New Jazz Adds – 4/25/2017
New Jazz Adds – 4/25/2017
Antonio Adolfo – Hybrido: From Rio To Wayne Shorter (Self-produced): Brazilian pianist/composer/teacher Antonio Adolfo offers a tribute to the music of Wayne Shorter while exploring the influences Brazilian music can have on Shorter’s compositions. He notes that Shorter played numerous songs of Brazilian origin or style. The result is rather mellow compared to the originals, but it is still dynamic and exciting. The band includes Lula Galvão (electric guitar), Jorge Helder (bass), Rafael Barata (drums, percussion), André Siqueira (percussion), Jessé Sadoc (trumpet), Marcelo Martins (tenor/soprano saxes, flute), and Serginho Trombone (trombone), with guests Claudio Spiewak – (acoustic guitar) and Zé Renato – (vocals on) on one song apiece. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Terence Blanchard – The Comedian (Blue Note): Composer/arranger/trumpeter Terence Blanchard wrote and recorded these eight new selections which are part of the soundtrack of the movie of the same name. He also gathered a combo full of champions for this gig: Kenny Barron (piano), Carl Allen (drums), Ravi Coltrane (tenor sax), David Pulphus (bass) and Khari Allen Lee (alto sax). Everyone is in top form. The music flows and swings with joyful grace and occasional swinging fire. The movie stars Robert De Niro and Leslie Mann and unless they turned in their top performances, the movie could soar simply of the basis of its soundtrack! A terrific performance! Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Fay Claassen – Luck Child (Challenge): Singer extraordinaire and educator Fay Claassen has a wonderful voice and shapes many of the songs she sings into her own vision. For example, her version of Paul McCartney’s “Blackbird” is stunningly fresh. The song list ranges from the traditional “Oh Shenandoah” to standards “God Bless The Child” and “In A Sentimental Mood” and newer pop songs like “A House Is Not A Home” and Paul Simon’s “One Trick Pony”. Supporting musicians include Olaf Polziehn (piano), Peter Tiehuis (guitar), Ingmar Heller (bass) and Paul Heller (clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor sax). Any fan of vocal music should absolutely check this out! Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
The Curtis Brothers Quartet – Syzygy (TRR): This disc seems to have been released a few months ago, but it’s still new to us. The Quartet features Zaccai Curtis (piano, Rhodes), Luques Curtis (bass), Richie Barshay (drums) and Reinaldo de Jesus (congas) playing an assortment of covers like Mongo Santamaria’s “Afro Blue”, Bud Powell’s “Hallucinations” and Wayne Shorter’s “Yes Or No” before moving to a couple standards and some R&B hits lie “What’s Going On” and “Hi-Heel Sneakers”. Zaccai Curtis also contributes a composition of his own. Everything is given a subtle Latin twist, which is quite effective in bringing new life to the songs. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Dickey / Manner / Shipp – Vessel In Orbit (AUM): This vessel may be in orbit, but there are plenty of unexpected encounters along the way. The players are Whit Dickey (drums), Matt Maneri (viola) and Matthew Shipp (piano) and their performances include a “Space Walk”, “Dark Matter” and “Turbulence” and the music certainly reflects them. At times, things are fairly orderly even with the musicians carrying out their individual responsibilities, but there are also frequent turbulences the make it seem like the ship will fully disintegrate. Significant improvisation takes place as the unanticipated turbulences occur. Click here to listen to samples from this disc.
Diego Figueiredo – Broken Bossa (Stunt): Brazilian guitarist/composer Diego Figueiredo has gained worldwide recognition for his dazzling style and execution. This disc features eight original compositions with a few covers of players like Jobim and standards like “Caravan”. Several of the performances are solo and when not, Figueiredo is supported by Cyrille Aimee (vocals), Romulo Duarte (bass), Afonso Correa (drums, pandeiro), Steen Rasmussen (piano), Paolo Russo (bandoneon) and George Garzone (tenor sax). I don’t know what is broken about this bossa, but it is an intriguing hybrid. Click here and scroll down to this disc to listen to the opening song from the disc.
Champian Fulton – Speechless (Positone): Pianist/vocalist/composer Champian Fulton has been a jazz devotee since her childhood. She has performed with a number of jazz greats including Clark Terry, Lou Donaldson, Buster Williams, and Louis Hayes and she is well established in NYC at this point. The current disc features nine original compositions by Ms Fulton and a cover of the old classic “Somebody Stole My Gal”. Her supporting musicians are Adi Meyerson (bass) and Ben Zweig (drums). As you might expect from the title, there are no vocals on this disc. There are, however, a number of swinging jazz trio performances that are joyful and infectious. Very smooth! Click here to listen to the opening track on this disc.
Cameron Graves – Planetary Prince (Mack Avenue): Pianist and occasional vocalist Cameron Graves, fresh from his association with Kamasi Washington on “The Epic”, steps out with his own set of swirling, rhythmic jazz. The supremacy of the keys is only part of the sound as Washington plays tenor on this disc, too and there is a decidedly more consistent soul jazz and rhythm presence throughout. Other players include Ronald Bruner, Jr (drums), Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner and Hadrien Faraud (trading off on bass), Philip Dizack (trumpet), and Ryan Porter (trombone). Though not as amazing as “The Epic”, Graves’ work does continue the exposure of a new sound in jazz. Definitely recommended! Click here to listen to two songs from the disc.
Jimmy Greene – Flowers: Beautiful Life, Volume 2 (Mack Avenue): Sax player Jimmy Greene (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone) composed all but one song on this disc as a tribute to the joy, energy and creativity of his deceased daughter, who apparently died at a very young age. He pulled two different bands together to help capture different aspects of her personality. One band features Kevin Hays (piano, Rhodes electric piano), Ben Williams (bass), and Otis Brown III (drums); and the second features Renee Rosnes (piano, Rhodes), John Patitucci (bass), Jeff “Tain” Watts (drums) and Rogerio Boccato (percussion). Mike Moreno (guitar) makes several appearances and a couple of songs feature vocals by Sheena Rattai or Jean Baylor. What a loving tribute reflecting her many moods. Click here and then on the album cover to listen to samples of songs on this disc.
Rick Hirsch’s Big Ol’ Band – Pocono Git-Down (Self-produced): “Hirsch began his career apprenticing with master jazz composers Bob Mintzer and Toshiko Akiyoshi, serving each as a personal music copyist. He has since garnered numerous composition awards and countless commissions for artists including jazz icons Yusef Lateef, Tito Puente, and Eddie Henderson….” (webpage) He stresses that local jazz scenes and groups are alive and well and his goal is to nourish and support the continued growth of the genre. Musicians on this recording include saxophonists Tim Powell, Kate Anderson, Greg Johnson, Pete Baren Bregge, Oliver Fairley; trumpeters Eddie Severn, Brent Turney, Dale Orris, Barry Long; trombonists Jim McFalls, Dan Weiner, Jay Vonada, Wes Thompson; Steve Rudolph (piano); Jeff Beck (bass); Kevin Lowe (drums); Tim Breon (guitar); Bob Velez (percussion); James Witherite (aux. keys); and special guest Alex Meixner (accordion). The playing is tight throughout. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Abdullah Ibrahim – Ancient Africa (Sackville): This disc is a re-release of South African Ibrahim’s Ancient Africa and a lengthy selection from African Portraits. The disc also includes one previously unreleased performance entitled “Khotso”. All are extended solo performances, featuring Ibrahim on piano, bamboo flute and singing or spoken word. There have been comparisons made between Ibrahim’s work and the solo recordings of Keith Jarrett, but Ibrahim’s use of African “folk” elements clearly make the greatest difference. The music can be a bit challenging at first, but it is well worth it. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the performances on this disc.
Josh Lawrence – Color Theory (Posi-Tone): Trumpeter/composer/Drexel University faculty member Josh Lawrence leads this recording of eleven original pieces meant to represent the different hues of the spectrum, as well as covering a few outliers such as “The Ripoff” and “The Conceptualizer”. Lawrence is accompanied by Caleb Curtis (alto sax, flute), Madison Rast (bass), and Anwar Marshall (drums), with Adam Faulk (Fender Rhodes) and Orrin Evans (piano) on several tracks and Brent White (trombone on one). The shift of instruments adds to the “hues” of the selections. The music swings in a cool flow throughout. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Lisa Mezzacappa – avantNoir (Clean Feed): San Francisco’s Lisa Mezzacappa is a composer and bassist who has a penchant for experimental and often somewhat wacky music. As you might expect from the title of this disc, this project explores music as heard in film noir and Mezzacappa’s own scoring of scenes from old novels. She is accompanied by Aaron Bennett (tenor sax), John Finkbeiner (electric guitar), William Winant (vibes, percussion, Foley), Tim Perkins (electronics) and Jordan Glenn (drums). The result is very coooool and often a lot of fun! Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Billy Mintz – Ugly Beautiful (Thirteenth Note): Drummer Billy Mintz is a veteran drummer and composer with a significant career history, including playing with the Lee Konitz Nonet and such jazz notables as Stanley Clarke, Charles Lloyd and John Patitucci. He composed all of the songs on this set and performs with John Gross (tenor sax), Tony Malaby (tenor, soprano sax), Roberta Piket (keys), and Hilliard Greene (bass). Anton Denner also guests on alto, soprano and tenor saxes. Styles vary significantly throughout the discs from post bop to funky blues and from standard melody to more than a step outside. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this two disc release.
Mark Murphy – Wild And Free, Live At The Keystone Corner (HighNote): The late vocalese genius Mark Murphy was at his greatest live and this performance from 1980 was given at a wonderful time in his life. He loved performing and spent much of his life traveling around the world to catch the next available gig. This performance is terrific. Murphy covers standards from Rodgers and Hammerstein and Cole Porter to several swing greats to Sondheim, Jobim and Franks and Guerin (“Don’t Be Blue”). If you enjoy vocalese, grab this right away. If you’re not familiar with the style, this disc is as wonderful place to start as any. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Steve Nelson- Brothers Under The Sun (HighNote): Vibraphonist Steve Nelson was a colleague and soulmate of Mulgrew Miller. He honors this connection by performing six of Miller’s compositions on this disc. Obviously, a heavy onus falls on pianist Danny Grissett and he delivers wonderfully. Peter Washington (bass) and Lewis Nash (drums) complete the ensemble. This release is not only a wonderful tribute, but also a terrific set from Nelson. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
William Parker & Stefano Scodanibbio – Bass Duo (Centering): Two bassists who have been recognized as being among the best in the world: Parker in the jazz and improvisational spheres and Scodanibbio in performing composed avant garde works by such greats as John Cage. This is a live performance and no doubt one that free jazz enthusiasts will want to check out. The musicianship is first rate and there are wonderful moments throughout, but the predominant passages are challenging. Click here to listen to excerpts from three of the selections on this disc.
Renaud Penant – In The Mood For A Classic (Gut Strings): Apparently, drummer Renaud Penant is the leader of this project, though the group seems to also be referred to as the Pasquale Grasso Trio. Grasso is a dazzling guitarist and Ari Roland (bass) completes the trio. The group plays classic compositions by Bud Powell, Tadd Dameron, Hank Jones and Cole Porter among others. This live gig was performed at Small’s in 2014. It swings and jumps. Everyone is in great form. Anyone interested in jazz guitar or in beautifully preformed classics should check this out for certain. Click here to hear and see the trio perform the title song as the group was performing it for this live disc.
Christian Sands – Reach (Mack Avenue): Pianist/composer Christian Sands began piano lessons at age four and was mentored by Billy Taylor in his teenage years. He has terrific technique across a variety of styles. He composed all but one song on this disc, his sixth, and his mission is “… about reaching new ideas and reaching new music. I’m reaching from past recordings to bring in the future, which is really all about finding myself. It’s a chance to express my experience.” He creates an interesting mix of standard jazz blended with newer styles with a goal in mind to invite listeners to appreciate the blend and the potential of newer sounds as an extension of the classics. Musicians on this disc include Marcus Baylor (drums) and Yasushi Nakamura (piano) with guest appearances by Christian McBride (bass), Gilad Hekselman (guitar), Marcus Strickland (tenor sax, bass clarinet) and Cristian Rivera (tenor sax, bass clarinet). Click here to listen to a song from this disc.
Somi – Petite Afrique (OKeh): Somi is an amazing example of the fallacy of the theory that a cultural “melting pot” means that those who come from another culture totally adapt to the behavior and values of their new country while abandoning their own culture. Somi’s songs – she wrote or co-wrote all of the songs here – give voice to her life as an American born citizen parented by African immigrants born in Rwanda and Uganda and trying to bring balance between her own heritage and the expectations and prejudices of Americans who insist that she is not “black” enough or that she doesn’t’ fit in enough. I came to the conclusion that this may be the kind of performance that requires several listenings to be fully appreciated. I encourage listening and absorbing this music from its own perspective before deciding what you think of it. For me, that enriched my understanding and appreciation for Somi’s art. Supporting musicians include Liberty Ellman (guitar), Nate Smith (drums), Keith Witty (percussion, keyboards, sampling, bass, guitar), Taru Dodo (piano, Rhodes), Michael Olatuja (bass), Marika Hughes (cello), Etienne Charles (trumpet, mouth percussion), Jaleel Shaw (alto sax), Marcus Strickland (tenor sax), Jazz Smith and Dana Lyn (violin), Jessica Troy (viola), and Aloe Blacc (vocals). Sometimes, we impose our own expectations on other people or their art. I’ve found that Jack Casady’s (Jefferson Airplane) comment that the key to fully appreciating music is listening to it from it’s own or it’s creator’s own perspective rather than imposing one’s own expectations to be the doorway to greater understanding and pleasure. I encourage you to try this approach to this disc. It will enrich your understanding. Click here to listen to a song from this disc.
Andrew Vogt – The AV Club (Self-produced): This is a fusion band with a slant toward soul jazz. Leader Andrew Vogt (bass) wrote all but two of the tunes on offer. The other two were composed by guitarist Andrew Nordstrum. Other performing musicians are Corbin Andrick (alto sax, flute), Sam Hudgens (tenor sax), Andrew Lawrence (keyboards), Ryan Roberts (percussion, spoons, washboard) and Zack Marks (drums). The group catches a nice groove and rolls throughout the disc. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Bobby Watson – Made In America (Smoke Sessions): Renowned alto sax player Bobby Watson, inspired by the Presidency of Barrack Obama, created this tribute to several people who made earlier advances, including Wendell O. Pruitt of the Tuskegee Airmen and Madam C.J. Walker whose company selling beauty and hair products for black women made her the first female self-made millionaire in the US. Watson’s alto soars and floats throughout the disc, showing that his playing is as fine as ever. His accompaniment is the Curtis Lundy Trio, featuring Lundy on bass, Lewis Nash on drums and Stephen Scott on piano. Scott’s performance is the absolutely perfect pairing for Watson. He glides through each number with a performance that matches Watson’s riffs, energy, and grace. Excellent throughout! Click here to listen to the songs on this disc.
Charlie Watts – Meets The Danish Radio Big Band (Verve): Drummer and jazz enthusiast Charlie Watts joins up with the Danish Radio Big Band for a tribute to jazz and more than a few twists on the music of Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. The disc begins with Parts 1 & 2 of a Watts-Jim Keltner composition entitled “Elvin Suite”, followed by the interesting “(Satis) Faction” (sic) and moves on to include two more Stones’ songs, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and Paint It, Black”. There’s also the standards “I Should Care” and “Molasses”, a Joe Newman composition from his days with Woody Herman. The soloists from the Danish Radio Big Band are Per Gade (guitar), Anders Gustalsson (trumpet), Vincent Nilsson, Peter Jensen and Steen Hansen (trombone), David Green (bass) and Steen Rasmussen (Fender Rhodes), Gerard Presencer (flugelhorn), Lars Moller (tenor sax), Pernille Bevort (soprano sax), Nicolai Schultz (alto sax). Click here to samples some songs from this disc.
Tarek Yamani – Peninsular (Self-produced): Composer/pianist Tarek Yamani again demonstrates the universality of music by performing this remarkable hybrid of Lebanese and American jazz. He introduces a quarter tone keyboard performance as well. Yamani is accompanied by Elie Afif (bass), Khaled Yassine (drums) and guests Wahid Mubarak and Ahmad Abdel Rahim (percussion) with Adil Abdallah (vocal on one song). This performance is world music returning the type of modifications that American jazz greats made when borrowing musical approaches from Africa, South America and the Caribbean, except from the opposite perspective. The performance is quite intriguing and entertaining. Click here and then on the box named “Hala Land”, which is included on this disc.
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
