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New Jazz Adds – 6/16/2020

Black Light Collective – Black Light Collective (Self-produced): “Black Light Collective, based in Detroit, Michigan, is the brainchild of producer/saxophonist Dave McMurray. It is a homage to the jazz of the 60’s & 70’s, when the music had groove, creativity, and a message.  Musicians had something to say and weren’t afraid to say it. Jazz was a necessity of expression for both the artist and the listener. That’s Black Light Collective. The sound of freedom, hope, survival, fun, and the future. Producer Dave McMurray (sax, flute, and AE-10), recruited some of the best musicians in the Motor City: Rayse Biggs (trumpet) and McMurray’s fellow Was (Not Was) alumni Luis Resto (keys), best known for his work with Eminem and 50 Cent…percussionist Larry Fratangelo, (Parliament/Funkadelic)…. trombonist Kenneth Gill and trumpeter Allen Dennard, vocalist Isis Damil …. The album also features Malik Alston on piano and vocals, the rhythm section of bassist Ibrahim Jones, drummer Jeff Canady, and Maurice O’Neal on keyboards … Sowande Keita on (djembe) and Showboat Shavers (guitar). In concert, Black Light Collective delivers a powerful performance, funky and imaginative. Black Light Collective is an album that will make the old-schoolers think back and will blow the minds of the young guns, illustrating to both that the messages of the 70’s are still relevant today.
This group is generally far mellower than must street bands and it seems clear that they are forging a sound that offers its cool side. Currently, I am unable to any information about the group so I can’t tell you more, but their playing is very smooth and tight. I regret I am unable to find a sample that I can post.

Brecker Brothers – Live and Unreleased (Piloo): “Jazz trumpeter and composer Randy Brecker has helped shape the sound of jazz, R&B and rock for more than four decades. His trumpet and flugelhorn performances have graced hundreds of albums by a wide range of artists from James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen and Parliament/Funkadelic to Frank Sinatra, Steely Dan, Jaco Pastorius and Frank Zappa.” (https://randybrecker.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/RandyBrecker_bio.pdf) He has played with such great bands as Clark Terry’s Big Bad Band, the Duke Pearson Big Band, the Thad Jones Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, Blood, Sweat and Tears, the Horace Silver Quintet and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and by 1975 added Michael  on tenor sax forming the Brecker Brothers Band. This set features the second grouping of the Breaker Brothers Band on the road in 1980. The other band members were Mark Gray (keys), Barry Finnerty (guitar), Neil Jason (bass, vocals) and Richie Morales (drums). Click here to listen to samples of various songs on this set.

Dena DeRose – Ode To The Road (HighNote): Veteran scat singer and pianist Dena DeRose is a singular performer with scat and a side of vocalese laid on top of her ivory tickling. Her song selections include two originals, two Bob Dorough compositions and interesting selections ranging from “The Way We Were” and “The Days Of Wine And Roses” to some interesting remakes, particularly a medley of Jurmann, Kaper and Kahn’s “All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm” with Miles Davis” “Little Willie Leaps”. The rhythm section features Martin Wind (bass) and Matt Wilson (drums) with special guests Sheila Jordan singing on two songs, Houston Person on tenor on two and Jeremy Pelt on trumpet on two songs. Truly unique! Click here to listen to segments of the songs on this disc.

Chris Dingman – Embrace (Inner Arts Initiative): “Chris Dingman is a vibraphonist and composer known for his distinctive approach to the instrument: sonically rich and conceptually expansive, bringing listeners on a journey to a beautiful, transcendent place. Dingman has (also) done significant work with legendary artists Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter as well as next generation visionaries such as Jen Shyu, Ambrose Akinmusire, Steve Lehman, and many others…. (https://www.chrisdingman.com/bio/) This appears to be his fourth release as the leader. He is accompanied by Linda May Han Oh (bass) and Tim Keiper (drums). All of the songs are Dingman originals. Click here and scroll down to listen to the songs on this disc.

Jerry Granelli Trio – Plays Vince Guaraldi & Mose Allison (Rare Noise Records): “One reason why people like improvised music is that it’s a direct reflection of life, not something we thought up. It scares you…makes you think you’re going to die for a moment…do you have the courage to play? Can I move out of my desires and wants, and into compositional choices?”  (Jerry Granelli) “Born in 1940, and now in his late 70s , Drummer/Composer/Professor/Sound Painter Jerry Granelli has enjoyed an incomparable career in music from the inside out…way out! The winner of the last NEA Grant awarded ascended from playing with the great pianist Vince Guaraldi at the height of his popularity while simultaneously exploring Free Jazz on San Francisco’s thriving after hours sets in the early `60s to establishing academic arts curriculums to indoctrinate and perpetuate alternative musical forms such as Spontaneous Composition in the present. A pioneer of `60s psychedelic sounds, a sideman on a Top 5 pop hit and a session musician for Sly Stone, Granelli is a forward thinking master in the art of music. Since the late `80s, he has recorded over 20 albums as a leader and/or soloist…in jazz and the indefinable beyond.” (https://jerrygranelli.com/biography/) This cat is a complete flip! Jamie Salt (piano) and Bradley Christopher Jones (bass) complete the group and the music is hip and delightful! Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of “Cast Your Fate To The Wind” and “Parchman Farm”.

Grut – Grut (Ropedope) : “Grüt formed in Atlanta in 2015. Its specific birthplace is Elliott St. Pub, a small but essential venue for original and experimental music. Daniel Wytanis (trombone), Patrick Arthur (guitar), Brandon Boone (bass) and Morgan Guerin (drums) did a few improvised sessions at Elliott St., and soon realized there was more to explore together… They released their first recording, a self-produced, self-titled EP in 2016 and added saxophonist Avys Burroughs to the lineup in 2017.” (http://www.grutmusic.com/about) On this release, which may also be titled “Work Week”, the targeted riff seems to be “Spoons”. Riffs seem to be the gems of the songs, perhaps related to the street or marching band style. Click here to listen to “Spoons”.  Click here and scroll down to the picture with the black background to listen to “Spoons”.

Daniel Hersog Jazz Orchestra – Night Devoid Of Stars (Cellar Music): “Born in 1985 and raised in Vancouver and Victoria, Hersog has become a vital voice as a trumpeter, composer and arranger. He has toured North America leading large ensembles…. A 2016 graduate of New England Conservatory, Hersog won the school’s prestigious Gunther Schuller Medal. (https://www.danielhersog.com/biography/) All but one song, “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes”, are Herzog’s original compositions and they are wonderfully fresh. Click here to listen to “Night Devoid Of Stars”, a wonderful Hersog original from this disc.

Jason Kao Hwang – Human Rites Trio (True Sound): “The music of Jason Kao Hwang (composer/violin/viola) explores the vibrations and language of his history. His compositions are often narrative landscapes through which sonic beings embark upon extemporaneous, transformational journeys.  His most recent releases, Conjure, his duo with Karl Berger, and Blood, performed by Burning Bridge, his octet of Chinese and Western instruments, have received critical acclaim.” (https://www.jasonkaohwang.com/short-bio) “Each composition is a progression of gestures, songs, movements and locations that bring participants into a state of discovery and compassion. Within these Human Rites, individual voices are empowered to be fully expressive so that each moment is unpredictable and deeply intentional.  This psychic intensity, both sacred and sacrificial, provokes a heightened awareness that unifies Listeners and Musicians within a spiritual entrainment. As we hear ourselves within music we become Music, which is no longer a performance but an affirmation of justice and celebration of life.” (https://www.jasonkaohwang.com/human-rites-trio) Ken Filiano (bass) and Andrew Drury (drums) accompany Hwang. Click here to listen to the songs on this disc.

Sara Schoenbeck / Wayne Horvitz – Cell Walk (Songlines): “Sara Schoenbeck and Wayne Horvitz have been musical partners for 20 years, notably in Horvitz’s chamber jazz group The Gravitas Quartet (formed 2004) and his Some Days Are Forever Afternoon project (2015 ­– both on Songlines). They formed this duo in 2018 to play a program of their own music – composed, improvised, and everywhere in between, a study of the crossroads where texture and extended technique meet with and support the expression of melody and song. As Wayne relates, “We actually recorded an improvised duo on the first Gravitas CD in 2005, which was prescient. Sara has been a guest on a lot of gigs with other bands of mine…” (https://songlines.com/release/cell-walk/) The interaction between Schoenbeck’s bassoon and Horvitz’s piano and electronics is wonderfully unique. There is also a good bit of variety thanks to each individual’s solos. Click here to listen to “Undecided”, the opening song on this release.

Dave Stryker w/ Bob Mintzer & The WDR Big Band – Blue Soul (Strike Zone): “I decided that I would go ahead as planned and release my new CD Blue Soul  Dave Stryker with Bob Mintzer and the WDR Big Band. I figured in these times I could put some positive energy and music out into the world. Blue Soul is a collaboration between guitarist Dave Stryker, saxophonist and arranger Bob Mintzer and the WDR Big Band. This is a unique project putting Stryker’s soulful guitar in front of a world-class big band led by MIntzer’s creative arrangements and playing. After several appearances as a guest with Dave Stryker’s Organ Trio, saxophonist Bob Mintzer (who serves as the principal conductor for Cologne, Germany’s WDR Big Band) had the idea to arrange some of Dave’s music to feature him with the ensemble. Bob thought Stryker’s hip takes on ‘70s pop tunes from his Eight Track series as well as his originals would be a good fit for the dynamic big band. In March of 2019, Dave was invited to Germany for a week of rehearsing, recording and performing with the WDR Big Band, the result of which is Blue Soul.” (http://www.davestryker.com/wp/product/blue-soul-dave-stryker-with-bob-mintzer-and-the-wdr-big-band/)  The set features three Stryker compositions, one by Mintzer and covers ranging from Marvin Gaye’s “Trouble Man” and What’s Going On”, Prince’s “When Doves Cry”, Jimmy Webb;s “Witchita Lineman” and closes with Stanley Turrentine’s “Stan’s Shuffle”. Click here to check out the performance of “Blues Strut”.

Swingadelic – Bluesville (Zoho): Swindadelic offers their fourth release with their blues and swing covers of twelve standards and two originals. The band includes a constantly shifting group of musicians with alternating groupings of five saxophone and reed players and five brass players; several key board players with Mitch Woods playing and singing on one song, and Kyle Koehler adding organ on four songs and shifting guitar and bass players and alternating drummers. The songs range from classics like Ellington’s ”The Mooche” and  Mose Allison’s “Parchman Farm” mixed with several more songs mostly from the forties and fifties.   Click here to listen to “Parchman Farm”.

Larry Willis – I Fall In Love Too Easily (HighNote): “It may be somewhat ironic, yet ultimately fitting that this, the final recording by Larry Willis, brought the veteran pianist/composer right back to the Rudy Van Gelder Studio where he first began his impressive career as recording artist that spanned over a period of six decades. The Harlem, New York born Willis first entered the hallowed halls of Rudy Van Gelder’s legendary Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey studio as a twenty-two year old graduate of the Manhattan School of Music on January 29, 1965 to record with Jackie McLean for Blue Note Records. Willis’s expansive resume includes entries with the likes of Cannonball Adderley, Nat Adderley, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Stan Getz, Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band, Clifford Jordan, Carmen McRae, David “Fathead” Newman, Woody Shaw, and many more. He appeared on hundreds of albums as a sideman and dozens more as a leader of his own impressive bands. The music played here…shows Larry Willis displaying the intense creativity and impeccable taste which made him one of the most respected keyboard artists in jazz.” (https://www.isrbx.net/3137797870-larry-willis-i-fall-in-love-too-easily-the-final-session-at-rudy-van-gelders-2020.html) Backing musicians are Jeremy Pelt (trumpet), Joe Ford (alto sax), Blake Meister (bass) and Victor Lewis (drums). Click here to listen to the title song.

Kopasetically,

Professor Bebop