James Francies

Unlike almost any other modern musician, Pat Metheny remains uniquely unpredictable. A new Metheny record could be almost anything as the only musician to have won twelve of his twenty Grammy awards in twelve different categories. His recent recording Road To The Sun caused a sensation in the classical music world for its intricate and emotionally satisfying chamber music compositions. At the same time, its immediate predecessor From This Place was Downbeat magazine’s Jazz Record of the Year as an expansive and timeless large-scale work.

Vibraphone master and thought leader Stefon Harris (featured on the cover of Downbeat's May 2024 issue) drops a surprise short-form album featuring four excellent tracks from his 2017 Sonic Creed sessions, his exquisite vibes & marimba arrangement of Stevie Wonder's "You. and I," and a moving new ballad titled "I Know Love." His 10th album serves as both a sequel to the previous 2018 release and also serves as a prequel for an epic new release coming in 1Q 2025, entitled 'LEGACY DANCES'.

One of the most prolific improvisers of his generation returns with the follow up to his 2019 Circuits album: a powerful and cathartic record featuring keyboardist James Francies and drummer Eric Harland.

Vibraphone master and thought leader Stefon Harris (featured on the cover of Downbeat's May 2024 issue) drops a surprise short-form album featuring four excellent tracks from his 2017 Sonic Creed sessions, his exquisite vibes & marimba arrangement of Stevie Wonder's "You. and I," and a moving new ballad titled "I Know Love." His 10th album serves as both a sequel to the previous 2018 release and also serves as a prequel for an epic new release coming in 1Q 2025, entitled 'LEGACY DANCES'.

Vibraphone master and thought leader Stefon Harris (featured on the cover of Downbeat's May 2024 issue) drops a surprise short-form album featuring four excellent tracks from his 2017 Sonic Creed sessions, his exquisite vibes & marimba arrangement of Stevie Wonder's "You. and I," and a moving new ballad titled "I Know Love." His 10th album serves as both a sequel to the previous 2018 release and also serves as a prequel for an epic new release coming in 1Q 2025, entitled 'LEGACY DANCES'.

With his third record, 2-time GRAMMY winner Derrick Hodge unleashes his freest work yet. Color of Noize — due out June 26 on Blue Note Records — is the band, the concept, and the album, and if that name evokes more questions than answers for you, then you’re reading it right. The title is perfectly wide-open and inquisitive for a composer, bandleader, and bassist (etc.) with Hodge’s history.

Saxophonist and composer Walter Smith III enters a new era of his band leading career with his remarkable Blue Note debut return to casual, the long-anticipated follow-up to his self-released 2014 recording still casual. Eight original works (and one new arrangement) all composed within weeks of each other layer, displace, dismantle and reassemble among the Houston native’s fellow artists. Reprising their bandmate roles, pianist Taylor Eigsti, guitarist Matt Stevens, bassist Harish Raghavan, and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire reveal a seasoned depth of dimension alongside a featured guest appearance by pianist James Francies.