New Jazz Adds – 4/23/2018
New Jazz Adds – 4/23/2018
Jakob Bro – Returnings (ECM): This new disc from Jakob Bro (guitar) features Palle Mikkelborg (trumpet, flugelhorn), Thomas Morgan (bass) and Jon Christensen (drums). Bro has performed with Thomas Morgan for quite some time and he was delighted to continue his association with Jon Christensen. Furthermore, it also reunites Christensen with Palle Mikkelborg for the first time since 2003. MIkkelborg composed two songs, Bro composed five and the two composed one together. The sound is haunting as the instruments blend and the quiet spaces announce the changes from the grouping and solos. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Mike Clark & Delbert Bump – Retro Report (Ropeadope): Drummer Mike Clark and Delbert Bump (Hammond organ) are co-leaders of this group which also features Elias Lucero (guitar) and Vince Denham (tenor and soprano sax) with Rob Dixon joining in on “Honky Tonk”. The group has a good funky side and also gives a blues slant to several of the songs. The covers range from “Hi Heal Sneakers’ and “Honky Tonk” to Miles’ “No Blues” and Monk’s “Well, You Needn’t” to “You Don’t No What Love Is” and “Alice In Wonderland”. Overall, this is a groovy set with a few surprises and a solid, soulful sound. Click here to listen samples of the songs on this disc.
Miles Davis & John Coltrane – The Final Tour (Columbia Legacy): This four disc set presents the final tour for John Coltrane (tenor sax) as a member of of the Miles Davis Quintet. In addition to Davis and Coltrane, the band included Wynton Kelly (piano), Paul Chambers (bass) and Jimmy Cobb (drums). The concerts took place in Paris March 21, 1960, Copenhagen March 24 and Stockholm March 22. Performances include “All Of You”, “So What”, On Green Dolphin Street”, “Walkin’”, “Bye Bye Blackbird”, “‘Round Midnight”, “Oleo”, “All Blues”, and “Fran Dance”. There are some duplications from one concert to the next, such as three performances of “So What”. There was some tension between Davis and Coltrane mainly due to their differing musical goals, Miles still in the cool bop zone, while Trane explains he was thinking “in groups of notes, not of one note at a time. I tried to place these groups on the accents and emphasize the strong beats…sometimes what I was doing clashed harmonically with the piano….” (liner notes) When he does take over that way, his genius simply overwhelms what anyone else is playing. At the same time, Miles and the band are great form as well. Clearly, Trane and Miles were going to part before long and this is the last concerting they did together. This is a completely amazing piece of jazz history that we are fortunate enough to be able to hear. Click here and scroll way down to listen to samples of the songs on this set.
Mathias Eick – Ravensburg (ECM): Trumpeter / composer Mathias Eick is mainly known for his releases on ECM and on the basis of my listening, the fit is perfect. His backing musicians include Hakon Asse (violin), Andreas Ulvo (piano), Audun Erlien (electric bass), Torstein Lofthus (drums), and Helge Andreas Norbakken (drums, percussion). The sound has the ECM flavor throughout and he composed all of the tunes on this disc. The performance is distant and magnetic and infectious. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Eliane Elias – Music From Man Of La Mancha (Concord Jazz): Pianist Eliane Elias leads a jazz related set of songs from “The Man of La Mancha”, originally composed by Mitch Leigh and currently arranged by Elias, who is accompanied by Eddie Gomez and Marc Johnson (alternating on bass); Jack DeJohnette or Satoshi Takeishi (drums); and Manolo Badrena (percussion). The music is truly a jazz shaped set, with original deliveries transformed by jazz interpretations. It’s a beautiful update. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Peter Erskine & The Dr. Um Band – On Call (Fuzzy Music): Peter Erskine (drums) offers a new double disc release with the Dr. Um Band: John Beasley (keys), Bob Sheppard (sax) and Benjamin Shepherd (bass). All but one song were written by a member of the group, Erskine (5), Beasley (3), and Sheppard (3). The remaining song is their take on Henry Mancini’s “Dreamsville”. The sound mixture is almost unique – quirky, funky, even electronic at times. It’s also upbeat, entertaining and catchy. Erskine compares the sound to that of Weather Report, with whom he played. Click here to see an interview with Erskine about this release and the band.
Jessica Lurie – Long Haul (Chant): Jessica Lurie (C & alto flute; alto, tenor, soprano, bari sax) offers her eleventh release since the late 90s. She composed all of the songs on the disc. The sound varies from straight on jazz to poly-sounds that are quite rhythmic and fascinating. This program is not difficult listening but does enter the realm of polyrhythms and poly-tones. Musicians accompanying Lurie are Todd Sickafoose (bass), Brian Marsella (piano, Rhodes, pump organ, “prepared” piano), Mike Gamble (guitar), Allison Miller (drums, percussion) and special guest Naomi Moon Siegel (trombone). There is also a fabulous recording of “3am post-gig Brooklyn mockingbird” – a terrific solo! Click here to listen to the opening track on this disc.
New England Jazz Ensemble – Peter And The Wolf (Self-produced): Peter and The Wolf gets a new jazz interpretation, the second since Oliver Nelson brought in Jimmy Smith to lead the show. This time around, the arranger is Walt Gwardyak and he has a definite notion about how the hippest animals in the woods ought to sound. The “Jazzbretto” is written and narrated by Giacomo Gates and there are four additional segments introducing the main wolves along with “Serge’s Birds” and “Power Serge”. John Mastroianni (soprano & alto sax, flute and clarinet) adapted one song and composed another and Jeff Holmes (trumpet, piccolo trumpet, flugelhorn) adapted one song and composed one. The other members of the New England Jazz Ensemble provided the remainder of the music. Click here to listen to samples of each of songs on the disc.
Oak Trio – Liminality (Self-produced): The Oak Trio features Ben McDonald (piano), Aaron Holthus (bass) and John Sturino (drums) with a guest appearance on sax by Garrett Wingfield on one track. All but one song are originals by Holthus (3), McDonald (5) or Sturino (1). Everyone is in good form and they can swing quite well. The group is apparently based in Texas, but I am unable to find other details. This is a young group, apparently stepping out with a jumping and expressive style that should attract solid following. Click here to listen to two of the songs on this disc.
Renee Rosnes – Beloved of the Sky (Smoke Sessions): Canadian pianist/composer Renee Rosnes offers her latest release as a tribute to the works of painter Emily Carr, whose paintings present the striking beauty of the Canadian northwest. One might even say that Rosnes’ compositions and piano are the aural version of Carr’s paintings. There is a great deal variety in this set, which also includes her tribute to the late Bobby Hutcherson. She also includes her take on Hutcherson’s “Rosie”. Accompanying musicians are Chris Potter (saxes, flute), Steve Nelson (vibes), Peter Washington (bass) and Lenny White (drums). There is a lot of variety in style and tempo across this wonderfully expressive set. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of four songs on this disc.
Sons Of Kemet – Your Queen Is A Reptile (Impulse): “Sons Of Kemet are born of many vital elements – including a name that nods to ancient Egyptian culture, and a line-up that comprises some of the most progressive 21st-century talents in British jazz and beyond. Band-leader, composer and sax and clarinet don Shabaka Hutchings (himself named after a Nubian pharaoh-philosopher) brings together his fiery vision alongside London-based bandmates Tom Skinner and Seb Rochford (forming a dynamo duo on drums here) and latest addition Theon Cross (taking over from Oren Marshall on tuba).” (Liner notes) The group formed in 2011 and this is their third release. Hutchings wrote all of the songs on this disc, which is a searing political statement about the oppression of black people by the British government and the need to challenge and overcome the status quo. Additional musicians adding to various songs are Pete Wareham and Nubya Garcia (sax); Moses Boyd, Eddie Hick and Maxwell Hallett (drums); and Congo Natty and Joshua Idehen (vocals). The songs juxtapose the condemnation of the British government with the black queens from around the world, including Ada Eastman, Mamie Phipps Clark, Harriet Tubman, Angela Davis, and Nanny of the Maroons, among others who represent black people who seek a seat at the table of government. The disc contains strong statements and harsh language at times. Click here to listen to “My Queen Is Harriet Tubman”.
The Tiptons – Cookbook (Sowie Sound): This is the Tiptons’ 14th release as a group and their group precision is as tight as they come. The group has four saxes: Amy Denio (soprano & alto sax, clarinet); Jessica Lurie (soprano, alto & tenor sax); Sue Orfield (tenor sax); Tina Richardson (bari sax); and Robert Kainar (drums, percussion). All of the horn players also sing. The disc is full of energy and the vocalists sing wonderfully together. There are great rhythms and constant shifts in tempo and band interactions, similar to Mardi Gras bands but with many more changes within the songs. Inventive, funky and delightful and all original compositions or arrangements. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
