Aaron Parks, Little Big III
The humble and “often perplexed” pianist, Parks found solid ground on his newest Blue Note release, the second in his discography as a leader. Little Big III is an almost 20-year follow up to Parks’ first Blue Note release in 2008 (a favorite on Jazz24) and also highlights the growth in Parks’ musicianship and overall sound with new compositions that are perfect for fans of easy-listening jazz. The track “Little Beginnings” is a perfect example of Parks’ growth with a rare duo performance on acoustic piano and synthesizer.
Jazzmeia Horn, Messages
The versatile vocalist continues to expand on what it means to be just a jazz singer. Whether adding modern vocal techniques backed by big bands, or classic scat vocals that harken back to names like Holiday or Vaughan – Jazzmeia Horn’s vocals are always at the forefront, and her latest album Messages is no different. Set to release October 25th, a few of the songs released so far reveal that this project is personal to Horn with themes of family and love. Gratitude especially, as the track “Voicemail Blues” features snippets from some of Horn's friends and colleagues like Reggie Workman and a heartfelt message from her kids.
Ezra Collective, Dance, No One’s Watching
The British Jazz quintet return with heavier grooves on their new album with a title that reads more like a mantra than album title. Dance is more than physical for the collective, drummer Femi Koleoso talked about the importance of dance, and said the albums “meant to look at dancing in a more spiritual capacity, like it's our God-given ability to shake away the badness of life and dance instead." Their single “God Gave Me Feet For Dancing” features Yazmin Lacey and is a perfect preface to the collective’s 19-song album.
