Jazz Recommendations – 2017 releases

Here’s some new music I like.  I wanted to give these albums a mention, no matter how brief.  Let’s begin…

RMV Trio – Desde la lluvia (CHT Records)

The more I listen to this trio set from pianist Yago Vázquez, bassist Pablo Menares and drummer Rodrigo Recabarren, the more I’m taken by the seamless method in which the trio shifts between South American and NYC articulations.  Regardless the direction they take, the trio offers up resonant melodies that sparkle and shine bright and effortlessly fall into place with the particular rhythmic approach of the moment.  These modulations often happen within the span of a single song, which amplifies the marvel of the subtle transformations that much more.  Carlos Lobo adds a solid spoken word contribution with some García Lorca poetry, and that’s just one example of the lovely nuance of this under-the-radar recording.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp

Dominic Lash Quartet – Extremophile (Iluso Records)

Everything about the sophomore recording of bassist Dominic Lash gives the impression of being stuck in between.  There’s the sense that midway through a transformation from one type of jazz expression to another, the quartet looked around at the environment of its transitory state and said, yeah, we’ll just hang out here from now on.  It’s why no one particular school of jazz ever takes precedence over its counterparts and none ever sound fully fleshed out.  This isn’t a case of something old and something new coexisting peaceably… this fascinating album presents facets never fully realized and, consequently, always full of intrigue and leaving the ear guessing.  The flirtation with the blues in “Mr. S.B.” and the vague post-bop of “Fumeux Fume” are equally misshapen as the guitar splatters of “Puddle Ripple,” the animal whines of “Pálpito” and the rock ‘n drone of “Slailing.”  The album is in a perpetual state of change, frozen in time.  Pretty damn cool, that.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp

Eskelin Weber Griener – Sensations of Tone (Intakt Records)

I’ve always found the music of Ellery Eskelin particularly enchanting.  But this isn’t your typical fairy tale enchantment, because the saxophonist typically immerses himself in sounds more akin to the poison apple… nutritious, refreshing, and prone to rewiring your brain in accordance with devious schematics.  The nutritious part of that equation is that he often roots himself to the blues, even in the midst of heavy avant-garde expressionism.  It’s why this trio set with bassist Christian Weber and drummer Michael Griener makes logical sense as a project theme.  They alternate between traditional and free music forms, and often let the contradictory approaches commingle.  And when the result is a state of unison, no matter how unsteady it may be, seeing the connecting points between the different schools of thought is more than a bit revealing.  Also, just in terms of musicianship, it’s a pleasure to hear these guys just go to town.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp – Amazon

Chip Wickham – La Sombra (Lovemonk)

There’s an intriguing blend of spiritual jazz tone and hard bop groove on the debut release of Chip Wickham.  The saxophonist-flautist is a veteran of the scenes, all scenes, as the decades see him contributing to the work of everybody from Matthew Halsall to Badly Drawn Boy.  Originally part of the Manchester scene and then to Madrid and now in Doha, Qatar, the geographical changes are emblematic of the nuance with which Wickham’s quartet alters its style from piece to piece without causing a sea change in sound.  When Wickham modulates his flute to mirror the icy tones of vibraphone, the music resonates like crazy.  Same can be said when he switches over to sax and matches the galloping strides of piano.  At year end, when the various Best Of lists hit the streets, there’s gonna be a writer or two that includes La Sombra in their top ten.  That inclusion won’t be considered a reach.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp – Amazon

My Name is Nobody – My Name is Nobody (Self-Produced)

An easy-to-like session from drummer Ben Vanderwal, pianist Tom O’Halloran and guitarist Lucky Oceans.  It’s that last instrument that sketches out the personality of the recording, via Oceans’ pedal steel and National guitars, as well as a number of guests bringing in other varietals of the stringed instrument.  There’s also some mild electronics and production applied tastefully… modifications that would fall under the category of atmospherics.  Sometimes the music is a vague sort of folk-jazz and other times it hits a mainstream tone.  There’s a few tracks that lead to the observation that perhaps a little editing would’ve been greatly helpful to the album overall, but that criticism is outnumbered by some very enjoyable tunes.  A nice view of music coming from the Perth, Australia scene.

Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp

Because there’s not enough time for everything.

Here’s some new music I like.  I wanted to give these albums a mention, no matter how brief.  Let’s begin…

Josiah Woodson – Suite Elemental (Truth Revolution Records)

One of the more overlooked qualities of the 1970s-1980s recordings of Miles Davis is how their imagic nature implied an imaginary storyline, or, similarly, that a movie might be later filmed as an afterthought to these de facto soundtracks.  I can’t help but be reminded of it after listening to the debut from trumpeter Josiah Woodson.  As it so happens, Suite Elemental is based on the story of a prince becoming a king.  That said, the album’s roaming melodies and tempos that stretch out to touch the farthest horizons and how harmonies emerge like character backstories and the auguries of plot twists, the music is likely to inspire individualized daydreams, which means a choose-your-own-adventure story for each and every listener, unique to them and only them.  Joining Woodson on the journey are pianist Daniel Gassin, bassist Zacharie Abraham, drummer Laurent-Emmanuel “Tilo” Bertholo and a bunch of different guests.

Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon

The New Playground – The New Playground (Self-Produced)

The renditions of standards are both fun and intriguing on this three-track EP from the Montreal-based trio of The New Playground.  Guitarist Marc-Antoine Bourgeois, bassist Francis Viau and drummer Guillaume Joseph give atypically modern takes on “Darn that Dream,” “On Green Dolphin Street” and “How Insensitive.”  However, while the sound ultimately presents itself as quite different, the trio’s melodic-focused approach is spot on consistent with standards who put the melody front-and-center.  Worth noting that, on Bandcamp, this album is set to Name Your Price (NYP).

Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp

Charlie Bates Quartet – Changes (Bojangles Records)

An enjoyable straight-ahead session from pianist Charlie Bates, alto saxophonist Tom Niblock, bassist Aram Bahmaie and drummer Charlie Johnson.  The first two tracks on this three-track EP have the warmth & groove of a classic Hard Bop session, but some of the melodic development hints at a 1970s evolution, when the bop ensembles tried to stay as bop ensembles but still pined for some of the freedom experienced by their avant-garde and inside-out counterparts.  The third track doesn’t deviate much from the first two, but firmly situates itself in modern territory.  Bates also a new big band recording (check it out on Bandcamp) that sounds promising.  Both albums feature musicians from the Birmingham, UK scene.

Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp

Eyot – Innate (Ninety & Nine Records)

I’ve always found the jazz-rock fusion of Serbian quartet Eyot pretty damn enjoyable.  Each successive recording sees them working increasingly contemporary material, but they always have just enough edge to give a burnish to that fusion shine.  The typical pattern is dish out a crisp melody and then go to town wildly developing it in any direction that seems fun.  The quartet is pianist Dejan Ilijic, guitarist Sladjan Milenovic, drummer Milos Vojvodic and bassist Marko Stojiljkovic.  Anytime I hear something new from Eyot, it makes me want to go back and revisit their 2010 debut Horizon.  You maybe should consider doing the same (check it out on Bandcamp).

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp – Amazon

Martin Gohary’s Death Wish – The Ayahuasca Day Trip (Self-Produced)

The sextet of keyboardist Martin Gohary, drummer Al Nawrocki, electric bassist Evan MacLeod, trumpeter Josh McDonald, flautist Bob Zabielski and percussionist Fernando Perez dig into some space-y grooves and Latin beats in this throwback sound of 1970s Latin jazz fusion.  The stronger tracks are those that focus more on the melody than on the groove, but all of this is pretty enjoyable.  Make ya a little nostalgic, too.  Worth noting that, on Bandcamp, this album is set to Name Your Price (NYP).

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp | Amazon