Chihiro Yamanaka is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer. She has more than a dozen recordings released under her own name, principally on the Verve label, most of which have been released internationally. As of 2012, she is based in New York City. "Reminiscence", her eighth album as leader, is packed with her unique personality, deriving from the accumulation of her years of colorful activities. She creates her unmistakable world by integrating her own swing, bluesiness, funkiness, as well as her free viewpoint towards a wide range of music genres, all in line. A contemporary jazz piano which stretches outwardly after absorbing all of the old school jazz piano - experiencing her free-spirited and full-of-personality groove is part of the thrilling joy only jazz can provide. This album seems to have a special meaning to her. The title is a reminder of the nuclear accident in her hometown of Fukushima.

"The Sirens" is acclaimed saxophonist Chris Potter’s ECM debut as a leader. It is an album of mood and melody, inspired by Homer’s The Odyssey, both with its epic atmosphere and timeless humanity. Potter has previously contributed on several ECM albums with Dave Holland, Paul Motian and Jason Moran. Joining Potter are virtuosic musicians Craig Taborn, David Virelles, Larry Grenadier and Eric Harland. Potter declaims lyrical lines over the dynamically inventive rhythm section, as coloristic keyboards shimmer like stars in the night sky.

John Scofield updates his early-90s quartet with drummer Bill Stewart and saxophonist Joe Lovano by recruiting bassist Larry Grenadier for his fetching, appropriately titled Impulse! debut, Past Present. The nine exciting tunes Scofield penned on Past Present reflects his philosophy on playing jazz music. He stresses the importance of being knowledgeable of the musics deep, complex roots while simultaneously being spontaneous and in the moment while performing it. For an artist with such a multifaceted discography as Scofields, getting to the root of jazz means channeling the blues, as demonstrated on the discs closing, titled-track.

The sensational child prodigy jazz pianist's second studio album. Joey Alexander's jaw-dropping ability and beyond-his-years artistry brought him to some of the grandest stages, from performing at the GRAMMYs and the White House, to appearing on the TODAY Show and 60 Minutes. Just over a year removed from his debut, the same maturity and dedication to his craft that made him a phenomenon is evident in his remarkable evolution on his sophomore release, COUNTDOWN. Now stepping forward as a composer, while still paying tribute to the jazz greats, Joey is poised to continue his ascent to becoming one of the biggest names in jazz.

American piano master Brad Mehldau has played both Bach and electronic funk in the UK recently, but this is a return to acoustic jazz with his long-running trio (Larry Grenadier on bass and Jeff Ballard on drums) and a tracklist of classic songs. But if all that sounds too familiar, forget it. Mehldau is a genius (and a still-improving one) at taking predictable materials to unpredictable destinations.

Bobby McFerrin brings it all back home with "Spirityouall", re-imagining Americana with beloved spirituals and original songs. Bobby invites us along on his everyday search for grace, wisdom, and freedom, embracing bluegrass and the baroque, heartfelt lyrics and wordless melodies, joy and sorrow. He throws some unexpected new ingredients into the melting pot and invites us to sing together through life's trials and triumphs. Across genres, across boundaries, across generations, spirityouall raises the roof with joyful grooves.

Peter Bernstein and his guitar join together with Brad Mehldau on piano, Larry Genadier on bass and Bill Stewart on drums to complile a 10-track SACD that features Bernstein originals "Venus Blues" and "Just A Thought" as well as jazz staples from Phillip Springer, Harry Warren and many more.

New all-star quintet session features trumpeter Enrico Rava, the greatest Italian jazz musician, and his prot 'g', pianist Stefano Bollani, together with three leading American jazzmen: master drummer Paul Motian, bassist Larry Grenadier, and saxophonist Mark Turner. The CD is both a transatlantic project and a kind of 'homecoming'. Rava found his musical direction while living in New York in the late 60s/early 70s. Since then an increasingly 'Italian' lyricism has also made itself felt in his playing. Rava's soulful trumpet is strongly contrasted with the lean, analytical playing of Mark Turner. Bollani's playful harmonic imagination shapes bridges between them. Larry Grenadier is "present and focused in every moment" as Rava says, and Paul Motian is as idiosyncratically creative as ever.

Austrian guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel makes his ECM leader debut with "Driftwood", a trio album of subtlety and depth featuring renowned US jazz players Larry Grenadier and Brian Blade.

On its second ECM album, recorded in New York last year, Fly continues to overturn the conventions of the sax/bass/drums trio. Mark Turner, Larry Grenadier and Jeff Ballard share freedom and responsibilities in a democratically-constituted band of equals, which is never about soloist-and-accompaniment. More often coolheaded and thoughtful than incantatory, the trio’s music subtly interweaves improvisation and composition; there are some deep conversations, and reflections on jazz history, taking place inside it.

Ibrahim Maalouf, born in Beirut and now residing in Paris, is a virtuoso of the quarter-tone trumpet, which enables him to work with the maqam, or system of melodic modes, in traditional Arabic music. He and his carefully selected powerhouse band pay tribute to one of the greatest Arabic divas of all time, Oum Kalthoum.

"Walking Shadows" is the highly anticipated new album by acclaimed saxophonist, Joshua Redman. The album, comprising twelve ballads, is Redman’s first recording to include an orchestra ensemble. Produced by Brad Mehldau, the recording features the core quartet of Brad Mehldau, Larry Grenadier and Brian Blade. "Walking Shadows" includes original tunes from Redman and Mehldau along with works by a wide range of composers such as John Mayer and Pino Palladino; Kern and Hammerstein; and Lennon and McCartney.