Jane Bunnett: Embracing Voices (Sunnyside): Everything soprano saxophonist-flutist Jane Bunnett does is bold, innovative, and uplifting. On her latest project Bunnett celebrates the human voice and the human spirit, performing with Canadian singers Kellylee Evans and Molly Johnson, Cuban rapper Telmary, and the astounding ten-voice choir, Grupo Vocal Desandann, plus the brilliant multi-instrumentalist Don Thompson. Winner of Canada's 2009 Juno Award for "Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year"

Brenda Earle: Songs for a New Day: Pianist-singer Brenda Earle's current CD is spirited and thoroughly engaging. Her treatments of standards ("You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," "Nobody Else But Me"), Latin-tinged numbers ("Valio la Pena," "So I Say"), and original tunes ("Standing," "A Few Lines") are exuberant and fun, and Earle's keyboard work is as enjoyable as her singing.

David Gibson: A Little Somethin' (Posi-tone): This new release by trombonist David Gilson rides the cutting edge of funk through a program of strong originals, plus the standard, "April in Paris." His quartet - Gibson's trombone, organist Jared Gold, alto saxophonist Julius Tolentino, and drummer Quincy Davis - has a refreshingly original sound, and once again Gibson demonstrates that he is one of his instrument's most adept improvisors.

Charles Tolliver

Charles Tolliver: Emperor March (Half Note): During the 1970s, trumpeter Charles Tolliver's music was as hip as you could get - and it still is. On this live big band date Tolliver's rich arrangements are performed by longtime colleagues pianist Stanley Cowell, tenor saxophonist Billy Harper, and bassist Reggie Workman, and rising jazz talents like pianist Anthony Wonsey, saxophonists Marcus Stricklund and Todd Bashore, and trombonists Michael Dease and Jason Jackson.

Bob Bernotas / www.jazzbob.com
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