Drummer Greg Hutchinson has been the heartbeat of the New York City jazz scene for over three decades, bringing a signature fire to the bands of legends like Betty Carter, Roy Hargrove, and Joshua Redman. Known as one of the most soulful and technically gifted drummers of his generation, 'Hutch' is now stepping further into the spotlight as a leader. Today, we're discussing his evolution from the ultimate sideman to a visionary frontman with his second recording with Warner Music, Kind of Now-The Pulse of Miles Davis out April 3.

What happens when you go off the grid to find your sound? For saxophonist Caroline Davis, the answer is Fallows, her first solo release which was conceived during a month-long residency at Ucross, Wyoming. During this time Davis stripped away the 'self' to make room for pure creation: the album is the result of a deliberate 'un-becoming'—a period where Davis set aside the expectations of daily life to let the landscape speak through her horn.

In a world that is increasingly anchored by AI and social media, pianist and composer Emilio Solla champions the human connection on his new recording Handmade, with his nonet, La Inestable de Brooklyn. Swimming in his imagination are jazz, tango, classical, and other Argentinian folkloric music which all cohesively co-exist in this exciting musical offering.

What does it mean to embrace a new beginning? For Chicago alto saxophonist Lenard Simpson, it means answering the call of faith. Inspired by the prophet Isaiah's famous directive to "forget the former things; do not dwell on the past," Simpson's 2024 release, New Beginnings, is a stirring, soulful journey. With pianist Julius Tucker, bassist Runere Brooks, and drummer Samuel Jewell, this quartet masterfully blends the spiritual depth of the Black Church experience with the soaring improvisation of modern jazz. Join us as we explore Lenard Simpson's musical testament.

In the early 1900s, James Weldon Johnson explored the complex life of a bi-racial man who chose to disappear into white society in The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. Now, saxophonist Mark Turner uses this powerful novel as the foundation for his latest project. Join us as we listen to and discuss Turner's powerful compositions—a musical meditation on race, anonymity, and heritage—performed by his stellar quintet featuring Jason Palmer, David Virelles, Matt Brewer, and Nasheet Waits. Discover how this music forces the listener to confront the novel's enduring questions about identity and the American experience.

What if the patterns you see in the night sky weren't just constellations, but a musical score? Vibraphonist Patricia Brennan, an avid astronomer, has looked to the stars as the blueprint for her ambitious new record, Of The Near And Far, out October 24th on Pyroclastic Records. To bring this cosmic vision down to earth, Brennan enlisted a ten-piece ensemble featuring pianist Sylvie Courvoisier, guitarist Miles Okazaki, and a full string quartet. In this episode of LINER NOTES, we explore how one of the most innovative composers in creative music is turning celestial geometry into sound.

Créole Renaissance is the latest offering from pianist Aruán Ortiz on Intakt Records. This solo piano record draws its inspiration from the Négritude movement that originated in Paris in the early part of the 20th century that was established to counteract the anti-colonialism attitudes that many black artists in Paris faced as they worked in their various disciplines. In this episode of LINER NOTES, Aruán describes the inspiration that he was able to draw from this movement and reflects on the parallels he encounters as a Cuban-American living in New York City in 2025.

For nearly forty years, trumpeter Joe Magnarelli has been a fixture on the New York City jazz scene, gracing the bandstands of icons like Brother Jack McDuff, Lionel Hampton, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and Harry Connick Jr. While playing with these legends, he continued to hone his skills in a variety of small groups, both as a sideman and a leader.

His latest work, Concord, is a testament to that unyielding drive. The title, a word defined as "agreement or harmony between people or groups," is a fitting reflection of the music on this album. This new recording, his third for the SteepleChase label, finds Magnarelli in a quartet setting, featuring pianist Victor Gould, bassist Paul Sikivie, and drummer Rodney Green.