{"product_id":"joe-block-there-is-always-hope","title":"Joe Block: There Is Always Hope","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePianist, composer, and bandleader Joe Block has spent his career refining his distinct musical voice, collaborating with icons like Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Gary Bartz as well as serving as associate music director for George Clooney’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGood Night, and Good Luck\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e on Broadway. The Steinway Artist and 2027 American Piano Awards finalist steps out front with his new album \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThere Is Always Hope\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, released by Blue Engine Records. The album marks not only Block’s debut as a bandleader but his first album built entirely of his own compositions: it’s the culmination of seven years of writing and musical collaboration.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe record features special guest Kurt Rosenwinkel and a battle-tested ensemble consisting of trumpeter Noah Halpern; saxophonists Chris Lewis, Morgan Guerin, Dylan Band, and Abdias Armenteros; bassist Samuel Harris; and drummer Christian McGhee. The group’s collective sound has served as Block’s compositional laboratory since 2019, and their telekinetic connection results in a bold, cathartic statement, taking listeners on a journey through dynamic emotional landscapes anchored by a shared sense of joy and optimism.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eTracklist\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e1. The Opening\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e2. No Easy Way\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e3. The Crossover\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e4. Panopticon\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e5. Self-Questions\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e6. Nadir\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e7. Ways\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e8. Worlds Within\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e9. There Is Always Hope \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e10. Wherever the Wind\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e11. Spark\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e12. Ungrounded\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e13. Nadir  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ePersonnel\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eJoe Block, piano and compositions\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNoah Halpern, trumpet\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eChris Lewis, tenor \u0026amp; soprano saxophone (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eMorgan Guerin, tenor saxophone (tracks 6, 9, 13)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eDylan Band, tenor saxophone (tracks 3, 12)\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAbdias Armenteros, soprano saxophone (track 8)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eSamuel Harris, bass\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eChristian McGhee, drums\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eKurt Rosenwinkel, guitar (track 12) - special guest\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e............\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Joe Block is one of the bright lights of the new generation of serious musicians—triple threat pianist, composer and arranger and now bandleader.” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e– \u003cem\u003eKurt Rosenwinkel\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Throughout the record, his piano work shifts fluidly between modal, melodic, and rhythmic ideas; he steers the group with robust authority… The title of this recording feels especially fitting for where we all find ourselves right now.” –\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003cem\u003eLovett Hines\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“This body of work he has recorded is lush… The ensemble has a patience and an intentionality that feels so refined. Joe Block has contributed a lovely album to the canon of great music that lives on the shoulders of the elders and masters who came before us that we so revere.” –\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cb\u003e Immanuel Wilkins\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jazz at Lincoln Center Shop","offers":[{"title":"CD (PRE-ORDER: coming this winter)","offer_id":46229873164373,"sku":null,"price":14.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"MP3s","offer_id":46229873197141,"sku":null,"price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"WAVs","offer_id":46229873229909,"sku":null,"price":17.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2236\/1301\/files\/2025-26_Blue_Engine_JoeBlock_AlbumCover_Final_4.jpg?v=1790275720","url":"https:\/\/store.jazz.org\/products\/joe-block-there-is-always-hope","provider":"Jazz at Lincoln Center Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}