Jan 4 2016
This Is Jazz Today: Made to Break, Matthieu Donarier, Book of Air and more!
Well, look what I found. As I was taking care of some badly overdue year-end clean-up, I found a bunch of first drafts and notes for albums that I never managed to fit into a column… and it looks like there’ll be a couple more after this one. Most of these albums were released during the second half of the year, and of today’s batch, most all come from tiny labels or are self-produced. So we’re talking the kind of stuff that’s typically gonna fly under most radars, which makes me even happier to get the opportunity to feature them today.
Every one of these This Is Jazz Today columns, I look over what’s been compiled and I can’t help but think what a cool collection of music it is. I typically don’t state that fact just because I’d be saying it every week… but it’s true, and this week’s batch of recommendations definitely stacks up. Some very cool music here. Enjoy.
Let’s begin.
Made to Break – Before the Code (Trost Records)
It’s really difficult to untangle the melody from the motion on Ken Vandermark’s latest Made to Break recording. The sense of perpetual forward propulsion never ceases to be a prominent driving factor of this music, and yet the melodic freedom expressed by each of the quartet members cements it as an integral piece for the show to go on. How that all shakes out is that the ear is living from moment to moment even though the music is already looking way down the road. That kind of tension between sonic expectation and creative intent is pretty damn compelling, and it’s why the album’s three extended pieces (one at 11 minutes, the other two each over 20 minutes in length) seem to fly right by without notice of the passing of time. Along with Vandermark on his reed instruments is Jasper Stadhouders on bass, Tim Daisy on drums and Christof Kurzmann with the electronics and effects. One of the enjoyable qualities of the electronics is that they often come off sounding like a violin on overdrive. That, and sometimes a percussive instrument not unlike vibraphone. It really is a nifty element used in a way that isn’t the standard way electronics seem to get utilized in many of today’s modern jazz recordings.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
*****
Matthieu Donarier – Papier Jungle (Yolk Records)
A real conversational tone taken by the trio of saxophonist Matthieu Donarier, guitarist Manu Codjia and drummer Joe Quitzke. Tempos pulse beneath melodies that take sharp angles and sometimes swerve wildly in unexpected directions. Things get plenty more interesting during the occasional passages when the trio slows things down, but mostly that’s a result of the inevitable compare and contrast with those up-tempo sections that surround it. With a number of different projects of his I’ve now encountered, I’m increasingly impressed with the way Donarier is able to generate volatility while containing it with a tight creative focus… like watching a tesla coil kick out tendrils of light inside a plasma globe… expressive like crazy and a little bit mesmerizing.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Amazon
*****
Julien Wilson Quartet – This Narrow Isthmus (Lionsharecords)
A nice live set from the quartet of tenor saxophonist Julien Wilson, pianist Barney McAll, bassist Jonathan Zwartz and drummer Allan Browne. They mix it up a bit in terms of tone and tempo, but the meat of the album is found in the ballads… those radiate a strong heat, some serious emotion and yet still come off light as a lover’s breath. Nothing fancy going on here, just a flag planted right at jazz central and making their stand with a straight-ahead statement.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp
*****
Cicero Lee – Those Who Stay (Self-Produced)
Though at its core, a trio of Cícero Lee on upright bass, Carlos Garcia on piano and José Salgueiro on drums, it’s the addition of guests Desidério Lázaro (sax), Tiago Oliveira (guitar) and João Frade (accordion) that really allow this album to develop such a remarkably engaging personality. This especially applies to those tracks when Frade adds his accordion. The way it balances out with the sharp lyricism of Garicia and Lee on piano and bass is an effective device. Relatively straight-ahead on most album tracks, and Lee’s crew serves those tracks up just fine, but when the Portuguese influence emerges, the album really takes off. Good stuff.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
*****
Aron Ottignon – Waves EP (Loop Recordings)
A nifty trio session from Aron Ottignon on piano, Samuel Dubois on steel pan drums and Rodi Kirk on percussion and production effects. This get-up-and-dance recording has plenty of melodic depth to get its hooks into you, but the enjoyment is gonna come from how they get carried along on the rapidly flowing rhythmic currents. Just an EP, but it’s a promising sign if Ottignon is able to flesh this sound out and expand on it for a full-length recording. But for now, this catchy little set should keep you happy.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: eMusic – Bandcamp – Amazon
*****
Emmanuel Baily – Night Stork (Igloo Records)
A real pleasant liveliness to this mix of contemporary jazz, folk and baroque classical. Guitarist Baily keeps the music light on its feet, even when it grows introspective. Joining Baily are Khaled Aljaramani (oud), Lambert Colson (cornet), Jean-François Foliez (clarinet) and Xavier Rogé (drums). The addition of oud is a real nice surprise, and the added textures it brings to the table are something special… especially in light of the clarinet’s dancing motions. When the quintet digs into a melody, it’s catchy as hell. A nice album that really grew on me the more I listened to it. Good soundtrack for a Sunday morning and Spring weather is pouring a cool breeze and warm sunlight in through the window.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Amazon
*****
3/4 Peace – Rainy Days on the Common Land (El Negocito)
An interesting personality to this one, switching between conversation techniques that employ straight-ahead jazz, Nordic folk jazz, classical and some free improv. And while the varied sounds do differentiate from one another, they all clearly come from the same flame. Sometimes that fire possesses a distant warmth, other times a comforting heat, but in each instance, it’s equally captivating. This trio of Ben Sluijs (alto sax, flute), Christian Mendoza (piano) and Brice Soniano (double bass) does a great job of mixing things up, and keeping the ear guessing what comes next, which, when you think about it, is a pretty nifty result considering how sparse and contemplative the music can get at times. When the trio adopts a solemn tone, it resonates with some serious emotional power.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – CDBaby – Amazon
*****
Book of Air – Fieldtone (Sub Rosa)
This music is all about how a massive stillness can descend upon a particular spot on this planet and how sounds can emerge as if born from the quiet itself. Everything about this music is the patient, gentle breath of tranquility. Book of Air is the Belgian quintet of Nathan Wouters (double bass), Indré Jurgeleviciuté (kankles), Bert Cools (electric & acoustic guitars), Benjamin Sauzereau (electric guitar) and Stijn Cools (drums), and the four long pieces they offer on Fieldtone are about as focused an expression of peacefulness as anything not encountered on the ECM label. Speaking of which, if I had to draw some form of comparison, I’d probably reference a very laid-back version of a Steve Tibbetts recording. An appealing pattern to this music is how it begins with a thick silence, then gradually introduces ambient sounds, slowly at first, then increasing at a quicker pace in the second half of the piece… but never really growing into anything more than a comforting murmur.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
*****
Michel Bisceglia – Blue Bird (Prova Records)
Really beautiful piano trio recording, which also serves as the soundtrack for the movie of the same name. A trio of Michel Bisceglia (piano), Werner Lauscher (double bass) and Marc Léhan (drums) cast a moody glow over each of these tunes, serving up a bunch of melodies that are meant for ruminating and drifting off into daydreams. This is the kind of music you put on when the rain is coming down, the city lights attempt to beat back the gloom of grey skies and the sound of raindrops pelting the rooftop is just begging for some sound to mesh with.
Artist site | Buy: eMusic – Amazon
*****
Have a great time digging through the list!
And remember, it’s simple: You like what you like.
Cheers.
***
Feb 14 2016
This Is Jazz Today: Patrick Cornelius, Aruan Ortiz, Empirical and more!
2016 has begun its build to the eventual frenzy of excellent new releases, and this week we’re featuring a couple albums that will likely be a part of the wave that makes it to the end of the year Best Of season of lists. Common trait shared by (most of) this week’s recommendations? A lot of returning names familiar to this column (and its siblings from the old eMusic 17 Dots and Wondering Sound columns). Thankfully, the return visits offer up recordings even stronger than their predecessors. That’s not an easy thing to do. This week, however, we have several such instances. As a result, I’ve linked to a bunch of previous album write-ups within the body of these recommendations… which will lead to even more excellent music. Take the time to explore.
Let’s begin.
*** Album of the Week ***
Patrick Cornelius – While We’re Still Young (Whirlwind Recordings)
I was already a fan of Patrick Cornelius, but this album just blows me away. The music is inspired by the poetry of A.A. Milne, but this is an instance where the music transcends the theme, making it only as relevant as you want it to be. The saxophonist brings in an all-star roster of trumpeter Jason Palmer, saxophonist John Ellis, pianist Gerald Clayton, drummer Kendrick Scott, trombonist Nick Vayenas, bassist Peter Slavov and guitarist Miles Okazaki, and the way this octet shapes the solos as mere extensions of dynamic group play, of something very organic grown from the soil of ensemble communication, is arguably the album’s winning quality. What’s more likely to instantly grab the ear, however, are the lovely textures that emerge, seemingly, without end. I’ll be posting a more extensive write-up of this recording in the very near future, but don’t bother waiting for that… go get this album now. 2016 is still so very young, but this may be the best thing I’ve heard so far.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: eMusic – Amazon
*****
*** Also Featured This Week ***
Aruan Ortiz Trio – Hidden Voices (Intakt Records)
One of the many things I adore about the music of Thelonious Monk is how easily embraceable his offbeat method becomes. So many times the next steps he took seemed to land in unexpected spots, yet that surprise is immediately followed by the enlightenment of how logical the progression was. I get that same charge of surprise-understanding from the new one by pianist Ortiz. I’m not saying this is Monk-like music… it isn’t. Ortiz has already established his bona fides on the modern scene, and while he’s shown the ability to swing and sing the blues old-school style, he’s just as adventurous hitting some Latin or Afro-Cuban territory as he is a clearly modern, seriously conversant post-bop. The latter form of expression is what Hidden Voices has to offer. Songs scoot along with bop-ish motions then suddenly disperse in seemingly random patterns that can unpredictably coalesce into a focused direction or just keep running off to the horizon, never to meet again that original statement of melody. This music ain’t standard stuff, but that doesn’t stop it from stepping up, beaming a wide smile and shaking your hand.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – eMusic – Amazon
*****
Malte Schiller & Spielvereinigung Sued – Sagen oder Nicht (Unit Records)
An absolutely thrilling big band recording from Spielvereinigung Sued, with Malte Schiller handling the comps, arrangements and direction, and trombonist Nils Wogram as a featured soloist. I’ve given the rundown on a number of projects that have Schiller’s name attached to them, and each time they find new ways to surprise and delight. This lovely album takes advantage of its numbers by radiating a huge presence, yet deftly shifts gears to display a gentle vulnerability just when the moment is right. No better example of this than the opening two tracks, with “Es Regnet” slowly building intensity from the slightest tension hanging on vocalist Matthias Knoche’s every word, followed by the beaming rays of thick warm sunlight on “Waltz For You.” There’s a couple Radiohead covers and a Kurt Weill comp, but you gotta look to the originals to find the golden moments on this excellent recording.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: eMusic – Amazon
*****
Matt Parker Trio – Present Time (Self-Produced)
On saxophone, Parker seems to enjoy speeding through a song just to see what happens when he jerks on the steering wheel and makes the tires spin out. Two albums into his recording career, it would appear that his bandmates enjoy the ride, because on his sophomore recording, a trio session this time around, there’s as much wildness as on his fun debut Worlds Put Together. But Parker is more than just careening through space. Opening track “Noah’s Arc” bops right along with the heart of an old-schooler. Three vocal tracks are a nice addition, too, both in support of lyricism and also to shift the pressure on the gas pedal. Parker’s trio consists of other This Is Jazz Today members past, Reggie Quinerly (drums) and Alan Hampton (bass).
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
*****
Empirical – Connection (Cuneiform)
It’s an odd geometry the Empirical quartet utilizes to shape their music. Lots of sharp angles and quick cuts and twists and turns that keep to a linear motion rather than work the curves. But the dreamy melodicism vibraphonist Lewis Wright and bassist Tom Farmer add to the equation creates a seriously compelling balance to the harder edges of alto saxophonist Nathaniel Facey and drummer Shaney Forbes, and it’s a big reason why this album will appeal to an ear wanting to embrace music as much as one looking for a challenge. Definitely check out their catalog, as they keep creating music that finds a way into this (and my old eMusic Wondering Sound) columns. Good stuff.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – eMusic – Amazon
*****
Lucian Ban Elevation – Songs From Afar (Sunnyside)
An album thick with lyricism and an effusive storyteller’s heart. It’s the way that the music phases between states of Romanian influence and modern post-bop that’s most intriguing and which leads to all that lyricism. There are times that certain passages threaten to tear the song apart at the seams, but the songs hold, and it’s why the peaceful interludes resonate with such strength. Joining pianist Ban is tenor saxophonist Abraham Burton, bassist John Hebert, drummer Eric McPherson and Mat Maneri on viola and vocalist Gavril Tarmure, who appear on about half the album tracks. Both “guests” make a huge impact on the album, each in their own way. The song “Southern Dawn” is one of the best things I’ve heard all year.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
*****
Bob Wijnen – NYC Unforeseen (Self-Produced)
All kinds of friendliness on this straight-ahead bop session from pianist Wijnen, guitarist Peter Bernstein, bassist Dezron Douglas and drummer Billy Drummond. Up-tempo pieces generate plenty of warmth to accompany their brisk conversations, and when the quartet slows things down, the music radiates the blues. The strength of the album is how so many of the melodies are genuinely inviting. For instance, with a simple turn of phrase, “Baby Steps” slowly draws you in before speedily taking off on a lovely solo. A nice example of how an album doesn’t have to be groundbreaking to grab tight to a listener’s attention and how an old-school sound can speak with a brand new voice in the present day.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: CDBaby – Amazon
*****
Gerard Presencer – Groove Travels (Edition Records)
Kind of a mixed bag on the new one from trumpeter & composer Presencer and the Danish Radio Big Band. By sticking to a contemporary sound, they’re able to sugarcoat the melodies without making them over-sweet and they can shift into tempos that take the song into pop territory without losing the essential jazz big band sound to carry the album to the finish line. In some instances, like a regrettable cover of “Eleanor Rigby,” they let the contemporary pop sound get waaaaaay out of control, but then tracks like “Another Weirdo” and “Instanbul Coffee Cup,” they are able to harness the sound’s innate catchiness while building intensity through tempo and shooting out melodies like lighthouse beams cutting through a foggy, seaside night. Strong moments outnumber the weaker ones, and those that fall in between the extremes all add nicely to the album’s enjoyment.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – eMusic – Amazon
*****
Malija – The Day I Had Everything (Edition Records)
It’s an uncommon, exciting discovery to happen upon a recording that is able to emit an ambiance that is Sunday morning sublime while moving at a pace built more for downtown rush hour traffic. The trio of pianist Liam Noble, bassist Jasper Høiby and saxophonist Mark Lockheart (who doubles up on bass clarinet for this session) achieve this wonderful synthesis of incongruous elements remarkably well on this solemn, yet active recording, The Day I Had Everything. The compositions place this music two feet in the modern day of the UK jazz scene, but it emits influences from bygone eras traceable to cities on the U.S. mainland, and that sense of present and past joined at the hip alongside the match of solemn and speedy just adds up to a winning album. Worth noting that all three of these artists have received some pretty strong recommendations with other projects on this site (and my Wondering Sound columns). Go explore.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – eMusic – Amazon
*****
Brian Fielding – An Appropriate Response, Vol.1 (Self-Produced)
Pleasant set from pianist Fielding, drummer Ali Jackson, tenor saxophonist Mike Lee and double bassist Andy McKee. The quartet sticks to a contemporary mainstream sound, but stays close enough to a modern straight-ahead voicing that it should appeal to both sides of that dividing line. Album keeps a pretty steady demeanor throughout, but there’s a few tracks that really grabbed me. Nothing particularly groundbreaking here, but I’ve been enjoying it well enough to give it a quick mention.
Artist site | Buy: eMusic – CDBaby – Amazon
*****
Mike Moreno – Lotus (World Culture Music)
Nicely captivating session from the quartet of guitarist Moreno, bassist Doug Weiss, drummer Eric Harland and pianist Aaron Parks (who doubles-up on Rhodes). Moreno always brings a warm sound on electric guitar, and, thankfully, he gives it a hazy presence, which tends to make it far more embraceable than other electric guitarists who go for a sharp, clean (and, to my ears, boring) ring. And when Moreno switches over to acoustic guitar, things really get magical. Rainy day music for when you want something calm yet lively that’ll blend with the tapping of raindrops and crash of thunder outside. Pretty much could listen to the song “Epilogue- The Rise” on repeat all day long.
Artist site | Sorry, no audio | Buy: 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 - 2016 releases • 3