New Jazz Adds – 7/25/2018
New Jazz Adds – 7/25/2018
Antonio Adolfo – Encontros Orchestra Atlantica (Self-produced): Composer/pianist Antonio Adolfo attended a concert by Orchestra Atlantica in Rio de Janeiro and subsequently invited them to perform with him on his next recording. The main idea was to have them perform several of his own compositions and to transform them into Brazilian styles. The result is a wonderful, gently swinging hybrid. The participating musicians are Adolfo (piano), Nelson Faria and Claudio Jorge (acoustic guitar), Leo Amuedo (electric guitar), Rafael Barata (drums), Ze Renato and Antonio Adolfo (vocals), Serginho (trombone), Jesse Sadoc (trumpet, flugelhorn), Gesiel Nascimento (trumpet), Marcelo Martins (tenor sax, flute), Danil Sinna (alto sax, flute), Levi Chaves (bari and soprano sax), Aldivas Ayres and Wanderson Cunha (trobone), Marcos Nimrichter accordion) and Dada Costa (percussion). It is a rare pleasure to listen to a true marriage two styles of jazz, as is the case here. Really nice flow and freshness. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Charlie Ballantine – Green (Self-produced): Obviously influenced by Bill Frisell, John Scofield, and Julian Lage, among others, guitarist / composer Charlie Ballantine focuses on blending the sounds and textures of folk and jazz. This particular disc was released in 2015 and finds Ballantine backed by Jesse Wittman (bass) and Mitch Shiner (drums) with some wonderful solos and duets with Ballantine by sax player Amanda Gardier on two songs. Five of the eight songs are Ballantine originals and the covers include “Straight, No Chaser” and “Windows”. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Charlie Ballantine – Providence (Self-produced): Approximately a year later, Charlie Ballantine completed his his follow up, which still features Amanda Gardier (alto sax), but now includes Josh Espinoza (organ), Connor Green (bass) and Josh Roberts (drums). Again, the music is quite melodic and dreamy, blending folk and jazz with a bit of outside sound. It’s all quite good and the interaction between Gardier and Ballantine is even deeper than before. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Jeff Clayton – Listen Through The Looking Glass (Self-produced): Jeff Clayton (sax, flute, composer) presents six of his own compositions and three covers creating an interesting span of jazz interpreted in a variable but straight jazz fashion. Contributing musicians include Mz Val (vocals), Marlo Henderson (guitar), Tamir Hendelman, Gerald Clayton, Lleu Matthews, and Charles Mims (trading off on piano); John Clayton, Reggie Hamilton, Gerald Brown (trading off on bass); Land Richards and Ronald Bruner Jr trading off on drums); Eric McCain (percussion) and Wendi and Wyann Vaughn (backing vocals). The notion is to interpret jazz songs through somewhat different lenses. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
The BABAorchestra – Another Ride On The Elephant Slide (Self-produced): “theBABAorchestra is a Los Angeles based 17-piece experimental big band performing original new instrumental works by composer, conductor, and bandleader Lauren Elizabeth Baba. Amidst intricately woven melodies and massive brass textures are subtly creeping rock grooves and a generally dark ambience; creative music drawing from free jazz, avant-garde, drone-rock, and Middle Eastern folk.” (https://www.laurenelizabethbaba.com/baba/) “Another Ride on the Elephant Slide” delivers an emotionally powerful and immersive listening experience through Baba’s complex and thoughtful compositional voice: layers of driving rhythms and esoteric melodies intertwined with an intuitive play on timing and expectation. Produced and conceptualized by Baba, this debut album was recorded live in the recording studio – an un-doctored real-time performance….” Baba plays violin and viola and leads a 17 piece orchestra. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Henry Douglas Jr RnB – Amore’s Prayer – Vital Signs 2 (Self-produced): “HDRnB is an original R&B/soul/groove band founded by in late 2010, featuring Henley Douglas Jr. (sax), John Iltis (drums), Charlie O’Neal (guitar), Peter Fedele (guitar) and Brandon Tarricone (guitar) Squantch (trombone), David Walker (bass).” (https://hdrnb.com/) The music is an instrumental groove with a strong soul center. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Christine Hitt – Magical Kite (Self-produced): Vocalist/pianist/composer Christine Hitt offers what appears to be her second release which includes one original, the title song, and often uniquely presented covers of eight selections spanning from three remakes from the Great American songbook, several covers of more recent hits from Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing” to Dan Fogelberg’s “Believe In Me”, a cover of “Wade In The Water” and Charlie Parker’s “Yardbird Suite”. The overall sound is familiar but also fresh. Supporting musicians include Cory Hitt and Erin Bode (vocals), John Beasley (piano, Fender Rhodes, melodica), Geoffrey Keezer (piano), Eric Hitt (bass), Jeff Hamilton and Gene Coye (drums), Leo Amuedo (acoustic guitar), Bob Sheppard (alto sax) and Walter Rodriguez (percussion). Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Stephen Martin – Vision (Self-produced): This is saxophonist Stephen Martin’s first release as a leader. He studied under Bobby Watson and earned a Masters degree in jazz. He has a deep interest in a wide range of jazz and plays wonderfully, with intensity reminiscent of Coltrane among others. He also offers softer ballads that are lovely and warm and show similar influences. At the same time, his voice is clearly his own. Martin is supported by Matt Villinger (piano), Karl McComas-Reichi (bass) and John Kizilarmut (drums). I regret that I am unable to find any samples from this disc.
Kate Reid – The Heart Already Knows (Self-produced): Vocalist Kate Reid continually seeks interesting song selections and the soundscape in which she sings them. On this set, she sings duets with a solo guitarist or pianist as the backing. The musicians are pianists Taylor Eigsti and Fred Hersch and guitarists Larry Koonse, Romero Lubambo and Paul Meyers. The material highlights Reid in various ‘feels’ including swing, samba, bossa, ballad and contemporary, with songs ranging from Strayhorn and Ellington’s “Something to Live For” to Joni Mitchell’s “Two Grey Rooms” and and two originals by pianist Fred Hersch. The result for the listener is an intimate setting which allows for no “slips”. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Dave Rempis – Tomeka Reis – Joshua Abrams – Ithra (Aerophonic): Sax player/composer/improvisor Dave Rempis is a highly respected jazz musician who has now broken in to his third decade in the Windy City. He leads this trio, including Tomeka Reid (cello) and Joshua Abrams (bass), through eight original songs that are certainly on the outside but make an intriguing set. This program is challenging and I regret I am unable to find a sample from this set. One last quote to describe the set: “In this context, solo explorations don’t drive the music, but instead the sum of the three parts together delivers an unstoppable momentum recalling the type of egalitarian interactions pioneered by the trio of Jimmy Giuffre, Paul Bley, and Steve Swallow in the early 1960’s. The resulting pieces, each one a thoroughly unique and cohesive landscape, deliver a strikingly clear example of what’s possible when musicians with broad interests in all types of contemporary musical expression combine their aesthetics in a non-genre and non-stylistically bound approach.” (http://jazz-a-babord.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_17.html?m=0)
The David Ricard Big Band – Parallels (artistShare): “For his third full-length album, two-time Emmy-nominee David Ricard brings his 18-piece big band into uncharted waters. While previous records leaned more toward quirky and fun, (think “Swan Lake” meets “Sing! Sing! Sing!” or a surf guitar version of “God Rest Ye Merry”), PARALLELS marks the band’s first foray into what the composer calls “sorta serious” music. (https://www.bassplayer.com/artists/the-david-ricard-big-band-to-release-new-album-parallels) Overall, I was reminded of a strong 50’s big band style blended with current sounds. Nine of the fourteen songs are Ricard originals. The band includes Chad Willis, Dave Richards, Wayne Bergeron, Anne King, Mike Cottone, Josh Aguiar, Blake Martin (trumpets); Dave Ryan, Erik Hughes, Sean Shackelford, Dennis Rollins, Juliane Gralle, Jake Kraft (trombones); Doug Webb, Geoff Nudell, Aaron Heick, Michael Czaja, Noah Preminger, Dave Thomasson, John Mitchell, Kyle O’Donnell, Brian Clancy, Stephen Taylor (saxes, woodwinds); Brandon Covelli, Jordan Seigel, and Bill Fulton (piano); Will Brahm, Matt Hornbeck, Grant Geissman and James Leibow (guitar); David Ricard (bass); Sammy K (drums) and Billy Hulting (vibes/percussion). Click here to listen to some samples of this band at work.
Tom Tallitsch – Wheelhouse (Positone): Tom Tallitsch (composer, music educator, tenor sax player) has released seven previous discs and this time out is a beauty! All of the songs are his own compositions and the interaction between all members of the group is wonderful, warm and exhilarating. The other players are Josh Lawrence (trumpet), Jon Davis (piano), Peter Brendler (bass) and Vinnie Sperrazza (drums). Tallitsch’s playing is often reminiscent of the great sax players of the 60’s and 70’s and his playing with Lawrence’s trumpet is truly a highlight. A solid reminder of the great hard bop players and bands. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
