Rufus Reid - It's the Nights I Like (with Sullivan Fortner) - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Both sides of Rufus Reid, the jazz one and the classical one, come togeth er on this album; in fact, it's like two albums for the price of one. The six tracks on which his trio is joined by the internationally acclaimed Sirius Quartet show off his facility for writing daring, memorable string arrange ments that draw equally from jazz and Western classical music. (Two of the six are by Allee, also a sophisticated composer whose musical interests are as broad as Rufus's.) Forming a delightful counterweight to these hybrid, chamber-jazz enterprises are five tunes that feature just piano, bass and drums three blues-based excursions, a tender ballad and a jazz samba. The blurring of the lines between jazz and classical musicians - en couraged by the conservatories where both genres are increasingly part of the curriculum - is vividly demonstrated throughout the album, and especially in the title track. Recruiting the Sirius Quartet for this project proves to be an inspired choice - they are as celebrated for their facility with improvisation as they are for their adventurous repertoire. They play with precision and fire throughout, as demonstrated in the title track, which includes dazzling improvised solos by violinist Gre gor Huebner and cellist Jeremy Harman. Eschewing false dichotomies, Rufus insists on bringing both sides of his musical personality to bear.

With his latest album, THESE HUMBLE MACHINES, BT takes his Grammy-nominated, two hour opus -THESE HOPEFUL MACHINES - and concentrates it into an intense 70-minute experience that every electronic music lover will need to add to their collection. Fans can now experience BT's compositional mastery and technical prowess on one thrilling disc.

Sullivan Fortner's ended 2024 with three Grammy nominations including Best Jazz Instrumental Album for 2024's Solo Game. 2025 kicks off with the of his new trio album Southern Nights. In July 2023, Fortner returned to the Village Vanguard as a leader. Tasked with forming an all-star trio, Sullivan brought together the iconic bassist Peter Washington, celebrated for his lyrical depth and groove, and drummer Marcus Gilmore, whose innovative rhythms have redefined modern jazz. Despite their first-ever collaboration and limited rehearsal, the trio's chemistry was immediate, resulting in Southern Nights, a raw, unedited live recording that perfectly captures the energy of their Vanguard performances. InchNot only would this be the first time Peter and Marcus had ever met, but there was no time to rehearse. [...] With no isolation, no edits, and very few retakes, we managed to record 12 songs in four hours.Inch Featuring one of Fortner's original composition, pieces by Allen Toussaint and Consuela Lee, and a heartfelt tribute to his late mentor, Bill Lee, the album is an acoustic celebration of spontaneity and connection. On Southern Nights, Fortner celebrates the music of New Orleans that he holds so dear and continues to prove why he is one of the most celebrated jazz pianists of his generation, delivering music that is both timeless and deeply personal.