On the marlbank radar looking ahead beyond the blue horizon these albums stand out. Contrasts ‘R’ Us. So discover instrumentals on the avant side from Henry Threadgill while George Garzone’s strictly vintage approach is far more steeeped in heritage bop. Quality vocals led adventure from Gretchen Parlato and spirituality from Lizz Wright also stamp their authority on proceedings.
Henry Threadgill, Vijay Iyer and Dafnis Prieto release Fifteen (Nonesuch, 21 August), the long-evolving trio’s first recording together, marking fifteen years since their initial meeting at New York’s Jazz Gallery. The programme draws on original compositions from all three, with Prieto’s ‘Gently Trapped’ offering an early glimpse of the group’s elastic, conversational interplay. With each member a major composer-performer in his own right, the music leans into contrast and continual reinvention, shifting perspectives piece to piece while retaining a strong collective identity. What emerges is a sharply defined three-way dialogue – structurally alert, rhythmically fluid – shaped by distinct voices brought into close, responsive alignment.
Sax master George Garzone has Themes for Good Friends (Jojo Records, 11 September), a straight-ahead quintet date bringing together Randy Brecker, Luis Perdomo, Santi Debriano and Jeff “Tain” Watts, shaped by long-standing musical relationships and a shared lineage. The programme blends originals and reworkings – among them ‘Mingus That I Knew’, ‘To Michael Brecker’ and Debriano’s ‘Ripty-Boom’ – alongside interpretations of Archie Shepp and John Coltrane, plus a neatly turned Van Heusen contrafact, ‘It Will Happen to You’. Standout moments include a poised duet with Perdomo on ‘Theme for Ernie’ and a probing ‘Giant Steps’ encounter with Watts, while the Brecker tribute keeps trumpet and tenor interwoven throughout. Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio and arriving as Garzone marks 50 years on the Berklee faculty in Boston, it underscores both his enduring authority as a player and his far-reaching influence as an educator.
Gretchen Parlato returns with The Wise Ones (Edition, 11 September), a reflective, quietly assured set that reconnects with the aesthetic she helped shape, bringing together long-time collaborators Robert Glasper, Gerald Clayton, Mark Guiliana and Alan Hampton. Drawing on songs written across two decades, the album folds new material alongside earlier pieces into a cohesive, groove-led narrative, with guests including Meshell Ndegeocello, Becca Stevens and Amber Navran. Early tracks such as ‘Capricorn’ and ‘Rainbow’ point to a characteristically poised blend of space, rhythmic subtlety and tonal control, while reinterpretations like ‘If It’s Magic’ and ‘Mad World’ sit naturally within Parlato’s intimate, detail-focused approach. Arriving as she reaches 50, The Wise Ones carries a sense of perspective and continuity, balancing introspection with a wider generational dialogue shaped by her enduring influence.
Lizz Wright releases Nearness (Blues & Greens/Candid, 25 September), an intimate duo set with long-time collaborator Kenny Banks Sr., marking a twenty-year musical partnership that began with an early, impromptu ‘Amazing Grace’. The 11-track programme moves between spirituals and standards – including ‘All The Things You Are’, ‘Deep River’ and the title track – framed by a stripped-back approach that places voice and piano/organ interplay at the centre. In contrast to the fuller arrangements of Shadow (2024), the focus here is on clarity and restraint, as heard on the lead single ‘Soon I’ll Be Done’, with the duo format allowing for a more direct, unadorned exchange.
