Nov 2 2018
Oh hell yes another Jakob Bro recording
When the water’s surface is clear and affords a view of what lies below, it’s like a window to an entirely different world. The imagery is fuzzy and the motion of the underwater objects is blurred, but the lack of definition makes the colors radiate with a vibrancy that’s no less affecting than what we see above the water’s surface. It’s the kind of thing I think about whenever I listen to the music of Jakob Bro. His melodies shine with brilliant colors and they dart from side to side like fish within a bed of coral, and all of that imagery and activity bleeds in all directions, as if there was nothing to contain them. It’s an effect that I find quite addictive.
Historically, I’ve found Bro’s trio work not quite as compelling as his quartet, quintet and large ensemble works. Don’t get me wrong… I listen to all of this stuff, and often. But that fuzziness to Bro’s music and the way it spreads out, it’s a quality that provides room for other musicians to fill that space with some of their own loveliness. But Bro’s latest trio session, Bay of Rainbows, is about as beautiful as it gets. This live performance at the Jazz Standard with bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Joey Baron doesn’t require other musicians to fill the space opened up by the trio… they do the job themselves. Whether it’s Bro stretching out a melody like morning sunlight filling room or Morgan spreading complementary shadows in all directions or Baron developing a comforting chatter, the trio’s presence is everywhere, and it’s like looking through the water’s surface at an entirely different world.
Here’s some beauty your life deserves and needs.
Your album personnel: Jakob Bro (guitar) Thomas Morgan (double bass) and Joey Baron (drums).
Released on ECM Records.
Music from Copenhagen, Denmark.
Available at: Amazon
That’s what I wrote about 
The subtlety of the music from the trio LAWAAI extends far past the Dutch translation of their name to ‘noise.’ The expectation would be music that is loud and disruptive. Their self-titled EP Lawaai meets only the latter half of that expectation. The fabric of this recording is peacefulness. The environment is one where tranquility would seem likely to thrive. But the trio of pianist Kamil Piotrowicz, bassist Stan Callewaert and drummer Jeppe Høi Justesen spend the length of the recording creating tiny disturbances that ripple throughout the six pieces, instigating a sense of unease that never allows that tranquility to fully take hold. Sometimes it’s the slow, steady droplets of melody of “Glacier” and sometimes it’s a brisk downpour, like on the hypnotic “#5,” and there is a moment on “#10” when the simmering tension threatens to boil over.
Also, it worth pointing out that the bassist, Stan Callewaert, put out an excellent recording with his Donder trio. If you like Lawaai, you should 
Nov 22 2018
The Round-up: Being there
Here is some very good new music
CLT Trio – Every Second is a Blues (Self-Produced)
The CLT Trio come out strong with the minimalist expressions, so that even later when they ramp up the volatility to a boiling point, there remains a sense of a dark, quiet night where the silence is interrupted only by the occasional chirping of crickets. What’s more, double bassist Casper Nyvang Rask, pianist Lars Fiil and drummer Terkel Nørgaard have given seven separate improvisations a remarkable cohesion. The pieces each have their own personality, but the flow from one to the next are like consecutive hours all belonging to the same day. Music from Copenhagen, Denmark.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp
The Marie Goudy 12tet – The Bitter Suite (Self-Produced)
The blast of harmonic warmth generated on this large ensemble session is by itself worth the price of admission, but it’s the subtle ways that Marie Goudy guides musicians to delicately weave their individual sounds into the flow of Jocelyn Barth’s vocals that represents the winning quality of The Bitter Suite. Also, Charlotte Alexander’s contribution bolsters my argument that there’s simply not enough French horn on modern jazz recordings. Music from Toronto, Ontario.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
Adison Evans – Meridian (Self-Produced)
There’s a straightforward expressiveness to the latest from Adison Evans that is seriously refreshing. There’s nothing over the top on Meridian. It’s got some tunes that groove, some that gently sway, others that bop along, and even some classical influence here and there… but all of it falls within the expected range of a modern post-bop recording. But the saxophonist attains a certain feel with each note, the way some orators can make everyday words ring with a greater meaning and force to drive their point home. That’s what Evans, her sextet and guests do on this solid recording. Music from NYC.
Artist site | Buy: Amazon
Noah Preminger & Rob Garcia Dead Composers Club – Chopin Project (Self-Produced)
It’s Frederic Chopin whose name graces the compositions on this session, but it’s not always obvious. That’s a big reason for this album’s charm. Some interpretations move with a solemn tone where others have a casual swing, while some turn the heat way way up. In truth, not knowing the album’s inspiration or source material doesn’t become an obstacle to enjoying this recording simply on its own merits. Tenor saxophonist Noah Preminger, guitarist Nate Radley, bassist Kim Cass and drummer Rob Garcia offer up music that is often subtle, except those sudden moments when its revealed for everything it is. I keep returning to this album throughout the year, and each time it’s a reminder of how affecting it is, like how photographs can return the emotional impact of the original experience. Music from NYC.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Amazon
John Christensen – Dear Friend (Shifting Paradigm Records)
There’s a real sense that John Christensen was locked into a melodic inspiration on this session. Right from the start and all the way through ’til the end, there’s an implication that every note is just an individual facet of one vision, and the bassist is simply examining it from every angle. Aside from a satisfying sense of cohesion, the end result is music that is absorbing in that same way that staring into the depths of a clear lake can lock the attention endlessly in place. The bassist is joined by pianist Johannes Wallmann, guitarist Dave Miller and drummer Andrew Green. Music from Madison, WI.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
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By davesumner • Jazz Recommendations - 2018 • 1 • Tags: Adison Evans, CLT Trio, Copenhagen, John Christensen, Madison (WI), Marie Goudy, New York City, Noah Preminger, Rob Garcia, Self-Produced, Shifting Paradigm Records, The Round-Up, Toronto (Ontario)