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
Mar 1 2019
The Round-up: It threatens to scatter me everywhere and nowhere at all
Here is some very good new music.
Richard Sears – Iron Year (Slow & Steady Records)
The melancholy quality to the melodies of Iron Year make this music smoulder like mad, like a fireplace that is mostly embers but still kicks out enough heat to fill up the room. It’s an effect that holds tight when Richard Sears‘ sextet picks up a headwind, but it’s especially true when they settle into a patient hard bop cadence. The combination of melancholy and propulsion is a potent one, and it makes for the perfect kind of album for standing in a window and watching the rain fall… just before deciding, screw it, I’m going to the bar to have a drink… and these melodies stick with you the entire time. Music from Brooklyn, NY.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
Tenderlonious – The Shakedown, featuring the 22arkestra (22a Music)
Of the many tedious bullet points offered up by the knuckleheads stating Jazz is dead is that jazz used to be dance music, but no more. Well, The Shakedown is Ed “Tenderlonious” Cawthorne‘s deafening fuck you to those jackasses… because this is music for the clubs and it’s music made to get people moving and it’s music for kicking back with friends on an electric Friday night, some whiskey and good laughs. Jazz is life and life is a groove, and The Shakedown provides all kinds of ways to move on through it. Music from London, UK.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
Muze Jazz Orchestra – New Horizons (Self-Produced)
It’d take a real black heart not to fall for this mix of folksy charm and boisterous grooves from the Muze Jazz Orchestra. The way the large ensemble begins with some laid-back playfulness of melody and suddenly shifts gears into a hard charging cadence gets increasingly addictive with each successive revolution of the cycle. That they bind it all together with some lovely harmonic voicing puts it over the top. Music from Heusden Zolder, Belgium.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp
Tal Arditi Trio – Portrait (Ancor Records)
There’s a dreamy melodicism that boosts the enjoyment potential on this straight-ahead session from Tal Arditi. There’s something about the way the guitarist lets a melody breathe that makes it resonate with just a little more strength than what might otherwise be expected. The result is a shimmering effect, a subtle motion that makes a bright tone shine with a softer, but more brilliant tone… like in that way a fireflies light attracts the eye’s attention more than a nighttime sky full of stars. A solid debut. Music from Berlin, Germany.
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Michael Brenneis – Plutonium (Rattle Tick Buzz Records)
This album doesn’t advance one foot after the other. This octet session led out by Michael Brenneis isn’t shy about taking detours and shifting the pace of action. Sometimes there’s a lot of parts in motion, and sometimes this spreads things out to where the center of the music loses its focus. I’m not sure that’s even a criticism, really, because it’s during those passages when the ensemble seems to abandon the idea of moving in a singular direction that leads to some of the more exciting moments. Six woodwinds, bass, and drums. Music from Madison, Wisconsin.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp
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By davesumner • Jazz Recommendations - 2018 • 0 • Tags: 22a Music, Ancor Records, Berlin, Brooklyn (NY), Heusden Zolder (BE), London, Madison (WI), Michael Brenneis, Muze Jazz Orchestra, Rattle Tick Buzz Records, Richard Sears, Self-Produced, Slow and Steady Records, Tal Arditi, Tenderlonious, The Round-Up