Jazz Recommendations – 2011 Releases

Tiny Review recs of new Jazz releases, featuring:  Dave Chisholm, Bill McHenry, Markus Pesonen, Quinteto Ricardo Pinto, Ely Guerra, and Peter Bryngelsson.

*****

The recs below were built off the skeleton of the recommendations I make as part of my weekly contribution to the Emusic New Arrivals article.  I do the jazz recs for it.  Emusic lets me copy it onto my blog 30 after it’s posted on their site.  When I post on Bird is the Worm, I add album art, audio (when available), additional links, and if I’ve had the opportunity to give the album additional listens, modify my opinion a bit and tighten up the original language.  So here it goes…

Let’s begin:

Dave Chisholm – Calligraphy

An interesting sophomore release from trumpeter Dave Chisholm. His debut album Radioactive was a successful big band affair with sweeping melodies and unapologetic turns of drama and melancholy. For Calligraphy, Chisholm scales down to a quintet, and he zooms in on the heart of his melodies, leaving a result of an album that is more post-rock than jazz.  Imagine Mogwai recording a jazz album, and you have a decent idea of what’s contained here.  It’s really quite beautiful, and it’s a fascinating look at different facets of Chisholm’s source of creativity.  A nice meeting point for jazzers and post-rockers to come together. Recommended.

It’s Self-Produced.  Jazz from the Rochester, NY scene.

Go visit his site. There’s a bunch of cool promo videos for the album.

You can stream the entire album (and purchase it, too) on his bandcamp page.

Download a free album track at AllAboutJazz, courtesy of the artist.

Available on Emusic.

Bill McHenry – Ghosts of the Sun

There is something deceptively propulsive about this album. Listen to it, and it comes off as a laid-back affair filled with soft tunes and casual rhythms, but much how gentle waves on a calm sea can carry an inattentive boat far away from its resting place, so is the effect of Bill McHenry’s compositions on the listener. Engaging without fussy complexities, moving despite a whiff of nonchalance, the album is an experience. Features Ben Monder, Reid Anderson, and the dearly departed Paul Motian. Outstanding.

Released on the Sunnyside Records label.  Jazz from the Brooklyn scene.

The entire album can be streamed on McHenry’s bandcamp page.

Available at Emusic.

Markus Pesonen Hendectet – Hum

The Markus Pesonen Hendectet throws their instruments at the listener all at once. Waves of sound come crashing in, one after the other, eleven pieces consisting of an army of woodwinds and brass, strings, accordion, and percussion. Hints of melody, however, tease with the promise of warmth. That promise is honored halfway through the album, gentle ballads, a rousing cover of Charles Mingus’s “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat”, and a nifty rendition of the Beatles’ “Day in the Life.” Absolutely thrilled with this album. Highly Recommended.

NOTE:  I’ve written a review of this album for eMusic, found here.

Released on the Unit Records label.  Jazz from the Copenhagen and Berlin scenes.

Available on Emusic.

Quinteto Ricardo Pinto – Sintra Project

Intriguing debut album by this Portuguese jazz quintet. Couldn’t find much online about this group, but I’ve been terrifically enamored with its steady drive and moody ambiance. A balancing act between a pleasant swing and determined rock-like rhythms, in addition to some nice harmonizing between horns and woodwinds, this recording would likely get slotted under nu-jazz, which means it’ll appeal to Indie fans and modern jazzers alike. Nice little recording.

Your album personnel: Ricardo Pinto (trumpet), Bruno Margalho (alto sax), Daniel Hewson (piano), Francesco Valente (double bass), and Rui Pereira (drums)

Released on the FEWG Records label, a digital music label focused in jazz and experimental electronic music. Jazz from the Lisbon, Portugal scene.

Available on Emusic.

Ely Guerra – Invisible Man

Recent Grammy nominee Ely Guerra hits the emusic site with seductive little set of piano trio songs. Ely’s vocals are the kind I like… seemingly effortless, not pushy, and no emotional cheap shots. It’s a delicate affair from beginning to end, pretty straight-forward without any real surprises, but when it’s boiled down its barest elements, it’s a pretty album that’s a very nice listen, and I felt compelled to mention it.

Released on the Homey Company label.  Jazz from the Guadalajara, Mexico scene.

Available on Emusic.

Okay, this one probably shouldn’t even be filed under jazz, but it’s just too damn cool not to mention…

Peter Bryngelsson – Wunderbaum

Founding member of old-school prog rock band Ragnarok, Peter Bryngelsson puts together an album of field recordings, sax, banjo, electric, acoustic, and slide guitars, harmonica, strings, various percussion, and a Hohner Claviola. It’s almost too easy to use the word ‘cinematic’ to describe this album, but easy sounds good to me right now. Fans of Ennio Morricone, Devotchka, Marc Ribot, and John Fahey should spend some time investigating this album. Too cool.

NOTE:  I’ve fallen in love with this album since first hearing and writing about it above, so I’ll be writing a full-length review right after the new year.

Released on DOS Records.

Available on emusic.

That’s it for today.

Cheers.

Here’s some language to protect emusic’s rights as the one to hire me originally to scour through the jazz new arrivals and write about the ones I like:

“New Arrivals Jazz Picks“, courtesy of eMusic.com, Inc.
© 2011  eMusic.com, Inc.

My thanks to emusic for the freelance writing gig, the opportunity to use it in this blog, and the editorial freedom to help spread the word about cool new jazz being recorded today.

Tiny Review recs of new Jazz releases, featuring:  Nat Birchall, Søren Kjærgaard & Ben Street & Andrew Cyrille, Mary Halvorson & Jessica Pavone, Will Martina, Paula Shocron, and Rufus Reid.

*****

The recs below were built off the skeleton of the recommendations I make as part of my weekly contribution to the Emusic New Arrivals article.  I do the jazz recs for it.  Emusic lets me copy it onto my blog 30 after it’s posted on their site.  When I post on Bird is the Worm, I add album art, audio (when available), additional links, and if I’ve had the opportunity to give the album additional listens, modify my opinion a bit and tighten up the original language.  So here it goes…

Let’s begin:

Nat Birchall – Sacred Dimension

Nat Birchall and bandmate Matthew Halsall have carved a nifty little corner of jazz out for themselves. They both have their individual sounds and their voices are as fresh as anything on the scene today. They also recall voices of the past, respectively John Coltrane and Miles Davis. On Sacred Dimension, tenor man Birchall keeps with the spiritual themes, straddling the line of avant-garde without ever crossing it, while developing into territory closer resembling that of Alice Coltrane’s Journey In Satchidananda.

Birchall is a jazz vet who only recently began putting out albums under his own name.  His play is confident and strong, as one might expect from a pro who has spent a career honing his talent.  One of the top albums of 2011.  Highly recommended.

Released on the new Gondwana label.  Jazz from the UK scene.

Available on Emusic here.

Søren Kjærgaard, Ben Street & Andrew Cyrille – Femklang

An oddly alluring avant-garde bit of serenity. Femklang is the trio’s third album together, and the familiarity shows in the final result.  Soren Kjaergaard’s classical background in piano is the guiding force throughout the recording, keeping a placid yet bright feel to the music, with drums giant Andrew Cyrille and bassist Ben Street keeping the conversation chipper and engaging.

This is avant-garde jazz that can be appreciated by both fans and non-fans alike.  Accessible without sacrificing any of its heart.  Recommended.

Released on the ILK Music label.  Jazz from the Copenhagen, Denmark scene.

Available on Emusic here.

Mary Halvorson & Jessica Pavone – Departure of Reason

Okay, look, I’m not interested in getting into some territorial pissing contest of what is jazz and what isn’t.  If someone out there wants to shout that this should be categorized under some other genre, fine, whatever.  Departure of Reason isn’t likely to gain Mary Halvorson any more votes for inclusion into the jazz club, even if I bring up Braxton’s name.  That said, Halvorson has impressively developed her sound on guitar into something quite unique, which even her detractors readily admit, and the interplay and rapport she and the wildly talented Jessica Pavone (viola) possess between them is positively addictive.

I admit I’m a sucker for small-ensembles consisting of nothing but strings, and when the musicians heartily embrace the improvised music aesthetic while still yielding a series of ridiculously pretty tunes, I put my money all-in.  I don’t expect everyone will like this, but I do expect that many people who consider their favorite genre something other than jazz will excitedly scoop this album up.  Highly recommended.

Released on the Thirsty Ear label.  Jazz from NYC.

Available on Emusic here.

Will Martina – The Dam Levels

Cellist Will Martina rounds out a trio with the excellent Jason Lindner (piano) and Richie Barshay (drums).  Straight-ahead modern jazz, though Martina’s cello adds a texture to the compositions that resonates brilliantly, even when it keeps to the background.  The trio gets a real lyrical sound, so both the head and the heart are kept nicely occupied throughout.  If you’re looking for a nice spot to introduce yourself to jazz being made in the present tense, this album is one of those.  The tune “C for G” is very cool; Martina’s intense cello solo absolutely fires it up.  Highly recommended.

The album is Self-Produced.  Jazz from the NYC scene, recently removed from Australia’s scene.

NOTE:  I really liked this album when I first heard it, and it’s really grown on me since.  I’m going to take a stab at a more detailed review and publish it either on Bird is the Worm or maybe AllAboutJazz.

A free album track is available at AllAboutJazz, courtesy of the artist.

Available on Emusic here.

Paula Shocron – Gran Ensamble

Argentinean pianist Paula Shocron’s initial foray into her own big band ensemble is a successful one. Another classical trained musician who couldn’t resist the allure of jazz, Paula’s previous output under her own name was solo and trio pieces, and thankfully she brings some of those small-ensemble sensibilities into her big band compositions. There is an intimacy here that sometimes gets lost in the exuberance of a large ensemble performance, and the interplay between small voice and booming creates some fun tension as a listener. Recommended.

Released on the Acqua Records label.  It appears the album can be streamed on their site.

Available on emusic here.

Rufus Reid – Hues of a Different Blue

A hard-swinging set from bass veteran Rufus Reid and his Out Front Trio (Steve Allee on piano and Duduka Da Fonseca on drums). With a series of guest appearances by jazzers from across the spectrum, Reid puts on a deft display of compositional talent. It’s an album of straight-ahead jazz, each song accented towards the talents of the particular musician guesting on that song, but never losing the cohesion of a Reid Out Front recording.

On the Motema label, who can always be counted on for putting out solid tasteful jazz.  Jazz from the New Jersey scene.

Download a free album track from Motema’s bandcamp page, courtesy of the artist and label.

Available on Emusic here.

Part 2 will appear in tomorrow’s post.

Here’s some language to protect emusic’s rights as the one to hire me originally to scour through the jazz new arrivals and write about the ones I like:

“New Arrivals Jazz Picks“, courtesy of eMusic.com, Inc.
© 2011  eMusic.com, Inc.

My thanks to emusic for the freelance writing gig, the opportunity to use it in this blog, and the editorial freedom to help spread the word about cool new jazz being recorded today.