Dec 27 2017
Best of 2017 #14: Amir ElSaffar Rivers of Sound – “Not Two” (New Amsterdam)
The fact that Amir ElSaffar seemed to have been building to this moment makes the result no less stunning or the statement any less epic. Where past recordings gave the impression of modern jazz and Middle Eastern musics locked in dance, a give and take of lead and follow, with Not Two, the musics are as one, as if a strong embrace led to a new degree of unity. The trumpeter grows his Two Rivers Ensemble into the 17-strong Rivers of Sound orchestra, with the effect being that the overall sound is given a greater weight, but that the nuances can be more fully explored without straying from the guiding vision. ElSaffar’s orchestra makes it seem like an everyday occurrence for oud and saxophones, buzuk and trumpet, and santur and cello to mingle in the same crowd and communicating in their own, unique languages while transmitting a communal meaning. They also display a nifty talent for adding layers in a way that creates thrilling surges of intensity. There are moments on this album that are as powerful as anything that came out in 2017.
Music from NYC.
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On Eternal Stories, bassist Michel Portal is joined by drummer Richard Héry, keyboardist Xavier Tribolet and the string quartet Quatuor Ébène. Their method of blending jazz and classical is one of the more amazing examples of third stream music that I’ve encountered in some time. The kaleidoscopic array of expressions is endless, tiny permutations that resonate like mad, both individually and through sheer accumulation. They also add in some tango, some electro-groove, sometimes go heavier with the modern jazz and sometimes go strong with the classical and sometimes it all gets broken down into an eerie dissonance that no genre can lay claim to. The effect is often quite stunning, and it just reaffirms some of the reasons why Michel Portal is a big site-favorite. Simply outstanding.
There is a supreme joyfulness to this collaboration between Jeremy Danneman and Sophie Nzayisenga. Danneman’s saxophone and Nzayisenga’s inanga (a ten-stringed instrument similar to a zither or kora) dance around in circles, their delightful motions as enchanting rhythmically as they are melodically. Honey Wine is upbeat and conversational, and all the same, this blend of jazz and folk has a calm demeanor that borders on soothing at times. And, thankfully, it shows a willingness to rear back and roar up to the skies when the moment calls for it. The bass and drums of William Parker and Tim Keiper snap right into place with this dynamic, and the result is a rich personality that crackles with life. This is an instance where doing something very different sounds as normal as a beating heart.
If we’re talking about Tales of Herbst, it’d be pretty silly to do anything other than start by talking about the Brot & Sterne rendition of the Miles Davis classic In a Silent Way. They capture the work’s sublime tranquility while also instilling it with the locomotion that propels the peacefulness ahead. That potent mix of serenity and animation is difficult to conjure up, but not only do the trio of Franz Hautzinger, Matthias Loibner and Peter Rosmanith rise to the challenge, but they do it with the instrumentation of trumpet, hurdy-gurdy and hang drum (plus a tasteful serving of electronics). Melodies soar and, via the hang drum, the rhythmic effect is both conversational and hypnotic. And it’s an effect that carries out from that Miles Davis cover to every piece on Tales of Herbst. A seriously powerful album for music that’s as peaceful as the setting sun.
Dec 27 2017
Best of 2017 #13: Ron Miles – “I Am A Man” (Yellowbird Records)
Music from Denver, CO.
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By davesumner • Recap: Best of 2017 • 0 • Tags: Denver, Jazz - Best of 2017, Ron Miles, Yellowbird Records