Shift, Logan Richardson's Blue Note debut, fulfills the promise offered on the alto saxophonist's two previous albums. On 2007's Cerebral Flow and 2008's Ethos, he seemed more invested in compositional acumen than improvisational flow and was somewhat restrained. Not so here. Richardson surrounds himself with a heavyweight band that no doubt tested his mettle: drummer Nasheet Waits, Jason Moran on piano and Rhodes, bassist Harish Raghavan, and guitarist Pat Metheny – who makes a rare appearance in a sideman role.

Acclaimed vocalist José James' "Yesterday I Had The Blues: The Music of Billie Holiday" is a tribute to the legendary singer in honor of Holiday’s 100th birthday. The stunning set of 9 songs written or popularized by Holiday was produced by Blue Note president Don Was and features a stellar band including pianist Jason Moran, bassist John Patitucci, and drummer Eric Harland.

"I am a Man", Ron Miles' recording with Bill Frisell and Brian Blade, expands the trio to a quintet with the addition of pianist Jason Moran and bassist Thomas Morgan. The sublime interplay that distinguished the Circuit Rider trio recordings "Quiver" (2012) and "Circuit Rider" (2014), reaches new levels of inspired musical communication. Ron Miles' lyrical and complex compositions provide the perfect framework for five masters who blur the boundaries of conventional soloing and accompanying in a constant ebb and flow marked by brilliant harmonizing and strokes of individual genius.

Trumpeter Ralph Alessi makes his ECM debut as a bandleader with "Baida", an album of atmospheric depth and melodic allure. To bring his compositions to life, Alessi assembled a powerhouse New York group consisting of pianist Jason Moran, bassist Drew Gress and drummer Nasheet Waits; the sessions were produced by multiple Grammy nominee and winner Manfred Eicher. As a vessel for the music's seemingly bottomless lyricism, Alessi's quartet plays with extraordinary finesse; however there is also a tensile strength emanating from the performances.

Though the Charles Lloyd New Quartet has been together for a decade, they haven't recorded as a group since 2011's "Athens Concert", when the saxophonist was still signed to ECM. Bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Eric Harland were part of the Marvels' quintet for "I Long to See You" in 2016, and Lloyd most recently recorded with pianist Jason Moran on the duet offering "Hagar's Song" in 2013. But not recording together doesn't mean the same thing as not playing, as amply evidenced here.

"Hagar’s Song" is an album from long-time ECM luminary Charles Lloyd, is a thrilling duo recording with Jason Moran. The pianist was a key member of Lloyd’s latter-day quartet. This stunning release features pieces dear to Lloyd including compositions by Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Bob Dylan and Brian Wilson. The centerpiece on the album is the title suite, dedicated to Lloyd’s great-great-grandmother.

"All Rise: A Joyful Elegy for Fats Waller" is a collaboration with the vocalist Meshell Ndegeocello that recasts the music of the legendary jazz entertainer Fats Waller as a modern dance party. The album is the studio culmination of a project that was born onstage at Harlem Stage Gatehouse as the Fats Waller Dance Party in 2011 as part of their “Harlem Jazz Shrines” series.

Charles Lloyd has always led exceptional bands, and this is one of the finest. Following on from the live “Rabo de Nube” which won both the Readers and Critics Polls of Jazz Times, here is a studio album from the quartet with Jason Moran, Reuben Rogers and Eric Harland. Familiar material is reappraised and transformed in this session recorded in California in December 2009.