By Frank Alkyer | Published January 2026
Bassist Martin Wind doesn’t play fair. In fact, he stacks the deck. And for that, we should all be happy. For his latest release, Stars (Newvelle), Wind enlists an A-list group of collaborators, including drummer Matthew Wilson, clarinetist Anat Cohen and pianist Kenny Barron. What? That’s right, the German-born Wind, who now lives in New York City, recruited three of the best musicians in jazz to join him on Stars.
As you might guess, the results are amazing. Wind has been collaborating with these talented artists and many more ever since moving to New York from Germany back in the 1990s, becoming a first-call sideman and a skilled leader in his own right.
With Stars, Wind leads off the new Newvelle Ten Collection, the first of five albums coming out on the label this year to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Stars sets the bar high for the collection with a combination of amazing musicianship and undoubted camaraderie.
The set kicks off with “Passing Thoughts,” a lesser-known tune by fellow bassist Aaron Bell, who performed with Duke Ellington, Billy Holiday, Buck Clayton and many others. It’s a slow groove that takes its sweet time with the blues. Kenny Barron thrills, filling space in just the right places with just the right sauce. Also thrilling are Anat Cohen’s flights, soloing with a facility that few can master on clarinet and a tone that flat-out kills it. Locking in the rhythm section, one can almost see Wilson and Wind, who are frequent collaborators, smiling, resulting in a delightful blues noir.
The set includes three beautiful tunes penned by Wind, including the sweet “Life” and “Moody,” a cooling tribute to the memory of saxophonist James Moody, with whom Wind had collaborated before the saxophonist passed away in 2010. But “Standing At The Window Waving Goodbye” is a favorite, an ode to his late grandmother. The tune oozes with wistful memories, a tune that’s both simple and complex, challenging the musicians to be restrained, yet creative.
Beyond these are two fine renditions of Ellington tunes. “Black Butterfly” has an old-school, modern charm — just easy and bright, a walk “on the sunny side of the street.” Wind walks the bass with a suave confidence. Wilson plays those brushes just so. Barron is majestic and Cohen romances the dickens out of the melody. “The Feeling Of Jazz” comes in as a masterful medium-tempo recreation of the Duke’s work.
Beyond that, Bud Powell’s “Wail” features Wind and Cohen magically doubling on the melody. “Pra Dizer a Deus,” by Edu Lobo, gives Wind an opportunity to play his bass with loving arco finesse. It then slips into a perfect small-club, cocktail listening experience fronted by Barron’s impeccable touch and Cohen’s gift of romancing a melody, especially a Brazilian melody, one of her favorite modes.
The set concludes with “Stars Fell From Alabama,” the Mitchel Parish/Frank Perkins chestnut made most famous by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. It serves as the perfect capper to this thoughtful, lovely album. The arrangement plays to the strengths of all three musicians on the tune (Wilson sits this one out) — Barron’s taste, exquisite; Cohen’s clarinet, flawless; and Wind’s bass line, rich with style, joy and grace.
Martin Wind may not play fair with this lineup of jazz ringers, and that’s better than good. He simply plays beautifully, as does the entire band on this tasty set.
Note: There are two terrific bonus tunes on the digital edition: “Blues With Two Naturals” written by Wind, Barron and Wilson; and “Marc’s Moments” by Wind.
Other forthcoming releases in the Newvelle Ten Collection include Landings by Ingrid Jensen (Feb. 27); Renee Said by Elan Mehler (March 17); Seer by Loren Stillman (April 24); and For All Your Flowers by Skúli Sverrisson with Bill Frisell (Aug. 1).
