Kurt Elling & Joey Calderazzo

The relationship was forged in the red-hot crucible of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, Calderazzo’s primary gig since the late 1990s (after a brilliant introduction with tenor titan Michael Brecker, who produced the pianist’s first album). Touring widely with the band after appearing as a special guest on Marsalis’s 2015 album Upward Spiral, Elling made note of Calderazzo’s fierce intelligence and circled back to pursue a new project together. After recently delving into the songbook of the visionary fusion band Weather Report, they bring a new project to this date.

With two GRAMMY Awards and 16 nominations, Elling has been recognized as one of jazz’s most formidable male vocalists since the release of his 2015 Blue Note debut Close Your Eyes.

From Brad Mehldau and Fred Hersch to Joanne Brackeen and Harold Mabern, he’s been the go-to cat for off-the-beaten path assignments. In recent years he’s been roving with guitar wizard Charlie Hunter in SuperBlue, a funk-informed project that has opened up new musical vistas.