Ralph Alessi is an ECM recording artist and internationally renowned trumpeter and composer. He has performed and recorded with the likes of Ravi Coltrane, Steve Coleman, Marc Copland, Fred Hersch, Uri Jason Moran, Tim Berne, Uri Caine and many others. His latest release is It’s Always Now and in the coming year will record a new record with this new band.

Nasheet Waits’ interest in playing the drums was encouraged by his father, legendary percussionist, Frederick Waits. Nasheet’s recording and performing discography is a veritable who’s who in Jazz recording and performing with such luminaries as Andrew Hill, Jason Moran, Christian Mcbride, David Murray, Fred Hersch and Geri Allen.

Though Cuban jazz pianist and composer David Virelles incorporates the influences of American piano masters, he approaches jazz through the exploration of popular and folkloric rituals embedded in Cuban music. A New York City emigre, he currently records for Intakt Records and has worked alongside Jane Bunnett, Steve Coleman, Chris Potter and Henry Threadgill among others.

John Hébert, bassist, was born in New Orleans and has collaborated withw world famous artists such as Andrew Hill, Lee Konitz, Paul Bley, John Abercrombie, Kenny Wheeler, Paul Motian, Joe Maneri, Mary Havorson, Tomasz Stanko, David Liebman, Uri Caine, Greg Osby, Bill Stewart, Marc Copland, Fred Hersch, Toots Thielemans, Maria Schneider, and many others. (Press release)

Ralph Alessi’s fourth appearance as a leader for the label follows a singular album run that’s been met with nothing but praise from The New York Times to The Guardian. The latter lauded Ralph’s previous recording Imaginary Friends (2019) for its “elegant balance of poignant, playful original compositions and gracefully probing improv” and declared it “his best album yet”. It’s Always Now however brims with arguments that there is a new contender for that title. On his new album, Alessi’s unique tone is as limber, piercing and present as ever, enveloped by a fresh quartet line-up – pianist Florian Weber, Bänz Oester on bass and drummer Gerry Hemingway – that navigates through the trumpeter’s idiosyncratically swinging compositions with a sixth sense. The album is not only a continuation of the leader’s work but also records Florian’s evolution on the label, this being his fourth album with ECM to date. His distinctive harmonic approach on keys is as evident in leader settings as in the role of a sideman, and his deep sensibility for Alessi’s pulse enhances this session, which was produced by Manfred Eicher. (Press release)