These are videos that I like: Best of Bandcamp Jazz 2017 (Part Two)

 

Today’s videos feature ensembles that were among my monthly selections for Best of Bandcamp Jazz.  2017 saw a minimum of 120 recommendations, so it’s understandable that some might have fallen off the radar over the course of the year.  Here’s a chance to reverse that trend and remind everyone how much great music came out this year.

First up is a video from Yazz Ahmed, featuring a version of the song “The Lost Pearl.”  It’s the kind of sound you can expect to hear on the trumpeter’s excellent 2017 release La Saboteuse (read about it at The Bandcamp Daily).  In addition to the cool music, the video features the amazing album artwork of Sophie Bass.

If you want to skip the write-up, you can go listen to the album (and purchase it) at the artist’s Bandcamp page.  It’s also available at Amazon.

Next up is a live performance by Jeremy Danneman and featuring Sophie Nzayisenga Inganji.  Their 2017 release Honey Wine is one of the coolest, most joyful recordings I’ve heard this year (read about it at The Bandcamp Daily).  This May 2015 performance at NYC’s WhyNot Jazz Room spreads some of that good cheer right on around.

If you want to skip the write-up, you can go listen to the album (and purchase it) at the artist’s Bandcamp page.  It’s also available at Amazon.

Next up is a video from Sam Bardfeld.  The violinist’s new release The Great Enthusiasms was an easy selection for a Best of Bandcamp Jazz column (go read about it).  This May 2015 performance at IBeam Brooklyn gives a good sense of why.

If you want to skip the write-up, you can go listen to the album (and purchase it) at the artist’s Bandcamp page.  It’s also available at Amazon.

And let’s wrap up with Jaimie Branch, and this May 2017 performance at Toronto’s Jam Factory.  It includes the songs “Theme 001” and “Theme 002” from her excellent 2017 release Fly or Die (read about it at The Bandcamp Daily).  Yeah, I know the video is pretty dark, but I’m really liking when the stage lights suddenly illuminate some of the musicians.  Plus, these are two of my favorite songs from the album, so there you go.

If you want to skip the write-up, you can go listen to the album (and purchase it) at the artist’s Bandcamp page.  It’s also available at Amazon.