The year is young, but Owen Broder’s Heritage seems certain to be one of 2018’s most ambitious albums. Recorded with his American Roots Project and due out March 1 via ArtistShare, Heritage aims to integrate two vital musical traditions – American roots music and jazz – and to celebrate the diverse strands that have intertwined to shape an American cultural identity. The repertoire features nine original and re–imagined works by such leading jazz composer/arrangers as Ryan Truesdell of the Gil Evans Project and veteran big band arranger Bill Holman; the ensemble is comprised of eight prominent jazz musicians (among them pianist Frank Kimbrough and drummer Matt Wilson) joined by a vocal trio on three tracks. Heritage marks the launch of the American Roots Project into an extended performance life and a multi–disciplinary collaboration with the American Folk Art Museum (NYC).   Sara Caswell - violin Scott Wendholt - trumpet Nick Finzer - trombone Owen Broder - woodwinds James Shipp - vibraphone and percussion Frank Kimbrough - piano Jay Anderson - bass Matt Wilson - drums Wendy Gilles , Melissa Stylianou, Michael Mayo - vocals