New Releases Only

[dsschicago]

Originally Posted by robmid

Dave, I checked out a few of these and two got my immediate attention and I downloaded them: Gregg August, Four by Six and Yoron Herman, Alter Ego. Beautiful! Thanks for being such a great bird dog for new music! Love your short and pithy reviews. I can't tel you how many new discoveries you've turned me onto!

Cheers, Robert

Hey, thanks, Rob, I'm genuinely gratified to learn that I've helped others discover great new music. It's a gift I appreciate so much from others that I can't help but enjoy to know that I've returned the favor in some small way.

And y'know from all my time on the forum, especially this thread, I can't help but think sometimes as I compile my weekly article, hey, this is something Robmid would like, or I bet Slowshoes would be all over this, or NJ4M would appreciate this album... just from the familiarity from exchanging posts and recs on the forum.

Speaking of that column, my new one is up at eMusic.

Of note:



A new one from the Pablo Ablanedo Octet(o) - "ReContradoble" - which continues Ablanedo's inventive mix of jazz, classical, Argentinian folk, rock, and tango. I know that's a lot of influences, but the music still comes off as a very straight-ahead large ensemble jazz work. Wonderful stuff. His last release "Alegria" is also really good. Check out the sidemen on each of his albums... all-stars, big time. Listen on Bandcamp.

There's just under twenty recs in all. A bunch of piano trios. Worth noting that Ron Miles plays trumpet on Hashem Assadullahi's "Pieces." I know I'm not the only one here who grabs anything that Ron Miles performs on.

Also, that Macha Gharibian "Mars" deserves some extended listening. It's an odd album that only sounds like a piano trio (plus one)... the music spreads out in unexpected directions, like water over an uneven surface... unusual shapes and minute variations. It's released on Bee Jazz, which has slowly amassed an impressive set of releases over the last few years.

Cheers.

[dsschicago]

Also worth mentioning a few releases coming up in February that have caught my ear. Two by clarinetist Ben Goldberg, with two different ensembles. One ensemble features Joshua Redman & Ron Miles, and the other ensemble features Nels Cline and Ellery Eskelin. They're both good, though it's the latter that blows me away.

Also, a release by Ches Smith & These Arches. It's released on the Clean Feed label, which should give many of you an idea of this album's sound. The thing that grabbed me instantly was the inclusion of an accordionist. Sounds odd, but it gives that Clean Feed dissonance a velvety edge that absolutely pulled me in. I enjoy Clean Feed albums well enough, but many of them lack a certain warmth that I like in my music... this Smith album brings it without sacrificing any of bite. P.S. Smith also plays drums on the two Goldberg albums mentioned above.

[xricci]

Dave, we should post your round up articles as news items. Maybe "eMusic's Weekly Jazz Recommendations."

That way, we'd reach even more folks with your recommendations.

[jkelman]

My review of Maria Mendes' Along the Way, today at All About Jazz.

I don't normally review singers, but I like Mendes; capable of plenty in the chops department, she rarely displays them, so when she does - as she most certainly does on Hermeto Pascoal's "Chorinho Pra Ele," they're just that much more impressive.

It's largely a Brazilian/Latin program, played by the Portuguese-born, Netherlands-resident singer who's backed by a strong Dutch quartet of names that will be familiar to some who follow the scene. But there's one notable exception; on "Olha Só No Meu Olhar," Mendes interprets Pat Metheny's "Always and Forever," from 1992's Secret Story, with some self-penned Portuguese lyrics. It's a nice touch, given the guitarist's predilections.

Review here.

[jkelman]

It's hard to resist, at the very least, looking at an album with as honest and unassuming a title as Songs I Like a Lot; but it's even harder to resist when it turns out that the instigator is John Hollenbeck, founder of and primary composer for Claudia Quintet—the chamber jazz ensemble which has, over the course of six albums in nine years, completely defied definition and categorization, beyond combining improvisational prowess and the ability to subtly interpret through-composed music.

Songs I Like a Lot is Hollenbeck's "covers" record- though, for any who know this intrepid composer/arranger, it was bound to come from a cross-section of music and, as is usually the case for albums under his own name, performed with a larger ensemble than Claudia- in this case the Frankfurt Radio Big Band.

With music from Jimmy Webb (a kick-ass "Wichita Lineman") and Imogen Heap, through Freddie Mercury and Queen to traditional folk music and maverick Japanese composer Nobukazu Takemural, to renegade free jazz progenitor Ornette Coleman, Songs I Like a Lot is also all the more impressive for his choice of featured singers - Theo Bleckmann, with whom he's collaborated many times before, and Kate McGarry, who may be new to Hollenbeck records but, as part of the same New York scene, is no surprise to find on this marvelous recording.

Review here.

[kevt]

Originally Posted by jkelman

He will and he does. As you know I have issue with folks who think that ECM somehow pasteurizes the music. This record burns, but there are differences, too, if not only for the appearance of two pianists - Craig Taborn as "standard" pianist and David Vierielles on prepared piano, celesta and harmonium. But Potter smokes, have no fear.

We'll be seeing a lot of Taborn next year, and Moran. There will be a duo record with Moran and Charles LLoyd (haven't heard); a Stanko record with a NY group including David Vierelles (which I have and is wonderful); a Craig Taborn trio record (haven't heard) and a Ralph Alessi record (have heard a couple tracks) that's also wonderful.

Right now, it seems that Eicher is finding much to love in New York, and that will be reflected in next year's release schedule, though there will, of course, be plenty of music from elsewhere in the world, including a new record from Stefano Battaglia's trio (last year's River of Anyder) that sounds terrific.

Anyway, the Potter is well worth looking forward to. I'll be writing my review in the next week or so.

I'll also be covering his show in Montreal in February.
Happy New Year guys!
John
PS: and yes, it is Potter's ECM leader debut.

Sound clips are now available on the amazone... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...g=various02-20

[kevt]

Originally Posted by jkelman

It is, it is! I don't think you'll be disappointed. And it includes a track from the group's brief collaboration with Imani Winds, the 23-minute "Pegasus," that also shows Shorter's writing chops are still very much intact.

Sound clips on amazon too... http://www.amazon.com/Without-A-Net/...inding_title_0

[jcam_44]

Mikrokolektyw - Absent Minded

Feb. 19th release

[xybert]

jcam_44, have you seen there's a new Rob Mazurek album coming out? It looks solid but i'm going to hold off for now. Info and samples here:

http://www.amazon.com/Skull-Sessions...ds=Rob+Mazurek

[xybert]

Originally Posted by HutchFan

This just caught my eye:


Eric Revis' Parallax - 11:11
with Eric Revis (b), Jason Moran (p), Ken Vandermark (ts), Nasheet Waits (d)
released on Clean Feed on Nov 26

Samples sound promising.

Anyone heard it?

I've had it for a couple of weeks now. I would say that it's top quality but i don't really love it, if that makes sense. Find it a bit of a chore to get through and i start thinking of other things i'd rather be listening to. It's knotty, spiky, avant guardy stuff but in a weirdly annoying way; there's a bit of a standoffish feel about the whole thing. I've tried but i've now shelved it for future rediscovery.

[JETman]

Originally Posted by xybert

I've had it for a couple of weeks now. I would say that it's top quality but i don't really love it, if that makes sense. Find it a bit of a chore to get through and i start thinking of other things i'd rather be listening to. It's knotty, spiky, avant guardy stuff but in a weirdly annoying way; there's a bit of a standoffish feel about the whole thing. I've tried but i've now shelved it for future rediscovery.

You've just described how I feel after listening to anything with KV on it. You know he's good, but his "good" just doesn't quite hit the spot.

[jkelman]

My review of Chris Potter's The Sirens, today at AllAboutJazz.

While he's built his own sizable discography as a leader on a number of labels, this debut as a leader for ECM - after recording as a sideman with luminaries including Dave Holland, Paul Motian and Steve Swallow - represents something of a change in his recent discography.

Potter fans needn't fear; the fiery, muscular player who has become one of the most influential saxophonists of his generation hasn't toned things down, though he has opened up significantly. But he has gone for an all-acoustic group, a change from his Underground group of the past few years, and works with not one but two pianists - David Virelles, the usual pianist in his recent touring quartet, and Craig Taborn, whose presence on the label has been growing since he first appeared on David Torn's Prezens (2007).

It's an album that, on one hand, won't surprise longtime fans....but on the other, absolutely will.

Review here.

[slowshoes]

Originally Posted by jkelman

My review of Chris Potter's The Sirens, today at AllAboutJazz.

While he's built his own sizable discography as a leader on a number of labels, this debut as a leader for ECM - after recording as a sideman with luminaries including Dave Holland, Paul Motian and Steve Swallow - represents something of a change in his recent discography.

Potter fans needn't fear; the fiery, muscular player who has become one of the most influential saxophonists of his generation hasn't toned things down, though he has opened up significantly. But he has gone for an all-acoustic group, a change from his Underground group of the past few years, and works with not one but two pianists - David Virelles, the usual pianist in his recent touring quartet, and Craig Taborn, whose presence on the label has been growing since he first appeared on David Torn's Prezens (2007).

It's an album that, on one hand, won't surprise longtime fans....but on the other, absolutely will.

Review here.

Nice review John - I have this one preordered.

[slowshoes]

Marios Takoushis & gabriel karapatakis: Seven Miles East

Another great rec from dss's blog. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the cd or a flac download anywhere, so I had to go with an i-tunes download. Fantastic stuff.

[dsschicago]

@slowshoes - Glad you liked it. Really a neat album, and one that I keep returning to throughout the year. Cheers.

To everyone, about that album, here's a youtube video of an album track. Or people can listen to it and read the review on my site, which includes a link back to AAJ to grab a free download, offered courtesy of the artists. I think it was the featured AAJ dotd back in, like, June or something.

*****

And here's one coming out in April 2013 (on Royal Potato Family Records). I know Robmid will be interested...



Allison Miller's Boom-Tic-Boom - "No Morphine, No Lilies"

No details yet, but I've put out a line, so I'll update when I can.