Angel Song cover
Released

When “Nicolette” graces the ears, it’s clear you are in unprecedented territory. Trumpeter Kenny Wheeler offers it as the first of nine original tunes that constitute this warm hug of a jazz album. With Lee Konitz on alto saxophone, Dave Holland on bass, and Bill Frisell on guitar, the drum-less bandleader paints in broad yet precise strokes of such sincerity that it’s all we can do to catch our breath in the interims. Konitz is especially worth focusing on throughout, though Frisell’s liquid stretches are nothing to sidestep, while Wheeler himself has rarely sounded so lush.

Tyran Grillo

Recommended by

Suggestions
The Inflated Tear cover

The Inflated Tear

Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Frère Jacques - Round About Offenbach cover

Frère Jacques - Round About Offenbach

Gianluigi Trovesi, Gianni Coscia
Sumiglia cover

Sumiglia

Primavera en Salonico, Savina Yannatou
Book of Ways cover

Book of Ways

Keith Jarrett
Universal Syncopations cover

Universal Syncopations

Jan Garbarek, Jack DeJohnette, John McLaughlin, Miroslav Vitous, Chick Corea
Jasmine cover

Jasmine

Charlie Haden, Keith Jarrett
Bass Desires cover

Bass Desires

Bill Frisell, Peter Erskine, Marc Johnson, John Scofield
Kuára: Psalms and Folk Songs cover

Kuára: Psalms and Folk Songs

Per Jorgenson, Samuli Mikkonen, Markku Ounaskari
Steal Away cover

Steal Away

Charlie Haden, Hank Jones
Blues & Roots cover

Blues & Roots

Charles Mingus