Milton Nascimento & Esperanza Spalding, Milton + esperanza
Almost 40 years separate Milton Nascimento and Esperanza Spalding, but their love of Brazilian music has spawned a 15 year friendship, and the two were able to capture their intimate friendship on the new self-titled project, released on Concord Jazz. The album begins with a conversation between Milton and Esperanza as if they were sitting on a park bench, then rolls into a 15 song journey of originals, renditions of Nascimento tunes, and covers from The Beatles and Michael Jackson.
Wayne Escoffery, Alone
Tenor saxophonist and composer Wayne Escoffery is back with his latest album from Smoke Session Records. True to the title, Alone, reflects on love, loss and solitude. Accompanied by Ron Carter (Bass), grief could be another emotion as well, as Ron recently announced the passing of guitarist Russell Malone while on tour together. Carter’s playing stands out even more, as he interprets each emotion with solid plucks of his strings. Alongside Gerald Clayton (Piano) and Carl Allen (Drums), Escoffery describes the album's atmosphere as “stark melancholy and searching introspection.”
Emmet Cohen, Vibe Provider
One of the top pianists in today's jazz scene, Emmet Cohen’s Vibe Provider is the latest in what seems like yearly releases for the artist. Perhaps a new nickname for Emmet, too, as he definitely provides the vibes, featuring an all star band that includes drummers Kyle Poole and Joe Farnswoth and a horn section that includes Bruce Harris (Trumpet) and Tivon Pennicot (Saxophone).
