GEORGE'S BRIEFS

Tomas Janzon; Jazz Diary

Here's a little change of pace from your usual guitar jazz trio under the leadership of Tomas Janzon. You'll hear a hint of mystery here and there with some minor key orientation and even a bit of welcome dissonance from time to time. There are eleven original compositions in all and certainly there are well honed sounds here for guitar fans and fellow guitarists to sample.

Changes Music; probably 2026; times not indicated

Trombocalist Big Band; The Vigil And The Sleeping Giant

Here's a big band with the sound that might prevail as a sort of welcome at a political event. The eight selections performed here are all originals with something of an emphasis on electronic instrumentation. Something for everyone to be sure and this one will find its audience.

Self produced; 2026; times not indicated

Pete Mills; This Is Now

Silvery toned tenor man Pete Mills leads a quintet of guitar, piano, bass, and drums through swinging, upbeat, feel good originals and a real bonus in Billy Strayhorn's classic “UMMG”. Nobody goes for the gut punch here. This is the simple concept of making listenable, accessible jazz. Let's never forget how important that is. Mills and friends pull it off with ease, wit, and fun for all.

Mighty Ernie Records; 2026; appx. 64 min.

Mike Clement; Polka Dots and Ray Bans

Here we have yet another of those guitar-organ meetings led by Mike Clement. The big difference here is that this is not your usual outing of this nature. Instead, it's a guaranteed jazz album with additional instrumentation on a hard swinging approach featuring ten originals by the leader. A real breath of fresh air blowing your way!

Cellar Music Group; 2026; appx. 52 min.

Marie-Paule Franke; Through The Cracks, The Light Is Born

I doubt that Marie-Paule Franke would be described as a jazz singer. However, a very sweet and sincere vocal fills the seven original compositions heard here. They are primarily emotional outpourings, what we'd refer to as ballads, but all in a present day musical approach. So if you'd like to be in the mood for a pleasant detour from a pure jazz singer, this may be your ticket to a new journey.

MariPosa Records; 2026; appx. 30 min.

Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band; Arsenio And Beyond

Get in line, all of you Latin jazz fans. You need to sample this one because it has every imaginable Latin percussive instrument possible. A number of these highly rhythmic selections are played and sung (of course in Spanish) by an ensemble obviously having way too much fun. Most likely you will too!

Jazzheads; 2026; times not indicated

Christine Fawson; It Could Happen To You

That Great American Songbook is still out there, waiting to be visited by exceptional jazz hip singers like Christine Fawson. Working with a strong piano led trio and her own impressive trumpet entries, Fawson shines on such winners as “It's All Right With Me”, “My Heart Stood Still”, “Oh, Lady Be Good”, and much more. High class from note one.

Self produced; 2026; appx. 53 min. 

Chris Hazelton; In Rotation

Aw, c'mon! You can handle one more Hammond B3 session, right? This one is led by organist Chris Hazelton and a pretty full range of colleagues. In addition to the five originals on the date, you'll celebrate the presence of Billy Strayhorn's “A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing”, Lee Morgan's “Speedball”, and Tadd Dameron's “On A Misty Night” Horace Silver's “Summer In Central Park”, all classics. There's real B3 bounty here, so give it a whirl!

Cellar Music Group; 2026; appx. 60 min.

Andrea Miller; Let Our Love Take Wing

How nice that there are singers like Andrea Miller. You see, she celebrates the riches of the American Songbook by concentrating on “all-timers” like “Body And soul”, “Blue Skies”, “East Of The Sun”, “Love For Sale”, “Will You Still Be Mine”, and lots more. Andrea, you just keep your emphasis right where it is on this release. You can't lose with the good stuff.

Self produced [Tony Guerrero]; 2026; appx. 57 min.

Zen Zadravec; New Paradigm

Hard bop is still out there in the very capable hands of pianist Zen Zadravec and his adventurous, in your face colleagues. These are all new compositions, filled with life and played with fiery enthusiasm. Solos are generous and creative and micianship is rough hewed and inspired. Stretch a bit if you're a hard bopper. It's worth the effort.

Marmite Records; 2026; appx. 53 min.