Apr 20 2017

Recommended: Hermine Deurloo – “Living Here”

 

The enthralling element of Living Here is how melodically rich and textured it all is.  Hermine Deurloo possesses a lyricism on chromatic harmonica that comes off as both intricately detailed and effortlessly fluid.  Pianist Rembrandt Frerichs gets a melody to radiate a vibrancy that is often jaw-dropping beautiful, and how that matches up with the dancing motion of the tempos sparked by drummer Jim Black is a big reason why the music remains light on its feet even when packed tight with melodic inspirations.  It’s an effect further accentuated by the harmonic possibilities explored by Jörg Brinkmann on cello.

And that’s why songs exhibiting the intense melodic focus of “Long Story Short” and “Sketch on November” can be nicely complemented by tracks like the hard-charging “Achiltibuie” and the playful “Samba de um Breque” and the folksy charm of title-track “Living Here.”

There’s a poetry to every expression on this lovely recording, and it informs each act of motion, each form of articulation.  The music incites vivid imagery, but not to the point of distraction… where story and storyteller become indistinguishable and where method and meaning hold hands tight.  And every last bit of it is captivating.

Your album personnel:  Hermine Deurloo (chromatic harmonica), Rembrandt Frerichs (piano), Jim Black (drums) and Jörg Brinkmann (cello).

Released on Zennez Records.

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

Music from Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Available at:  Amazon

By • Jazz Recommendations, Jazz Recommendations - 2016 releases • 0

Apr 19 2017

These are videos that I like: Matt Otto, at Grunauer, at Take Five

 

Today’s videos feature the music of saxophonist Matt Otto.  Otto’s new (and older) releases Ibérica and Reunion were yesterday’s daily recommendation (go read it).

The first video is a live July 2015 performance with Ensemble Ibérica at Grunauer, in Kansas City.  The song is “Viewed In,” which can be found on their new recording.

Your video personnel:  Matt Otto (tenor sax) and Ensemble Ibérica: Beau Bledsoe (guitar), Jordan Shipley (guitar), Michael McClintock (guitar), Brad Cox (keyboard) and Karl McComas-Reichl (bass).

And here’s another video from that same performance, this time of the composition “St. Paul.”

It’s the same personnel as the video above, except that Michael McClintock switches over to Cuban tres.

And our final video is from an August 2014 performance at the Take 5 Coffee Bar in Overland, Kansas.

It features saxophonist Andy Ehling, whose collaboration with Otto resulted in the new release Reunion.  The song performed is “Eleven Thirty,” which also makes an appearance on the recording.

Your video personnel:  Matt Otto (tenor sax), Andy Ehling (alto sax), TJ Martley (keyboard), Marty Morrison (drums) and Ben Leifer (bass).

And if you want to skip the write-up and just go check his music out, you can listen to, and purchase, many of Otto’s recordings on his Bandcamp page.

By • These are videos that I like • 0

Apr 18 2017

Now seems like a good time to talk about saxophonist Matt Otto

 

Saxophonist Matt Otto has a couple of new albums out, so this seems like a good time as any to feature the music of an artist that first hit my radar nearly five years ago.

Let’s begin…

 

Matt Otto with Ensemble Ibérica – Ibérica

Otto’s collaboration with the Ensemble Ibérica is a series of languid expressions, each possessing the potent combination of a stunning beauty and a disarming gentleness.  The delicate accents of Spanish and chamber add some compelling textures, and the inclusion of instruments like oud, steel guitar, cavaquinho, cello and Cuban tres brings a liveliness to the conversation that serves to emphasize the serenity, not threaten it.  And while Matt Otto’s tenor sax has a bold voice clear as day, his slight modulations between a sunny smile and a moody calm incites the prevailing serenity to resonate with a spellbinding intensity.  Ibérica is easily one of the most gorgeous things to be released in 2017, thus far.

Your album personnel:  Matt Otto (tenor sax) and Ensemble Ibérica: Beau Bledsoe (guitar, oud), Jordan Shipley (guitar, cavaquinho), Michael McClintock (electric guitar, Cuban tres, acoustic bass guitar), Brad Cox (Rhodes), Karl McComas-Reichl (bass, cello) and Mike Stover (steel guitar).

Released on Origin Records.

Available at:  Amazon | eMusic

 

Matt Otto & Andy Ehling – Reunion

Of particular interest on this straight-ahead session from Otto and Andy Ehling are the two compositions that are shared with Otto’s collaboration with Ensemble Ibérica.  On Reunion, “Elm” is a jaunty tune with a cheery disposition, and hearing how it’s transformed into a state of complete and utter tranquility on Ibérica is alone worth the price of the download.  The same could be said of “Du Bois,” and how its Middle-Eastern influence and hypnotic oud solo undergo a metamorphosis into fiercely burning embers on Reunion.  And then there’s a track like “Twain,” which is unique to this 2015 recording date, but which has the languid expressionism that marks the success of the Ibérica recording.  But, truly, the heart of this recording is a track like “Adler,” with its brisk pace and casual delivery that transmits the impression that these are simply good friends getting together to play and someone just so happened to have a recording device lying around.  Friendly music willing to reveal some depth behind the wide smile.

Your album personnel:  Matt Otto (tenor sax), Andy Ehling (alto sax), Leonard Thompson (Rhodes), Brad Williams (drums) and Ben Leifer (bass).

Released on Jazz Collective Records.

Listen to more of the album on the artist’s Bandcamp page.

Available at:  Bandcamp | Amazon

 

Matt Otto – Broken Waltz

Otto’s 2012 release Broken Waltz was my introduction to his music.  What immediately grabbed me was the interplay between Otto and the bass clarinet of Brian Walsh.  Otto clearly loves the conversations that occur with other reed instruments, and seems to delight in creating intertwined melodic lines and watching the array of patterns emerge.  A similar effect occurred on his Reunion collaboration with fellow saxophonist Andy Ehling, but hearing the light & dark contrast between tenor sax and bass clarinet is a seriously arresting element to Broken Waltz, and while it certainly isn’t the only compelling feature of this excellent recording, it possesses a gravitas that earns the attention it draws in.

On Rhodes, Leonard Thompson does some nifty shading around the edges of the solos, and gives them a presence of greater expanse and nuance, both.  Vocalist Sara Gazarek sits in on a few tracks, and strikes a nice balance between complementing the album’s inclination toward introversion and counterbalancing it with a tone that’s more outgoing.  There are moments, like on “Origin,” where the bass and drum combo of David Carpenter and Jason Harnell develop a chatter that borders on hypnotic.

It’s a strong album that deserves another round of attention.  Note to long-time readers:  Broken Waltz was a Jazz Pick back when I was writing for eMusic, so check your library first before hitting the download button to be sure you haven’t already scooped this album up.

Your album personnel:  Matt Otto (tenor & soprano saxophones), Leonard Thompson (Rhodes), David J Carpenter (bass), Jason Harnell (drums), Brian Walsh (bass clarinet) and Sara Gazarek (vocals).

Released on Jazz Collective Records.

Listen to more of the album on the artist’s Bandcamp page.

Available at:  Amazon | CDBaby | eMusic | Bandcamp

 

Innocent When You Dream – Celebrating the Music of Tom Waits

This 2010 collaboration with trumpeter Aaron Shragge has them embracing the Tom Waits songbook and giving it all of the melancholy tones, wry sense of humor and sudden bursts of cheery optimism that marks the source music.  The contributions of Greg Leisz on pedal steel go a long way to cinching the album’s success, but it clear right from the start that each musician is plugged in to what Waits is all about.

Your album personnel:  Matt Otto (tenor sax), Aaron Shragge (trumpet, shakuhachi), Brandon Bernstein (guitar), Jason Harnell (drums), Ryan McGillicuddy (bass) and Greg Leisz (pedal steel).

Released on Jazz Collective Records.

Available at:  Amazon | eMusic

And there’s plenty more to discover.  Give a listen to other Otto recordings on his Bandcamp page.

You can also give a listen on his Soundcloud page.

And then there’s also his main site.

By • Artist Overviews, I Listen To All Of This, Jazz Recommendations, Jazz Recommendations - 2017 releases • 0

Apr 18 2017

These are videos that I like: Paulo Gomes and MAP

 

Today’s videos feature the music of Paulo Gomes and his MAP quartet. Their new album Guerra e Paz was yesterday’s daily recommendation (go read it).

Here’s a live performance of the album track “8 de Maio.”

Your video personnel: Paulo Gomes (piano), Miguel Moreira (guitar), Miguel Ângelo (acoustic bass), Acácio Salero (drums), Sergio Valmont (audio) and Ricardo Maja (video).

And this next video, of the composition “Guernica,” appears to be from that same performance with the same personnel.

And if you want to skip the write-up and check their new album out, you can give it a listen, and purchase it, at the artist’s Bandcamp page.

By • These are videos that I like • 0

Apr 17 2017

Recommended: MAP – “Guerra e Paz”

 

Every one of the melodies of Guerra e Paz shine with the brilliance of a star on a clear night.  But rather than simply feature them at the center of the album’s universe, the MAP quartet of Paulo Gomes treats them as launching pads to go exploring in directions that take them far far away from that enchanting intro.  And, thankfully, each time, the quartet returns home to that melody, so just as it made for a nifty launching pad, those lovely melodies also serve the dual role of landing point.  The return also provides a context for every bit of improvisation that fell in between, giving a sense of the distance traveled with solos and their proximity to the original melody… even if only through the barest hint of recognition.

Sometimes it manifests as an afternoon stroll through the park on title-track “Guerra e Paz” and sometimes it sticks to moonlit paths in the dead of night on “Norte,” and then there’s those moments where everything shatters to pieces on “Guernica” and “Guerra dos Mundos,” but in each instance an arresting melody is the foundation for the song’s imagery.

A seriously captivating album.

Your album personnel:  Paulo Gomes (piano), Miguel Moreira (guitar), Miguel Ângelo (acoustic bass) and Acácio Salero (drums).

Released on Porta Jazz.

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

Music from Portugal.

Available at:  Bandcamp

By • Jazz Recommendations, Jazz Recommendations - 2017 releases • 0

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