For those unaware, on the heels of performing with the Herbie Hancock Institute at the 2024 International Jazz Day Concert in Tangier, Morocco and the 2024 NEA Jazz Master Award Ceremony as leader and musical director of the African Rhythms Alumni Ensemble, T.K. Blue, is thrilled to announce the release of Planet Bluu, one of his most compelling and significant works to date.

Having performed and recorded closely with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and NEA Jazz Masters Dr. Randy Weston, Abdullah Ibrahim and Jimmy Scott, leading saxophonist, flutist, composer, arranger, and educator T.K. Blue offers this latest release as his 14th album as band leader.

Planet Bluu features trumpeter Wallace Roney Jr., pianist Davis Whitfield, bassist Dishan Harper, and drummer Orion Turre, as well as Steve Turre on trombone and shells (“Planet Bluu,” “Chrystal Lake Bluu,” “Chessman’s Delight,” “Turquoise Bluu”) and Dave Kikoski on piano (“When It’s Time to Say Goodbye”). The album will be released October 25th, 2024, via JAJA Records.

1. The Hue of Bluu
2. Valley of the Bluu Rose
3. Planet Bluu
4. Chrystal Lake Bluu
5. Sky Bluu Part 1
6. Sky Bluu Part 2
7. When It’s Time to Say Goodbye
8. Chessman’s Delight
9. Turquoise Bluu
10. Royal Bluu
11. The Bluu Sea of Our Tomorrows

Blue, who identifies the effervescent quality of African hand pianos on Planet Bluu as the sonic source of the album’s ineffable vision, opens his new recording on the luxuriant The Hue of Bluu and a scintillating flurry that drives Valley of the Bluu Rose and they are backed seamlessly by the low slung finger snapper title track Planet Bluu, the ethereally Asian-hued, at first, latterly drum-led Chrystal Lake Bluu, and then we are brought forth the Sky Bluu two-parter: Part 1 being an absorbent track, Part 2 being more of an upbeat joyous affair.

Along next is the lavishly sculpted When It’s Time to Say Goodbye which is itself followed by the triumphant Chessman’s Delight (a tune by NEA Jazz Master, Dr. Randy Weston), the furtively rambunctious Turquoise Bluu (itself an ode to that titular shade), the album rounding out on the veritably shimmering Royal Bluu, coming to an all-too-soon close on the frenetically cultured The Bluu Sea of Our Tomorrows.

Planet Bluu offers solace — a world of beauty, cooperation and ingenuity, bathed in azure shades. It is his hope that this music “will help in the healing process of Mother Earth and bring all of humanity together in the realm of love and forgiveness!”

Official Website