Hundred-word Reviews for June 2025: Jazz

More of my capsule reviews. Five great new jazz releases this time.

Daggerboard & Erik Jekabson Orchestra – The Axes Volume II
Daggerboard is one of the most fascinating jazz ensembles on today’s musical landscape. Sort of a house band of Wide Hive records (though that description sell them short), the group has engaged in a number of notable collaborative projects. This latest one pairs the four-man core group with an orchestra under the direction of trumpeter Erik Jekabson. The result is thrilling and tuneful music that leverages the best qualities of both sets of musicians. Some orchestral jazz can be a bit abstract for my tastes, or too traditionally-minded. This one hits the sweet spot between those points. A great listen.

Dave Bass – Trio Nuevo, Vol. 2
Pianist Dave Bass launched his Trio Nuevo project with a self-titled release in 2024. Mere months later, he returns with a second volume. Joined by upright bassist Tyler Miles and Steve Helfand on drums, Bass charts a path through six instrumentals in a classic vein. The music swings, with hints of Monk and others informing his work. And Bass seamlessly melds his own compositional expertise with that of Wayne Shorter on “LeGrand/Lester Left Town.” Elsewhere he pays homage to Lennie Tristano, Béla Bartók, Johnny Mercer, Johann Sebastian Bach and other greats, all while maintaining his own signature style. Great stuff.

Count Basie Orch. Feat. Deborah Silver – Basie Rocks!
The idea of taking songs created in one genre and recasting them in another is perhaps as old as music itself. Okay, maybe not quite that old, but my point stands. In recent years we’ve witnessed Scott Bradlee’s knowing take on that approach via his Postmodern Jukebox. Now comes vocalist Deborah Silver, backed by the Count Basie Orchestra, doing something of a similar mindset but with its own spin. The songs are pretty much all unexpected choices for such a treatment: Rolling Stones, Elton John, Wings, Steve Miller Band, The Police, Bob Seger and Joe Walsh. Inspired and well executed.

Mike Thompson – 6th Avenue
It’s quite remarkable and surprising – and wonderful – that big band music is still a thing. In an age when many studio recordings are assembled via flown-in parts, there’s something truly exciting about the live, breathing feel only achieved by musicians playing together in real time. When there’s a bunch of ‘em, it can be even better. Mike Thompson conducts an 18-piece band maneuvering its way tunefully through original compositions and Great American Songbook selections. They swing on Thompson’s “Durango Drive” and stretch out on “May.” One of many highlights is Sarpay Özçağatay’s flute lead on “Someday My Prince Will Come.”

Ron Rieder – Día Precioso!
My wife and I recently explored Cuba for a two-week visit. The old saw about there being live music everywhere you go there is in fact true. This outfit is based in Boston, but the Havana character is strong. I never tire of Afro-Cuban jazz, and I admire composers who can write and arrange original material in that style, so this album ticks all the boxes for me. Irresistible and hummable melodies, kinetic rhythms and an unceasing uptempo vibe pervade this delightful set of tunes. It should go without saying that the playing is first-rate, but I’ll say it anyway.