New Jazz Adds – 8/16/2017
New Jazz Adds – 8/16/2017
Fabian Almazan & Rhizome – Alcanza (Biophilia): Fabian Almazan began his career as a leader with a goal to fuse classical, Latin, and post-bop jazz-based musical languages into a complex whole. Two releases later, Almazan offers an hour-long, nine-movement suite that still seeks to meld these styles in a deeper fashion. “Alcanza (Spanish for “reach”) is a nine movement suite of music that deals with those brief moments in our lives in which within a blink of an eye, everything changes – or at least gives us a remarkable new perception of our condition. It also deals with the process of finding our own path as we go from childhood into adulthood; reflecting the beauty, frustrations and paradoxes of modern-day life and not giving up on reaching for everything in life that brings us joy and love.” (https://fabianalmazan.bandcamp.com/album/alcanza). The players include Alamazan (piano, electronics), Linda Oh (bass0, Megan Gould (violin I), Tomoko Omura (violin II), Karen Waltuch (viola), Noah Hoffeld (cello), Camila Meza (voice, guitar) and Henry Cole (drums). Click here to listen to selections from this disc.
Bryan & The Aardvarks – Sounds from The Deep Field (Biophilia): How deep is the field? At least 12 billion light years as far as we know. How small we must be. This disc seeks to express both the expansiveness of the galaxy and the relatively minuscule nature of our own existence. It’s jazz, it’s space rock, it’s a vocalization of the extreme size of the cosmos. Perhaps it’s a measure of understanding and acknowledging our place in the universe. The band includes Camila Meza (vocals), Dayna Stephens (ewi), Chris Dingman (vibes), Jesse Lewis (guitar), Fabian Almazan (piano), Bryan Copeland (bass) and Joe Nero (drums). Click here to listen to the songs on this disc.
Cyrus Chestnut – There’s A Sweet, Sweet Spirit (HighNote): Pianist/composer Cyrus Chestnut offers an exquisite new disc featuring a wide array of selections including one of his own compositions and his wonderful treatment of compositions from Bobby Hutcherson, Miles Davis, Frederic Chopin, Buster Williams, and Thelonius Monk and a few standards. The rhythm section includes Buster Williams (bass) and Lenny White (drums) with Steve Nelson adding vibes on three tracks and vocals by Charlotte Small, Keesha Gumbs and Djore Nance on the pop hit “You Make Me Feel Brand New”. This is the trio’s second recording together and the blend is sensational. Nelson’s vibes add nice variety to the set. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Chicago / London Underground – A Night Walking Through Mirrors (Cuneiform): About twenty years ago, two Chicago musicians, Rob Mazurek (cornet, sampler, electronics and voice) and Chad Taylor (drums, mbira and electronics) formed the Chicago Underground, an experimental jazz duo that pushed their jazz envelope toward free jazz. Now, they have joined up with Alexander Hawkins (piano) and John Edwards (bass) across the Atlantic to expand the concept. The music continues its experimental approach with four improvisors. It’s not easy listening, but the soundscape is interesting. The underground, (subway?), does have an echo and there are quiet and busy, even hectic, times. Click here to listen to a sample of a song on this disc.
John “Papa” Gros – River’s On Fire (Self-produced): Veteran New Orleans pianist John “Papa” Gros (pronounced “grow”) decided to record a new disc now in honor of Allen Toussaint. He had disbanded his previous group, Papa Grows Funk, in 2013. Gros plays an older and gentler style of NOLA R&B, something much closer to Toussaint’s earlier pop style in the early 60s than to the funk of the Meters, et.al. Gros plays piano, organ, clavinet, synth, and French horn and is accompanied by Brian Stoltz (guitar, tambourine), Eric Vogel (bass), Russ Broussard (drums) and Mike Dillon (percussion, celeste) with a variety of backup singers. The sound is that Big Easy groove and is at its best in the songs where there’s a little extra funk emphasis. Click here and on the arrow labelled “River’s On Fire” to listen to the songs on this disc.
The Great Harry Hillman – Tilt (Cuneiform): This is a Swiss jazz group, not a common occurrence there. They describe their music as a combination of “jazz, rock, and improv into a subdued, layered yet thrilling sound…” It bears some resemblance to groups on ECM, but there’s a stronger rock or guitar or in your face element some of the time. Group members are Nils Fischer (reeds), David Koch (guitar, efx), Samuel Huwyler (bass), and Dominik Mahnig (drums). There is a suggestion that this group will appeal to fans of Mary Halvorson, Radian or Tortoise. If that doesn’t help, click here and scroll down to listen to the songs on this disc.
The Kandinsky Effect – Pax 6 (ropeadope): Wassily Kandinsky (1886-1944) was a Russian painter who believed and transmitted the idea that shades resonated with each other to produce visual ‘chords’ and had an influence on the soul. Indeed, there were numerous blending figures representative of musical associations in his work and he is credited with painting one of the first recognized purely abstract works. The Kandinsky Effect was originally formed as a project to blend electronics and jazz. They have clearly created a style of their own. The group features Warren Walker (sax, synthesizer, effects), Gael Petrina (bass, effects) and Caleb Dolister (drums). Click here to listen to a song from this disc.
Russell Malone – Time For The Dancers (HighNote): Composer/guitarist Russell Malone is a musician committed to melody and beautiful music. He chooses the music he records on the basis of its beauty and comfort. Four of the songs on this disc are originals and the covers were composed by Roland Hanna, Jose Feliciano, Billy Joel and Bobby Hutcherson. Sweet melodies and warm flow, cohesively performed by the group. Backup players are Rick Germanson (piano), Luke Sellick (bass) and Willie Jones III (drums). Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Michael McNeill Trio – Flight (Self-produced): Pianist/composer Michael McNeill has forged a his own style of chamber jazz over the years. On this release from 2014, he continued to establish his command of the dialogue between the two styles. McNeill is accompanied by Ken Filiano (bass) and Phil Haynes (drums) and the performance flows beautifully. This disc appears to be the second of his three releases with the trio. Mostly, the music is beautiful jazz trio work, but there is also an outside free melodic style that takes over briefly. McNeill will be performing live in Charlottesville this October 1st thanks to the Charlottesville Jazz Society, so check this recording out! Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Linda May Han Oh – Walk Against Wind (Biophilia): Bassist/vocalist/composer Linda May Han Oh offers a magnificent new disc filled with stylistic and textural diversity. The sheer precision and beauty of the performances are its greatest qualities. There are careful shifts in tonal precision and occasional shifts to a freer style. There are quiet melodies, moments of swing and moments of full bore jazz. The quartet includes Ben Wendell (tenor sax), Matthew Stevens (guitar) and Justin Brown (drums) with guest appearances by Fabian Almazan (piano on one song and keys on two) and Minji Park (percussion on one track). The music is distinctly original while honoring earlier explorations that sound so central to the genre. Individual and group performances swing with precision and sound totally free. Click here to listen to the songs on this disc.
Katie Thiroux – Off Beat (Capri): Singer/bass player/songwriter Katie Thiroux offers her second release as a leader. It’s mostly a swing set. Songs including the original “Slow Dance With Me”, several jazz standards like “When Lights Are Low” and “Willow Weep For Me”, even Leiber and Stoller’s “Some Cats Know” and Duke Ellington’s instrumental “Happy Reunion” among others, are on the set list. Thiroux’ use of different arrangements adds to the attraction of the set. The disc is anchored by trio players Justin Kauflin (piano) and Matt With (drums) and occasional guest appearances by Ken Peplowski (tenor sax, clarinet) and Roger Neumann (tenor, soprano sax). It’s a solid performance throughout. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
John Vanore – Stolen Moments (Celebrating Oliver Nelson) – (Self-produced): Trumpeter Vanore pays homage to the music of Oliver Nelson – “reimagined, arranged, and conducted” by Vanore, who was heavily influenced by the late Nelson. Vanore attended a summer music camp conducted by Nelson and decided to become lifelong musician based upon his experience and Nelson’s encouragement. After graduating from college, Vanore joined the Woody Herman band. He notes that there hasn’t been a significant tribute release since Nelson’s death in 1975. This disc is intended to showcase the diversity of his composing and arranging. The performing band includes Steve Wilson and Bob Malach (saxes); Tony Kadleck, Augie Haas, Jon Owens, and Dave Ballou (trumpets); Ryan Keberle and David Taylor (trombones); George Barnett and Adam Unsworth (French horns); Jim Ridl (piano); Mike Richmond (bass); Danny Gottlieb (drums); Greg Kettinger (guitar); and Beth Gottlieb (percussion). Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
