Jihee Heo – Flow (OA2) Records

Jihee Heo, a pianist born in Korea, educated in Amsterdam, and now living in New York, is back with her second album, Flow. Joined by bassist Alexander Claffy, drummer Joe Farnsworth, and for two songs, alto saxophonist Vincent Herring, Flow is an engaging listen from beginning to end from a young and swinging Jazz musician who is a lot of fun to listen to. Getting off on the right foot, “New Yorker Step” is a brisk, swinging burner that lets us know exactly what’s coming over the course of the next eight songs. “Extreme Noise Blocker” is an in-the-pocket toe tapper that has had me bobbing my head over the course of numerous listens. Vincent Herring turns up on “The Hidden Giant,” where an already very good band becomes an even better one, jamming through a lively Bossa Nova-esque groove with a lot of grit and fire. Heo turns in a lovely version of Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood,” toward the end of the album that I know will be a go-to for many of us on the air. But then again, I think most of these songs will be go-to’s. Flow is a fantastic glimpse of an artist on the ascent, and I look forward to more music from her in the future!

Nicki Parrott – Feelin’ Groovy (Arbors Jazz)

Bassist and vocalist Nicki Parrott has returned with a new album for 2024, and it’s an interesting one. A collection of songs from the 1960’s, Feelin’ Groovy is filled with tight arrangements that show off Parrott’s great bass playing and her singing. “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)” is a nicely swinging song that I’m shocked we don’t hear more often. The arrangement of “These Boots Were Made for Walkin’” that switches between a fat swinging bassline and a sharp-edged boogaloo is kind of genius. A few of the songs here, namely “Mas Que Nada,” “Pure Imagination,” and “What the World Needs Now” have already made their way into the standards songbook. On Feelin’ Groovy, Nicki Parrott makes a case that maybe a few more of these 60’s gems ought to be standards, too.

Cornelia Nilsson – Where Do You Go? (Stunt Records)

The Swedish label Stunt Records occasionally gives us some insight into bits and pieces of the Swedish Jazz scene. Sometimes with American expats or visitors, and sometimes, with Swedish talent, like the young drummer Cornelia Nilsson. Essentially two albums combined into one, Where Do You Go? features two trios. Both have Nilsson on the drums and bassist Daniel Franck. Four of the tracks feature tenor saxophonist Gabor Bolla. You’ll be hearing those in upcoming episodes of Notes from the Jazz Underground. The other six tracks are a more conventional piano trio setup, with Aaron Parks in the hot seat. The album kicks off in that piano trio space with a lovely reading of Bud Powell’s “John’s Abbey.” “Ninni/Motions” rides the kind of nice, meditative groove that you wish you could hang onto for hours. I love the dark, film-noir quality of “The Wanderer,” which proves Nilsson to be an excellent composer as well as a top-notch percussionist.