Announcement – Music

The Goran Kajfeš Subtropic Arkestra have a new album on the horizon.  The Reason Why Vol. 3 is getting released November 3rd, 2017 on Kajfeš’ own label, Headspin Recordings.  It’s the final volume of the trilogy, and hints at the rich diversity of influences and expressions that have defined the series up to this point.  Kajfeš is one of the most inventive musicians currently on the scene.

Here’s a preview of what’s to come…

Your album personnel:  Goran Kajfeš (trumpet), Per “Ruskträsk” Johansson (saxophones, flute), Jonas Kullhammar (saxophones, flute), Per “Texas” Johansson (sax, clarinet, oboe), Reine Fiske (electric guitar, mellotron), Robert Östlund (electric guitar), Jesper Nordenström (organ, Fender Rhodes, piano, synthesizer), Johan Berthling (bass), Johan Holmegard (drums, percussion) and guest: Juan Romero (percussion).

You can learn more about the album, listen to it and pre-order purchase it on the artist’s Bandcamp page.  It’s also available at Amazon.

And you can read more about the first installment of the trilogy, as well as his intriguing 2010 release X/Y (go check it out).  The Reason Why Vol.1 was this site’s #25 album of the year on the Best of 2013 list.

Update (12/10/2017):  The album was included in my Best of Bandcamp Jazz column.

Bird is the Worm is very proud to feature an exclusive preview of the new album from Mikkel Ploug.  The guitarist has a remarkable talent for creating music that is highly conversant, yet still casts a palpable serenity.  He attains this balance flawlessly when matched against the vocal harmonics & electronics of Sissel Vera Pettersen and clarinetist Joachim Badenhorst with the trio Equilibrium, and it’s no different with his trio of bassist Jeppe Skovbakke and drummer Sean Carpio.  So, it comes as no surprise that the same potent combination of activity and tranquility is present when Ploug offers up a solo session recording.

With recent releases like 2014’s Liquid Light, 2015’s At Black Tornado, and 2016’s Live at Vancouver Jazz Festival, it’s led to Ploug becoming a site favorite.  2017’s Alleviation adds to that esteem.

Alleviation will see its release on October 27th, 2017 on the Songlines Recordings label.

Here, now, is an exclusive preview of that album.  Note:  The exclusive preview is now over, but here’s a partial stream of the release.

You can pre-order the recording on the artist’s Bandcamp page.  Worth noting that there’s a vinyl option in addition to the CD and digital formats.

You can learn more about the album and the artist on the Songlines Recordings site.

And you can check out everything else about Mikkel Ploug on his own site.

We don’t normally feature re-issues or archival releases, but Bird is the Worm is happy to make an exception for one of the greatest composers and musicians of our time, Hermeto Pascoal.  The 1976 session, recorded at São Paulo’s Vice Versa Studios, is getting released November 3rd, 2017 by Far Out Recordings.  Titled Viajando Com O Som, this music gem highlights Pascoal’s ability to capture both the dynamic nature of a free-flowing river and the individual beauty of each of its individual rivulets and ripples all in a single vision.  The music of Hermeto Pascoal is something you can just immerse yourself in for endless hours or just sit back and allow yourself to be carried away.  This session with his Grupo Vice Versa is one such glorious example.

This is very exciting news.

Your album pesonnel:  Hermeto Pascoal (electric piano, flute, voice), Zé Eduardo Nazario (drums, percussion, voice, bamboo harmonic flute), Zeca Assumpção (bass), Lelo Nazario (electric piano), Nivaldo Ornelas (tenor sax, flute), Mauro Senise (saxophones, flute), Raul Mascarenhas (saxophones, flute), Toninho Horta (guitar) and Aleuda Chaves (vocals).

You can learn more about the album and pre-order it on the artist’s Bandcamp page.

Mammal Hands have a new album on the horizon.  The Norwich-based trio is releasing their third album Shadow Work on October 27th, 2017 on Gondwana Records.

Here’s a preview of what’s to come…

Your album personnel:  Jordan Smart (saxophones), Nick Smart (piano) and Jesse Barrett (drums, percussion).

You can learn more about the album and pre-order it on the artist’s Bandcamp page.