MidCentury Modern Vol 4 - released April 20, 2026
On April 20, Gabriel hits a double-header, by dropping a new contemporary jazz single ‘Swizzle Stick’, (which features the notorious Chris Standring on guitar) as well as the 20 track classic jazz juggernaut ‘MidCentury Modern Vol. 4’. Make no mistake, MCMV4 is a a straightahead affair.
Having cut his teeth during the Blue Note and CTI eras, Gabriel walks the tightrope between the classic and contemporary jazz worlds—a rare dual fluency shared by only a handful of true crossover artists such as Randy Brecker, Chuck Loeb, George Benson, David Sanborn, Bob James, Marcus Miller, and Herbie Hancock. While many have attempted this balance with mixed or unconvincing results, Gabriel forges on without compromise or hesitation.
He defies the pigeonholing and stylistic gatekeeping that purists often mistake as a measure of artistic legitimacy within the jazz idiom. Instead, Gabriel’s proclivity for genre-busting stands on its own merit, and has paved the way for his 5 year and running residence at the Admiral Pub in Vancouver BC.
Widely regarded as the standard bearer for contemporary jazz in Canada—and unquestionably at the top of the hierarchy in Western Canada—Gabriel’s international profile is equally formidable. He has placed 11 bona fide hits on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz charts, maintaining a continuous presence in the Hot 100, but his classic jazz profile is stellar as well, including multiple JazzWeek charting titles, notably MidCentury Modern Vol. 3, which peaked at No. 9, remained on the charts for 17 weeks, and finished at No. 51 on the Year-End Top 100.
Beyond his extensive global festival appearances, Gabriel has led a big band and spent significant time honing his craft in New Orleans jazz clubs. His core influences are rooted in the trumpet lineage—led by Blue Mitchell and followed closely by Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Clifford Brown, and Chet Baker.
MidCentury Modern Vol. 4 also pays homage to lesser celebrated voices, featuring classic tunes by Carmell Jones (I’m Gonna Go Fishin’) and Joe Gordon (Terra Firma Irma), alongside works here by Freddie Hubbard (Superblue), and Blue Mitchell (Chick’s Tune, Mississippi Jump, Mamacita & Blue Soul).
Stream or download the tracks below (right click on the 3 dots), or download the full wav and mp3 files, credits, and EPK here: https://tinyurl.com/2w34jk5f Physical disc or thumbdrive upon request. See TopTip Masterclass: https://tinyurl.com/2wxm4eck
1. Terra Firma Irma 4:55
2. Chick’s Tune 5:58
3. Mamacita 5:03
4. Driftin’ 5:27
5. Superblue 6:27
6. Jazz ‘n Samba 4:42
7. Blues On My Mind 5:55
8. Gibraltar 5:06
9. So What …. Now? 5:10
10. Blue Soul 4:50
11. Funk In Deepfreeze 5:15
12. Sister Sadie 5:27
13. I’m Gonna Go Fishin’ 5:31
14. Mississippi Jump 5:07
15. Jazz Party 4:10