Nov 8 2017

Recommended: Australian Art Orchestra – “Water Pushes Sand”

 

There is so much vibrancy and life to this embrace between the folk music of China’s Sichuan Province and that of Melbourne, Australia.  Framed in a context of jazz and classical expressionism, Water Pushes Sand has a rich voice that takes to the skies and soars.  This project began after Erik Griswold and Vanessa Tomlinson of the Australian Art Orchestra became captivated by the culture of Chengdu and began collaborating with local musicians.  Collaborations became live performances and those, in turn, led to this 2017 release.

At times a jazz-classical epic, other times a jaunty operatic stage show, this music’s range of expressions spans as much distance as the lands from which the music originates.  And as thrilling and dramatic as it grows at times, there are just as many instances when it’s whimsical and catchy.

Just an absolutely gorgeous recording.

Your album personnel:  Zheng Sheng Li (Voice), Shi Lei (bamboo flute), Zhou Yu (suona, Chinese violin, bamboo flute), Timothy O’Dwyer (saxophones), Peter Knight (trumpet, laptop electronics), Zhou Tao Tao (gu zheng), Erik Griswold (piano), Vanessa Tomlinson (percussion), Zhong Kai Zhi (percussion) and Samuel Pankhurst (contrabass).

Released on Jazzhead Records.

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

Available at:  Bandcamp | Amazon | eMusic

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

Nov 7 2017

Recommended: Immigration Booth – “Hinterm Spiegel”

 

The path taken by the quartet Immigration Booth on their new release Hinterm Spiegel takes the shape of a cross-country road trip.  The swing and bop on tracks like “Anthem” and “Reset” are like well-traveled routes of straight-ahead jazz down interstates and highways.  But then there are tracks in between, like “Nog Turn” and “The Old Forest Lands,” that behave as country roads to off-the-beaten-path locales of modern jazz territory, where curious tempos and odd melodic forms lure with their sense of intrigue.  But no matter where the quartet is headed on their album’s map, there’s a clean impression of forward momentum, and of a specific final destination in mind.

It’s always a treat when Joris Roelofs brings his bass clarinet to a session, and the way he and alto saxophonist Johannes Ludwig dance around the melody is yet more proof of why.  It’s especially effective on this particular session, since both bassist Johannes Felscher and drummer Peter Kronreif keep the rhythm light on its feet, and so even when the music gets a little moody or edgy, the overall flow is something that glides through the air rather than slog across the landscape.

The quartet resides in Cologne, Germany, but three of the members have roots in NYC and Amersterdam.  The result is music from several influences, so even though the quartet’s vision is focused, there’s a subtle textural interplay of influences.

Plenty here to enjoy.

Your album personnel:  Johannes Ludwig (alto sax), Joris Roelofs (bass clarinet), Johannes Felscher (double bass) and Peter Kronreif (drums).

Released on Float Music.

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

Music from Cologne, Germany.

Available at:  Bandcamp | Amazon

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

Nov 6 2017

The Round-up: The words are never lost

 

Here is some very good new music.

 

Harris Eisenstadt – Recent Developments (Songlines Recordings)

That a flock of butterflies is referred to as a kaleidoscope is particularly relevant to the latest from Harris Eisenstadt.  His nonet generates a dazzling array of intricate patterns, spanning perspectives harmonically, rhythmically and of influence.  Sometimes chamber music, sometimes avant-garde and folk and post-bop, the shape of the music is perpetually in motion and forever undergoing change.  But like that kaleidoscope of butterflies, the music is remarkably light, and the fluttering wings of melody are a joy to see (hear) take flight.  The results shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering the drummer is joined by an all-star cast of flautist Anna Webber, bassoonist Sara Schoenbeck, trumpeter Nate Wooley, trombonist Jeb Bishop, tubist Dan Peck, guitarist Brandon Seabrook, cellist Hank Roberts and bassist Eivind Opsvik.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Amazon

 

De Beren Gieren – Dug Out Skyscrapers (Sdban Ultra Records)

Though the tempos are often staggered, the layers of repetition on Dug Out Skyscrapers create a momentum that’s a little bit hypnotic on this new release from the trio De Beren Gieren.  And if that odd sensation weren’t enough, pianist Fulco Ottervanger, bassist Lieven Van Pée and drummer Simon Segers paint melodies blurry at the edges, which adds to the time distortion inherent in their rhythmic approach.  And so, when the trio actually offers up something conventionally melodic, the transition is almost stunning.  Another nifty release from a band that has been on this site’s radar for some time.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Amazon

 

Daniel Sommer – Duets (Self-Produced)

There’s a little something of everything on this series of improvised duets from Daniel Sommer.  The drummer invited a cadre of favorite artists to join him in conversation, and those discussions range from a peaceful reverie with pianist Artturi Rönkä to the opposite end of the spectrum with a scrambled ramble with guitarist Marc Ducret.  Arguably, the strongest moments are those that span that expanse, like on the duet with pianist Kari Ikonen, which elicits a little bit of serenity and a little of spitfire.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp

 

Dan Phillips Quartet – Converging Tributaries (Self-Produced)

Much in that way a storm cloud has no definite borders or concrete shape, yet possesses a presence that implies depth (and more), the quartet of guitarist Dan Phillips, trombonist Jeb Bishop, double bassist Krzysztof Pabian and drummer Timothy Daisy rain down with plenty of free jazz improvisation, but by coalescing into the occasional groove, they provide a sense of focus and direction to music that doesn’t always move that way.  The effect is to sometimes discover your foot tapping along to music that will never be described as foot-tapping.  That’s a pretty cool thing to do.  Also, be sure to check out Phillip’s other 2017 release, Fading Light.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp – Amazon

 

Eyebrow – Strata (Self-Produced)

Moody, cinematic, contemplative… all good words to describe the latest from the duo Eyebrow.  The trumpet of Pete Judge hits the tonal range between mournful and tranquil, while percussionist Paul Wigens modulates between a calm chatter and an insistent command.  They mix in some strings and electronics for textural ambiance, in tasteful doses and with impressive effects.  Seems well suited for quiet, rainy days, but the music possesses a certain electric flow that likely could adapt to whatever the soundtrack your day, or night, requires.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp

 

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Nov 5 2017

These are videos that I like: La Pingos Orquesta, Matthew Bourne, Kokotob

 

The steady deluge of new releases makes it so easy to forget the wonderful music so recently in our rear view mirrors.  Let’s revisit some recent recommendations.

First up is a video from La Pingos Orquesta.  The song is “La Huída” and it’s from the ensemble’s new release Peregrino (read about it).

(Video credit: Arturo Sepulveda)

You can give the album a listen, and purchase it, on the artist’s Bandcamp page.

Next up is a video from Matthew Bourne.  “Isotach” is the title-track from his gorgeous new solo session (read about it).

(Video credit:  Ray Kane)

You can give the album a listen, and purchase it, on the artist’s Bandcamp page.

And our final video for the day comes courtesy of the trio Kokotob.  This January 2017 performance at Germany’s Kulturform Fürth features the song “Origami,” which is included on their 2017 release Flying Heart (read about it).

(Video credit:  Michael Fingerhut)

You can give most of the album a listen on the artist’s Soundcloud page.

 

By • These are videos that I like • 0

Nov 4 2017

Live: Sandy Ewen at Homegrown Press Studio & Gallery (Lexington)

 

There was a convergence of compelling music and intriguing locale in Lexington, KY Thursday night.  Sandy Ewen is currently on tour, and the guitarist played a solo set at Homegrown Press Studio & Gallery.  Ewen’s improvisations aren’t your typical display of guitar virtuosity, and her technique for harnessing the distortions and effects of the instrument don’t lead to a song structure.  Laying the guitar across her lap like a pedal steel, she utilizes tin bells, steel rods, scouring pads, sets of keys, metal ephemera and dollar store electronics to generate sound streams.

Her music was the sound of the earth opening up and revealing the secrets of the soil, the sound of an album played between radio station frequencies, the feedback loop of a synthetic heart breaking.  It was pretty strange.  None of it was ordinary.

Ewen played one long, continuous piece, an improvisation that lasted a half-hour.  Maybe it was an hour. I forgot to check the clock.  It was an immersive experience, and it’s likely no one in the room was keeping track of time.  It’s the kind of thing you just have to hear live in person.  Ewen has albums available on her Bandcamp page, but nothing will ever live up to the impact of being there when it all goes down.

For this particular show, it all went down at the Homegrown Press Studio & Gallery.  Owned and operated by artist John Lackey, it was a nifty spot for this show… both acoustically and visually.  I’ve commented before on this site my preference for seeing shows in galleries and museums… anywhere that the music is accompanied by a view of artwork.  Lackey’s spot on Lexington’s north end at 6th and North Limestone suits that need quite nicely.

As mentioned earlier, Ewen is currently on tour.  Here’s the upcoming shows, beginning with tonight’s in Chicago.  Most links will take you to a Facebook event page.  I highly recommend checking it out.

Nov. 4th, Chicago, Illinois
Nov. 5th, Oberlin, Ohio
Nov. 6th, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Nov. 7th, Toronto, Ontario
Nov. 11th, Burlington, VT
Nov. 12th, Portland, Maine
Nov. 15th, Cambridge, MA (Blue Bag Records)

Check for updates on Ewen’s artist site and Facebook page.

Worth nothing that in addition to her band Weird Weeds and her collaborations with an all-star line-up of experimental and avant-garde musicians, Ewen contributed to Chris Schlarb’s Twilight & Ghost Stories, which most readers of this site will recognize as an album dear to my heart.

By • Jazz in Kentucky, Live Jazz • 0 • Tags:

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