the roles of an orchestra. Still, the strong success of this inspired outing is a bit of a surprise. While Pass often adds walking lines behind Johnson, the trombonist sometimes plays long tones behind the guitarist's solos. Most exciting are the spots where the two share the lead equally. Other than Bud Powell's "Bud's Blues" and Johnson's "Naked as a Jaybird," the duo sticks to standards. But obviously, these versions sound quite a bit different than usual. Highlights include "Wave," "Limehouse Blues," "Nature Boy," and "When Lights Are Low."

Recorded live at the Casino de Montreux in Switzerland, this 1982 broadcast features 19 Browne performances: Somebody's Baby; That Girl Could Sing; Fountain of Sorrow; For Everyman; Knock on Any Door; Your Bright Baby Blues; Tender Is the Night; For a Dancer; and more.

A twelve track album featuring iconic covers and new material (‘Stop Right Now’ and ‘Can’t Hurry Love’). Other songs on the record are made up of her covers performed on The Masked Singer, including Rihanna's Diamonds, Billie Eilish's Everything I Wanted, Harry Styles' Falling and Tracey Chapman's Fast Car.

The debut album by the soon-to-be venerable Fatback Band is a mostly instrumental – minus some "What's Going On"-style exclamations and raps in the background – collection of pure funk grooves. More in the Curtis Mayfield vein of slick and nimble dancefloor fillers than loose Parliament/Funkadelic jams, these nine tracks are concise – only one track breaks the four-minute barrier – and tightly constructed, with little room for exploratory soloing or aimless vamping. The key tracks, however, are the three non-originals, cover choices that might surprise some folks who have never heard, say, Isaac Hayes' Black Moses: the Fatback Band strips down any cheesy sentimentality from Glen Campbell's Jimmy Webb hit "Wichita Lineman," Bread's wimp-rock classic "Baby I'm-A Want You,".

Limited pressing edition. Reissue album from ELVIN JONES. Releasing in SHM-CD. Originally released by Atlantic in 1965. Recorded on Feb. 16(Tr. 1, 4, 6) & Mar. 18(Tr. 2, 3, 5, 7), 1965 in New York. J.J. Johnson(tb), Frank Wess(ts, fl), Charles Davis(bar), Don Friedman, Hank Jones(p), Art Davis, Paul Chambers(b), Elvin Jones(ds), Thad Jones(cnt, arr).