JAZZIZ Discovery… Guitarist and composer Tomas Janzon has been described as « tri-coastal, » having put down roots in New York, Los Angeles and his native Stockholm, Sweden. And while he also lived for a time in Canada, and has toured all over the U.S., Janzon may as well be describing his musical scope as his varied places of residence with the album title of his most recent release, Nomadic (Changes Music). The distinctive guitarist leads a like-minded ensemble (with alternating bassists and drummers) through a set comprising nine original tunes and thoughtful selections by McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, Lee Konitz and Tadd Dameron.

From the opening track, « Out Door Valley, » featured here, Janzon establishes his unique instrumental and compositional style. The feeling is somewhat unsettled, reflected in the leader’s phrasing and tone, as well as an edgy rhythm established by  bassist Hilliard Greene and drummer Chuck McPherson; even Steve Nelson’s vibraphone keeps listeners from becoming too comfortable. The tension never slackens, commanding attention and hardly resolving by song’s end. Throughout the album, Janzon, who studied with guitar maestro Joe Diorio and later received a master’s degree in classical guitar from USC Thornton School of Music, draws on influences from hard bop to Bach.

JAZZIZ Discovery… Among the many distinguishing features of movies made by auteur Wes Anderson are their soundtracks. Songs by Eliot Smith, Nick Drake, David Bowie, The Zombies and The Kinks add to the emotional content, narrative and overall feel of Anderson’s unique cinematic constructions such as The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou, The Darjeeling Express and The Royal Tenenbaums. On his debut recording, The Way I Feel Inside: Inspired by the Films of Wes Anderson (Truth Revolution), bassist Marty Isenberg celebrates the personal « mix tape » quality of Anderson’s soundtracks with jazzy interpretations of music that appeared in several of his films, with an an emphasis on selections from The Life Aquatic and Royal Tenenbaums.

Echoing the Velvet Underground’s original version, Isenberg and his crew put a barque touch on the Velvet Underground’s « Stephanie Says, » which is among the songs from the latter film. Dallas Heaton’s delicate harpsichord opens the piece, while Nate Ostermiller’s mandolin and Jay Rattman’s clarinet also contribute to the chamber music feel. Before long, jazz rhythm and instrumentation kick in with sprightly contributions from saxophonist Sean Nowell and guitarist Alicyn Yafee, while pianist Marta Sanchez, drummer Rodrigo Recabarren and Isenberg both anchor and propel the piece.

JAZZIZ Discovery… In recent years, pianist and composer Yulia has been showered with awards and accolades. In 2022, the conservatory-trained Yulia Petrova was named Smooth Jazz Network’s Breakout Artist of the Year, and her compositions have been honored in categories such as « Best Jazz Song of North America » among other international recognitions. It’s reported that eight of the 10 tracks on her latest self-released album, Best Wishes, won similar acclaim. (The album itself was named Akademia Music Awards 2023 Jazz Album of the Year.)

Released earlier this year, Best Wishes features performances by top contemporary jazz players such as guitarist Darrell Crooks, drummer James Gadson and bassists James Manning and Sekou Bunch, among others, interpreting Yulia’s music. But it’s the pianist herself who shines brightest. Her warm acoustic piano remains at the center of the album’s title track, which closes out the program, cushioned by electric bass, keyboards and synths, all of which underline the genial sentiment expressed in the song and album title. With influences including Bob James, Joe Sample and Dave Grusin, Yulia seems to be following in the footsteps of contempo jazz giants.