Rainy Days to release Sing to the World by Benito Gonzalez

Russian label Rainy Days, known for its work with Zhenya Strigalev is to expand upon its Russian artist base with the release in May of the Afro-Latin Sing to the World by Venezuela-born pianist/composer/bandleader Benito Gonzalez known for his work with alto icon Kenny Garrett and more recently with Pharoah Sanders. A sprinkling of very big names are on the recording. Double bass icon Christian McBride who goes way back with Gonzalez is on the majority of the tracks and the formidable ex-Branford Marsalis classic quartet drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts is also a serious presence. Tain shares the drum duties with Russian drummer and co-producer Sasha Mashin and contributes his composition '412'. The New Orleans icon trumpeter Nicholas Payton plays on four tracks. Recorded in studios in New York and Moscow tracks also include Gonzalez originals and a version of 'Father' by Roy Hargrove. Benito Gonzalez photo via Steinway

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Drawn from an album of piano-led decade-themed treatments in the run-up to Alone Together, Ezra Collective pianist Joe Armon-Jones interprets a classic that you might think was simply too familiar and too utterly uncoverable to even be, let alone work. Well take that drift and you'd be wrong. Armon-Jones, who if you like began as a next generation Andrew McCormack but has more of a get-down insistency to his playing than the mighty McC, certainly delivers. The Stranglers’ 'Golden Brown' (a hit and fixture of oldies radio not to mention down the bohemian bingo) in Armon-Jones' hands has a shimmering mirage-like quality to it that sits alongside the approach of when Robert Glasper does Radiohead's 'Reckoner.' Ashley Henry, Sarah Tandy, Reuben James, Roella Oloro and Charlie Stacey are also on the compilation with Ellington, Monk, Whitney Houston, Snoop Dog and Billie Eilish rattling the jazz cage. Out on 26/03

Rainy Days to release Sing to the World by Benito Gonzalez

Sheer pianism as Joe Armon-Jones delivers big time on Golden Brown