Jazz Recommendations – 2015 Releases

The most arresting quality of Slow Snow is the way in which the quartet of saxophonist Tore Brunborg subtly modulates the cadence as an undercurrent to deeply melodic excursions.  Up-tempo, contemplative, slow & cool strolls… Brunborg’s quartet scrunches those distances down to a matter of inches, and the subtlety of those transitions allows dramatic changes to occur with a remarkable, appealing ease.

The absorbing, introspective “Shelter” and “Lost and Found” with the occasional sun rays that burst through the moody grey skies doesn’t seem at all out place rubbing elbows with the simple groove, the electric crunch, and heartfelt blues of “Tune In.”

“Tree Strong, Tall Swaying, Swinging, Sighing” works an easy groove as a tool for melodic emphasis.  It’s an approach that works with even greater effect on the simmering intensity of “Wherever You Go.”  “Liquefied” dials it down and turns around and dials it right back up again.  Conversely, “History” occupies a small space in which to mesmerize through the use of flowing motion and thoughtful melodicism.

A little overdubbing allows Brunborg to match up his sax and piano expressions on the same composition.  This and the mix of acoustic and electronic elements provides some space & soil duality.  It’s the kind of thing that allows a slow build of anticipation to develop, as well as a slow reveal of new tonal facets with each subsequent listen.

The melodies of Slow Snow will demand the spotlight’s attention, but it beguiles through its motion.

Your album personnel:  Tore Brunborg (tenor sax, piano), Eivind Aarset (guitar, electronics), Steinar Raknes (double bass) and Per Oddvar Johansen (drums, electronics).

Released on ACT Music.

Listen to album tracks on the artist site.

Buy:  eMusic | Amazon

The winning quality of Restraint is its sense of permanence, of possessing the kind of expressions that remain lodged in the memory to where the album’s concluding note signals not an end, only the beginning of anticipation for when it’s time to press play all over again.  And during that interval, the music lingers.

The ensemble Catfish blends modern jazz, contemporary classical and indie pop… an approach that is becoming more and more prevalent on the modern jazz landscape.  It’s a nice trend and it leads to some very pretty and very compelling moments… but the results don’t always stick around for very long.  The music of Restraint, at times, is quite ephemeral, but the building crescendos and the proud, bold pronouncements of melody at a song’s peak, definitively stated and repeated with patience and certainty, this leaves its imprint on the ear.  This is music with staying power.

A device the ensemble utilizes with unqualified success is by leading in with eddies and pools of improvisation, providing just the barest sense of shape and form before the melody suddenly shines through, loud, clear and full of warmth and thick lines easy to wrap up and embrace.  “||Addiction||” does this swimmingly, as does “The Lovers of Roissy.”  The equation is flipped on its head with “The Sea Makes the Rules,” but its effect is no less profound.

Sometimes the transitions from vague formlessness to huge presence happen within the duration of a song and sometimes Catfish effects the change in song bundles of two.  “Wistaria Dr. 4AM” is all nervous energy and leads sweetly into the gracefully flowing melody of “Some Things Are Worth Fighting For.”  And “Arch Cape” is a warm infusion of thick harmonies and a melody that stretches out for miles, which makes the scattered pieces of the subsequent “{{Mothh}}” that much more striking upon its arrival.

It’s an absolutely gorgeous album that offers up some stunning moments.

Your album personnel:  Joe Cunningham (tenor sax, percussion, piano, Rhodes, organ), Dan Duval (guitar, piano), Ken Ollis (drums) and guests: Lee Elderton (soprano sax, clarinet), Kyleen King (viola), Patty King (violin), Jeff Baxter (piano), Ben Kates (alto sax), Jon Shaw (bass) and Reed Wallsmith (alto sax).

Released on PJCE.

Listen to more of the album at the label’s Bandcamp page.

Music from the Portland, Oregon scene.

Available at: Bandcamp | eMusic | Amazon

This week in the Jazz new releases bin is dominated by artists who enthusiastically leap from one genre to the next or, sometimes, approach them as if there were nothing separating those genres in the first place.  Very little of the music you’ll find in today’s recommendations is straight-forward, but you’ll find most of it is easy to embrace.

Challenging music need not always be a challenging listen.  I’ve got several albums here that prove that statement.

Let’s begin.

*** Album of the Week ***

Quartet Diminished – Station One

Guitarist Ehsan Sadigh’s quartet isn’t hesitant about tackling a range of expressions with their mix of modern jazz, hardcore folk, avant-garde and psychedelic jazz-rock fusion.  Somehow, this delirious mix of expressions all seem to snap into place, which is a hell of an accomplishment considering the diversity of sound and conversation styles employed.  Ehsan Sadigh on electric guitar, Peter Soleimanipour on bass clarinet & saxophones, Mazyar Younesi on piano and Rouzbeh Fadavi on drums offer up a sharp tunefulness from within the panoramic view.  It’s a nice look at music coming out of Tehran.  It’s also a very exciting, very cool album, and you can expect I’ll be writing more about it here on this site.  For now, just go buy it.

Released on Hermes Records.

Visit the artist site.    Buy:  eMusic – Amazon

*****

*** Also Featured This Week ***

Shaun Martin – 7 Summers (Ropeadope)

This work is pianist Martin’s attempt to reflect on the story of his life through music, and the way it moves through expressions of hard bop, Latin jazz, R&B, fusion and Hip Hop gives the impression of a lifespan of influences.  His sextet plus the Soulchestra string unit display a refreshing knack for shifting between insanely focused moments of contemplation and big sounds shouted euphorically to the skies.  This album has got a seriously magnetic personality.

Artist site | Listen | Buy: eMusic – Bandcamp – Amazon

*****

Marios Takoushis & Gabriel Karapatakis – Colours of Another Sky (Self-Produced)

Much like their 2012 release Seven Miles East, the new one from pianist Takoushis and bassist Karapatakis is an absorbing mix of modern jazz, Metheny-esque fusion, and Greek folk music.  An revolving cast joins the duo, adding Cretan lyra, violin, drums and saxophones to the mix.  Melodies make big entrances, then head off to the horizon traveling far and wide… but they always return home with an equally big finale.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  eMusic – CDBaby – Amazon

*****

Hermine Deurloo & Zapp4 – Welling (Tin Wood Music)

For music that’s got a folksy charm and affable personality, there’s an engrossing introspective side to this album, too.  Deurloo’s chromatic harmonica dances around the slashing lines of a string quartet, and the crosshatch of furtive motions, deep melodicism and warm harmonies is pretty addictive.  Lively music that’s likely inspire all kinds of daydream imagery.

Artist site | Listen | Buy: eMusic

*****

James Uhart – Sous Le Lampadaire (Self-Produced)

Evocative piano trio recording from pianist Uhart.  Definitely a member of the School of Mehldau, both in terms of his thoughtful harmonic development as well as a firm commitment to seeing a melody reach full bloom.  There’s a couple tracks on this album that are likely to cement themselves permanently in your day-to-day playlist.

Artist site | Listen | Buy: eMusic – CDBaby

*****

Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet – Intercambio (Patois)

The special thing about trombonist Wallace’s various projects is that he deftly shows just how diverse is the Latin Jazz range of expressions and just how inadequate the phrase “Latin Jazz” sums it all up.  His newest, with his quintet and a number of guests (including a nice turn by violinist Mads Tolling) hits upon a number of regional influences, as well as their crossover points of mutual transformation.  Context aside, this is simply joyful, effusive music that beams a warm, wide smile.

Artist site | Buy: eMusic – Amazon

*****

Corbin Andrick – Olmstead’s Whistle (Self-Produced)

Nice little showcase of talent from the Chicago scene on alto saxophonist Andrick’s latest.  They work in some grooves throughout most of the affair, and when they slow down its pace or slip it past as an undercurrent is when the album shines strong. Trumpeter Marquis Hill shows he’s got plenty of feel and bassist Katie Ernst’s contribution resonates strongly on this one, seemingly from within the shadows of the rhythm section.

Artist site | Buy: eMusic – Amazon

*****

Joel Harrison 5 – Spirit House (Whirlwind)

A bit of a disjointed album from guitarist Harrison, which is either its winning quality or its fatal flaw, depending on which way your ear bends when listening.  It’s the right line-up for this kind of recording (trumpeter Cuong Vu, bassoonist Paul Hanson, bassist Kermit Driscoll and drummer Brian Blade), as each member is accustomed to traversing the distance between scarred modern jazz-blues and enigmatic melodicism that cuts to the bone.  The ethereal tracks that choose vague forms over hard imprints are where the band really comes together.

Artist site | Listen | Buy: eMusic – Amazon

*****

Momo Trio – Inati (Self-Produced)

Engaging modern piano trio session.  Some use of electronics & effects and some lines of dialog that freely jump off the rails, but when this trio settles down into a melody, they really string it out beautifully from start to end.  Some moments that don’t always hit the mark, but many that do, and taken in the scope of the album’s entirety, the view of different facets of the trio’s vision easily compensates.

*****

Caili O’Doherty – Padme (Self-Produced)

This enjoyable modern set from pianist O’Doherty has a nice casual ease even though it frequently moves at a brisk pace.  A trio at its core, but includes some nice guest appearances by saxophonists Caroline Davis & Ben Flocks, violinist Alex Hargreaves and trombonist Eric Miller.  Best quality is the music’s restrained, but incisive lyricism.

*****

Have a great time digging through the list!

And remember, it’s simple:  You like what you like.

Cheers.

***

Definitely a slow-down of new releases in terms of volume, but certainly not measured by quality.  This week’s batch of recommendations can be split into two camps:  Experimental music that seeks its own path, genre be damned and those that set up camp right near the heart of jazz.  Both groups provide all kinds of fun and excitement, and both will keep you busy until we return in a week with another batch of recs.

Have fun listening and have a happy 4th of July!

Let’s begin.

*** Album of the Week ***

Tony Wilson 6tet – A Day’s Life

With his imaginary soundtrack for the life of a homeless, drug-addicted musician, guitarist Wilson offers up plenty of cinematic imagery.  His mix of modern jazz, avant-garde and contemporary classical provides both the exhilarating and the sublime.  Moments of composed grace that flutter away on the wings of their own beauty shift into moments of chaotic dissonance before they, too, transition into a bursts of precise lyricism and bubbling enthusiasm.  Joining Wilson are JP Carter on trumpet, Jesse Zubot on violin, Peggy Lee on cello, Russell Sholberg on bass and Skye Brooks on drums.  Each listen brings new discoveries and a greater appreciation of Wilson’s accomplishment.

Released on Drip Audio.  Visit the artist site.

More listening | Buy:  eMusic – Amazon

*****

*** Also Featured This Week ***

William Tatge & Last Call – Borderlands (Parco della Musica Records)

Serious compelling session from the quartet of pianist Tatge, saxophonist Dan Kinzelman, bassist Francesco Ponticelli and drummer Stefano Tamborrino.  They take a panoramic approach to modern straight-ahead jazz, avant-garde & free, and Mediterranean jazz.  The result is an ingenious fusion of clamor and serenity… sometimes blended into a single concoction and sometimes forged together with fire and willpower.

Artist site | Listen | Buy: eMusic – Amazon

*****

Christoph Irniger Trio – Octopus (Intakt)

There’s an enjoyable exchange of energy and tension on the newest from the trio of tenor saxophonist Irniger, bassist Raffaele Bossard and drummer Ziv Ravitz.  The way in which the tautness of compositional frameworks yields to the wild abandon of improvisations before returning back home is more than a little fun to hear unfold.  A sense of signals and codes that don’t require a strict translation.

Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – eMusic – Amazon

*****

Jacob Anderskov – Kinetics (The Path) (ILK Music)

The first volume in pianist Anderskov’s trilogy that serves the dual purpose of encapsulation of the growth of his sound over time and contemplations on the state of things in the present moment, as past comes to rest at Today.  The first volume has Anderskov in a trio format.  Peculiar currents of motion sweep across the album, interrupted by occasional bursts of mesmerizing tunefulness and echoes of yesteryear’s jazz.

Artist site | Listen | Buy: eMusic – Amazon

*****

Trevor Anderies – Promise of a Tree (Orenda)

Drummer Anderies’ follow-up to his excellent 2013 release Shades of Truth shows even more promise.  Where the other was a thoughtful expression of the place where hard bop and avant-garde meet, his newest sees him growing more nuanced and increasingly diverse with this mix of modern and classic jazz, folk, and pop.  Fans of Ben Goldberg’s fearless experimentalism should be checking this one out for sure.

Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – eMusic – CDBaby – Amazon

*****

Walt Weiskopf – Open Road (Posi-Tone)

Solid straight-ahead recording from tenor saxophonist Weiskopf.  When the soloists burn through the fuel, the quartet charges happily along, and when they slow down and focus on melody, the quartet eases nicely into the new speed.  If you like your music to have two feet planted dead center of familiar jazz territory, you aren’t gonna go wrong picking this one up.

Artist site | Buy: eMusic – Amazon

*****

Gary McFarland Legacy Ensemble – Circulation: The Music of Gary McFarland (Planet Arts)

Under the direction of drummer Michael Benedict, a strong cast of vibraphonist Joe Locke, saxophonist Sharel Cassity, bassist Mike Lawrence and pianist Bruce Barth make an assertive statement about the enduring legacy of Gary McFarland’s music.  A sense of something old & something new on this session, which, actually isn’t unlike the music when originally composed.  There’s a ringing clarity to the expressions on this recording, but it’s the abiding joyfulness from first note to last that is the album’s winning quality. So good.

(No audio to embed, but you can stream the entire album on the Planet Arts site (click the “Listen” link below to go there.)

Artist site | Listen | Buy: eMusic – CDBaby – Amazon

*****

Joe Manis – The Golden Mean (Steeplechase)

Nifty straight-ahead set from tenor saxophonist Manis, drummer Kevin Congleton and pianist George Colligan working the Hammond B-3 organ on this session.  Interesting mix of Manis originals, standards (Duke Ellington) and pop tunes (Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” and John Barry’s “Goldfinger”).  Manis & Company somehow get them to sound cohesive, and generate plenty of warmth in the process.

*****

Have a great time digging through the list!

And remember, it’s simple:  You like what you like.

Cheers.

***