“I’ve had no shortage of encounters and new relationships with people on the West Coast that have been super inspiring and amazing,” says Lehman of his move to Los Angeles.

A former member of Chuck Mangione’s working band, Coleman Mellett died in a plane crash. Sixteen years later, his debut album is finally being released.

“Branford’s playing has steadily improved,” says younger brother Wynton Marsalis. “He’s just gotten more and more serious.”

“I really like free-jazz, and my foundation is ’50s and ’60s jazz,” says Nanami Haruta. “So I tried to combine all of that music in one album.”

“What did I want more of when I was this age?” Sasha Berliner asks when she’s in her teaching mode.

“As much as I may want to get away from the legacy of The Meters, it’s such a fundamental part of my musical upbringing that I’ll always have that,” says George Porter Jr.

Nels Cline issues his jazziest Blue Note offering yet with Consentrik Quartet: from left, Ingrid Laubrock, Cline, Tom Rainey and Chris Lightcap.

Chicago area native Pat Leary has released two volumes of solo piano improvisations, with a third on the way.

“We’re part of the British jazz scene, but we don’t play London jazz,” says Knats bassist Stan Woodward. “We play Newcastle jazz.”

“It’s my hope that this song cycle brings about a sense of connection and shared experience,” says Rondi Charleston about her new project with Fred Hersch.