With guest vocals from Diana Krall. CD

Christian McBride on bass, Nicholas Payton on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Mark Whitfield on electric and acoustic guitars. Tracks include "Chameleon", "Tell Me A Bedtime Story", "Dolphin Dance", "One Finger Snap", "Sorcerer", and "Speak Like A Child". CD

Features Whitfield on guitar, Kenny Kirkland on piano, Rodney Whitaker on bass, and Jeff 'Tain' Watts on drums – plus guest work from Branford Marsalis on tenor and soprano sax and trumpet from Nicholas Payton. CD

A one-off group that's definitely more than the sum of it's parts – with Gary Thomas on tenor sax and flute, Mark Whitfield on guitar, Vijay Iyer on piano, Kenny Davis on bass, and Ralph Peterson on drums! CD

Nicholas Payton on trumpet, Mark Whitfield on guitar, Mulgrew Miller on piano, Reginald Veal on bass, Monte Croft on vibes, and Lewis Nash on drums. CD

With Edgardo Miranda, Justin Quinn, and Mark Whitfield on guitar. CD

An early date as a leader from Teodross Avery – blowing both tenor and soprano here – with John Scofield, Mark Whitfield, and Peter Bernstein all adding in some guitar – and guest work from Black Thought of The Roots on one track too! (Jazz, Jazz) CD

This ultra-hip ensemble is celebrating its 10th Anniversary – and in doing so, has maybe given us their best album yet! The group's overflowing with work from an all-star lineup – Wayne Escoffery on tenor, Jeremy Pelt on trumpet, James Burton III on trombone, Victor Gould and Xavier Davis on pianos, Vicente Archer and Rashaan Carter on basses, and Johnathan Blake and Mark Whitfield Jr on drums – the last two pairs of whom shift in and out of the ensemble as the set moves on – but with such rock-solid energy, there's a unified vibe to the whole set. Some of the best tracks have this soaring, searching energy – and the whole album's got a very visionary approach, served up by musicians who are looking to do way more than just run through a few standards. Titles include "Black Heart", "Cold Switching", "Soliloquy", "Lookin For Leroy", "Coming Of Age", and "Truth To Power". CD

Two great 90s sessions from Cedar Walton – back to back in a single set! Composer is a record that not only shows off the great skills of pianist Cedar Walton as a composer, but one that also shows how he can really work a special sort of magic when he lets some horns into his group, and shifts from his usual mode in a trio! Walton's always wonderful on the keys – and works here with Christian McBride on bass and Victor Lewis on drums – but it's the presence of the hornmen on the record who really shade things wonderfully – the presence of Vincent Herring on alto, Ralph Moore on tenor, and Roy Hargrove on trumpet – all really bringing out some great qualities in Walton's original tunes. Titles include "Martha's Prize", "Minor Controversy", "Hindsight", "Groove Passage", "Theme For Jobim", and "Groundwork". Roots is a masterpiece of color from pianist Cedar Walton – a set that has all the right elements and instruments really opening up his sound! The core trio is excellent – Cedar on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and the great Lewis Nash on drums – at his crackling 90s best – yet these players are expanded in all these great tonal ways – with rich tenor from Joshua Redman, sparkling trumpet from Terence Blanchard, and great guitar from Mark Whitfield – who really seems to echo Cedar's sense of color on his strings. Titles include "Mode For Joe", "Bolivia", "Fiesta Espanol", "Firm Roots", "I'll Let You Know", and "When Love Is New". CD

This ultra-hip ensemble is celebrating its 10th Anniversary – and in doing so, has maybe given us their best album yet! The group's overflowing with work from an all-star lineup – Wayne Escoffery on tenor, Jeremy Pelt on trumpet, James Burton III on trombone, Victor Gould and Xavier Davis on pianos, Vicente Archer and Rashaan Carter on basses, and Johnathan Blake and Mark Whitfield Jr on drums – the last two pairs of whom shift in and out of the ensemble as the set moves on – but with such rock-solid energy, there's a unified vibe to the whole set. Some of the best tracks have this soaring, searching energy – and the whole album's got a very visionary approach, served up by musicians who are looking to do way more than just run through a few standards. Titles include "Black Heart", "Cold Switching", "Soliloquy", "Lookin For Leroy", "Coming Of Age", and "Truth To Power". CD

Wayne Escoffery has some great guests on this record – but honestly, the work at the core is more than great enough on its own – as Escoffery has a way of blowing beautifully alongside the piano and Rhodes of David Kikoski, bass of Ugonna Okegwo, and drums of Mark Whitfield Jr – a wonderfully soulful group who seem to push his tenor into these bold, snakey lines that are completely seductive! Then, on key tracks the group's joined by guests – the vocals of Gregory Porter on a great version of "Rivers Of Babylon" and the track "My Truth", and appearances at other points from Tom Harrell on trumpet and Mike Moreno on guitar. Other titles include "Nostalgia In Times Square", "Sincerely Yours", "Dear John", and "Song Of Serenity". CD

An album that reminds us that Manuel Valera's as great a writer as he is a pianist – as the set's overflowing with original material that really helps give the group a fresh direction – all sorts of rich colors, bold tones, and sensitive movements – delivered by a combo that also features John Ellis on tenor, Alex Norris on trumpet, Hamish Smith on bass, and Mark Whitfield Jr on drums! The leader's got a way of arcing in with his energy – leading the tunes in a great way, but letting the soloists unfold – especially Ellis, who's got a wonderful tone throughout. Titles include "Garzonian", "First Day", "Blues For Kenny K", "Alma", "Crisis", "Remembrance", and "Pablo". CD

A really surprising album from pianist Jodie Christian – a longtime legend on the Chicago scene, but one who maybe knocks it out of the park even more than usual with this gem of a set! The album's got this really unique balance of players – alto from the late Art Porter, soprano and flute from Roscoe Mitchell, trumpet from Odies Williams, bass from John Whitfield, and drums from Ernie Adams – players who represent a wider variety of scenes, but who come together magnificently under the leadership of Christian – on tracks that run the gamut from solo numbers, full group numbers – rich in color and feeling throughout! Titles include "Blessings", "That Bright Star", "Soul Fountain", "Everlasting Life", "Abstract Expressions", and "Consequences". CD