The new album from Singer, songwriter and producer China Moses Released October 3rd. Purchase here

Singer, songwriter and producer China Moses evolves her artistry in truth. Defiantly real, her music resists what so many labels and critics desire: category. She captivates listeners with her deep pocket, sensitivity and wit, drawing inspiration from endless styles in the expansive lineage of Black American music.

Frank and fearless, China’s songs document fleeting emotional states and extended narratives, often leaning into self-reflection both in lyric and phrasing. Her voice is a satin ribbon wrapped around a crackling flame. Listeners fortunate to observe her in live performance know the depth of her song interpretation. In a moment she can revolve a world.

Words from China:

I don't know where to begin except to say thank you—really, truly thank you. Thank you for being curious enough to step inside this intense moment of creation that stretched between London and NYC, across time zones and heartbeats and the kind of musical magic that doesn't announce itself until it's already happening.

Terri Lyne Carrington - yes the one and only - listened to my previous album "Nightintales" and told me something I didn't understand at first: "You need to go home." Oli Rockberger lent me his incredible talent to shape and finalise the songs and later, Troy Miller, the producer of this album, said the same thing: "You need to go home. You need to record in NYC."

I didn't get it, but I trusted. I've always trusted—sometimes blindly—trying to honor the wisdom and experience of the people who speak to me.

I was guided. I am not alone.

Troy and I spent hours talking about the sound we were chasing. He was insistent about one thing: he wanted to capture the essence of who I am on stage. "That deep voice," he said, "raspy, sometimes imprecise but always, always right." No one had ever described my voice that way—like imperfection was its own kind of perfection.

I was guided... I am not alone.

My musical sister, Lakecia Benjamin, was the first person I called. We had history—I'd sung on her album "Rise Up"—and she understood what this meant. Then Theo Croker, who's family in every way that matters. I reached out to Daru Jones because we'd had this project years back that never quite materialized, but damn if that man doesn't have a sound that hits different. Troy, who knows his way around a kit himself, heard the first measure of the demo for "My Part Of Town" and immediately asked: "Who's the drummer? Sounds like your rhythmic counterpart." He was right. Daru and I have known for years that our sounds work beautifully together.

Mike King came through Theo—he was in his band and later became my mother's pianist when she was producing Theo. Theo brought trombonist Corey Wilcox, son of the great Wycliffe Gordon. Troy thought of his friend Michael Olatuja from their early days with Soweto Kinch. And Michael brought Marvin Sewell and Marvin brought 8 guitars...

I was guided. I am not alone.

But would everyone be free the same three days the studio was available? The same studio where Daru and I had recorded that earlier project that didn't materialize? The answer was magical: Yes.

I called photographer Adrianno Vannini, who captures the life of traveling musicians and has this gift for freezing musical moments—you can hear the sound in his images.

Three days to record everything. No time for restaurants, no time for anything but the work. But more than that, I needed to create family—everyone eating the same food, sharing the same nourishment, the same space, the same intention. Francisco Ciniglio, drummer and chef, cooked us dishes made of love, sustenance for the soul-work we were about to do.

I am not alone. Every decision, every encounter from my past led me here, to this moment, to this music.

This album you're holding, this music you've chosen to invite into your life—it carries all of this with it. The intensity of effort, the depth of love, the sacred intention woven between every note, every word you're about to receive.

Let me tell you about the decisions that brought me to you, brought this piece of audio art to your ears...

it's complicated...

For China Moses website click here

Korean composer/conductor Rin Seo releases City Suite, a decade-long reflection on her time in New York as a female immigrant composer, releasing October 3, 2025 via Cellar Music Group

Pre order here

For many across America, New York City stands as a monument to the history, tradition, and spirit of America from its foundation. For New York-based Korean composer and conductor Rin Seo, New York City stands as a monument to personal trial, ambition, struggle, and triumph. Now, with ten years of reflection, craftsmanship, and artistic development, Seo presents City Suite, an opening statement that powerfully showcases her ability to blend influences of Western classical, jazz, theater, and Korean folk music to spin stories and tell tales that enrapture audiences. As legendary composer Jim McNeely says, “[Seo's] imagination and skill have produced a marvellous album” that features a “big-enough band…to provide power when needed but can also be very lyrical and flexible when changing textures.” Featuring a 14-piece ensemble with guest appearances by trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, the Rin Seo Collective poignantly brings to life every twist and turn of the tapestry that Seo has woven. 

The album’s title, City Suite, is derived from the name of the opening three-movement suite on the album. This tripartite work collectively reflects Seo's impressions of New York - the city in which she chose to pursue her dreams and lived for 7 years. The suite opens with “The Big Apple,” an upbeat, dynamic piece that portrays this city's characteristic fast pace and ambition. Next is “Cityscape,” a funky piece with a riveting groove which captures two parallel emotions: the first being the awe and dazzling beauty of New York's skyline by night, while the second being the sense of isolation and nostalgia spurred on by the urban life that such a skyline represents. The final movement in the title suite is “Alone, but Not Alone,” whose inspiration came to Seo while on a solitary walk. The piece embodies the sense of loneliness that accompanies chasing a dream in a city of such magnitude and pairs it with the hopeful realization that when surrounded by friends, family, and colleagues, one is never truly alone.

The storytelling nature of the title pieces makes City Suite an apt name for the album, as the remaining five pieces likewise evoke tales of New York that further expound upon the ideas presented in the suite. With four additional original compositions and a greatly reconstructed arrangement of Wayne Shorter's “Blues à la Carte,” Seo captures emotions, events, people, and places that have been a part of her life during her decade in the United States.

The album's emotional journey continues with "Music for Dance No. 2," where Seo draws inspiration from the fluid movements and free expression of modern dance. Infused with vibrant Afro-Cuban rhythms, this piece serves as a musical tribute to New York City itself—celebrating the city’s vast cultural diversity, energy, and love that has shaped Seo's artistic vision. The album finds its poignant conclusion with "Riding a Bike," a fitting metaphor for life's inevitable ups and downs, falls and recoveries, and the resilience required to keep moving forward. Featuring the masterful artistry of trumpetist Ingrid Jensen, this closing piece encapsulates the overarching theme of perseverance that threads throughout Seo's debut work, bringing the listener full circle in their journey through both the city and the composer's soul.

A major part of the artistry of City Suite is Seo's vision in assembling just the right ensemble to intentionally and actively bring each piece to life. With melody at the fore while still utilizing artful counterpoint, rhythmic complexity, and stylistic blending, Seo's compositions required a crew that was a step above the rest in individual and collective ability. Notable to the band are musicians whose specific sounds Seo envisioned from the beginning of the compositional process. Most prominently of these are Ingrid Jensen. “My connection with Ingrid Jensen dates back to my master’s studies at Manhattan School of Music,” Seo says. “During a big band rehearsal, she spontaneously performed a solo on one of my pieces. Her playing that day felt like a surprising gift, and from then on, I dreamed of featuring her on my debut recording. I'm so thrilled that my dream became a reality.” The ensemble on City Suite comprises Rin Seo (composer, conductor); Steve Wilson, Ethan Helm, Dan Pratt, and Andrew Gutauskas (woodwinds); John Lake and Ingrid Jensen (trumpets); Adam Unsworth (horn); Nick Grinder (trombone); Joyce Hammann and Sita Chay (violins); Orlando Wells (viola); Jody Redhage Ferber (cello); Sebastian Noelle (guitar); Adam Birnbaum (piano); Matt Clohesy (double bass); Jared Schonig (drums, percussion).

From start to finish, City Suite is a standout work of brilliance. A remarkable debut, Seo's music  takes listeners on twists and turns as they are taken on a journey not just through New York, but through the heart and soul of the composer herself.

City Suite releases October 3rd, 2025 via Cellar Music Group.

Rin Seo website click here

Thank you to Lydia Liebman Promotions for sharing with us

‘Secrets of Six-Figure Women’ is the debut album from London-based Portuguese vocalist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Bernardo. Released via Liquid Warble, the album was written and produced by Bernardo and co-produced by Django Django’s Dave Maclean, with arrangements from Sean O’Hagan (The High Llamas). It weaves British and Portuguese influences into a sophisticated commentary on modern ambition and identity, exploring storytelling through soulful vocals and indie-electronic production.

Purchase here

Focus and opening track “Go Blue” is a hypnotic alternative-folk musing that encapsulates the main subject of the record, the significance and power of modern ambition. Bernardo goes on to explore the erasure of choice for women in the face of chasing success on “Laladiditi”, a track that rises and falls with fury and defeat, fuelled by a defiant stomping bassline. In light of this, “Turn Around, Keep Going” is an eerie meditation on reminding yourself to carry on, evoking a ethereal strength comparable to the likes of Nadine Shah. Elsewhere on the album, Bernardo’s Portuguese influences shine as she pays tribute to the legendary Brazilian-Portuguese musician Tom Zé on “Tom Zé, Mon Chéri” and mixes the Fado influences of her homeland with triphop on “Nada, Nada, Nada”.

Secrets of Six-Figure Women takes its name from a book Bernardo found outside a house: “I thought it was more about the multitudes we embody as women, but it was just about how to get a six-figure salary. The whole experience spooked me – the self-help nature of it, our monetary value, the reality of this capitalistic hellscape we now live under…” Bernardo thought of her dreams and ambitions, fuelled by a 9-5 job. She knew that would be the title for the album; representing everything she wanted to say across these ten songs, drifting between genre and language to truly add to the portrayal of how reality has slipped into a maddening version of what it once was.

As an alt-soul vocalist Bernardo, aka Sonia Bernardo, plays within the genres of indie and electronic. Born in East Ham, London to Portuguese parents, Bernardo was uprooted and moved to her mother’s village in central Portugal aged 8. She grew up surrounded by the sounds of traditional Portuguese music and her older brother’s alternative music collection, which was a source of great distress in the house. She started writing her own compositions at the age of 11, before moving back to London aged 17.

Settling in amongst the local music scene, Bernardo honed her craft as a producer and guitarist as word of her vocal stylings and songwriting skills began to spread. To date, she has worked with the likes of Roxy Music’s Phil Manzanera, Django Django, Skinny Pelembe, Sean O’Hagan (High Llamas). Her regular Soho Radio show – The Dispatches Show– has featured interviews with her collaborators and beyond, and her live performances have taken her around the UK and Portugal, supporting Django Django and Franz Ferdinand.

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | BANDCAMP | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | TIKTOK

Ineza Blends Soul and Sophistication in Dazzling Debut of Jazz, Soul, and Artistry

INEZA Single release ‘Silence’ 4 July 2025

Taken from the debut recording ‘IBUKA’ 12 September 2025

 Born in Rwanda, raised in Belgium, based in London,** Ineza** is a true jazz vocalist with a remarkably distinct voice. With impeccably articulated vocals, she moves effortlessly between contemporary jazz and soul, blending elegant sophistication with raw vocal power. As a composer, she brings her own artistry to the genre, fusing jazz’s inventive freedom with the depth and richness of soul. Her versatile approach to singing has led to high-profile performances that include touring with Tom Odell and contributing to a BBC2 documentary alongside her highly acclaimed 2024 collaboration with Alex Webb and The Copasetics on Women’s Words, Sisters’ Stories, which earned praise for her emotional connection to the lyrics. Her two original EPs further establish her as a commanding, expressive artist and one of the UK’s brightest rising stars.

Ibuka is Ineza’s debut album as a leader, released on 12 September. Meaning ‘remember’ in Kinyarwanda (a Bantu language and the national language of Rwanda), its title encapsulates the spirit of the album. It tells Ineza’s personal story through a collection of 8 songs.

Ineza was born in Rwanda to her young, catholic mother whose unexpected pregnancy caused a huge scandal. Unwittingly and under pressure, she gave her 6-month-old child to an orphanage. By the age of 10 months, Ineza was adopted into a Belgian family (shortly after, the 1994 Rwandan genocide would begin, so she was one of the last children to be adopted into Europe). Her birth mother had named her ‘Ineza’, meaning ‘goodness’ in Kinyarwanda. As Ineza contemplates, “Something good came out of a bad situation”; Ineza and her adoptive mother built a strong, happy relationship. Ineza knew little about her biological family, and although her birth mother reached out when she was 17, it was the passing of her adoptive mother two years later that marked a turning point. In the difficult period that followed, Ineza discovered jazz—"learning the art of singing,' she says, “helped me immensely with learning to live without her. Ibuka is a love note to my adoptive mother, Francine Declercq, whom I loved very much—a meditation on memory, heritage, and the echoes of yesterdays."

Many of the songs on Ibuka draw from Rwanda and Ineza's adoption. The closing track, Kwibuka, was written in remembrance of the 1994 genocide after she was invited to contribute to the 2024 commemoration.

Silence is the first single to be released from Ibuka on 4 July and is probably the album’s most soulful track. Inspired by the music of neo-soul pioneers such as Jill Scott and Angie Stone, Ineza chooses sax as her second voice rather than backing vocals and other ‘produced’ elements. “It’s the only love song on the album” she says, “but the album’s overall themes of loss, identity, and finding yourself can still be found. It’s about living with a complicated back story and finding it hard to express that to a partner.”

Ineza Website

Cellar Music Group is proud to announce the September 12, 2025 release of Pursuit of a Pulse, the third album by New York-based, Brazilian-born vocalist and composer Jamile. Featuring acclaimed pianist Miki Yamanaka and her trio, plus Jamile’s long-time mentor and regular collaborator Steve Wilson, Pursuit of a Pulse is a deeply personal and rhythmically charged journey through jazz, Brazilian heritage, and modern improvisational storytelling.

Purchase here

Pursuit of a Pulse encapsulates the endless quest for music that makes one’s heart race—the ceaseless life-affirming pulse that emerges when music seeps deep into one’s pores. Reverencing composers that are still alive and/or have been pivotal innovators of their times, Jamile invokes both the heartbeat of those still with us, and the ancestral pulse that provides guidance, making a clear statement that the jazz art form lives on through the footsteps of those who choose to walk along its path and carve new trails.

Born and raised in Brazil, but thriving in New York, Jamile's artistry includes a love of language, a closeness with genre, a deep feeling for style—and a demand to throw all of these aside for the pleasures of transcendence. A vocalist with a clear identity who thrives on the plurality of her upbringing and abilities, Jamile’s voice is one of a kind. Her versatility and virtuosity often lead her on obsessive quests—particularly for songs that resonate with her on a spiritual level, resulting in an extensive collection of pieces rarely performed. The selections on this album reflect that lifelong chase, and the band, consisting of brilliant figures from the New York City jazz scene, executes each song with an ear for its inner meaning.

Over the years, Jamile and pianist Miki Yamanaka have developed a steady musical partnership that resulted in telepathic chemistry and the development of an idiosyncratic sound. Yamanaka’s powerful trio enhances this synergy and adds important textural layers to an already dynamic soundscape. Saxophonist Steve Wilson, Jamile’s long-time mentor—also featured on her two previous LPs—anoints this album with forward-thinking imagery.

The group came together for two live performances followed by a studio recording in Vancouver, Canada. The album begins with a boldly reimagined version of Messiaen’s “O sacrum convivium!”, originally a four-voice offertory set to Latin prose of the same name. Jamile wrote her own lyrics and title, conjuring the sacredness of the natural world and the breathing forces it harbors. Subtly inviting the listener to immerse themselves in this forest and commune with nature, the kenari seeds and bird-like flute add a sensory component to the soundscape. Through collective breath and movement, “Prayer to the Invisible Forces of the Forest (O sacrum convivium!)” invokes the spirits of the living creatures and elements that compose our world.

“Come Running To Me" (Herbie Hancock, Alee Willis) and “Moon” (DOMi, JD BECK, Herbie Hancock, Anderson.Paak) reflect Jamile’s deep adoration for Herbie Hancock’s music and his generous, innovative spirit. These two heavily electric-sounding songs were stripped down and adapted for acoustic instruments, a decision that redefines their auras. One can clearly hear the anchoring bass lines and drum subdivisions supporting the vocals and the blazing piano solos. The band’s pristine sound and cohesion make those intricate rhythmic passages sound uncomplicated.

“Jogral” (Filó Machado, José Neto, Djavan) and “Vale o Escrito” (Filó Machado, Aldir Blanc) are odes to Filó Machado, a veteran of the São Paulo music scene who has influenced generations with his synergistic singing and guitar playing styles and his singular writing. The feverish tempo of this version of “Jogral” may sound extreme for a song that already has its own built-in rhythmic complexities, but Jamile’s heightened sense of time makes it sound effortless. Both songs are centered on conversations between her and Wilson, a symbiotic duo that walks together in dialogue and harmonious phrasing. The saxophonist’s climactic propulsion during the final vamp of “Vale o Escrito” is one of the highlights of this recording. Jamile’s tenderness and far-reaching emotional range come forth on the stripped-down versions of “Céu de Brasília” (Toninho Horta, Fernando Brant), “Timeless Portraits and Dreams” (Geri Allen), “Come With Me to the River” (Jamile Staevie Ayres), “Passarinhadeira” (Guinga, Paulo César Pinheiro), and “Bodas de Prata / Quatro Cantos” (Egberto Gismonti, Geraldo Carneiro). Her choice to play guitar on most of them adds a captivating and engaging unforeseen fifth texture to the overall landscape. As a result, this album has an intrinsic ebb and flow that guides the listener through the density and depth of each song—these intimate interludes offer a moment of breath and contemplation between the powerful full-band statements.

Extending beyond her creative and innovative approach to song interpretation, Jamile’s distinct compositional voice comes to full disclosure in her original works. “Another Day in the Mind”, a stream of consciousness of everyday thoughts that inhabit a brain full of peculiarities, opens a window into Jamile’s eccentricity. This idiosyncrasy broadens past the content of the lyrics, reflecting also on how the uneven metric and complex chord progressions envelop this formation of mental objects and obstacles. “Hoping things will rhyme”, the song’s final line, suggests some perspective amidst the mental chaos. This rhyme goes beyond paper; it also represents a true hope to find alignment in life—and perhaps the powerful saxophone statement that follows represents this very quest.

Jamile’s writing also finds its impact in the strength of vulnerability. The ethereal and metaphorical “Come With Me to the River”, a lullaby-like incantation, presents an invitation to its addressee to dive deep into a love story. But in casting this spell, she exposes her own readiness, her willingness, to surrender to whatever narrative may unfold. It is an invitation that extends to the listener. Pursuit of a Pulse, a persuasive and alluring collection of songs, is masterfully delivered by this collective of world-class musicians, and it takes anyone who hears it on a thrilling excursion full of poetic surprise and raw emotion.

DARA STARR TUCKER EXPLORES A CINEMATIC JOURNEY THROUGH MEMORY & MEANING ON TIME WOULDN’T WAIT - NEW ALBUM OUT AUGUST 15, 2025 (GREEN HILL)

Vocalist, songwriter, and cultural commentator Dara Starr Tucker returns with her most emotionally resonant album to date: Time Wouldn’t Wait, a soul-stirring collection of original compositions and cinematic reimagining’s that reflect on the passage of time, the beauty of impermanence, and the power of presence, to be released on August 15, 2025 via Green Hill.

Purchase here

With a voice described as “commanding and clear” (NPR), Tucker weaves a rich tapestry of sound and story. Time Wouldn’t Wait features a dynamic blend of seven of Tucker’s original songs alongside deeply personal renditions of songs from classic and contemporary films. She reimagines “Pure Imagination” (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory), the hauntingly beautiful “Twilight and Mist” (Legends of the Fall), Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “I Have Dreamed” (The King and I), and showcases a stunning cover of Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For” from Barbie.

Among Tucker's seven original compositions are the title track “Time Wouldn’t Wait,” a poignant meditation on impermanence, the radiant “Shining,” the gospel-tinged “Tall Georgia Pines,” and a song of heartbreak and forgetting “Brick Wall.” Each track is a carefully crafted emotional vignette, driven by Tucker’s singular ability to fuse jazz, soul, folk, and filmic songwriting into something wholly her own.

“Time Wouldn’t Wait is about making peace with the moment,” Tucker said. “At the heart of this album is an urgent invitation: to be fully present and to acknowledge that nothing—no joy, no sorrow, no season—lasts forever. It’s about honoring the fleeting nature of life, and choosing to be awake to the beauty, grief, and truth of right now."

Produced by Greg Bryant, and mixed and mastered by Grammy-winning engineer Mike Marciano at Samurai Hotel Studios for Systems Two Recording, the album includes an exceptional lineup of musicians: organist/pianist Gary Versace, pianist Larry Goldings, trumpeter Rod McGaha, drummers Marcus Finnie and Christian Euman, bassist Vicente Archer, and vibraphonist Simon Moullier. Together, they create a spacious, deeply expressive soundscape that allows Tucker’s voice and message to take center stage.

"This is not just an album to hear—it’s an album to feel." Tucker said. “While we are certain that time is fleeting, it is also full of infinite possibilities."

Tucker’s artistry extends far beyond the studio. A Woodshed Network Fellow, selected for the prestigious program founded by jazz legend Dee Dee Bridgewater, she has toured and recorded with guitarist Charlie Hunter and co-wrote the title track for Keb’ Mo’s 2020 Grammy-winning album, Oklahoma. Tucker was the silver medalist at the American Traditions Vocal Competition where she additionally won the Johnny Mercer Award and the Ben Tucker Jazz Award prizes. Her 2021 release, Dreams of Waking, reached #7 on JazzWeek’s national radio charts, while songs from her previous album, Dara Starr Tucker, were included on Apple Music's Jazz Vocal Essentials,  Spotify's Best Jazz Vocals 2023 and Amazon Music's Vocal Jazz playlists, further cementing her status as a rising voice in modern jazz.

Tucker’s thought-provoking commentary and musical storytelling have garnered her national attention. She has been featured on NPR’s Jazz Night in America, NPR’s Jazz Inspired, and is currently the host of "The Front Page" on Radio Free 102.3FM in Los Angeles, a station owned by Stevie Wonder.

A powerful presence on social media, Tucker uses her platform to explore race, culture, faith, film, and music—garnering a combined following of over 1.3 million across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Her videos, commentary, and songs have been featured on HBO, FX/Hulu, The OWN Network, BET.com, Revolt.com, Shondaland.com, Ebony, and Jet.

Green Hill Productions is thrilled to continue its relationship with Dara Starr Tucker. “We’re proud to release our third album with Dara, an artist whose cross-genre appeal and artistic integrity continue to set her apart in a crowded landscape. Dara’s ability to blend authenticity with commercial resonance — supported by compelling vocals and emotionally driven songwriting — positions this project for strong impact across multiple markets,” reflected Blake Davis, General Manager of Green Hill.

With Time Wouldn’t Wait, Dara Starr Tucker offers not only an album, but an experience—a deeply introspective examination of the fragility and fullness of time, and a call to embrace every breath we still have.

ABOUT GREEN HILL PRODUCTIONS

Green Hill Productions, a subsidiary of Primary Wave Music, is a boutique record label currently celebrating over 25 years of creating top-quality lifestyle music for every mood. With over 1000 titles in its diverse catalog, Green Hill covers an amazing variety of genres and targeted themes including jazz, New Age, neoclassical, pop, rock, Celtic, Christmas, chillout, bluegrass, Cajun, easy listening, nature, piano, romance, relaxation, oldies, beach, western, world, patriotic, big band, and classic crooners, to name a few. In addition, Green Hill produces recordings on such performers as Olivia Newton-John, Paul Anka, Frankie Valli, Melissa Manchester, David Arkenstone, Beegie Adair, Jim Brickman, Jack Jezzro, Brenna Whitaker, Dara Tucker, Luke McMaster, Eric Hilton, Deborah Silver with The Count Basie Orchestra, Deep Wave and more. 

Tour Dates:

September 13 - Nashville Jazz Workshop, Nashville, TN

October 19 - Catalina Jazz Club, Los Angeles, CA

January 21 - Blues Alley, Washington DC

January 23-24 - SOUTH, Philadelphia PA

January 25 - City Winery - New York, NY

March 7 - Rudy’s Jazz Room, Nashvillle, TN

March 8 - Sandy Springs PAC, Sandy Springs, GA (Atlanta Area)

Website: darastarrtucker.com

Thank you to Lydia Liebman Promotions for sharing with us