May 14 2018
The Round-up: You are always a mystery. We are always free.
Here is some very good new music.
Julian Siegel Quartet – VISTA (Whirlwind Recordings)
Nothing fancy, just some solid modern straight-ahead jazz from the Julian Siegel Quartet. Siegel is often the one leading the charge, but there are plenty of moments when one of pianist Liam Noble, double bassist Oli Hayhurst or drummer Gene Calderazzo exert their influence upon the proceedings. In particular, when Siegel goes low with his tone, the brighter shine of Noble’s melodic lines adds some excellent contrast in that way shadow and sunlight can transform a simple patch of grass into a magical tapestry of shapes and textures. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing at all not to like with Siegel on saxophone, but, damn, when he switches over to bass clarinet, he leaves me wanting more. Music from London.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
BRASSIC – Patina of Brassic (Musilogue)
It’s pretty easy to fall for the brass band stylings of BRASSIC. The flavor of New Orleans traditional enters into things, but the Tokyo-based sextet of saxophonists Takeshi Kurihara, Junya Kondo, Hiromu Takahashi, trumpeter Yochi Masago, trombonist Daisuke Maeda, sousaphonist Mayuko Hiraki and drummer Shigekazu Otake flit about between approaches to the music, keeping things light and unpredictable. Warm tones and hopping tempos are like a wide smile, a perfect demeanor for music that seeks to make everything alright. Music from Tokyo, Japan.
No artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
Mopo – Mopocalypse (We Jazz Records)
Even when they slow things down a bit, the hard-driving Mopo trio brings a huge sound. And while their sound possesses the strength to drive a hole straight through the base of a mountain, the tone more often than not is one of party-time atmosphere rather than wielded as a show of strength. Saxophonist Linda Fredriksson, bassist Eero Tikkanen and drummer Eeti Nieminen stake their territory in the modern era, but a track like “Niin aikaisin” shows that some cool blues and swing isn’t out of their range or reach. Otto Eskelinen contributes the workings of a Farfisa organ to the affair, which adds a nice harmonic texture. As does Tikkanen when he switches over to violin. Fun music from Helsinki, Finland.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
MAST – Thelonious Sphere Monk (World Galaxy Records)
There’s no mistaking this re-envisioning of the Thelonious Monk songbook as belonging to the modern era. Today, really, and maybe even a little bit belonging to tomorrow, too. But even an obstinate old-school fan is going to appreciate the way MAST (aka Tim Conley) gets the original melodies out front and center, allowing them to lead the way through unfamiliar interpretations of old tunes. Electronic effects introduce sound textures never emergent on the original pieces, while cuts of Monk interviews dropped throughout the recording bring things back home, and in some important ways are reminiscent of the Monk documentary Straight, No Chaser. The best approaches to take when performing the songs of the past are to make it very personal or very different… MAST does both. Joining Conley are an A-list of personnel, many of whom have been featured on this very site: Anwar Marshall, John Fraticelli, Makaya McCraven, Brian Marsella, Jonah Levine, Chris Speed, Daniel Rosenboom and Gavin Templeton. Music from L.A.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
Zahariev-Roko/Bodurov/Semov – Mixing Vanity (Optomusic)
This album is made from moonlight and meant to accompany the moon as a soundtrack late into the night. The trio of trumpeter Rosen Zahariev-Roko, pianist Dimitar Bodurov and drummer Dimitar Semov express a melody with the most exquisite care and patience, and the spike of anticipation from hearing them develop is how this album gets its hooks in ya. They add some electronics and percussion in tasteful doses, and it behaves more as quirks of personality than novelty. Seriously arresting music, and an album that appears to have flown beneath the radar. Let’s fix that. Music from Sofia, Bulgaria.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp
There’s some parallels to be drawn between Shades and another 2017 release, 
I’m glad there’s still jazz albums being made like the self-titled release from 
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
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By davesumner • Jazz Recommendations - 2018 • 1 • Tags: Bari (Italy), Eskape Music, Fabien Mary, Giacomo Zanus, Jazz and People, Kekko Fornarelli, Los Angeles (CA), Montreal (Québec), Self-Produced, The Round-Up, Treviso (Italy), Walter Smith III, Whirlwind Records, Zach’s Moonshine Runners