New Jazz Adds – 8/13/2019
New Jazz Adds – 8/13/2019
Juliana Areias – Bossa Nova Baby (Metax): ““‘Bossa Nova Baby’ is a welcome surprise of good Brazilian music, made far away. It’s bossa that plays soccer with jazz – like it has since the 60s – and scoring a goal.” (Antonio Carlos Miguel, O Globo) Back in her native Brazil, Juliana Areias was given the nickname ‘Bossa Nova Baby’ and compared to Bebel Gilberto, the genre’s golden girl. Now this Sao Paulo born singer is the toast of the Perth jazz scene and ready to move you (physically and emotionally) with both originals and Brazilian classics such as ‘The Girl From Ipanema’, ‘Mas Que Nada’ and ‘Flor de Liz’. She’s even performed at the Sydney Opera House! Juliana and her band not only have the sound but the aesthetic to match, with Juliana in colourful Latin-inspired dresses while giving audiences the inside scoop on a few samba moves that will surely get the party started with flair. Whether you’re a fan of Latin music or looking for a little Latin flavouring for your next event, Juliana and her talented band of jazz instrumentalists will have you almost tasting the tropical air of Brazil.” (http://retromusicbox.com/julianaareiasbossanovababy/) In fact, Areias composed or co-wrote all of the songs on this disc. Instrumental backup is provided by Ricki Malet (flugelhorn); Paul Millard (tenor sax, flute), Ray Walker (guitar), Graham Wood (piano), Pete Jeavons (bass), and Chris Tarr (drums) with Doug de Vries (seven string guitar), Marco Mendes (guitar), Zak Rowntree (violin), and Cathie Travers (accordion). Really nicely done throughout. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Jeff Coffin – Music In Our Reams (Dream Shanty): “The innovative compositions on this album flow freely between the Indian classical and jazz traditions in a way that honors the richness of both, and yet seems to create a unique sound of its own. The confluence of these two traditions is expertly delivered by Coffin on saxophone, Subrata Bhattacharya on tabla, Indrajit Banerjee on sitar, fellow Dave Matthews Band band-mates Carter Beauford and Stefan Lessard on drums and bass, Roy “Futureman” Wooten and Jordan Perlson on percussion, Chris Walters on piano, and Ryoko Suzuki on harmonium. Music In Our Dreams provides listeners with the rare opportunity to hear Coffin, Beauford and Lessard in a context very different than Dave Matthews Band, and to hear an ensemble of consummate musicians performing deeply evocative music….Of the 12 tunes on the Unknown Dameron, three are vocals performed by Danielle Wertz.” (https://lydialiebman.com/index.php/2019/07/05/new-release-jeff-coffin-and-dream-shanti-to-release-music-in-our-dreams-7-22/) All of the songs are originals. This is a wonderful set throughout. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this release.
Paul Combs – Unknown Dameron: Rare and Never Recorded Works of Tadd Dameron (Summit): “Tadd Dameron (1917-1965) is a man relatively unknown to many today. As an arranger and composer his work was largely in the background…However, his impact gives us insight as to his importance. From 1947 to 1950, he recorded music that inspired, indeed showed the way, for Horace Silver, Benny Golson, Frank Foster, Gigi Gryce, and Quincy Jones. Performed brilliantly by Paul Combs and band. While Dameron is fairly well-known for some eight compositions that have become part of the jazz canon, there are many more of his works that deserve our attention. The 12 selections recorded here were either never recorded, or only recorded rarely, and not easily available….Saxophonist-educator-author Paul Combs is the leader and the rest of the players featured are Alex Aspinall (percussion); Derek Cannon (trumpet); Ken Cook, Bill Cunliffe and Melonie Grinnell (piano); Jeff Denson, Rob Thorsen and Alex Frank (bass); Kamau Kenyatta (piano, sax); Richard Sellers (percussion); and Danielle Wertz (Vocal). (https://www.summitrecords.com/release/unknown-dameron-rare-and-never-recorded-works-of-tadd-dameron-paul-combs/) Click here for an introduction to this disc.
Peter Eldridge & Kenny Werner – Somewhere (Rosebud Music): Peter Eldridge is a singer/songwriter and pianist, composer and arranger who last released eight discs altogether including this one. In addition to Eldridge, the performers include Kenny Werner (piano, electric piano), Eugene Friesen (cellist, conductor), Matt Aronoff (bass), and Yoron Israel (drums). Eldridge composed two songs and Werner composed one and provided lyrics for three. Several of the performances have lush backgrounds thanks to the addition of five violins, five second violins, three violas, four cellos, two basses and a harp. Luscious! Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
David Finck – Basically Jazz (Green Hill): Bassist David Finck offers his third release as a leader and though he only offered one original, he did arrange all of the rest of the music on this set. His selections range from “Old Devil Moon” and “Walkin’ My Baby Back Home” to “The Song Is You”, “Alfie” and John Coltrane’s “Moment’s Notice”. Fick’s players include Joe Locke (vibes), Jim Ridl (piano), Cliff Almond (drums), Ali Ryerson (flute), Bob Mann (guitar), Kevin Winard (percussion), Mike Davis (trombone) and singers Linda Eder on “The Summer Knows” and Alexis Cole on “I Love You So” and “Bluesette”. Click here to listen to Finck sing and play “I Love You So”.
Peter Furlan Project – Between The Lines (Self-produced): “BETWEEN THE LINES is a collection of compositions influenced by some of my favorite books and authors of modern fiction. Most compositions are direct attempts at musical interpretations of these books. Others were composed while reading and I drew inspiration from their evocative, awe-inspiring inventiveness.” (http://box5194.temp.domains/~peterfur/) The musicians are Peter Furlan (compositions, arrangements, tenor & soprano sax), Vinnie Cutro (trumpet, flugelhorn), Roger Rosenberg (baritone sax & bass clarinet), Andrew Beals (alto sax), Erick Storckman (trombone), Neil Alexander (piano, keys), David Budway (piano), Peter Brendler (bass), Saul Rubin (guitar) and Nadav Snir Zelniker (drums). Click here to listen to an introduction by Furlan and some music from the disc.
Kevin Hays & Chiara Izzi – Across The Sea (Vaneto/Jando): This is Kevin Hays (vocals, piano, Rhodes) and Chiara Izzi’s (vocal) second release together and their interactions sound terrific. Izzi wrote two of the songs and co-wrote another on this release. Hays wrote one with Pat Metheny and another with Izzi. The other musicians include Rob Jost (bass, French horn), Greg Joseph (drums), Rogerio Boccato (percussion), Chris Potter (tenor and soprano sax), Gregoire Maret (harmonica), Nir Felder (guitar) and Omer Avital (oud). There is a good bit of variety on the disc based on style and world music blends. Click here to listen to a song from this disc.
Nelson Hinds – 20th Century Limited (Self-produced): Nelson Hinds plays trombone but I was unable to find any information about him except that it seems he lives in the West and he composed each of the songs here. The other members of the group are Peter Sommer (tenor sax), Eric Gunnison (piano), Mark Diamond (bass) and Jim White (drums). My ears say that he and his group would be welcome in New Orleans anytime based upon the groove they create. It appears that he has at least one release before this. Click here to listen to samples on the songs on this disc.
Charnett Moffett – Bright New Day (Motemo): “For ‘Bright New Day’, bassist/composer Charnett Moffett’s seventh recording for Motéma Music and 16th as a bandleader overall, the virtuoso musician spearheads a genre-transcendent program that explores a wide range of sound, style, and emotion from the lyrical “Holy Spirit” and uplifting “O My God Elohim” to the urgent funk-rock of “Free the Slaves,” (which features an especially cathartic electric fuzz bass solo by the leader). Included in this potent collection of eight originals are two Ornette Coleman/harmolodic-inspired jams, “Netting” and the exhilarating “Bright New Day,” plus two thoughtful odes to the elements in “Precious Air” and “Waterfalls. The album represents a continuation in the leader’s explorative body of work, and is uniquely distinguished from Moffett’s prior recordings by featuring him strictly on fretless electric bass guitar.(http://dlmediamusic.com/charnett-moffett/bassist-composer-charnett-moffett-bright-new-day-available-june-21-via-motema-music/) The musicians include Jana Herzen (guitar, vocal), Brian Jackson (piano, synth), Scott Tixier (violin) and Mark Whitfield Jr (drums). Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Charles Owens Trio – Three & Thirteen (Self-produced): Charles Owens offers a double-barreled offering this time out: set 1 is a trio featuring Owens’ dynamic tenor sax with Andrew Randazzo (electric bass) and Devonne Harris (drums) playing a span from Benny Maupin’s “It Remains To Be Seen” to Bacharach and David’s “Always Something There to Remind Me” and nuggets from Hoagy Carmichael and George Gershwin to Miles Davis’ “All Blues” and Radiohead’s “15 Step” and Kanye West’s “Say You Will”; set 2 is live and the trio is joined by the R4ND4ZZO Big Band recorded at the Southern Cafe on February 19, this year. The band includes JC Kuhl (bari sax), Suzi Fischer (alto sax, flute), Kevin Simpson (tenor sax, flute), Stefan Demetriadis (bass trombone), Pete Anderson and Ben Weisiger (trombones), Sam Koff, Bob Miller, Marcus Tenney and Will Evans (trumpets), with Calvin Brown keys) and Adam Larabee (guitar) joining on the final song. Three of these songs are Owens’ originals. This is a terrific cross section of the artistry Charles Owens has added to our town and the field of jazz as well! BTW, Owens is performing at the Southern on August 13. The show begins at 7 p.m. Click here to catch a live version of Owens with the R4nd4zzo Big Band (on this set).
William Parker – In Order To Survive (Aum Fidelity): “The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD once described the Bronx-born bassist and composer William Parker as “the most influential bassist/leader since Mingus”. It was a big shout, Parker being a more austere artist than Charles Mingus (a charismatic weaver of gospel, blues, and elegant Ellingtonian harmony) but he has been a three-decade inspiration to musical adventurers. Influenced by unique pianist Cecil Taylor (his former boss), and “conduction” innovator Butch Morris, Parker has drawn on deep resources from the jazz tradition, from the cultural roots of Africa and the Americas, and from European free-jazz.” (https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jul/05/william-parker-in-order-to-survive-review) On this release, composer/bassist Parker offers two sets of performances, including one extended piece entitled “Eternal Is The Voice Of Love” performed in five parts and five separate pieces on the second set entitled “Shapeshifter”. Parker is accompanied by Rob Brown (alto sax), Cooper Moore (piano) and Hamid Drake (drums). Listening is challenging. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this release.
Randy Sandoli – Smicha (Joy) (Self-produced): “Randy Sandoli is a pianist, composer and the Assistant Director of the Brubeck Institute at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. Sandoli recently recorded and released his 2nd album as a leader. His new project, entitled “Simcha” (Hebrew for “Joy”), includes trio, quartet, quintet and sextet arrangements of Randy’s original music.” (https://www.randysandoli.com/biography) He also sings. The other players are Aaron Rousseau (bass), Joseph Evans (drums), Levi Saelua (alto sax, flute), Joe Mazzaferro (trumpet, flugelhorn) and Alex Reyes (tenor sax). The performances are buoyant throughout the disc. Click here to listen to the songs on this disc.
Veronica Swift – Confessions (Mack Avenue): Singer Veronica Swift is back with a new release and a performance that is as smooth as silk. The feel of this release is more smooth and stylized than her earlier releases. Her songs include Andre and Dory Previn’s “You’re Gonna Hear From Me”, Johnny Hodges and Dave Frishberg’s “A Little Taste” and Mel Torme’s “A Stranger In Town” to Bob Dorough and Dave Frishberg’s “I’m Hip” and the original “I Hope She Makes You Happy”. The players include Emmet Cohen and Benny Green trading off on piano; Russell Hall and David Wong trading off on piano; and Kyle Poole and Carl Allen trading off on drums. Beautiful singing with terrific backing. I regret I am unable to find a sample from this release.
Kopesetically,
Professor Bebop
