The Round-Up

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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May 30 2018

The Round-up: What it looks like when the search is almost over

 

Here is some very good new music.

 

Wayne Escoffery – Vortex (Sunnyside Records)

I adore how Wayne Escoffery articulates on tenor saxophone at high speeds.  There’s something so magnetic about how clear and crisp he sounds in the midst of volatility, like picking out the way light catches individual raindrops within the storm.  His latest is certainly a case in point.  It’s unsurprising that he collaborates with those who gravitate to that form of expression.  Pianist David Kikoski has some standout moments picking up a solo where Escoffery’s left off.  Bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Ralph Peterson, Jr. are just as often the catalyst for this album’s fireworks, especially on those tracks that feature percussionist Jacquelene Acevedo.  There are some seriously thrilling moments when Peterson and Acevedo enter a rhythmic confluence and just go to town.  Music from NYC.

 

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp – Amazon

 

Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra – Bohemiana Vol. 1 (Self-Produced)

There’s something special when a big band can scoop you up with a melody and use it to carry you all through a piece, even when the melody becomes a distant memory.  That’s what happens on Bohemiana: The compositions and arrangements of Dan Roberts Volume 1.  This straight-ahead session from Brad Linde‘s 17-piece orchestra comes with the big sound and harmonies that generate a warmth strong enough to beat back an Alaskan winter, but it all hinges on those inviting melodic statements.  After that, the swinging tempos spur things along, and it’s an even draw between the soloists and ensemble play as to which will win over your attention.  Music from Washington, DC.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp – Amazon

 

Kaladin Quartet – Apropos of Nothing (Self-Produced)

There’s an appeal to how Kaladin Quartet makes a bold statement with each recitation of melody.  There’s plenty of life to them just by way of their construction, but the quartet of pianist Henry Walsh, bassist David Storelli, drummer Marc Celestini and saxophonist Christopher Greene really breathe life into them, accenting the melodies with just the right amount of emphasis for a dramatic splash and avoiding the risk of it sounding contrived and over-the-top.  The music is situated firmly in modern territory, with tempos just as inclined to rock as they might swing.  Overall, an album with a magnetic personality.  Worth nothing it’s retailing at Name Your Price, so it’s an opportunity to explore new music at a cost that suits your ability.  Music from North Carolina.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp

 

Tleikak – Tleikak (Self-Produced)

There’s something about the catchy melodies and breezy tempos of the duo Tleikak that I find a little addictive and plenty fun.  Comprised of Japhlet Bire Attias on the Chapman Stick and synths, and Manuel Caffarena on drums and percussion, the duo finds the sweet spot where contemporary jazz and indie pop come together.  The result is music that is easy to embrace while retaining qualities that keep the head engaged sufficiently to keep from just drifting off.  Music from Mexico City, Mexico.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp – Amazon

 

Francis Hon – Before Dawn (Self-Produced)

I do really try to stay away from the approach of comparing one artist to another… especially a modern artist with one from the classic jazz age.  But this lovely set from pianist Francis Hon had me thinking wistfully about how long it had been since I’d given a Duke Pearson recording a spin.  Hon has a way of gently coaxing a melody to resonate with impressive strength.  Much of the album echoes the hard bop era, but there’s some modern influence that makes its presence felt, too.  Hell of a nice debut.  Hon is joined by bassist Jeong Hwan Park and drummer Billy Drummond.  Music from Brooklyn, NY.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Amazon

 

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May 21 2018

The Round-up: Shards from the past cut through the hours of our days

 

Here is some very good new music.

 

Zion80 – Warriors (Chant Records)

There’s a joyfulness to this music that leaves its mark.  Zion80 grooves heavy and hard, but there’s never a time the music doesn’t stay light on its feet.  It’s easy to see why Jon Madof‘s dectet was such a nice fit in John Zorn’s Book of Angels series… the ensemble can work subtle shifts between influences without causing even a ripple of disturbance in the rhythmic chatter.  The melodies of Warriors are like beaming smiles, full of warmth and friendliness.  Mysticism is a pretty big deal in the modern Zorn songbook, but it’s something that Zion80 clearly had in their back pocket before those sessions began.  There’s a spirituality that bleeds out of tunes designed for letting loose on the weekend, and that Zion80 doesn’t appear to view that as a contradiction is likely the reason for the music’s success and why it comes off as so damn genuine.  Ensemble members saxophonist Jessica Lurie and pianist Brian Marsella are just two of the names familiar to this site.  Music from NYC.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp – Amazon

 

Tim Daisy’s Fulcrum Ensemble – Animation (Relay Recordings)

It can’t be easy navigating a path that attempts to be wide open and modern and free while also drawing thick lines tracing back to jazz in its early stages of life.  This inside-out recording from Tim Daisy’s Fulcrum Ensemble is wild and effusive, and sometimes it echoes the swinging affairs from New Orleans past and sometimes it explodes in an avant-garde fury reminiscent of New York City loft scene of the seventies.  But in every instance, there’s a strong presence of the modern day, that the form of expression is always focused through the lens of musicians who know exactly where their feet stand and that they breathe the air of today.  But aside from matters of influence and style, what matters most is that this music is supremely fun.  Its unpredictability is manifest even when the sound is something intimately familiar.  Clarinetist James Falzone, trombonist Steve Swell, cornetist Josh Berman, cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm and saxophonist Dave Rempis all leave their mark on this excellent recording.  It’s always difficult for me to get to all of the music out there and still meet my submission deadlines, and that’s the only reason this wasn’t one of my Best of Bandcamp Jazz recommendations when this album was released.  Don’t be surprised if it makes an appearance in a later column.  Music from Chicago.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp

 

Menagerie – The Arrow of Time (Freestyle Records)

Menagerie‘s updated soul jazz is like the first day of Spring after a long winter.  The music’s melodic warmth and cheerful grooves are a signal to emerge from a state of hibernation and set to motion.  Lance Ferguson‘s ensemble steps up with a big sound, but its presence is laid-back casual.  That seeming contradiction between potential force and resultant calm creates its own form of tension, and thus a special kind of beauty… like when storm clouds gather overhead, but it never rains and a streak of sunlight is allowed to shine through unimpeded.  Fallon Williams adds a nice spoken word touch on the opening track.  If you liked their 2012 release They Shall Inherit, their newest will also float your boat.  Music from Melbourne, Australia.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp – Amazon

 

MABUTA – Welcome To This World (Self-Produced)

This debut from MABUTA is a nice example of how doing something a little bit different doesn’t necessarily have to be an obstacle to creating supremely embraceable music.  The sextet’s mix of South African jazz and contemporary electronic music is all kinds of friendly and forges a strong connection, even as it simultaneously creates an environment that sparks an introspective reaction.  The core group of bassist Shane Cooper, guitarist Reza Khota, pianist Bokani Dyer, tenor saxophonist Sisonke Xonti, drummer Marlon Witbooi and trumpeter Robin Fassie-Kock get some solid assistance from an array of guest musicians… notably saxophonists Shabaka Hutchings (who has got to have a ton of frequent flier miles for all the guest spots he’s been up for lately) and Buddy Wells (who lights the album up on his guest spot).  Also in a guest role, Tlale Makhene demonstrates that percussion is another form of electricity.  Music from Cape Town, South Africa.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp – Amazon

 

Yves Arques & Miguel Crozzoli – Drops of Sun (Nendo Dango Records)

The tension ranges from simmering to explosive on this duo outing from pianist Yves Arques and saxophonist Miguel Crozzoli.  Passages of silence are just as fearful as the unleashing of sonic fury… and just as enchanting.  Arques adds some melodic textures, either by preparing his piano or keeping a bit of odd percussion nearby.  There are moments of extreme focus when the music becomes an immersive experience.  Music from Paris & Buenos Aires.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp

 

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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

 

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Apr 30 2018

The Round-up: Those days when the city belongs to you

 

Here is some very good new music.

 

Kasper Staub Trio – Strøg (Jaeger Community)

This is music that constantly flirts with a tranquil atmosphere but just won’t let it settle in.  The trio of pianist Kasper Staub, drummer Anders Vestergaard and bassist Jens Mikkel create pools and eddies of activity, rhythms that bubble up and set the melodies to action.  There are plenty of peaceful moments, but far more that twitch with energy that begs to be released.  Some albums are made for first thing in the morning.  They sync in with a mind, body and soul that is slow to wake and needs a gentle guide to get there.  Strøg is the first album you listen to once that process is done.  Music from Aarhus, Denmark.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Amazon

 

Ignacio Díaz Lahsen & Colectivo Los Musicantes – La Espera y el Despertar (Discos Pendiente)

There’s an appealing ethereal presence to this large ensemble session from Ignacio Díaz Lahsen & Colectivo Los Musicantes.  It’s like a thick fog, moving slowly and enveloping everything within its harmonic embrace.  There’s a sense that this entire project began with Lahsen composing a work for a small chamber ensemble project, but it blossomed into something that required a conductor when the vision grew more expansive and the desire to explore possibilities became too much to ignore.  One such possibility is the track “En Asencia” and how it just comes right out with a big sound and lets it attain all the momentum it wants… all before settling into the thoughtful “El loco que tiraba piedras a la luna” and a motion that exhibits an unrelenting patience.  Music from Santiago, Chile.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp – Amazon

 

Trichotomy – Live with String Quartet (Self-Produced)

It’s nice to see the Trichotomy trio of pianist Sean Foran, drummer John Parker and bassist Sam Vincent revisit an element of strings with their quirky modern jazz sound.  Their collaboration with the chamber quintet Topology was an intriguing collision of music approaches, and led to some stunning moments.  Their newest foray was recorded live at the Declassified Music Festival, the trio incorporates a string quartet, and the electricity is way more ramped up this time around.  Where before it was a contemplative atmosphere, now it’s a brisk flow of melodic ideas.  Also, the album is retailing at Name Your Price, so if you’re new to the music of Sean Foran, it’s a nice opportunity to dive in before you go exploring his other works.  Speaking of which, I interviewed Foran for The Bandcamp Daily, and that’ll also serve as a solid primer for what else there is out there.  Music from Brisbane, Australia.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp – Amazon

 

Anders Svanoe – State of the Baritone Volume 2 (Self-Produced)

Plenty enjoyable session from bari saxophonist Anders Svanoe, bassist John Christensen and drummer Rodrigo Villanueva Conroy.  Nothing fancy here, just straight-ahead goodness, sometimes from an old-school perspective and sometimes with a modern touch.  The sound of baritone sax is a fluid form of expression for Svanoe, and so the music stays light on its feet and keeps to a brisk pace, and the instrument’s bulky presence never gets in the way of the music’s flow… even when Svanoe decides to exploit its size advantage.  When Christensen counters the baritone’s deep resonance with some bass arco, it’s an arresting moment.  Music from Madison, Wisconsin.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp

 

Honeybrandy – Deaf Sharp (Harding Street Assembly Lab)

A rather haunting sound to this project from the Honeybrandy duo of Nathan McGlothlin and Joey Wright, with a detached ominous tone as if the recording studio had a window view of the cold abyss of outer space.  On paper, their concoction of electronic effects and slide guitar would seem to be an imperfect match, but once it’s actually put into play, it makes a whole lot of sense.  The formlessness of the electronics and how they occasionally coalesce into moments of stunning imagery presents a remarkably similar interface to the slippery melodicism of slide guitar and how its fluid motion seems endless until it glides back upon its starting point and closes the circle of a melodic vision.  In guest roles, Kris Tyner and Philip Greenlief add some nice textures with wind instruments, and Chris Schlarb, naturally, via electric guitar.  Music from Lynchburg, Virginia.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp – Amazon

 

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