Feb 19 2017

Preview “Overseas V,” the upcoming release from Eivind Opsvik

 

Bassist Eivind Opsvik has a new album on the horizon.  Overseas V is getting released March 17, 2017 on Loyal Label.

Here’s a preview of what’s to come…

Your album personnel:  Eivind Opsvik (double bass, analog bass synthesizer, oberheim drum machine, hand clap), Brandon Seabrook (electric guitar), Tony Malaby (tenor saxophone), Kenny Wollesen (drums, percussion, rhythm ace drum machine, hand claps) and Jacob Sacks (piano, rmi rock-si-chord organ).

You can learn more about the album and pre-order it on the artist’s Bandcamp page.

By • Album Preview, Announcement - Music • 0

Feb 19 2017

Recommended: Mesma – “Music for Sleeping”

 

Because some of us may be suffering from hangovers this Sunday morning, I offer up today’s specially curated daily album recommendation.

Music for Sleeping is a Ray Dickaty project that is the perfect antidote for attempting to have a pain-free experience of sitting on the sofa while hoping to make the hurt go away through sheer force of will (because what else are you gonna do, since the damn aspirin aren’t helping any).  Dickaty’s project Mesma is a series of drones that are wonderfully soothing, just right for the occasion.  The music can lull you into a bit of drowsiness, if you want it to.  However, the drones waver and fluctuate and they can enchant like watching ripples stretching out over the water’s surface.

Your album personnel:  Ray Dickaty (saxophones, electronics and effects).

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

Music from Warsaw, Poland.

Available at:  Bandcamp

And if you’re looking for another side of Dickaty’s music, go check out the write-up of his quartet Pulsarus, which was covered in one of the For-Tune label rundowns (go read it).  It’s just one of many solid projects from that scene.

Also worth nothing that Dickaty was the saxophonist for Spiritualized Let It Come Down and his own group Moonshake.

Speaking of Spiritualized, if you miss some of the old-school Lazer Guided Melodies action, you should scope out Dickaty’s Pure Phase Ensemble.  Check out the song “David Bowie” on the Live at Spacefest recording (go listen to it) and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

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

Feb 19 2017

Best of Bandcamp Jazz videos: Chelsea McBride’s Socialist Night School, Benoit Lugue, Laurent Rochelle & Marc Sarrazy

 

Today’s featured videos all were selections in my most recent Best of Bandcamp Jazz column, comprised of recordings released in January 2017, and starting the year off in great fashion.

You can read that column on The Bandcamp Daily (go read it).

First up is Chelsea McBride’s Socialist Night School performing live at the 2015 Toronto Jazz Festival at Nathan Phillips Square.  It features the song “The Twilight Fall,” which is the title-song of her new album.  Bonus points for the sound of seagulls at the start of the video.  As someone who grew up along the shores of Lake Michigan, I find it one of the most soothing sounds the planet has to offer.

You can listen to their album, and purchase it, on their Bandcamp page.

Next up is a video from the duo of Marc Sarrazy and Laurent Rochelle performing the title-track from their new album Intranquillité.  Even it weren’t a great song, the video would get featured because (yes, you guessed it) for the shot of train tracks.

You can listen to the album, and purchase it, on their Bandcamp page.

And our final video today is a live in-studio performance by Benoît Lugué, performing the song “El Tigre” from his new album Cycles.

You can listen to the album, and purchase it, on his Bandcamp page.

*****

By • These are videos that I like • 0

Feb 18 2017

Recommended: Marco Santilli’s CheRoba & il Fiato delle Alpi – “La Stua”

 

Marco Santilli brought together his CheRoba ensemble and il Fiato delle Alpi for this performance recorded live at Musikinsel, Rheinau in Switzerland.  It is filled with vivid imagery, often quite majestic, and yet also displays a keen precision, so no matter how intensely the music may reflect the stuff of daydreams, La Stüa maintains a focus that keeps the ear aware and active and engaged.

Opening track “Sächsilüüte” gets right to it.  The strong folk element meshes perfectly with the chamber music expressionism, and together they create a home where furious jazz-influenced solos can thrive and take the music on intriguing detours and side-trips.  And on a track like “Giorni di Giornico,” those three elements work in tandem to provide alternate shaping to a melody through the transformation of the tempo likes scenes in a movie.

“Sette” shows how Santilli is able to be wildly expressive on bass clarinet as he is succinct and to the point.  The deep resonance of that instrument, and the addition of musicians who specialize in the lower registers adds darker tonal qualities to music that is apt to shine as bright as the noontime sun.  This leads to all kinds of rich textures, as does the use of 12-string and classical guitars.

An absolutely stunning album.

Your album personnel:  Marco Santilli (clarinet, bass clarinet), Lorenzo Frizzera (12-string & classical guitars), Ivan Tibolla (piano, accordion), Fulvio Maras (percussion), Isabell Weymann (alto flute, piccolo, flute), Davide Jäger (cor anglais, oboe), Tomas Gallart (French horn), Alessandro Damele (bassoon) and Filipa Nunes (contrabass clarinet, clarinet).

Released on Unit Records.

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

Music from Zürich, Switzerland.

Available at:  Amazon | eMusic

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

Feb 18 2017

Preview “Walk Against Wind,” the upcoming release from Linda May Han Oh

 

Bassist Linda May Han Oh has a new album on the horizon.  Walk Against Wind is getting released April 14, 2017 on Biophilia Records.

Here’s a preview of what’s to come…

Your album personnel:  Linda Oh (acoustic bass), Ben Wendel (tenor sax), Matthew Stevens (guitar) and Justin Brown (drums).

You can learn more about the album and pre-order it on the artist’s Bandcamp page.

By • Album Preview, Announcement - Music • 0

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