Never Say Yes
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com December 29, 2025
O's Notes: We peek into the 1986 with Never Say Yes, music from the late Danish guitarist Doug Raney that is released in 2025 for the first time. The quartet is Ben Besiakov (p), Jesper Lundgaard (b), Jukkis Uotila (d), and Raney. This is a formidable unit that plays sizzling bop that has stood the test of time while hiding for almost 40 years! The melodies are precise with a rich buttery sound. Our favorites are “Softly As In A Morning Sunrise” featuring Lundgaard, “Giant Steps”, “I’m Old Fashioned”, and the title track.
Out Late
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com December 29, 2025
O's Notes: Pianist Eric Scott Reed bleeds his soul on Out Late, his interpretation of the New York jazz scene after hours. He leads a stellar quintet with Nicholas Payton (t), Eric Alexander (sax), Peter Washington (b), and Joe Farnsworth (d). The songs are all first takes, capturing a truth that reflects the skill of the unit. There are seven songs in the vinyl length 39 minutes. They swing on “All’umfrs”, “Shadowboxing”, “Delightful Daddy”, and warm our spirits on “Glow”.
No Bats, No Tequila
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com December 29, 2025
O's Notes: Keyboardist Jimmy Layton is back with his International Not Your Daddy’s Jazz band for No Bats No Tequila. The band includes Lincoln Adler (sax), Joe Goetting (b), and Mark Fletcher (d). The music has a Latin bent over five tracks. We’d liked the title track “What The Fuque”, and “Take O’ Take”.
City Suite
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com December 29, 2025
O's Notes: Rin Seo is a Korean pianist, composer and conductor now based in New York. She leads a 14-piece orchestra on City Suite, a blend of jazz and Korean music that rocks! She opens with a 3-part movement describing New York City. It is funky on “The Big Apple” featuring Steve Wilson (sax), cool on “Cityscape” and relaxing on “Alone But Not Alone”. The use of brass and strings works well here. The are reflective tunes like “Desert Flower” featuring Ingrid Jensen (t), Wayne Shorter’s “Blues A La Carte”, and energetic orchestrations like “Music For Dance No. 2”.
with Strings
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com December 29, 2025
O's Notes: NEA Jazz Master, saxophonist George Coleman leads a quintet with John Webber (b), David Hazeltine (p), Joe Farnsworth (d), Café da Silva (perc), and a lush, 10-piece string orchestra arranged and conducted by Bill Dobbins. These are wonderful new arrangements of jazz classics that never grow old when approached from this angle. We are greeted by the warmth of Coleman’s tenor sax on the opener, “Dedicated to You”. He’s complemented by strings and a solid rhythm section to make this a warm and inviting session.
To Milton With Love
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com December 29, 2025
O's Notes: Reedman Eddie Daniels celebrates the musical mastery of Milton Nascimento on To Milton With Love. These are warmth symphonic Latin sounds featuring Daniels (cl, fl, s-sax, t-sax) on the melodies. Pianist Josh Nelson also makes his presence known across all eleven selections. Anthony Wilson (g), Kevin Axt (b), and Ray Brinker (d) round out the rhythm section, and the Lyris String Quartet softens the mood. We enjoyed soft refreshing flow of “Morrow Velho” featuring Daniels on flute, “For Milton”, and “Cancoa Do Sal” featuring Wilson.