Jazz Recommendations

This is a good week for those of you who prefer your music to wander out to the fringes and take an unconventional path getting there.  Many of the albums recommended from this week’s batch of new jazz releases will satisfy that particular craving.  That said, there’s a couple excellent options for those who prefer their jazz come at them like a fastball right over the center of the plate.

Nobody gets left out of the recommendations column.  I’ll always find something you like.  With that thought in mind…

Let’s begin.

*** Pick of the Week ***

Ben Goldberg – Orphic Machine

Goldberg has always been the inventive sort, but it’s his way of being sneakily avant-garde that should earn him the most praise.  His ability to render challenging music into something quite embraceable is no easy thing, but that Goldberg does it one project after the other is a considerable feat.  His newest has him putting to music the words of his former teacher’s book about the art of poetry.  Joined by a very strong cast (Ron Miles, Myra Melford, Kenny Wollesen, Ches Smith, Greg Cohen, Rob Sudduth and Carla Kihlstedt), Goldberg turns the didactic into the kind of creative inspiration that the lyric’s source material instructed upon.

Read more about this album on Bird is the Worm this Monday, March 30th.

Released on BAG Productions/Royal Potato Family.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  eMusic – Amazon

*****

*** This week’s featured albums ***

Petros Sakelliou – Visual Music Circus (Self-Produced)

A very cool perspective from pianist & composer Sakelliou, who nicely fuses Mediterranean, Afro-Latin, jazz and classical into a singular expression.  His large ensemble, strong on the reeds & strings, deftly gives a light touch to a big sound.  Whimsical, enlightening and inventive.  Expect to read more about this album on Bird is the Worm in the coming weeks.

Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – eMusic – CDBaby – Amazon

*****

Max Frankl – Fernweh (Unit Records)

Nice textures created by Frankl’s use of acoustic, electric and classical guitars.  Shifts between straight-ahead modern, Nordic serene and shades in-between.  Strong imagery, often quite vivid.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  eMusic | Bandcamp | Amazon

Read more about this album on Bird is the Worm (LINK).

*****

Yves Rousseau 4tet – Akasha (Abalone)

Stunning chamber jazz session from bassist Rousseau’s quartet (which includes drummer Christophe Marguet, violinist Regis Huby and saxophonist Jean-Marc Larche).  Vivid harmonic passages are the glue between strong melodic surges and punctuated rhythms.  Strength and beauty.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  eMusic – Amazon

*****

Ryan Truesdell’s Gil Evans Project – Lines of Color (Blue Note/ArtistShare)

A live performance of Truesdell’s Gil Evans project that’s no less brilliant than its studio companion.  The orchestra’s big sound is made unimposing by its abundance of warmth.  An amazing album that repeatedly provides a sense of liftoff.

Artist site

*****

Aaron Comess – Aaron Comess Quintet (Innsbruck)

Very likable live sets from drummer Comess.  Covers of Coltrane’s “Resolution” and Harris’s “Freedom Jazz Dance” are excellent centerpieces for the straight-ahead originals.  Vibrant music with plenty of heart.

Artist site | Listen | Buy: eMusic – Amazon

*****

George Crowley – Can of Worms (Whirlwind)

An interesting session from saxophonist Crowley’s quintet.  Twin tenor sax formation leads to some nifty solos and warm harmonies.  Those tunes where he launches off from standard post-bop to fuzzier forms of jazz/not-jazz is where the album really takes off.

Artist site | Buy:  eMusic – Amazon

*****

Clara Haberkamp Trio – You Sea! (Laika)

A pleasant easy-going nature to Haberkamp’s newest, which gives the piano trio format some disjointed and rambunctious moments that ratchet up the album’s personality.  Strong melodic treatments add contrast, especially when the vocals enter at unexpected intervals.  Plenty here to like.

Artist site | Buy: eMusic – Amazon

*****

Beppe di Benedetto 5tet – Another Point of View (TRJ Records)

Solid new release from trombonist di Benedetto.  Like his solid 2012 release See the Sky, his quintet generates plenty of warmth and buoyant energy.  Straight-ahead jazz that speaks to both old- and new-school forms of expression.

Artist site | Listen | Buy: eMusic – CDBaby – Amazon

*****

Kevin Eubanks & Stanley Jordan – Duets (Mack Avenue)

Remarkably engaging duo guitar set from two vets of the jazz scene.  Tunes possess a peaceful easy-going ambiance, even when the duo tackles the complexities of a composition or just decides to bring some heat.  Quite beautiful.

Download a free album track at Eubanks’ site (LINK).

Artist site | Listen | Buy: eMusic – Amazon

*****

The Ordinary Square – When In Paris (Hoob)

Engrossing modern straight-ahead set from this Swedish quartet (sax, piano, drums, bass).  When they turn up the heat, it keeps to a comfortable warmth and when they enter a moody phase, the music stays sufficiently sunny to keep away the sadness.  Nice rainy-day music.

Artist site | Buy: eMusic – Amazon

*****

Chris McNulty – Eternal (Palmetto)

Rather struck by the accompaniment of vocalist McNulty’s trio as well as the chamber orchestra.  There’s a subdued grace to the music, even as it gives the impression of a sweeping majesty.  Pretty music that stays sincere.

Artist site | Buy: eMusic – Amazon

*****

Reggie Quinerly – Invictus (Self-Produced)

Drummer Quinerly’s newest is noticeably more standard modern fare than his excellent 2012 release, Music Inspired by Freedmantown.  That said, it’s plenty likable, and radiates a real friendly sort of energy.  Warren Wolf’s work on vibes are an absolute delight on this session.

Artist site | Buy:  CDBaby – Amazon

*****

Have a great time digging through the list!

And remember, it’s simple:  You like what you like.

Cheers.

***

This was a busy week.  I finally just had to call it quits, but I’m shaking my head and looking at the albums that I didn’t have time to include in this week’s column.  I might have to do a Part B addendum at some point.

But let’s talk about the albums that are included in this week’s This Is Jazz Today recommendations column.  There’s a very nice mix of sounds this week, really representing the depth and diversity of the modern scene.  One of those weeks where there really is something for everyone.

Let’s begin…

*** Pick of the Week ***

Jakob Bro – Gefion

A gorgeous new album from guitarist Jakob Bro, who has repeatedly shown a talent for bringing a melodic liveliness to serene music.  His newest features his strangely alluring mix of jazz and folk and ambient soundscapes.  And though it possesses the ingredients that typically complete your basic Nordic Jazz recording, Bro’s expressionism doesn’t fit so neatly into that general category.  Even when he’s being structurally obtuse, his music possesses a form and presence and melodic incisiveness that proves elusive to categorization.  His newest has him in a trio formation, joined by bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Jon Christensen.  Just too beautiful.

Released on ECM Records.  Visit the artist site.

Read about other Bro albums | Buy: Amazon

*****

*** This week’s featured albums ***

Anat Cohen – Luminosa (Anzic)

Each new recording by Cohen just further impresses how much feeling she’s able to generate from her clarinet.  Her newest focuses on Brazilian music, but some adventurous takes on music from other parts of the world, too.  I’ll be writing more about this excellent album in the coming weeks, but, seriously, don’t bother waiting… just go buy this album now.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  eMusic – Bandcamp – Amazon

*****

Giovanni Francesca – Rame (Auand)

Stunningly beautiful album from guitarist Francesca’s quintet.  His sound, with its effects and an instrumentation that includes both violin and trombone is strongly reminiscent of Bill Frisell’s Nonesuch years.  Sweetness and fire, both, on this one.  Expect to read more in the coming weeks on this site.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  eMusic – Bandcamp – Amazon

*****

Pascal Schumacher – Left Tokyo Right (Laborie)

Resonant new release from vibraphonist Schumacher.  The whole quartet shines, but especially so in the pairing of Schumacher and pianist Franz von Chossy.  Melodies as deep as the sea and just as enchanting.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  eMusic – Amazon

*****

Emanative – The Light Years of the Darkness (Brownswood)

Excellent large ensemble spiritual jazz performance.  Led by drummer-percussionist Emanative (the alias for Nick Woodmansey), they perform renditions of tunes by Alice Coltrane, Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders and more.  Rich grooves and melodies as soft as a cool breeze in Summer.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  Bandcamp – eMusic – Amazon

Read more about this album on Bird is the Worm (LINK).

*****

David Ake – Lake Effect (Posi-tone)

Seriously expressive new set from pianist Ake’s quartet.  Switches between songs of a bubbling intensity and solo pieces as serene as a morning sunrise.  Benefiting the album greatly, Ake gives saxophonist Peter Epstein plenty of room to roll out his solos.

Artist site | Buy: eMusic – Amazon

*****

E.J. Strickland Quintet – The Undying Spirit (Strick Muzik)

A graceful eloquence to this recording, which exhibits no hesitation to wear its heart on its sleeve.  Drummer Strickland leads a quintet of pro’s pros (Jaleel Shaw, Linda Oh, Luis Pedromo and brother Marcus) through a set of straight-ahead tunes.  Lots to like here, but “Midnight’s Clearing” is a song that’ll stick in your head long after the album is done playing.

Artist site | Buy: eMusic – Amazon

*****

New Cool Collective – Electric Monkey Sessions (Dox)

Benjamin Herman’s ensemble expands on their 70s psych-trip-jazz niche.  Going deep with their rhythmic approaches add an interesting new facet to their melodically rich sound, especially the Senegalese influences.  Fun music with some cool grooves.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  eMusic – Bandcamp – Amazon

*****

Doug Webb – Triple Play (Posi-tone)

Nifty straight-ahead set from tenor saxophonist Webb.  Triple tenor sax line-up (along w/Walt Weiskopf & Joel Frahm) emits an abundance of heat.  Balanced out nicely by the thick grooves of organist Brian Charette and drummer Rudy Royston.

Artist site | Buy: eMusic – Amazon

*****

Glenn Zaleski – My Ideal (Sunnyside)

Nice straight-ahead piano trio set.  Whether kicking up some dust with an up-tempo piece or slipping into a ballad, Zaleski’s crew gets a nice chatter going.  Guest Ravi Coltrane is a good indication that Zaleski’s next recording should include a full-time saxophonist.

Artist site | Listen | Buy:  eMusic – Bandcamp – Amazon

*****

Courtney Pine – Song (The Ballad Book) (Destin-E)

Gorgeous duet album with saxophonist Pine and pianist Zoe Rahman.  Sublime takes on standards and new school tunes.  Solemn as a Sunday morning when the whole world is at peace.

Artist site | Buy: eMusic – Amazon

*****

Nordic Circles – Winter Rainbow (AMP Music)

Nice modern straight-ahead set.  Despite their name, this quintet more often sounds closer to NYC than ECM.  Nothing new, just music with a sunny atmosphere and occasional melancholy clouds.

No artist site | No listen | Buy: Amazon

*****

Have a great time digging through the list!

And remember, it’s simple:  You like what you like.

Cheers.

***