Jun 18 2018
The Round-up: Those times were hard
Here is some very good new music.
Eyolf Dale – Return to Mind (Edition Records)
This music dances on air. Sometimes it skips across the clouds, sometimes it soars a graceful arc high above them, and sometimes it bounces along the currents and surrenders to the will of the motion. And on Eyolf Dale‘s newest, the path to get there is full of life and activity. The pianist’s octet works the range of expressionism between modern Euro-bop and chamber, and makes the difference between the two appear as nothing, as but a single breath of imagery. Wind instruments, strings and percussion abide in equal strengths on his latest, and that balance feeds right into the music’s singular vision. There are more than a few moments on Return to Mind that stopped me from what I was doing just to marvel at their beauty. Those moments haven’t lost a bit of their power through the process of repeat listening. I don’t expect they will for you either. Music from Oslo, Norway.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
Bryan Smith – This Is Water (Self-Produced)
It’s all about the melody on the latest from Bryan Smith. The saxophonist doesn’t get fussy with those melodies. It’s all about clear lines of definition and a calm touch with their delivery. From there, his quintet with guitarist Ryan Meagher, pianist Matt Tabor, bassist Andrew Jones and drummer Jonas Oglesbee take the melody for a short drive, and the road ahead never drops off the map. There’s something comforting about seeing the entire path, and ending up where everything seemed to lead to in the first place. It’s a special kind of luxury for a listener to be able to let their guard down and simply appreciate a melody for its beauty, as if from a distance. “Are We Athletes?” adopts an upbeat tempo and a voice to match, but for the most part, this album resides in territory best suited for contemplation. That just so happens to be where the album shows its best side. It’s been a while since I listened to it, but I recall enjoying Smith’s 2011 recording See, See. Music from Portland, Oregon.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
Luis Verde Quartet – Vientos Cruzados (Self-Produced)
The immediate impression made by Viento Cruzados is that Luis Verde had a lot on his mind and wasn’t going to hold back when translating it to a sonic form of expression. At times, this sprawling work comes off as a bit disjointed, where the flow of thoughts from one to the next isn’t as fluid as one might hope. But then certain themes get revisited across the duration of fourteen tracks, and a distinct cohesion begins to emerge. And those moments when the flow converges with the prevailing imagery, the music explodes with life. The saxophonist’s quartet with pianist Moisés Sánchez, double bassist Reinier Elizarde and drummer Mark Schilders traverses ample territory, and the effect is amplified by the inclusion of several interludes. As stand-alone pieces, these interludes are intriguing in their own right, but their deft placement in the sequence of events has a resounding impact far greater than their individual traits. Music from Madrid, Spain.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp
Matt’s Mates – Bodies of Water (SuperSonic)
There’s an intriguing combination of solemn and lively tones on this set from Matt Luff. The saxophonist’s octet identifies John Coltrane as their guiding music spirit for this recording, and it’s pretty clear right from the start that this was no blithe namedrop. The ferocity inherent in these tunes has a benevolent presence, and the illusion of contradiction in those qualities makes the music resonate that much greater when it reveals itself, instead, as unity. Music from Brisbane, Australia.
No artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
Kastenfaul – Kastenfaul (Self-Produced)
The Kastenfaul duo of saxophonist Ali Onur Olgun and drummer Ozan Aktuna is pure gasoline. They light their music on fire and laugh while fanning the flames. It’s as simple as that. It’s also that thrilling. This two-track EP retails at Name Your Price, so a nice opportunity to explore some new, obscure music at a price that fits your budget. Music from Istanbul, Turkey.
No artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp
If there exists a societal opinion that tuba is incapable of being the source of beautiful music, then Daniel Herskedal has something to send that premise crashing down. The Roc is arguably the most gorgeous recording of 2017. Built upon the tubist’s personal concoction of modern jazz, chamber and folk, Herskedal adds an intriguing influence of Arabic music to the mix, as well as expands his ensemble with a cellist and violinist. As with previous Herskedal recordings, The Roc is an album overflowing with cinematic imagery, thick beautiful harmonies and melodies as bright and clear as a forest stream. The addition of Arabic music creates a rhythmic environment that brings a life to those elements that breathes an entirely new way, and has the melodic effect of a shapely allure, of providing an enchantment impossible to ignore. This is a phenomenal album from a musician who just keeps raising the bar on his own projects, and exceeding it.
Jul 30 2018
The Round-up: Disconnected from a life of motion
Here is some very good new music.
Ivo Neame – Moksha (Edition Records)
As much as I enjoy myself a good (great) Phronesis recording, it’s always nice to hear each of the trio members on their own side projects. With Moksha, Ivo Neame continues to express his lyrical eccentricities in a way that is thoroughly embraceable. It’s straight-ahead modern jazz that often jumps a path off the main road without ever cluing the listener in that they’re being guided through uncharted territories. That’s pretty cool, and not easily done. The pianist enlists a quartet that includes tenor saxophonist George Crowley, bassist Tom Farmer and drummer James Maddren. Music from London.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
Beekman – Vol.03: Live in San Francisco (Ropeadope Records)
What I like most about the Beekman ensemble is how their tendency to break down a tune’s structure leads to an explosion of melodic facets rather than muddying the waters and obscuring its definition. It’s like a story that tangents huge into a supporting character’s backstory, providing details of information that seem to have nothing to do with the main plot line… until a return of focus to the lead character results in a far more nuanced and rich backdrop. That’s how the Brooklyn-based quartet of saxophonist Kyle Nasser, pianist Yago Vasguez, bassist Pablo Menares, and drummer Rodrigo Recabarren go about the telling of their sonic tale, and based on the number of times I’ve written about their music, it’s clear this is something they do quite well. This live performance in San Fran is yet more evidence.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp
Jan Roth – Kleinod (Sinnbus)
There’s a lovely meditative quality to this session from Jan Roth. The pianist displays a talent for generating a peaceful atmosphere right from go, and it carries on the strength of its introduction even if a particular piece veers into more tumultuous territory. The wind instruments of Antonia Hausmann and Fritz Moshammer add some very appealing and necessary depth to the affair, providing harmonic weight to balance out the sunshine melodies from Roth’s piano. Meanwhile, the bass and drums duo of Alex Binder and Maximilian Stadtfeld add some definition to the melodic arc of each piece, accentuating their motion when appropriate and keeping them corralled before a sense of randomness sets in. Beautiful stuff. Music from Leipzig, Germany.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp – Amazon
The Maguire Twins – Seeking Higher Ground (Three Tree Records)
What I like about this recording is that each melody is bright as a moonbeam and leads along a winding path easy to follow and enjoy. What I appreciate about this recording is that the Maguire Twins dive into the songbooks of the modern jazz scene, performing renditions of compositions by Gregory Tardy, Geoffrey Keezer, Donald Brown and Aaron Goldberg. What makes me fond about the recording is that Gregory Tardy, Geoffrey Keezer, Donald Brown and Aaron Goldberg all contribute to the session, joining the duo of bassist Alan Shutaro Maguire and drummer Carl Seitaro Maguire. Sometimes the form of expression is old school swing and sometimes it’s new school roam. Music from Memphis, TN.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Amazon
Mora Collective, Alan Schafer (Self-Produced)
This is jazz with some old school rhythm and blues and new school rock ’n roll all mixed in together. Heavy on enthusiasm and every note thrown like a knockout punch, the Mora Collective quartet of bassist Chris Issacs, saxophonist Zach Puchkors, drummer Eric Yacula and keyboardist James Bonnette unleash everything they’ve got on these five very fun tracks. It’s retailing at Name Your Price, so a nice opportunity to check out music that fits your budget. Music from Dallas, Texas.
Artist site | Listen | Buy: Bandcamp
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By davesumner • Jazz Recommendations - 2018 • 0 • Tags: Beekman, Edition Records, Ivo Neame, Jan Roth, Mora Collective, Ropeadope Records, Sinnbus, The Macguire Twins, The Round-Up, Three Tree Records