Jan 29 2017
Here’s a preview track of the upcoming release from Tim Berne & Matt Mitchell.
Due out on Feb 7, 2017, FØRAGE is a solo set from pianist Matt Mitchell, performing the compositions of Tim Berne.
Here’s the piece “RÄÅY.”
Learn more about the album on the artist’s Bandcamp page.
Jan 29 2017
I was doing a little clean-up of my files and bookmarking system, and I discovered a handful of videos that had never been featured before on Bird is the Worm, just sitting there in the queue. Every one of these represent albums that have received a recommendation by this site. And here they are…
First up is the quintet Valia Calda, whose self-titled EP earned the #30 slot on this site’s Best of 2015 list. Here they are performing in July of that year at London’s Vortex Jazz Club.
Your video personnel: Rob Milne (bass clarinet), Sam Warner (trumpet), Nikos Ziarkas (guitar, electronics), Thodoris Ziarkas (double bass), Gaspar Sena (drums).
And if you want to just go listen to their album, and purchase it, hop on over to their Bandcamp page.
Next up is a promo video for Jakob Sorensen and his sophomore release Nomad. You can read more about that album by checking out Best of Bandcamp Jazz column on The Bandcamp Daily.
And if you want to just go listen to their album, and purchase it, hop on over to his Bandcamp page.
And our final video today is a cool promo for Duplex aka the duo of saxophonist Harald Lassen and Christian Meaas Svendsen.
And if you want to learn more about this band and their music, go check out a write-up of their albums En and Duolia, here on this site.
Jan 28 2017
There’s an appealing moodiness to this alt-contemporary jazz album from the quartet Leaf. The music’s contemplative nature provides an essential balance for those passages where the shine of the jazz-rock fusion threatens to get a bit too bright. There’s nothing fussy about the melodies; nicely crafted and rolled out simply, they’re easy to embrace even when a soloist takes it for a ride. Of this, the quartet displays a nice patience in developing them into something more, and that preference of the soloists to stay within the fold is what allows them to go wandering far and wide and never let their melodic starting point fall out of view.
There’s nothing particularly groundbreaking about this album. No new territory is struck. But it’s plenty enjoyable, and for those of you who prefer the modern contemporary jazz sound, this is a nice option. Besides, for a debut album, Leaf is a promising start.
Totally obscure reference: Anyone who is familiar with (and likes) Azure’s When She Smiles should give this one a listen. Absent the Nordic jazz influence, it falls within the same family.
Your album personnel: Eric Kappauf (piano), Olivier Grenier Bédard (guitar), Jonathan Arseneau (double bass) and Dave Croteau (drums).
This album is Self-Produced.
Listen to more of the album at the artist’s Bandcamp page.
Music from Montreal, Québec.
Available at: Bandcamp
Jan 28 2017
The AllAboutJazz forum is no more. Mike Ricci, the guy who owns and runs the AllAboutJazz site, announced on the site’s main page that the forum has been shut down.
AllAboutJazz’s music forum had been in existence for close to two decades, and for about ten years smack dab in the middle of that lifespan, it had a remarkably active community.
The growth of AAJ’s forum community benefited from the shutdown of the Blue Note Bulletin Board and the migration of those forum members looking for a new home. From approximately 2003-2013, the AAJ forum had an impressive community of regulars and a steady stream of new signups and non-participating lurkers. The topics included typical discussions of classic jazz albums and live shows, but also a healthy sized community of musicians who came to the forum to talk shop… music theory, routines, touring, etc.
There were, at times, some well-known musicians who participated on the forum. Pat Martino had a dedicated thread, and would jump on board and answer questions from time to time.
In my biased opinion, one of the forum’s best discussion threads was titled New Releases Only, begun by forum member (and occasional Bird is the Worm comment section participant) Robmid. The intent was to get people to begin focusing on the modern jazz scene and, perhaps, shake the solitary obsession with jazz of the previous century. I jumped on board that train right quick, and the wonderful music that was shared between thread participants was the spark that led me to where I am now. I’d also like to mention Bill Harmless aka Alypius, who passed away a few years ago. He was an essential participant on the New Releases Only thread (and the AAJ forum as a whole). And in the strange context of connections made with people through social media, people we often never meet in person, I considered him a friend, and was always happy to shoot the breeze with him on the forum and via email.
Here’s a song I’ll always associate with the New Releases Only discussion thread…
Over the years, the AAJ forum had its share of interruptions from hackers, and as the forum’s popularity increased, so did the attention from that segment. And like many forum communities, it was populated by its share of trolls, malcontents and jamokes. There were the obligatory bursts of drama and flame-throwing. The increased toxicity of the forum environment spurred an exodus of regular forum members, which wasn’t helped by the unavoidable temporary shutdowns from security attacks. And with a growing social media preference for Twitter and Facebook over the forum environment, the AAJ community withered down to almost nothing as it neared its end. I suspect -and this is merely conjecture on my part- that the current state of forum disuse was the excuse they needed to finally shut it down. The forum, undoubtedly, used up funds and time that the site owners would have rather spent on the AllAboutJazz main site. But that’s just what I think.
But taking both the good and bad, I’ll always have fond memories of the AAJ forum. I met some really nice people who had a great taste in music. I discovered all kinds of wonderful music on the AAJ forum, old and new. And as it can be difficult sometimes to find others who share your particular interest, it was a nice way for people to connect and shoot the breeze about the music they love and adore.
And here’s a shout-out to all the forum moderators who helped keep that joint running. Nobody joins a music forum and thinks, hey, I hope they ask me to fulfill some administrative functions and deal with forum yahoos. It’s a thankless job, and the moderators deserve plenty of kind words and respect for stepping up and doing it. Ian Dunnigan, in particular. I believe Ian may have been a moderator on that forum for almost the entirety of its existence. Thanks, Ian.
And thanks, AllAboutJazz, for providing a home for those of us who wanted to talk about the music we love.
Cheers,
-Dave (dsschicago)
Jan 29 2017
Recommended: David Vinolas Trio – “Cap al Capvespre”
Some tracks fall into the stylistic category of “Impro #1 (nit a la Segarra),” with its prowling tempo and fragmented melody. This applies even to the moody “Redibuixant el camí,” which slowly finds its voices and sings a little song. But even when the cheerful “Siempre se Hace lo que se Puede (Song for Marko)” adds an upbeat tone and focused melodicism to the proceedings, it snaps right into place with the album tracks that fall around it. Two pieces that add some serious intrigue and immense fun are a rendition of The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” and Erik Satie’s Gymnopédies. On the former, the way that saxophonist Albert Bartolomé drawls out the melody is plenty enjoyable, but when the trio breaks the song down into a free-for-all, the level of enjoyment shoots up dramatically. That it circles back around for a comparably chipper rendition of the original version’s finale makes for a satisfying conclusion to the trio’s inspired rendition. Their adaptation of Erik Satie’s Gymnopédies is no less inspired. A solemn tone and a martial cadence allows the melody to exhale slowly, but then the trio gives the piece the same breakdown treatment as they did Paul McCartney’s composition. Of especial interest is the way bassist Aleix Forts hops around the torrential downpour of Viñolas’ drums. And then, as it did on “Hey Jude,” the ferocity and chaos returns to the original solemn tone for the album’s final notes.
This album was released back in 2014, and really deserved to be part of the discussion when compiling year-end lists. Do not let this album fly under the radar any longer.
Your album personnel: David Viñolas (drums), Albert Bartolomé (alto & soprano saxophones), Aleix Forts (bass) and guest: Jordi Santanach (bass clarinet).
Released in 2014 on Quadrant Records.
Listen to more of the album at the artist’s Bandcamp page.
Music from Guissona, Spain.
Available at: Bandcamp | Amazon | eMusic
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By davesumner • Jazz Recommendations, Jazz Recommendations - 2014 Releases • 0