Label: Chesky Records 2023

With "Jazz In The New Harmonic" David Chesky fuses 21st century classical harmonies with his city's rhythms to create a new genre of jazz. The album liberates the pulse, soul, energy, and groove from past traditions, it's the first encounter with the transcendental music of our age. Chesky is a first class provocateur, and his 21st century classical harmonic approach kicks into high gear with his streamlined New York groove machine. Chesky's vision has been realized with this super band of all star jazz musicians.

The restless composer has had one hand in jazz, one in classical. Here he brilliantly blends the two, adding ethno-folk into the mix. Musically audacious, and one of the finest recordings you'll ever hear, period.

In 2016, Macy Gray arrived at The Hirsch Center, a former Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn, to make "Stripped," one of the most unusual and extraordinary albums in her discography. A project put together by the audiophile label Chesky Records, Stripped was recorded in two days with Gray accompanied by guitarist Russell Malone, bassist Daryl Johns, drummer Ari Hoenig, and trumpeter Wallace Roney, all seasoned, well-pedigreed jazz cats. Gray served up remakes of several of her key back catalog titles, including 'I Try' and 'Sweet Baby.' Also included were some new songs, like the infectious 'Annabelle,' and jazzy makeovers of Metallica's 'Nothing Else Matters' and Bob Marley's iconic 'Redemption Song.' With it's pared-back arrangements allowing her inimitable voice to shine, Stripped revealed a side of Macy Gray that had never been heard before."Stripped" was Gray's first jazz album, and it was a commercial success and critically acclaimed. It debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. This re-release will be available on SACD Hybrid Stereo.

This smoking organ trio recording is both a first for guitarist Larry Coryell and a return to his roots. More than 40 years after moving to New York City from Seattle, Coryell comes full circle back to his roots with this inspired organ trio outing. And in the stellar company of Yahel and Wertico, he is pushed to some exhilarating heights on these nine tracks.

The acclaimed New York saxophonist Javon Jackson leads a celebration of the music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, whose collaboration began in 1938 and continued until Strayhorn's death in 1967. Jackson is joined for this session by arranger/pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Paul Gill and drummer Tony Reedus. Together they perform well-known compositions such as "Caravan," "Chelsea Bridge," and "Lotus Blossom," as well as tunes that are not usually played by quartets such as "In My Solitude." The two soloists, Jackson and Hazeltine explore the bluesier and moodier side of Ellington's music as well as ballads like "Warm Valley" and slightly more up-tempo tunes like "In a Sentimental Mood".

The Modern Jazz Quartet—pianist John Lewis, vibraphonist Milt "Bags" Jackson, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Connie Kay—stood as paragons of elegance in jazz. They created a sonic world where the formalism of European classical music met the soul and swing of bebop. With precision, grace, and quiet innovation, the MJQ carved out a refined chamber-jazz aesthetic that demanded listening not just in smoky clubs, but in concert halls. Their interplay was conversational, their improvisation disciplined, and their style utterly singular. They were, in the truest sense, architects of a sound that balanced intellect with feeling.

Fred Hersch is an American jazz pianist and educator. He has performed solo and led his own groups, including the Pocket Orchestra consisting of piano, trumpet, voice, and percussion. He was the first person to play weeklong engagements as a solo pianist at the Village Vanguard in New York City. He has recorded more than 70 of his jazz compositions. Hersch has been nominated for several Grammy Awards. This compilation of celebrated pianist's best-loved recordings for Chesky culls material from three discs-1991's Forward Motion, 1993's Dancing in the Dark and 1994's The Fred Hersch Trio Plays.

Monty Alexander's virtuosity was apparent from an early age, learning to play by ear at 4. 70 years on, Alexander's talents have continued to grow and evolve, resulting in three of the most inspiring recordings in the Chesky catalog - The Good Life: The Music of Tony Bennett, Calypso Blues: The Music of Nat King Cole, and Caribbean Circle. Never Let Me Go: Chesky's Best of Monty Alexander serves as an auditory tour of some of Monty's finest moments on Chesky Records. If you're new to Monty's material, prepare for excellence in its purest form.