Bern
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 30, 2026
O's Notes: The legendary trumpeter Roy Hargrove is in rare form in this live performance recorded at the International Jazz Festival in BERN, Switzerland, May 4, 2000. Hargrove is accompanied by Sherman Irby (a-sax), Larry Willis (p), Gerald Cannon (b), and Willie Jones III (d). They waste no time getting down to business, burning on “Stranded”, the first of five lengthy well-developed tracks. The dynamics are excellent, especially on tunes like “Never Let Me Go”.
Captain Hubs
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 30, 2026
O's Notes: Todd Herbert is a proven tenor saxophonist on the New York jazz scene. His latest release is Captain Hubs in a quartet with David Hazeltine (p), John Weber (p), and Louis Hayes (d). They perform a mix of ten originals and standards. “Temple of Silence”, “The Mind’s Eye”, “Look Into the Ayss”, and Shorter’s “Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum” are a few of the best songs.
Samba Tonto
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 30, 2026
O's Notes: German harmonica player Hendrik Meurkens leads his trio including Misha Tsiganov (keyboards), Eduardo Belo (b) and Portinho (d). The program has upbeat sambas and soothing ballads with Meurkens breathing magical melodies into all of it. Guests Justus Heher adds trombone on seven songs, notably “Herb’s Samba”, and Laura Dreyer plays flute on four selections, shining on “Chorinho For Nico”. The entire ensemble plays on “Surf Board” & “Chelsea Nocturne”. Samba Tonto is a rich experience.
Flying High
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 30, 2026
O's Notes: Pianist, vocalist and producer Champian Fulton leads two distinct trios on Flying High Still Soaring, her latest album of 10 selections. She partners with Charles Ruggiero (d) and Buster Williams (b) for four selections, and with Fukushi Tainaka (d) and Neal Miner (b) for five selections. Klas Lindquist (a-sax cl) joins for five songs. We liked “Good Morning Heartache” & “Swing! Brother, Swing!”, both featuring Tahira Clayton (vocals) with shadowing by Lindquist, “Lullaby of the Leaves”, and “What A Little Moonlight Can Do” featuring Carmen Bradford (vocals). We also enjoyed “It’s Been A Long, Long Time” featuring Bria Skonberg.
The Promise of You
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 30, 2026
O's Notes: Marcus delivers a soft, cuddly, mostly original set on The Promise of You. He is backed by a core quartet of Art Hirahara (p), Michael O’Brien (b), Jay Rattman (sax, cl), and Alvester Garnett (d) with several guests sprinkled in along the way. There are swinging fresh arrangements of “Skylark”, and “The Best Is Yet To Come”. Keita Ogawa (perc) is featured on “Let’s Get Lost” with Paul Bollenback (g). We also enjoyed “I’ll Build A Stairway to Paradise”, “There’s A Small Hotel”, and “Two At A Time” featuring Rattman.