Jun 25 2018
The Round-up: Sometimes, being close is the hardest thing
Here is some very good new music.
David Ake – Humanities (Posi-Tone Records)
It happens quite often on Humanities that a rising intensity becomes a conflagration, and if any attempt at control is being exerted, it has no effect. And yet, despite it all, there’s a moodiness that hangs over the newest from David Ake, and it has the effect of framing hyperactivity as an introspective matter rather than an emotional one. It’s why “Groundwork” possesses the hypnotic effect of burning embers even when its flames reach up to the night sky. It’s why “Stream” etches a path from first note to last even as it pulls apart the bonds that keep it together in a recognizable shape and moving with a concentrated focus. The pianist has a nice history on the Posi-Tone Records label, and can always be relied upon for doing something a little different with a straight-ahead sound. Humanities might be the most enjoyable example of that trend. The pianist is joined by trumpeter Ralph Alessi, guitarist Ben Monder, bassist Drew Gress and drummer Mark Ferber. Music from Miami, Florida.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Amazon
Roger Kim – Portrait Maker (Self-Produced)
I’m not sure this chamber jazz session could be any more gorgeous. Roger Kim‘s large ensemble of strings and wind instruments and voices possess an ethereal presence, but so great is its majesty that the sensation is of clouds that could sweep you off your feet and carry you away. The guitarist (who also adds some banjo to the mix) titles the first track “Franny and Zooey in the Snow,” and the music captures the essence of a lovely winter day surrounded by snowflakes with the same immediacy that it does the resounding innocence clung to by many of J.D. Salinger’s storybook characters. The album clocks in a little under thirty minutes. It’s music that feels like it could go on forever and then suddenly ends too soon. Music from Oakland, CA.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp
Emil Miszk & The Sonic Syndicate – Don’t Hesitate! (Alpaka Records)
The sudden transitions between soothing harmonies and caustic dissonance are quite jarring. But the pattern repeats itself throughout this intriguing session from Emil Miszk & The Sonic Syndicate, and familiarity breeds friendliness. The trumpeter leads an octet comprised half of wind instruments and the other half of guitar, piano, bass and drums. It’s the former that’s most responsible for those lovely harmonic passages and the latter for the edginess. There are moments, however, when the transfer of power between the two achieves a certain balance, a unity of expression, and everything makes sense. An interesting debut. Music from Gdańsk, Poland.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
Attila Gyárfás – Cloud Factory (Sinistra)
There’s a very fun and wild personality exhibited by this debut from Attila Gyárfás. Mixing punk rock, modern jazz and Frisellian effects, the drummer shuffles the deck of tones for atmospheric effect and edgy counterweights to the ambience. He’s joined by the bass and guitar duo of Marco Zenini & Márton Fenyvesi, along with Felician Erlenburg and Jason Alder on wind instruments. In addition to the changes in tone, the spikes of intensity are as thrilling as the peaceful moments are comforting. Just a really neat album, and the kind of thing that really shouldn’t fly under the radar. Not all of you will like this recording, but some of you will fall head over heels for it. Music from Budapest, Hungary
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
Bruno Heinen – Mr. Vertigo (Babel Label)
There’s a distinct personality to the music of Bruno Heinen. Whether it’s an embrace of the music of Karlheinz Stockhausen and Vivaldi or a set of songs that uses the children’s song “Twinkle Twinkle” as their basis or a spin with the Bill Evans songbook, Heinen’s perspective cuts to the heart of the matter. His newest is a solo venture, and it’s particularly intriguing to hear how previous projects filter into a solitary setting. This is especially true of revisiting his Tierkreis project, and how the music box environment falls right into place in the flow of expressionism that marks this set. Music from London.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
Sep 18 2015
This Is Jazz Today: Santos Silva/Zetterberg/Lindwall, Bruno Heinen & Kristian Borring, Fred Alarie Duo, Michael McNeill Trio and Paintbox
Let’s get your weekend started early with a new batch of recommendations. This installment of This Is Jazz Today features a nice mix of the avant-garde and straight-ahead jazz, and includes several names that are favorites of this site… a fact which should give you the impulse to start searching around Bird is the Worm for more recommendations posted over the years.
No more talking. You have music to listen to and money burning a hole in your pocket.
Let’s begin…
*** Today’s Feature Album ***
Santos Silva/Zetterberg/Lindwall – If Nothing Else (Clean Feed)
There’s an ominous tone throughout the nifty new recording by trumpeter Susana Santos Silva, bassist Torbjörn Zetterberg and organist Hampus Lindwall. The long low drones let the implication of a threat hang in the air, and not even the intermittent melodic surge acts as a denial. The music is a sigh, it’s a moan, it’s peacefully humming, and it’s the long, lovely exhalation as if that breath might be the last. Atonality and subtle dissonance are the main course on this intriguing album, but the way the trio cloak it with a murky, fading serenity is what cinches the album as a definite recommendation.
Artist site | Buy: Bandcamp – eMusic
*****
*** Also Featured ***
Bruno Heinen & Kristian Borring – Postcard to Bill Evans (Babel Label)
Enjoyable duo set from pianist Bruno Heinen and guitarist Kristian Borring as they dig into the Bill Evans songbook. A sunny disposition to these relatively contemplative tunes, much like the peaceful optimism that comes from seeing shard of light break through the cloud cover of grey skies. It’s been fun following the progress of Heinen’s creative arc. His previous two recordings, an embrace of the music of Karlheinz Stockhausen and a set of songs that uses the children’s song “Twinkle Twinkle” as their basis, were each compelling in their way, and showed how Heinen’s intelligence was able to lock in with that of the original composers. I’m pretty addicted to their rendition of “23 Skidoo.”
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – eMusic – Amazon
*****
Fred Alarie Duo – Undertaking (Multiple Chord Music)
A riveting set of dialogues between bassist Frédéric Alarie and trumpeter Jacques Kuba Séguin. The fact that this recording is likely to get filed under avant-garde might draw attention away from the sublime beauty this duo generates with a melodic succinctness and a strong spatial awareness. The result is music better suited for quieter moments when the need for serenity is high. That said, there’s plenty of volatility when the duo wants to conjure it up, but never to the point where that abiding, odd serenity is ever at risk. A very cool recording.
Artist site | Buy: eMusic – Amazon
*****
Michael McNeill Trio – Flight (Self-Produced)
Interesting trio set from pianist McNeill, bassist Ken Filiano and drummer Phil Haynes. With its acerbic phrasings and staggered tempos, the music has the gruff demeanor of a free improv session, but McNeill infuses several of the tracks with melodic fragments that ring with the echo of 1950s bop sessions, and that juxtaposition of old vs. new and of catchy vs. chaotic creates an appealing tension from the way these diametrically opposed motivations work so well in tandem. The three-part “Wild Geese Suite” switches out the old-school bop element for something more modern. The sacrifice of that compelling bit of old vs. new contrast gains the music a quality of driven determination… compelling, too, in its own right.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – CDBaby – Amazon
*****
Paintbox – Ven (Double Moon)
Nothing fancy, just polished straight-ahead modern jazz. The melodies are nice enough, but really they’re just an excuse for the musicians to head off to the horizons on some nifty solos. The quintet of guitar, sax, piano, drums & bass snaps firmly into place while still allowing room for individualism. The pianist on this session, Hans Feigenwinter, is a Bird is the Worm favorite.
Download a free album track, courtesy of the artists, by hitting the download button on the audio player just below or head on over to their Soundcloud page and you can download there while checking out more of their music.
Artist site | Buy: eMusic – Amazon
*****
Have a great time digging through the list!
And remember, it’s simple: You like what you like.
Cheers.
***
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By davesumner • Jazz Recommendations, Jazz Recommendations - 2015 Releases • 0