These are videos that I like

Today’s featured videos have a Best of Bandcamp Jazz theme.  The musicians you’ll see in today’s column all had an album recommended in my most recent column on The Bandcamp Daily (go read it).

The first video is courtesy of trombonist Tony Cattano , who recently released a new album, Naca.  This video has him with his Ottett0, from a March 2015 performance at Teatro Sant’Andrea in Pisa.

The next video up is an album preview for The Parade, the new recording from Yonathan Avishai Modern Times.  It’s another nifty new release on the Jazz & People label.

And next up is a fun animated promo from saxophonist Ayumi Ishito and her debut album View from a Little Cave.  This tune, which appears on the album, is titled “Lack of Elegance.”

And last up is a video from the Tom Csatari band Uncivilized.  I’ve been rather intrigued by several of the works from Csatari.  Not sure this particular video sufficiently encapsulates the intoxicating mix of influences that go into much of his work, and the captivating melodicism that often results from it.  But here’s your video anyway.  It’s the song “Stupid Gurus” from the Melted Candy EP.  FYI, the album version of the song features Jib Kidder, which is a topic for another discussion.

And remember, you can check out the latest batch of recommendations, and every other column I’ve written for my Bandcamp gig, over at The Bandcamp Daily.

One of my very favorite albums of 2015 was The Aviators’ Ball by bassist Matt Owens.  Despite a busy listening schedule, it still gets played pretty frequently.  I noticed that he recently uploaded a performance of the album’s compositions to his YouTube page.  That led to a couple related videos, and, ultimately, to today’s post.

The first video is a performance of the album’s title-track.  It went down at The Bridgewater Hall Foyer as part of the Little Bite Concert series.

You can check out more of the performance on Owens’ YouTube page.

And you can read more about The Aviators’ Ball on Bird is the Worm (go read it).

Putting in a guest vocal on The Aviators’ Ball is Ríoghnach Connolly, whose rendition of “Black is the Colour” is one of the more stunning vocal pieces I’ve heard on any album, anywhere, ever.

This performance of that song is with her own ensemble at the 2012 Manchester Jazz Festival.

You can see more of that performance on Connolly’s YouTube page.  At that time, she was touring in support of her 2012 release Black Lung, which you can listen to and purchase on her Bandcamp page.

The tune “Mouse Song” is one of the many standout tracks on “The Aviators’ Ball.”  Tom Davies does a lovely job with the vocals.

I know the sound kind of sucks on this video, but it’s still a pretty song and, damn, I’ll feature any halfway decent video that takes place in a beautiful church with stained glass and lush greenery on the other side of the glass.  Pretty sure this is St Werberghs’ Church for the album’s official launch.

And I happened across this next video when looking to see if there were any other new Matt Owens videos out there.  This is the Amika Strings performing the Matt Owens composition “Returning” at the Chorlton Arts Festival.  And I believe it’s the same church.

*****

Today’s videos feature music covered in yesterday’s Tzadik label, Alhambra Ensemble post (go read it).

The first video is road trip home video set to the opening track “Mountain View” from Alhambra Love Songs.  I am truly a sucker for this kind of video, I swear to god.  Put some good music to passing scenery, and it’s going to get featured on this site.

And this next one is set to the song “Enchantress” from the Alhambra album The Goddess: Music for the Ancient of Days.

The hi-speed action doesn’t quite float my boat, and dude has way more face time than any of us need to see, but still, I’ll award points for the attempt.  Bonus points for the dog.

*****

Today’s featured videos come courtesy of cellist Andrew Downing, whose Otterville was yesterday’s daily recommendation.  It’s a lovely folk-jazz recording that will go along nicely with whatever personal tranquility you’ve built into your day.

Go read about it (LINK).

The first video is from a September 2015 performance at Waterloo Ontario’s Jazz Room.  The song, which also appears on Otterville, is titled “Observatory.”

Your video personnel:  Andrew Downing (cello), Tara Davidson (alto sax), Michael Davidson (vibraphone), Paul Mathew (bass guitar) and Nick Fraser (drums).

FYI, there’s another video on YouTube from the same performance (LINK).

And here’s a clip of his work with his Melodeon project, in which Downing’s ensemble plays live music accompaniment to old silent films.  This one is set to the film Impossible Voyage.

*****

Today’s featured videos come courtesy of French horn player John Clark, whose 1997 recording I Will was the most recent daily recommendation.

You can read that recommendation on Bird is the Worm (LINK).

Now, about those videos…

The first is from when Clark was a member of the McCoy Tyner Big Band.  The video is from a 1980 performance in Berlin.  The song is “Fly With the Wind.”  Clark gets in a solo around the ten-minute mark.

The next video shows a different side to his playing.

This video is from a performance at the “Fretathon,” part of the 2013 Composers Concordance Festival.

Your video personnel:  John Clark (horn), Paul Carlon (baritone sax) and Jane Getter (guitar).

*****