New on Palmetto

Produced by studio maestro Matt Pierson, who has helped shape albums by jazz’s most distinctive artists (including Brad Mehldau, Joshua Redman, Taylor Eigsti and Mark Turner), The Calling features 10 Collin originals and his seductive arrangements of John Mayer's “Stop This Train” and Horace Silver's classic “Nica's Dream.”

Building upon his highly responsive trio with bassist Luques Curtis and drummer Kendrick Scott, Collin has crafted a ravishing body of music featuring subtly textured flourishes added in post-production. An eagerly awaited follow-up to his acclaimed 2008 debut, The Calling is a quantum leap for Collin, a highly personal statement that embraces the musical currents that move him most deeply.

With Girl Talk, Grammy nominated Kate McGarry pays homage to her role models among the great women of the jazz vocal tradition, from Betty Carter to Sheila Jordan to Carmen McRae. Accompanied by an intimately swinging jazz combo, McGarry puts her own inimitable spin on such classic songs as “We Kiss in a Shadow,” “The Man I Love,” the winking title track and, as a dream duet with Kurt Elling, the Brazilian “O Cantador.” McGarry, although inspired by tradition, makes the album’s songs feel utterly contemporary, not only through her distinctly 21st-century musical personality but through the personal emotions and sexual politics at play.

The challenge and opportunity in this album was for McGarry to “honor the tradition these women developed but also allow the music to reflect life today – my life today,” she says. “Singing these songs can’t be like putting on a costume. I didn’t grow up in the ‘30s or ‘40s or ‘50s, and I wouldn’t consider myself a traditional jazz singer per se. As someone who has covered everything from Björk to Sting to the Cars, I definitely have my own influences musically, just as I’ve lived in a world that’s so different in terms of media and society. But the elements of harmonic and rhythmic improvisation, of swing, of storytelling – these are where those classic jazz singers and I connect. I see this album as a bridge between the contemporary things I do and the jazz tradition I learned so much from.”

“Two bubbles found they had rainbows on their curves. They flickered out saying: “It was worth being a bubble, just to have held that rainbow thirty seconds,” recites drummer and bandleader Matt Wilson recites in his composition “Bubbles”. Inspired by the poem by Carl Sandburg, the song reflects the message of his 10th album as a leader for Palmetto Records.

An Attitude for Gratitude (February 14th / Palmetto) is the 4th album by the award-winning ensemble Matt Wilson’s Arts & Crafts, an extraordinary collective of musical personalities featuring Wilson, Terell Stafford (trumpet), Gary Versace (piano, organ and accordion) and Martin Wind (bass). “This album celebrates having a loving family, a fabulous band and a remarkable community of people who surround and inspire me. Most important, I am most grateful that my wife Felicia is healthy again. She received a stem cell transplant after being diagnosed with leukemia and is doing great!”

Matt Wilson is beloved worldwide for being one of jazz music’s most imaginative, entertaining and fun-loving spirits. National Public Radio says, “Drummer Matt Wilson is one of the friendliest guys in jazz, and his music, even at its most complex, reflects that.” He was voted the 2011 Drummer of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association, an honor he was also awarded in 2003, and was featured on the covers of both Downbeat and Jazz Times magazines in November of 2009. In addition to maintaining an active schedule as a performer, bandleader and recording artist, Wilson is a dedicated teaching artist. His outreach work and reputation as a community builder has helped establish him as an treasured ambassador for jazz music.

2011 GRAMMYˆ nominated composer and trumpeter Tim Hagans is one of the most unique and influential modern voices in jazz. His debut recording for Palmetto, The Moon Is Waiting features Tim (trumpet), Vic Juris (guitar), Rufus Reid (bass) and Jukkis Uotila (drums, piano) and was recorded at Maggie’s Farm by Matt Balitsaris.

What do you get when a former Los Angeles studio guitarist collaborates with his “favorite” drummer -- who just happens to be a founding member of one of the most iconic rock bands of all-time -- and creates a refreshingly innovative style of smooth jazz?

The answer is WATSON’S RIDDLE, a dynamic new instrumental group formed in Upstate South Carolina by veteran guitarist Steve Watson and original Marshall Tucker Band drummer Paul T. Riddle and also featuring legendary pianist Chuck Leavell (Allman Brothers Band, Sea Level, Rolling Stones) and top-notch bassist Tim Lawter (MTB).

WATSON'S RIDDLE was conceived when cardiothoracic surgeon Douglas Appleby, M.D., encouraged his friend and guitar instructor Steve to write music that was “emotionally engaging, relaxing and transforming to the human soul.” Watson wrote some of the album’s material during the good doctor’s weekly lessons and eventually took the project to Riddle who brought in Leavell and Lawter.

Leavell's powerful presence is felt throughout the album with his brilliant piano work giving the project an extra dose of aural magic.

Riddle served as producer for the album and Watson composed all 10 tracks. The music of WATSON’S RIDDLE is a blend of jazz, R&B and pop or, as Paul likes to call it, “melodic freak.” It offers moments of introspection, moments of playful funkiness and even laidback moments where everything seems right with the world. There are numerous solos, and the collective interaction among the musicians is sure to appeal not only to a jazz audience but to rock and pop fans as well.

Alex Skolnick is a true guitar hero. At sixteen years old, he joined a group of twenty- somethings who’d formed a thrash metal band called Testament. Alex stayed with the band through five critically acclaimed albums and countless tours with, among others, Slayer, Megadeth, Judas Priest, and White Zombie. After hearing and seeing one of Miles Davis’ electric bands on TV, Alex relocated to New York City to play and study jazz.

Alex Skolnick Trio (AST) was formed while Alex was earning his BfA in jazz from New School University in Manhattan. AST has been lauded by critics, fans and musical heroes alike ranging from Downbeat to Jazziz to the Village Voice to Kirk Hammet of Metallica. Veritas is the trio’s 4th album and their first for Palmetto Records.

AST’s newest release, Veritas, continues Alex’s passion to trail-blaze through the landscape of pop, jazz, rock and metal to find common ground and push boundaries all in the name of great music. Veritas (Latin for “Truth”) has 10 original tunes (all penned by Alex) and a 11th track that transforms a classic metal tune by Metallica, “Fade to Black,” into a post-modern Jazz composition. Other standout tracks include Bollywood Jam – a humorous mash-up of Bollywood soundtrack grooves and sophisticated improvisation, and the hard-hitting funk of 99/09, in which Alex imagines a collaboration between pop superstar Prince and jazz guitarist John Scofield.

NOMINATED FOR TWO GRAMMYS

The Village Vanguard has been open since 1935 and up until a few years ago they had never invited a pianist to perform solo at the club. Fred Hersch holds the unique distinction of being the first pianist in the long history of the Vanguard to do just that....twice - so far.

Alone at the Vanguard documents Mr. Hersch’s second solo piano engagement (Nov 30 – Dec 5, 2010) at the renowned club. All 6 nights and 12 sets were recorded and there was much to choose from, but in the end it was the last set of the last night that Fred chose to go with. Some say that since Fred recovered from his much-documented coma, his playing is deeper and more emotional. Although all of the sets had great performances, this last set from the last night is a true testament to his mastery.