Jan 25 2017

Recommended: Maarten Hogenhuis Trio – “Mimicry”

 

Mimicry is a wonderful straight-ahead saxophone session from the trio of Maarten Hogenhuis, bassist Thomas Rolff and drummer Mark Schilders.  Hogenhuis has an appealingly casual delivery that is generous with restraint and heavy with lyricism.  Shaping the melody like a flickering candlelight, Hogenhuis translates this to the trio’s rhythmic approach, which often gives the impression of a dancing flame.  When the trio slows things down on “The Single Petal of a Rose-Le Sucrier Velours” and “Sonder,” the music exudes thick emotions that draw the attention in, but it’s when they scoot along at a brisker pace that the fun emerges.  For instance, “Coko” dares the foot not to tap along to the tempo and the hyperactive “Three Monkeys” can’t sit still, doesn’t even try.

I enjoyed this album right from the start.  Each subsequent listen only increases my adoration of the recording.

Your album personnel:  Maarten Hogenhuis (saxophones), Thomas Rolff (double bass) and Mark Schilders (drums).

The album is Self-Produced.

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

Music from the Amsterdam scene.

Available at:  Bandcamp | Amazon

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

Jan 25 2017

These are videos that I like: Donny McCaslin, right now

 

Today’s featured videos come courtesy of Donny McCaslin.  The saxophonist has a solid new album out called Beyond Now.  You can read more about that album along with my interview of McCaslin on The Bandcamp Daily (go read it).

Here’s a video of a live performance of the album track “Faceplant.”

And here’s a brief, but very cool album promo, featuring a clip of the David Bowie song “A Small Plot of Land.”

And HEY!  Look what I just found!  It’s Donny McCaslin and crew performing a cover of the Bowie tune “Look Back in Anger” at L.A.’s Bluewhale back in September of last year.  And it’s AWESOME!  THIS is how to properly do a cover, giving it your own personality while still honoring the original.

The song originally appears on Bowie’s album Lodger, and while that version is perfectly acceptable, Bowie’s best performance of it is on his live concert video from his Serious Moonlight Tour.  Bowie leads the show with that song, and while there are many instances of Bowie being a total music bad-ass, this was one that made an impression on this guy back when he saw it as a teen.  Hell, it still makes an impression when I see it today, even with its syrupy 80’s effects and misguided fashions.  Damn, this video made me so happy.

And let’s end with music from a different McCaslin album.  As I mention in the intro of my interview of McCaslin, his 2012 release Casting For Gravity was a huge turning point in the saxophonist’s creative vision.  Hearing the complete transformation of his post-bop past into his electro-acoustic future was pretty damn stunning, and for myself, it wasn’t really until hearing his new album Beyond Now that I think I’m finally acclimated to Casting For Gravity (and the Fast Future album released during the interval).  Here’s a rendition of the electronic band Boards of Canada’s “Alpha & Omega.”

And remember, you can listen to more of McCaslin’s Beyond Now, and purchase it, at the artist’s Bandcamp page.

And, for that matter, you do the same with his 2012 release Casting For Gravity over on the Greenleaf Music Bandcamp page.

By • These are videos that I like • 0

Jan 24 2017

My interview of Donny McCaslin is up at The Bandcamp Daily

 

I interviewed saxophonist Donny McCaslin for The Bandcamp Daily.

We talked about his new album Beyond Now, his collaboration with David Bowie on Blackstar and the interrelationships between the two.

Here’s a LINK to go read it.

And you can listen to and purchase the new album Beyond Now on Bandcamp.

By • Announcement - Music, Interviews • 0 • Tags: ,

Jan 24 2017

These are videos that I like: Renato Dias Trio at Estudios Sa da Bandeira

 

Today’s featured videos come courtesy of Renato Dias.  The guitarist’s debut album Suspiro was yesterday’s daily recommendation.

You can read about it here (LINK).

Our first video is a little promo put together in advance of the album’s release.

And our next video is a live in-studio performance of an album track, the song “Red Hair.”  It was filmed by Hugo Matos, José Lemos and Marco Miranda at Estúdios Sá da Bandeira in Porto, Portugal.

Your video personnel:  Renato Dias (guitar), Filipe Teixeira (double bass) and Filipe Monteiro (drums).

And if you’ve heard enough and just want to go listen to the album (and purchase it), just go straight to the artist’s Bandcamp page.

By • These are videos that I like • 1

Jan 23 2017

Recommended: Renato Dias Trio – “Suspiro”

 

The debut from guitarist Renato Dias is a nice, laid-back affair, and heavy with a dreamy atmosphere.  Joined by bassist Filipe Teixeira and drummer Filipe Monteiro, the trio patiently explores each melody in an environment where tempos often have the presence of an urgent whisper.  The emerging pattern is that melodies are grounded in fragmented imagery, where there is no clear start or end.  But then there are those tracks like “Mariana (and Bunny, The Cat)” where the melody is stated crisply and leads the way.  “Next Exit” raises its voice a bit, but for the most part, Suspiro is rainy day music when the sound of music blends in with the sound of raindrops and a hushed city watches it all come down.

There are more than a few moments on this album that I found captivating.

Your album personnel:  Renato Dias (guitar), Filipe Teixeira (double bass) and Filipe Monteiro (drums).

Released on the Porta Jazz label.

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

Music from Porto, Portugal.

Available at:  Bandcamp

By • Jazz Recommendations, Jazz Recommendations - 2017 releases • 1

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