Jazz on the Beach 209: Russ Macklem, Art Pepper, Markus Holkko, Jack deJohnette, Burnt Sugar, Stephane Wrembel, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Cosmic Tones Research Trio, Bennett & Knight
This week's radio playlist, show notes and links
On this week’s Jazz on the Beach playlist there are two exciting new(ish) releases that you won’t find lurking in your local record shop. First, there’s the Finnish saxophonist Markus Holkko with Eye of the Universe from Live in Kallio (Jazzaggression, out now). It was recorded on 25th February 2024 at Tenho Restobar in Kallio, with Holkko playing baritone (he also plays alto) alongside electric pianist Samuli Rautiainen, double bassist Juuso Rinta and drummer Teemu Mustonen. Most of the repertoire comes from last year’s Eye of the Universe studio album, but sounds so much fresher stripped down in a live setting. There’s an extremely tight vinyl run of 150 numbered units which are presented in the label’s DIY packaging style with reused sleeves, printed inner jackets and hand-stamped labels. You can order direct from Jazzaggression here.
The second is Detroit/Windsor trumpeter Russ Macklem’s terrific Theme for Detroit from introducing: the Russ Macklem Detroit Quintet (TQM, 25th September), with alto saxophonist Kasan Belgrave (son of trumpeter Marcus), pianist Jordan Anderson, double bassist Noah Jackson and drummer Louis Jones III. I really enjoyed Macklem’s debut, the live The South Detroit Connection (TQM, 2023), and this album is even better. There’s no distribution (yet), but the record is available from TQM here.
Here’s a video of I Will Persevere from the album.
More new releases….there’s former University of Kansas baller turned New York drummer Brandon Sanders with Tales of Mississippi from the excellent Lasting Impression (Savant/HighNote Records, 7th November), featuring pianist Eric Scott Reed, tenor saxophonist Stacy Dillard, vibraphonist Warren Wolf and double bassist Eric Wheeler.
The New York-based French-born guitarist Stephane Wrembel again imagines the Romani jazz guitar genius Django Reinhardt deep in The Big Easy on Nature Boy from Django New Orleans II: Hors Série (Water is Life Records, 14th November). There’s a great vocal from Sarah King and the rest of the players are guitarist Josh Kaye, violinist Adrien Chevalier, tuba plater Steven Duffy, percussionist David Langlois tenor saxophonist/clarinettist Nick Driscoll, trumpeter Joe Boga and drummer Scott Kettner.
From Portland, Oregon comes The Cosmic Tones Research Trio with the spiritual Spirit of Truth from the trio’s eponymous second album (Mississippi Records, 24th October). Kennedy Verrett, Roman Norfleet and Harlan Silverman play cello, alto saxophone, piano, flute, and all sorts of synth textures and percussion. Don’t fight it, feel it!
Back to South East Kent, the Garden of England, for another track from the wonderful vocalist (and former Red Roses World Cup winner) Ginger Bennett and pianist and composer Frances Knight’s excellent Chouette (self released, September). Fool is a marvellous beat yourself up break-up song (with a glimmer of hope) and also features tenor saxophonist Matthew Miles, double bassist Alex Keen and drummer Jonathan Ward. You can buy the album here.
Up the M2 to South London for a second track from tenor saxophonist Mussinghi Brian Edwards with the phenomenal Mega City One from Mussinghi (Banger Factory, 24th October), featuring trumpeter Mark Kavuma, trombonist Trevor Edwards, Hammond C3 organist Artie Zaitz and drummer Jason Brown.
I only recently discovered this live version of Steely Dan’s Black Cow by Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber from If You Can’t Dazzle Them With Your Brilliance, Then Baffle Them With Your Blisluth Pt. 2 (self released, 2025). Recorded in 2022 and released to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Pt. 1, it features vocalists Shelley Nicole & Bruce Mack, keyboardist Leon Gruenbaum, horn players JS Williams, Anthony “SaxTone” Arrington, V. Jeffrey Smith, Dave “Smoota” Smith, guitarist Andre Lassalle, drummer Chris Eddleton, percussionist Paula Marcus and co-founder (with the late Greg Tate) Jared Michael Nickerson on electric bubble bass.
The sad news that drummer Jack DeJohnette died last week took me back to an incredible night at the Barbican in 2005, when he performed a live accompaniment to William Cayton’s 1971 film documentary Jack Johnson:Tribute to a Legend, alongside saxophonist Jason Yarde, trumpeter Byron Wallen, guitarist David Okumu and bassist Neville Malcolm.
For this week’s show I’ve chosen DeJohnette’s Eric Dolphy tribute One for Eric from Special Edition (ECM, 1980), with bass clarinetist David Murray, alto saxophonist Arthur Blythe and double bassist Peter Warren. It was either going to be this, What I Say from Live-Evil or the title track from Freddie Hubbard’s Straight Life.
We’re hard boppin’ with tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley’s Three Way Split from No Room for Squares (Blue Note, 1964), with trumpeter Lee Morgan, pianist Andrew Hill, double bassist John Ore and drummer Philly Joe Jones. And we’re tearing it up with Rahsaan Roland Kirk’s Blues Minor at the Gate from Vibrations in the Village: Live at the Village Gate (Resonance, 5th December), recorded at Art D’Lugoff’s Greenwich Village club in November 1963. Kirk’s playing tenor saxophone with pianist Melvin Rhyne, double bassist Henry Grimes and drummer Sonny Brown.
And finally… alto saxophonist Art Pepper with Red Car from Neon Art: Vol. 1 (Omnivore Recordings, 2012), recorded at Parnell’s, Seattle in 1981 with pianist Milcho Leviev, double bassist David Williams and drummer Carl Burnett. As Laurie Pepper said on Bandcamp: ‘I think it’s the hottest track Art Pepper ever played…….sixteen minutes of paradise...?’ It’s pretty wild.
To listen to this week’s Jazz on the Beach on Mixcloud, just click below:
Jazz On The Beach #209 5th November 2025
Mussinghi Brian Edwards - Mega City One
Hank Mobley - Three Way Split
Brandon Sanders - Tales of Mississippi
Russ Macklem Detroit Quintet - Theme for Detroit
Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Blues Minor at the Gate
Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber - Black Cow
Markus Holkko Quartet - Eye of the Universe
Ginger Bennett & Frances Knight - Fool
The Cosmic Tones Research Trio - Spirit of Truth
Jack DeJohnette’s Special Edition - One for Eric
Bobby Broom - In Walked Bud
Aaron Parks - Little River
Stephane Wrembel - Nature Boy
Andrew Carroll - Jangles
Donovan Haffner - Alleviate
Saiga Tracks - Coastal Highway
Art Pepper - Red Car
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