Self-Produced

Jan 3 2019

Best of 2018 #49: Alex Oliverio’s Sunshine Ensemble – “Sunshine Ensemble”

 

Sunshine Ensemble is the perfect name for Alex Oliverio‘s folk-jazz project.  This music lifts the spirits with its friendly demeanor, and the tones are as warm as the sun’s touch on the skin after a long, dreary winter.  The theme of his EP was a reminiscence upon the apartment complexes of his youth.  It’s a quirky concept, fun even, but ultimately it’s eclipsed by the music’s immense effusiveness and addictive melodies.  It’s just a breezy four track EP, but this is such an exemplary example of a modern folk-jazz recording, I had no choice but to give it a slot in this year’s Best Of list.

The album is Self-Produced.

Music from Seattle, WA.

I wrote about the album for The Bandcamp Daily.

Available at:  Bandcamp

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Jan 3 2019

Best of 2018 #50: Miles Okazaki – “Work”

 

Quite out of the blue and as casually as tossing a coin into a fountain, Miles Okazaki released a six-volume solo guitar interpretation of the Thelonious Monk songbook.  It’s a hell of a statement, even if it wasn’t offered up that way.  Okazaki has often displayed a whimsical demeanor to his wonkish music endeavors, which might explain why a project that might be a cerebral exercise for other musicians comes off as a heartfelt, thoughtful exercise, as if a puzzle enthusiast spent a lazy Sunday afternoon joyfully assembling one of the world’s most difficult puzzles.

The album is Self-Produced.

Music from New York City.

I wrote about this album for The Bandcamp Daily.

Available at:  Bandcamp

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Dec 30 2018

Album of the Day: “Shibui” by Shibui

 

Artist:  Shibui

Album:  Shibui

Label:  Self-Produced

Style:  High velocity minimalism

Favorite Track: “1.2”

Music from:  Boston, MA

What I like about it:  The comparison to Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin is an obvious one from the very first notes.  The nuanced repetitions are like following the sparkles of sunlight reflecting off the lake’s surface, and how something about their rapid emergence evolves into an hypnotic state of being.  I like how marimba and glockenspiel are featured heavily and I like how an economical use of strings makes their appearance that much more stunning.

Your album personnel:  Tim Doherty (bass), Bradley Goff (piano, Rhodes), Céline Ferro (clarinet, bass clarinet), Kyle Harris (drums), Derek Hayden (marimba, glockenspiel), Curtis Hartshorn (percussion, glockenspiel) and guests:  Daniel Pelletier (marimba), Greg Jukes (marimba, glockenspiel), Abigale Reisman (violin), Chris Baum (violin), Dan Lay (violin), Nathan Cohen (viola) and Ben Swartz (cello).

Available at:  Bandcamp

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

Be sure to check out the artist’s site.

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Dec 22 2018

Album of the Day: “NauMay” by Juan Ibarra

 

Artist:  Juan Ibarra

Album:  NauMay

Label:  Self-Produced

Style:  School of Brian Blade Fellowship

Favorite Track: “REM”

Music from:  Montevideo, Uruguay

What I like about it:  I like how each track of this album is defined by its intense melodic surges, and how they keep containment even when exploration of that melody threatens to tear everything apart at the seams.  The same qualities that have me eternally addicted to the Brian Blade Fellowship are what holds me in place on NauMay.  Over the course of the last year, I have not been able to stop listening to this album, and I have no intention of ever trying.

Other Notes:  This recording was included in my Best Jazz Albums on Bandcamp 2018 column.  Go check out what else I said about this recording.

Your album personnel:  Juan Ibarra (drums), Gonzalo Levin (tenor, soprano & alto saxophones), Ignacio Labrada (piano), Martin Ibarra (guitar), Antonino Restuccia (double bass) and guests:  Benjamin Barreiro (tenor sax), Federico Lazzarini (trumpet).

Available at:  Amazon | Bandcamp

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

Be sure to check out the artist’s site.

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Dec 17 2018

Album of the Day: “Rêveries Sonores” by Super Alone

 

Artist:  Super Alone

Album:  Rêveries Sonores

Label:  Self-Produced

Style:  Frisellian solo guitar

Favorite Track:  “Cos”

Music from:  Paris, France.

What I like about it:  I like how these pieces are laid open bare, as if Robin Nitram (aka Super Alone) ripped open the chest of his compositions to create the most direct link between the listener and the heart of the song.  I like how these pieces have a lullaby nature to them, even when they growl menacingly.  I like how the rendition of “Blue In Green” honors the original’s melody, but is shaped to snap into place with the original pieces on this recording.  I like how some pieces veer into Frisellian looping territory, because of course I like that.  This album casts a powerful enchantment.

Your album personnel:  Robin Nitram (guitar).

Available at: Bandcamp

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

Be sure to check out the artist’s site.

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