Jun 6 2018

The motion is where it’s at on the latest from drummer João Lencastre’s Communion 3

 

The motion is where it’s at on the latest from drummer João Lencastre.  Whether it’s a series of free improvisations or a rendition of Ornette Coleman’s “Lonely Woman,” Lencastre creates rhythmic flurries that are positively captivating.  It’s a very in the moment kind of thing.  The pieces of Movements in Freedom don’t ever evince a sense of shape or cohesion… except in the present moment, when everything feels interconnected and everything sounds like it falls into its right place.

Pianist Jacob Sacks is the melodic flame lit by Lencastre’s spark, and the light it produces is lively and gorgeous and enchanting.  Bassist Eivind Opsvik has long displayed a talent for adding color and tones to the melody while providing texture to the rhythm.  In the trio format, and on an album so wide open for improvisation, he’s really able to shine with an abundance of activity and still have plenty of room for nuance and subtlety.  And most of these pieces are improvisations, which really makes the cohesion-in-the-moment trait so much more impressive. All of that space to move around in and wander, a sense of the limitless horizon, and yet the trio remains insanely focused on the motion of the moment.

The rhythmic flurries are symbolic of the album’s strength, but when silence permeates a pieces, as it does on “Walk on Clouds,” the music is no less enchanting. It’s just a different type of conjuring performed by the trio.  Opsvik adding bass arco plays no small part in the music’s spellbinding nature.

I really enjoyed Lencastre’s 2014 release What Is This All About? (on Auand Records).  It had a boozy demeanor, loose and unfocused in the best of ways, where the music’s unpredictability informed both the motion and melody.  Then, too, like on his newest, Lencastre has a way on drums of giving a whisper the force of a shout.  It is the way the calm before the storm contains an electricity as highly charged as when the sky comes pouring down, but delivered with a soothing calm that draws you right in to the center of things.

A seriously beautiful album.

Your album personnel:  João Lencastre (drums), Jacob Sacks (piano) and Eivind Opsvik (bass).

Released on Clean Feed Records.

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

Music from Lisbon, Portugal.

Available at:  Bandcamp | Amazon | eMusic

And definitely check out Lencastre’s 2014 release What Is The All About?  It features an entirely different line-up.  Sacks is on piano, but the ensemble also has David Binney, Phil Grenadier, André Matos, Thomas Morgan, Sara Serpa and more.

 

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

Jun 4 2018

The Round-up: Disconnected from the seasons

 

Here is some very good new music.

 

Walter Smith III – TWIO (Whirlwind Recordings)

You really can’t go wrong with this set from Walter Smith III.  This is for those times when you just want to hear some serious tenor saxophone lyricism… perhaps something original and new and perhaps some new takes on old classics.  That’s what you get with TWIO.  I’m always down with a saxophonist’s take on a Monk tune; something about how the wind instrument floats like a butterfly when applying Monk’s skittering melodicism makes tracing the flight patterns a real delight.  Smith’s cover of “Ask Me Know” is Exhibit A for why I gravitate to that combo.  But it’s Smith’s canny rendition of Wayne Shorter’s “Adam’s Apple” that shines brightest on this recording, and how an icy melody slowly dissolves into a rhythmic mist.  Drummer Eric Harland and bassist Harish Raghavan round out Smith’s trio, with Christian McBride and Joshua Redman guesting on bass and tenor sax.  Music from Los Angeles.

 

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp – Amazon

 

Kekko Fornarelli – Abaton (Eskape Music)

Kekko Fornarelli has always had a flair for the dramatic.  The key to the pianist’s success is his talent for pushing the emotional intensity to the very edge and never sacrificing its sincerity.  His 2011 release Room of Mirrors still stands as the embodiment of that trait, but his newest release has plenty of moments that match it.  A rendition of Beck’s “Lonesome Tears” is the most obvious example, and the one most likely to resonate strongest.  And, just as Beck did on Sea Change, Fornarelli brings in a string section for this session.  Fornarelli’s trio is comprised of himself on piano, bassist Federico Pecoraro and drummer Dario Congedo.  Music from Bari, Italy.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Amazon

 

Fabien Mary Octet – Left Arm Blues (Jazz & People)

Nice throwback sound from trumpeter Fabien Mary, who hits the sweet spot where the consideration of arrangements allow the free flowing expressionism of bop to thrive.  It’s an album where the simple joy of thoughtful solos is all the reason you need to hit the play button.  And it’s always nice to hear Thomas Savy in action, this time with baritone sax (instead of bass clarinet), and part of an octet that comes strong with the brass (five vs. guitar, bass and drums).

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp

 

Giacomo Zanus Trio – Searching for the North (Self-Produced)

Why, yes, if your album reminds me of various Bill Frisell works, I will gladly say something nice about it.  With its moments of looping effects and bracing tranquility and a lively hop, this trio set by the Giacomo Zanus Trio was right up my alley.  How this music resonates from the slightest of gestures, like a fiercely burning ember in a cold fireplace, is its winning quality.  The pieces that hit more straight-ahead territory are all well and good, but those tunes that echo the music of Frisell’s In Line and Ghost Town are when this album shines its strongest.  All of these Frisell references should in no way obscure the fact that Zanus is expressing his own voice and his own point of view.  It’s also an especially nice touch when Zanus switches over the classical guitar, as are those tracks when David Boato sits in on trumpet and flugelhorn.  Double bassist Mattia Magatelli and drummer Max Trabucco round out the trio.  Music from Treviso, Italy.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp – Amazon

 

Zach’s Moonshine Runners – Bootleg 11-18-2017 (Self-Produced)

There’s an appealing languid atmosphere to this music, even though it moves predominately at a brisk pace.  Zacharie Bachand‘s sextet works straight-ahead territory, though sometimes that’s in an old-school context and sometimes a modern one.  Two saxophones and a trombone give the music plenty of harmonic loft to just float away upon, while guitar, bass and drums keep things focused and upbeat.  It’s retailing at Name Your Price, so you have a nice opportunity to explore new music at a price you can afford.  Music from Montreal, Québec.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp

 

By • Jazz Recommendations - 2018 • 1 • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Jun 3 2018

These are videos that I like: February’s Best Jazz on Bandcamp

It won’t be long before my May recommendations post on the The Bandcamp Daily, but before they do, let’s revisit some of the recordings that made February’s list so special.

First up is a video from the Zack Nestel-Patt Group.  It features a performance of the track “Mount Baldy,” from their mesmerizing new album River Run.  The performance space is somewhere in Brooklyn, and the NYC skyline laid out in the background there with all the sunlight beaming in is a very cool effect.

Here’s a link to my album write-up for The Bandcamp Daily.  And you can just go give the album a listen, and purchase it, on the artist’s Bandcamp page.

Next up is a video from Syrinx Effect, the duo of saxophonist Kate Olson and trombonist Naomi Moon Siegel.  This 2016 performance at Seattle’s The Triple Door features the song “Crabwalk,” a track from their new album A Sky You Can Strike a Match On.

Here’s a link to my album write-up for The Bandcamp Daily.  And you can just go give the album a listen, and purchase it, on the artist’s Bandcamp page.  It’s also available at Amazon.

Next up is an in-studio performance from the Emilio Teubal Trio.  The featured song is the title-track from their gorgeous new recording Memorias de Otro Tiempo.  It’s also Exhibit A why the combination of piano, bass clarinet and guitar needs to be way more common the music scene.

Here’s a link to my album write-up for The Bandcamp Daily.  And you can just go give the album a listen, and purchase it, on the artist’s Bandcamp page.  It’s also available at Amazon.

Next up is a live performance from the ensemble Mephiti.  Their self-titled release is a testament to the endless ways a musician can instill an atmosphere of serenity.  This album captivated me from the very first notes, and many months later, that enchantment hasn’t waned even a little bit.

Here’s a link to my album write-up for The Bandcamp Daily.  And you can just go give the album a listen, and purchase it, on the artist’s Bandcamp page.  It’s also available at Amazon.

And let’s wrap up with a duet from Ryan Keberle & Frank Woeste.  This video sources back to Woeste’s project “The Libretto Dialogues,” and it’s perfect accompaniment to this lazy Sunday morning.  The duo’s new album Reverso: Suite Ravel is the perfect accompaniment to any time of the day and any day of the week.

Here’s a link to my album write-up for The Bandcamp Daily.  And you can just go give the album a listen, and purchase it, on the artist’s Bandcamp page.  It’s also available at Amazon.

And follow this link to check out the archives of my Best Jazz on Bandcamp recommendations on The Bandcamp Daily.

By • These are videos that I like • 0

May 30 2018

The Round-up: What it looks like when the search is almost over

 

Here is some very good new music.

 

Wayne Escoffery – Vortex (Sunnyside Records)

I adore how Wayne Escoffery articulates on tenor saxophone at high speeds.  There’s something so magnetic about how clear and crisp he sounds in the midst of volatility, like picking out the way light catches individual raindrops within the storm.  His latest is certainly a case in point.  It’s unsurprising that he collaborates with those who gravitate to that form of expression.  Pianist David Kikoski has some standout moments picking up a solo where Escoffery’s left off.  Bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Ralph Peterson, Jr. are just as often the catalyst for this album’s fireworks, especially on those tracks that feature percussionist Jacquelene Acevedo.  There are some seriously thrilling moments when Peterson and Acevedo enter a rhythmic confluence and just go to town.  Music from NYC.

 

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp – Amazon

 

Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra – Bohemiana Vol. 1 (Self-Produced)

There’s something special when a big band can scoop you up with a melody and use it to carry you all through a piece, even when the melody becomes a distant memory.  That’s what happens on Bohemiana: The compositions and arrangements of Dan Roberts Volume 1.  This straight-ahead session from Brad Linde‘s 17-piece orchestra comes with the big sound and harmonies that generate a warmth strong enough to beat back an Alaskan winter, but it all hinges on those inviting melodic statements.  After that, the swinging tempos spur things along, and it’s an even draw between the soloists and ensemble play as to which will win over your attention.  Music from Washington, DC.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp – Amazon

 

Kaladin Quartet – Apropos of Nothing (Self-Produced)

There’s an appeal to how Kaladin Quartet makes a bold statement with each recitation of melody.  There’s plenty of life to them just by way of their construction, but the quartet of pianist Henry Walsh, bassist David Storelli, drummer Marc Celestini and saxophonist Christopher Greene really breathe life into them, accenting the melodies with just the right amount of emphasis for a dramatic splash and avoiding the risk of it sounding contrived and over-the-top.  The music is situated firmly in modern territory, with tempos just as inclined to rock as they might swing.  Overall, an album with a magnetic personality.  Worth nothing it’s retailing at Name Your Price, so it’s an opportunity to explore new music at a cost that suits your ability.  Music from North Carolina.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp

 

Tleikak – Tleikak (Self-Produced)

There’s something about the catchy melodies and breezy tempos of the duo Tleikak that I find a little addictive and plenty fun.  Comprised of Japhlet Bire Attias on the Chapman Stick and synths, and Manuel Caffarena on drums and percussion, the duo finds the sweet spot where contemporary jazz and indie pop come together.  The result is music that is easy to embrace while retaining qualities that keep the head engaged sufficiently to keep from just drifting off.  Music from Mexico City, Mexico.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp – Amazon

 

Francis Hon – Before Dawn (Self-Produced)

I do really try to stay away from the approach of comparing one artist to another… especially a modern artist with one from the classic jazz age.  But this lovely set from pianist Francis Hon had me thinking wistfully about how long it had been since I’d given a Duke Pearson recording a spin.  Hon has a way of gently coaxing a melody to resonate with impressive strength.  Much of the album echoes the hard bop era, but there’s some modern influence that makes its presence felt, too.  Hell of a nice debut.  Hon is joined by bassist Jeong Hwan Park and drummer Billy Drummond.  Music from Brooklyn, NY.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Amazon

 

By • Jazz Recommendations - 2018 • 0 • Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

May 28 2018

Cancel your Tuesday plans: WXOX-FM and Kevin Coultas’s Mingle are putting me back on the air

 

In a gross oversight likely to cause massive repercussions throughout civilized society, I am being allowed back on the airwaves.  Tomorrow night, Tuesday, May 29th of 2018, I’m returning as a guest on the Louisville-based ARTxFM show Mingle, hosted by Kevin Coultas.

The show runs from 6-8pm (EST) on WXOX 97.1 FM.

If your location happens to fall outside the station antenna’s range, then you can listen in via the internet.  Visit the station site page to either listen via their embedded audio player or download one of their recommended apps.

And, remember, if you’re playing the personalized ARTxFM Mingle drinking game… each time I mispronounce a musician’s name, you take a shot.  Double it if I also misidentify an album title, song title, or geographical location.  If I forget either Kevin’s or my own name, then it’s three shots.  Please familiarize yourself with the symptoms of alcohol poisoning before tuning in.

Here’s a tentative playlist of songs to be featured (maybe or maybe not in this order, and we may not get to everything):

1.  A track by Charles Mingus (Kevin always begins his show with a Mingus tune)

2.  Jason Stein’s Locksmith Isisdore – “26-2”

3.  Chip Wickham– “Bario 71”

4.  Odd Atlas – “CAD”

5.  Daniel Beaussier & Manu Pékar – “A Maze in Greece”

6.  Ensemble et al – “Au Cheval”

7.  Wanja Slavin Lotus Eaters – “W.S. 2”  (more)

8.  Alex Oliverio’s Sunshine Ensemble – “La Vita”  (more)

9.  Jack Radsliff – “Ruby”

10.  Christopher Ali Solidarity Quartet – “For Those Who Walked Before Us”

11.  João Lencastre’s Communion – “Rain Drops”

12.  Juan Ibarra – “REM”

13.  Kjetil Mulelid – “Fly, Fly”

14.  Marike van Dijk Stereography Project – “At the Mermaid Parade”

15.  Joshua Trinidad – “Bell (Lullaby)”

16.  Trio HLK – “Extra Sensory Perception Part 1”

17.  Thomas Strønen – “Lucus”

18.  Ronny Ferella – “Not For No Reason”

19.  Peggy Lee Band – “Painting Echoes”

To learn more about any of the music on this list, just follow the More link.  It’ll lead you to some music to listen to and a synopsis and a link to where you can discover even more about the music.  Some of those links lead to posts on Bird is the Worm and some lead to my write-ups for The Bandcamp Daily.  Tonight’s focuses on new releases that will be featured on an upcoming Bandcamp Daily column (likely posting during the first week of June) and albums that will be featured here on Bird is the Worm in the upcoming weeks, so there’s practically nothing to link to for now.

And hopefully that’s enough music to fill up the two-hour show duration.  Otherwise, I’m gonna have to start singing David Bowie tunes to a live studio audience… which is comprised of just Kevin Coultas, poor poor Kevin Coultas.

And here’s a link to the audio archive of the show, where you can listen to this show afterwards, as well as previous guest appearances or, mercifully, those shows where Kevin takes the reins solo.

And here’s the audio from the show…

We actually managed to fit in all 19 tunes listed above, and almost in that order.

By • On the Radio • 0 • Tags:

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