Aug 2 2017
Recommended: Gato Libre – “Neko”
Even when the body is at full rest, the biological mechanics continue to work away. When snoring is all that’s going on, the parasympathetic nervous system keeps things humming along. If it were to have a soundtrack, it would be the new release from Gato Libre. This isn’t sleepy music. There’s an undeniable liveliness even when the moments hang upon the whisper of a drone. But Neko is a sonic translation of the body at work while in a state of tranquil sleep, a dichotomy of action and dormancy. The heartbeat of “Tama” is barely a murmur, and yet through it flows music rich with the blood of life. “Momo” is the change in respiration in response to vivid dreams, whereas “Mii” are loud, happy snores.
Melodies are breathed out slowly and they hang in the air, soft and lovely. On “Hime,” trumpeter Natsuki Tamura and trombonist Yasuko Kaneko send out tiny ripples across the placid surface of accordionist Satoko Fujii‘s gentle melodic phrasings. Opening track “Tama” settles into serenity more than any other, and this is no obstacle for the trio to make the melody resonate both solemn and hopeful tones at equally high frequencies. There are a few instances of the trio chipping away at the serenity. “Yuzu” breaks out the melodic parts as if a succession of monologues, up until that moment they all rejoin the storyline in a magnificent show of unison for the finale, and “Tora” takes a quick stab at some dissonance before returning to a more peaceful state of existence.
A little bit of context: Tragically, this ensemble has lost two members in far too short a span of time. Reformation and a changing vision are never an easy thing to do, but Neko admirably serves as both a solemn tribute to those who are no longer with us and a clear statement of what’s to come from those who remain. But this is a strong and beautiful album in any context.
Your album personnel: Natsuki Tamura (trumpet), Yasuko Kaneko (trombone) and Satoko Fujii (accordion).
Released on Libra Records.
Music from Tokyo.
Available at: no standard retail options available
The beauty of this 4-track EP by the 
There’s an addicting oddball lyricism at play here. Melodies are warped into indescribable shapes and rhythms communicate in a language not yet codified for human translation. If I were to say this was the West Coast sister ensemble of NYC’s Kamikaze Ground Crew, that might get close to preparing you for Lisa Mezzacappa‘s particular concoction of insanity. The theme of avantNOIR are old-school hard-boiled detective novels, and considering the depth of mystery each tune presents, it’s fair to say the inspiration bled into the body of the music. Very fun and terribly intriguing.
There’s some serious enchantment going on with this magical set from the trio Kokotob. Marimba, piano and clarinet cast off all kinds of vivid imagery, all of it riveting. The lovely repetition of “Korokoro” is the ambient textures reminiscent of Reich or Eno. “Etude in eb” works the same territory, but trades out tranquility for enthusiasm. And while “Feldmännchen” is reminiscent of pale moonlight on a starless night, “Bikkuri” embodies those monsters that haunt the darkness outside the reach of the moon’s glow. And then there’s the sublime beauty of “Origami im Görlitzer Park” and how delicate tones radiate great melodic strength. I’m really taken with this recording.
Drum and drone is what you get from the debut of the MIR 8 ensemble. At its most tranquil, there’s always an undercurrent of tension, and at its most volatile, there’s always a hint of serenity hanging in the air. This quartet goes heavy on the electronics and effects to bolster trombone and percussion, and somehow they get it all to snap neatly into place. This one grabbed my attention from the first notes, and after a handful of times through, it hasn’t let go.
Carlos Bica & Azul are the sun and the moon. They can take a melody and spin the pure light of serenity from its notes and, with the same ease, the trio can take that same melody and make it burn like flames. Either way, it’s a thing of beauty, and the only difference is the level of intensity and tone. The session of new material celebrates twenty years as a working trio. It’s not empty flattery when I say I hope they celebrate many more anniversaries to come.
What I find most enjoyable about this session from the quartet Mind Games is how the frantic motion of each track defines the melody’s ultimate shape and form. There are times the music hints at an old-school blues and other times it’s a new-school contraption where bop is never one of the scheduled lessons. But in each instance, it’s the slashing, twittering or skittering motion that determines how the song is most likely to be interpreted. It’s something that gives the sense of a singular personality capable of donning any number of different faces. That’s the kind of thing that’ll keep the ear interested and on guard at all times.
Aug 3 2017
Recommended: Temenos – “Elements”
The pairing of cello and baritone sax is key. It’s why the melody is able to simultaneously express comfort and edge. Alto sax and drums allow it to soar through the clouds and dance upon the earth. The music is modern, but it echoes the age where bop was becoming avant-garde and sometimes came out sounding so damn spiritual.
I really struggled choosing which track to embed. All four tunes are solid, and each have their particular allure. Taken as a whole, this is a magnificently enjoyable recording. I imagine it’s flying under most radars. Consider yourself advised.
Your album personnel: Danny Abrams (alto sax), Drew Anagnost (amplified cello with pedals), Saman Khoujinian (drum kit, sound engineering) and Denver Carlstrom (baritone sax, auxiliary percussion).
This album is Self-Produced.
Listen to more of the album on the artist’s Bandcamp page.
Music from Carrboro, NC.
Available at: Bandcamp
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By davesumner • Jazz Recommendations, Jazz Recommendations - 2017 releases • 0