Martin Wind: Stars

NEWVELLE RECORDS (RELEASED JANUARY 30, 2026)

Stars is a more than an appropriate title for bassist Martin Wind’s new release. It’s perfect! After all, Wind has surrounded himself with jazz luminaries in clarinetist Anat Cohen, pianist Kenny Barron and drummer Matt Wilson. Furthermore, the album concludes with a classic take on the jazz standard “Stars Fell on Alabama.” But the best reason why Stars fits this release so well is the music — it shimmers, shines and glows, guiding you through a galaxy of simple, yet sophisticated stratospheric swing. Stratospheric because the melodies, mostly played by Cohen, seem to float effortlessly over Barron’s soulful and sensitive comping, Wind’s resonant bass lines and Wilson’s ever inventive drumming. Whatever they play, they do so with a sense of restraint and respect for the music which includes four originals from Wind, two classics from Duke Ellington, one from Bud Powell and another from Edu Lobo (plus the aforementioned “Stars Fell on Alabama”). Highlights for me are Wind’s melodic solo and Wilson’s tasteful brush work on Ellington’s “Black Butterfly” … Barron and Cohen opening on Powell’s “Wail” with intricate unison lines … Wind’s arco bass work on Lobo’s “Pra Dizer Adeus” … Cohen’s swoops, swirls and sweeps on Wind’s ballad “Moody” as well as the way in which the clarinet sings, almost like a human voice, on Wind’s “Life” … Barron and Cohen’s interplay that closes Ellington’s “Feeling of Jazz” … the soothing chamber like mood of Wind’s “Standing at the Window Waiving Goodbye”… Wilson’s ability to add color and charm to every tune with meticulously placed drum and/or cymbal hits. … the list goes on and on. You get the idea — every moment of every tune on Stars is a delight to experience. Simply put, Stars lives up to its name with a five-star performance from a five-star quartet.

BOTTOM LINE: Newvelle Records kicks off its tenth anniversary collection with bassist Martin Wind’s Stars. It’s exactly what you would expect from Newvelle — great packaging, amazing sound quality and most of all, a performance from a star-studded group of Wind, Kenny Barron, Anat Cohen and Matt Wilson delivering a stellar performance on nine selections ranging from originals to jazz classics. What else would you expect from a recording called Stars?