Stale Solberg - Imaginary Numbers

December 18, 2017

Label/Year: Clean Feed, 2017

Lineup - Joe McPhee: tenor saxophone, pocket trumpet; Pascal Niggenkemper: double bass; Stale Liavik Solberg: drums and percussion.

Multi-reedist Joe McPhee, a respected artist of the New York free jazz movement, has been around for five decades, demonstrating that his procedures are filled with as much irreverence as freedom. Prolific and self-taught, he has been an influence for many adventurous musicians of multiple generations.

Imaginary Numbers, his most recent album on the Lisbon-based label Clean Feed, comprises three free-form improvised pieces recorded live at Jack in Brooklyn on December 13th, 2015. The musical content bursts with high-caliber sounds exerted by his robust international trio, which features the German-French double bassist Pascal Niggenkemper and the Norwegian drummer Stale Liavik Solberg.

They start off with “I”, an extended piece with almost 24 minutes, where McPhee starts by sibilating, squeaking, and holding discussions on the pocket trumpet, while the drummer is kept busy with erratic rim shots, programmatic scraping, and wet snare tonalities that feel enchantingly adherent. Passing through different moods and rhythmic variations, the tune benefits from Niggenkemper's beautifully jagged textures, whether bowing enthusiastically or projecting dried bass mechanizations through consecutive athletic plucks. Taking advantage of the solid rhythmic alliance of his associates, McPhee unleashes rough-edged saxophone attacks, occasional cutting shrills, and even some easy melody that was particularly reserved for the beginning of his improvisation and the tune’s the last section.

If the latter piece lets us identify some phrasal twitches of Coltrane, the following one, entitled “A Supreme Love” (an obvious dedication to the ‘giant’ and his masterpiece A Love Supreme), sounds pretty suggestive with McPhee invoking his idol, but also following his own voice, hurling mighty sonic waves with a heavy timbre. The tune starts with a variety of percussive sounds, from chimes to screeches to bass grunts, becoming a rhythmically spunky workout along the way and ending in a phantasmagoric pool of wails and creaks.

“Zero” closes the session, gradually evolving from a quiet percussive setting into a tempestuous sprawling of rhythm and tonality defined by cacophonous sax assaults on top of a dense carpet weaved by bass and drums. It all becomes playful and temperate by the end.

With a titanic obstinacy for sound exploration and a virtuosic spontaneity to create tense atmospheres, this powerhouse trio channels bulky transferences of energy into our ears.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - I ► 02 - A Supreme Love (For John Coltrane)

Brian Charette - Kurrent

December 15, 2017

Label/Year: Self Produced, 2017

Lineup - Brian Charette: organ, electronics; Ben Monder: guitar; Jordan Young: drums, electronics.

The extreme agility of Grammy-nominated Hammond organist, Brian Charette, is widely known, regardless the musical style he decides to jump into. Working with a wide range of musicians from different backgrounds such as Chaka Khan, Lou Donaldson, Joni Mitchell, and Will Bernard, the virtuosic musician applies his refined musical skills to a dashing, revolutionary new work entitled Kurrent, where he leads an extremely bendy trio with Ben Monder on electric guitar and Jordan Young on drums.

Charette’s genre-bending experiments, enhanced by a debonair amalgam of electronics and soaring layers of synth, immediately earned my sympathy on the opening tune, “Doll Fin”. A floating bass groove transports us to a sleek soul with hints of funk, so typical of the 70s. Psychedelic organ-driven melodies are set against the catchy current braced by the sustained atmospheric sounds of Monder. The latter sets the house on fire with a quick-witted solo that shows his outgoing musicality, and the tune re-acquires the loungy expression for Charette’s improvisation before segueing into a rock-infused discipline propelled by an effusive polyrhythmic approach and galloping unisons.

“Time Changes” boasts a pretty memorable riff as a basis, embarking on a progressive jazz-fusion that would be approved by bands such as Return To Forever or Soft Machine. The danceable rhythm, nearly Brazilian, is emancipated by Young, whose drumming style is tailored for this record.

Besides a wonderful organist, Charette reveals his adroitness in electronic manipulation and voice sampling. “Mano y Mano” is a good example, combining Kraftwerkian robotic words, breezy psychedelic soul, and striking heavy metal passages with a feel-good posture. A cutting guitar improvisation confirms what we already knew: Monder is as much effective playing limpid jazz textures as uncompromising distorted rock.

When the smooth jazz of George Benson hugs the contemporary post-bop/fusion of Pat Metheny, you get “Honeymoon Phase”, which precedes “Schooby’s Riff”, an outlandish exercise devised with an obstinate bass groove upfront and a routined backbeat. This groovy setting, crisply textured by Monder’s mind-blowing chords, is periodically interrupted with vocalized samples and giddily weird vibes. The final moments bring once more the irreverence of the guitarist, who unveils the hard rocker in him.

Boasting a rising sense of playfulness while positively quivers with edgy melodic pointillism, “5th Base” has something of Funkadelic but particularly reminisces Frank Zappa in its jazz, funk, and rock instigations drowned in bluesy undertones.

Opposing to the classical suggestions and some experimental textures of “The Shape of Green”, the deep funky spirit of the last track, “Catfish Sandwich” invites us to move our bodies uncontrollably, somewhere at an underground dance floor.

Kurrent, a riveting spiral of unprecedented modern fusion with reverence for the dandy sounds of the past, is likely the boldest record from Charette, a visionary artist to be followed very closely.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Doll Fin ► 03 - Time Changes ► 09 - 5th Base

Michael Zilber - Originals For The Originals

December 13, 2017

Label/Year: Origin Records, 2017

Lineup – Michael Zilber: tenor and soprano saxophone; David Kikoski: piano; James Genus: bass; Clarence Penn: drums + guests.

Vancouver-born, San Francisco-based Michael Zilber, a talent of the saxophone, a dexterous composer, and a respected educator, exhibited his impressive skills side by side with jazz luminaries such as Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Stitt, Dave Liebman, Miroslav Vitous, and Dave Douglas.

Now, leading an elastic quartet whose reliable rhythm section includes David Kikoski on piano, James Genus on bass, and Clarence Penn on drums, Zilber prepared Originals for the Originals, a beautiful 11-track album that homages several jazz saxophone masters. Here, he explores the boundaries beyond those traditional melodies and harmonies that served him as an inspiration.

The opener, “Breckerfast Club”, the first of a pair of earnest dedications to Michael Brecker, literally made my feet move and my body shake such was the rhythmic punch and swinging urgency of its straight-ahead efflorescence. Playing with nerve and spectacle, the band serves up jabbing improvisations, starting with Kikoski who, cooking up as fast as objective, embarks on euphoric rides full of melodic and rhythmic intention. The bandleader showcases an extensive collection of brisk phrases and lucid rhythmic figures rooted in the post-bop prime directive. A vamp is put up near the end, allowing and inviting Penn to percolate his percussive imagination through a creative jaunt.

Not every piece fly so high, and the ballad “Leaves (For Michael Brecker)” soars steadily with a low-key mood, like a dreamy cloud in the blue sky. Genus puts his bass to sing a nice melody upfront, being interrupted by the main theme. He resumes the solo afterward with unclouded expression. Because ballads always crave bass solos, he does it again on “Late Night Trane”, where Penn’s luminescent brushing hinges on the melodic cadences uttered by piano, bass, and sax.

Another tribute is prepared for Coltrane on “Coltraning Daze”, a more expeditious episode triggered by a drum solo and enhanced with breezy soul-jazz flavors whose harmonic engagement feels more like Tommy Flanagan rather than McCoy Tyner.

Steeped in the ways of the progressive jazz/fusion celebrated by the Weather Report, “Weather Wayne”, moves with the help of heavy rock beats in a dazzling rhythmic synchronization with the piano strokes. Zilber’s soprano cascades, never too harsh and never too polished, find a dedicated ally in Kikoski’s responsive plasticity. Definitely a peak moment.

Both “Autumn Lieb” and “Lieb Dich” are praise for the great Dave Liebman. Opposing to the former, steeped in “Autumn in New York” and "Autumn Leaves" (its inspirational sources), the latter tune is an accelerated hard swinger that boasts a vibrant section featuring cute soprano inflections with only drums paving the ground, as well as interesting dialogues between sax and piano by the end.

A proper homage to master saxophonists would never be complete if Sonny Rollins wasn't considered. “Partly Sonny”, propelled by an Afro-Latin pulse, is perfectly descriptive in its title, attaching an original melodic segment to Sonny’s celebrated “St.Thomas”.

Zilber blends influences with purpose and insight without ever compromising his own creative voice. It’s time to pay attention to his many musical qualities and if you're not familiar with his work, start with this alluring past-present effort.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Breckerfast Club ► 05 - Weather Wayne ► 09 - Lieb Dich

Nick Fraser - Is Life Long?

December 12, 2017

Label/Year: Clean Feed, 2017

Lineup - Tony Malaby: tenor and soprano saxophone; Andrew Downing: cello; Rob Clutton: double bass; Nick Fraser: drums.

Canadian drummer/composer Nick Fraser, a stalwart in the Toronto jazz scene, targeted a sequence for his previous albums, Towns and Villages (Barnyard Records, 2013) and Starer (independently released, 2016), with a new Clean Feed outing, which features exactly the same chord-less chamber quartet with Tony Malaby on saxophones, Andrew Downing on cello, and Rob Clutton on double bass.

Is Life Long? comprises six intuitively connected tunes that, mirroring freedom, develop within mood-changing structural blocks.

“Quicksand”, opening with long, contrasting-in-pitch, and quite ominous notes from arco and soprano, tinge a mysterious canvas with their eldritch presence. Thoroughly coordinated in these moves, Malaby and Downing devise the right wispy strains of melody to compose an unsettling atmosphere, having Fraser’s ruminative percussion as an underpinning. After dwelling in this vague suspension for one-third of the piece's duration, parallel movements of sax and cello commence, conveying a wider sense of cohesiveness but only to split up again for an organic polyphonic exploration. The tune shakes with turbulence in its final section, emphasizing Malaby's classy timbral work, acutely affixed to his peremptory exclamations, while flanked by the increasingly muscled thumping of the bandleader. At this point, one feels impelled into a tumultuous sonic epicenter.

A timing bass groove, obeying to an odd meter, sets the tone for “Disclosure”, an atypical yet majestic march where Fraser resorts to the hi-hat rather than the common snare rolls to set the pace. There are engaging chamber flourishes that suggest some relation with distant oriental places, creating in simultaneous a sensation of pure avant-garde ecstasy.

The fugue-like “Empathy” couldn’t have been given a better title since all the instrumentalists worked for a universal melodicism/organicism whose fluency encases dramatic classical movements delivered to the point.

Dissociating from the remaining tunes, the more-docile-than-acerbic “Skeleton” is a pleasurable swinger that shines from one end to the other via well-delineated jazzy unisons, a bouncy bass pizzicato, and constructive brushed drumming. Although nodding to tradition and advertising Mingus (mostly due to Malaby’s tenor rides), it feels utterly up-to-date in its unlocked musicality.

The curtains close after “The Predictor”, a slow-cooked recipe that takes time to shape and evolve. After a bemused embryonic state, it morphs into peppery percussive cadences and heavy, provocative agitations.

Fraser’s stylized signature is well patented on Is Life Long?. Whether unobstructed or congested, the gripping ambiances sketched by his deft quartet surround us with an unfaded, exploratory impressionism.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Quicksand ► 02 - Disclosure ► 04 – Skeleton

Steve Slagle - Dedication

December 11, 2017

Label/Year: Panorama Records, 2017

Lineup – Steve Slagle: alto sax, flute; Lawrence Fields: piano; Scott Colley: drums; Bill Stewart: drums + guest Dave Stryker: guitar.

Experienced American altoist/flautist Steve Slagle, the former director of the Mingus Big Band, has a curriculum filled with fruitful collaborations in a wide variety of genres with respected names such as Joe Lovano, The Beastie Boys, Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra, Carla Bley, Steve Kuhn, and Milton Nascimento.

The successor of last year's Alto Manhattan is called Dedication. Released on Panorama Records, the album, an organic brew of post-bop statements frequently boosted by Latin infusions, comprises nine tracks dedicated to people or things that were relevant in Slagle’s musical career. In regard to the last album, the saxophonist maintains the pianist Lawrence Fields, drummer Bill Stewart, and percussionist Roman Diaz in the lineup, replacing the bassist Gerald Cannon for the ultra-competent Scott Colley and inviting his longtime collaborator, guitarist Dave Stryker, to participate in six songs.

The elated “Sun Song”, dedicated to saxophonist Sonny Rollins, spreads an uplifting lightness, conveying a fire-hose charm that feels very celebratory within its Latin nature. Slagle’s fluid, off-kilter language comes out with a brittle and tempered timbre, and on the tail of Fields’ unnerving solo, the band trades eights with the percussion team.

It’s definitely a strong start that doesn't lose steam when we go to “Niner”, a piece that honors the electric bassist Steve Swallow, and “Major In Come”, an ode to the art of swinging built on major chords in five different keys. The former composition, showing off the theme’s statement under a sax-guitar unison, is rhythmically dominated by an animated bass groove and funky pulse, while the latter provides us with a hard-swinging gush that would make Joe Lovano satisfied and features Stewart’s readable drum solo.

The band attests an easily bent temperament when digging “Triste Beleza”, an illustrative bossa nova appointment propelled by Stryker’s luxurious acoustic guitar voicings, Stewart’s gentle brushwork, and Diaz’s fortifying conga sounds.

The hefty swinger “Opener”, evoking the energy of saxophonist Jackie McLean, is adorned with hot rhythms and the bandleader’s double-faced output, first on alto sax and then wrapping up on flute.

Slagle incorporated two external compositions on the album: Stryker’s “Corazon”, a meek tribute to Weather Report’s keyboardist Joe Zawinul, and Wayne Shorter’s “Charcoal Blues”, harmonically defined by the guitarist’s amiable chords and spoken with the incumbent blues stratum in mind.

Dedication was aligned to furnish a sturdy opening, but the album wanes in vibrancy after the fourth track. Even feeling limited in extraordinary stretches, it fulfills its objectives with an unperturbed orderliness and should earn the attention of both classic post-bop and Latin jazz supporters.

Favorite Tracks:
01 – Sun Song ► 02 – Niner ► 04 – Triste Beleza

Cameron Mizell - Memory/Imagination

December 7, 2017

Label/Year: Destiny Records, 2017

Lineup – Cameron Mizell: guitar and effects.

After the enjoyable Negative Spaces (Destiny Records, 2016), recorded with his trio mates Brad Whiteley on keyboards and Kenneth Salters on drums, American guitarist Cameron Mizell deliberately plunges into experimental waters to explore a giddily new universe, Memory/Imagination, a solo improvisational effort that reflects on the fight for social justice in America.

Employing a geometric disposition of sonic layers to form contemplative neo-folk sceneries, the title track opens the record with dreamy tones, overlapped phrasing, and scrupulous electronics. A fine balance was achieved between the acoustic and the electric perceptions.

With the climate change in mind, the guitarist delivers “Melting” as an opaque, static exercise seated in an infinite drone whose relentless frequency serves as a pointer for extemporaneous adventures. This weird oscillation between the spacious and the spectral is felt even harder on “We’ll Find Our Way Out of This Mess”, which starts like an innocuous meditation but grows into an intimidating, feverish dream as the time passes. Somehow, the final section reminded me of the dark textures so characteristic in some of the works by the bassist Bill Laswell.

Sounding like a topsy-turvy version of “Happy Birthday”, “Toast” could play a valuable role in an eerie indie film due to its nebulous contortions. Also very cinematic and equally depicted with shades of noir, “A Turning Point”, creates a scenario dominated by delaying propagation waves, percussive tic-tacs, and jazz-blues axioms. Despite explorative, it is probably the most orthodox piece in this recording.

Mizell’s pinpoint control of the guitar is patented on “Vulnerabilities”, a sort of requiem that boasts a beautiful acoustic sonority in its intersection of effulgent fingerpicking and open chords. I can almost hear a touch of gypsy lament among the melodious, yearning folk chops. It differs from the static composure of “The View From Above”, where the guitarist counterpoints shrill-note pointillism with the shrewd work done at lower registers, letting the hope hovering in the skies.

Skillfully pairing controlled abstraction with American roots, Cameron Mizell probes new conceptions for his musical creativity, stepping on offbeat yet appetizing territories.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Memory/Imagination ► 05 - Vulnerabilities ► 07 - We’ll Find Our Way Out of This Mess

Charles Rumback - Tag Book

December 6, 2017

Label/Year: ears&eyes Records, 2017

Lineup – Jim Baker: piano; John Tate: acoustic bass; Charles Rumback: drums.

With Tag Book, American drummer-composer Charles Rumback, a mainstay of the Chicago jazz scene, has his second release of the year on ears&eyes label with only nearly six months separating it from the previous release, Three. If the latter was a collection of three original compositions plus a rendition of Andrew Hill’s “Erato”, all of them complying with a 3/4 time signature, the newest album comprises five homogeneous pieces executed by the same trio with Jim Baker on piano and John Tate on acoustic bass.

The latter sets immediately the groove on “Convulsive”, an unhurried and impeccably harmonized piece that boasts a certain ambiguity in its thoughtful splendor, making us search throughout. It’s all about color and texture and almost never pulse. Baker plays delicate phrases sketched with sparse notes, letting the music breathe freely. His solo, built with discernible undercurrent melodies, starts with an allusion to “Caravan”, while Rumback’s lightsome brushwork supports Tate’s explorative conversation.

Stanley Cowell’s “Equipoise” was transformed into a congruent post-bop exercise packed with well-oiled interactive mechanisms, lustrous melodies and harmonies, and the conciliatory improvisational visions from Baker and Tate. The bright drumming of the bandleader veers into Latin for brief moments during the pianist’s solo.

Swinging in a kinky way, “Ash Wednesday” sets sober piano lines and well-timed chords against the anxious bass-drums coalition that establishes the bottom platform. Even if not fervently hasty, the tune runs at a nimble pace, differing considerably from the following track, “We Left Green Briar Park”, which embraces a sweet, nonchalant idleness within a resilient mind-set.

Rumback’s strong presence behind the drum kit manifests on the closing track, “In the New Year”, a composition assembled with a quasi-insubstantial pianistic airiness working over unheralded drum chops and corpulent bass textures as in a malleable three-coordinated system.

Although peak moments are not easily spotted on this record, Rumback's strong will of doing something legitimate is quite visible. He brings a signature brand of unconfined poetic jazz, accomplishing the mission at many different levels.

Favorite Tracks:
01 – Convulsive ► 02 – Equipoise ► 05 – In the New Year

Jeff Dingler - In Transit

December 5, 2017

Label/Year: Self-produced, 2017

Lineup – Jeff Dingler: bass; Brad Shepik: guitar; Lou Rainone: piano; Gusten Rudolph: drums; Josh Bailey: percussion.

By fusing New York jazz and stylistic elements of Ethiopian music, bassist Jeff Dingler brings us eight congenial compositions that strongly reflect the satisfaction of discovering new cultures and the homelessness that bites the ones who are living abroad. This is because Dingler lived in Addis Ababa for a year, a city he constantly returns to teach at the Makene Yesus University.

In Transit is his sophomore album of originals and seduces by adding other world influences besides the ones cited above. Here, he leads a quartet with Brad Shepik on guitar, Lou Rainone on piano, and Gusten Rudolph on drums, also counting on Josh Bailey’s percussion on four tracks.

On the torridly thrilled “Bati Celebration”, the bassist interlocks his stylish groove with the percussionists’ brisk African rhythm, establishing the ground where Rainone and Shepik find an ecstatic stimulus to discourse. While the former throws in cascading notes with metrical precision, the latter sounds feverish, interpolating fancy patterns into rapid phrases.

The soft and warm tones of “Orange Clouds”, a soulful ternary effort, are melodically driven by Shepik on the theme, piqued by Rudolph’s brushed cymbals, and enhanced by Dingler’s streamlined bass solo.

One of the most graceful tracks is “Addis Blues”, a contagious 12-bar song delivered with a 12/8 time signature. Shepik’s afro-oriental touches are held up as an example on the title track, a contemplative anthem with evident spiritual connotations. It features interesting personal proclamations by Rainone, Dingler, and Shepik, all of them effortless panorama colorists.

Diametrically opposed to the ones described above, we have a couple of more traditional swinging tunes: “Merkato Navigation”, designed with the jubilant hard bop lines from the 60s, and the smoother, Wes Montgomery-ish “Tiptoe”, particularly receptive to Shepik’s evocative octave sequences and Rudolph’s thin-skinned brushwork.

Rhythmically bold, “Sebat” involves both fun and engagement as it follows a crossover jazz reminiscent of George Benson.

This out-of-the-ordinary work from a musician in clear ascension brings supplemental juicy flavors to today’s international jazz recipes.

Favorite Tracks:
01 – Bati Celebration ► 03 - Addis Blues ► 05 - In Transit

Alex Sipiagin - Moments Captured

December 4, 2017

Label/Year: Criss Cross, 2017

Lineup – Alex Sipiagin: trumpet, flugelhorn; Chris Potter: tenor saxophone; Will Vinson: alto and soprano saxophone; John Escreet: piano, keyboards; Matt Brewer: bass; Eric Harland: drums + guest Alina Engibaryan: vocals.

Russian-born trumpeter Alex Sipiagin has been faithful to a post-bop idealism while searching for the perfect hook. A regular on the Criss Cross catalog, he released more than a dozen records as a leader.
In addition to studio recordings with Dave Holland, Michael Brecker, and Mingus Big Band, he also stepped out of the jazz sphere by working with Eric Clapton and Elvis Costello.

For his latest all-original session, Moments Captured, he secures bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Eric Harland, who wove the solid foundation on the previous Balance 38-58, and enlists the adventurous keyboardist John Escreet, who permeates these compositions with edgier sounds. He also expanded the group’s frontline with the stimulating energy of saxophonists Chris Potter and Will Vinson.

The sextet immediately billows with spontaneous emotion and kinetic exploration on the striking opening tune, “Evija Bridge”. Formulated with an array of colorful impressions and obeying to complex yet well-shaped forms and textures, everything sounds terrific here: the exuberance of the theme statement, a semi-chaotic passage favoring the collective, the wholehearted improvisations by the horn players and their cutting counterpoint in conjunction with Escreet before the reinstatement of the theme.

“Unexpected Reversal” is another assault to our senses as it squeezes the spatial folk fulgor of the whistling keyboards on top of the cyclic horn movements. Vinson and Potter improvise eloquently in a ping-pong style before Sipiagin steals the melodic conduction to himself. The atmosphere goes berserk when Escreet establishes a demarcation point for his outlandish explorations on the Prophet 6 synthesizer.

While “Blues for Mike” touches the traditional post-bop ways, the cerebral “Bergen Road” advances with a straightforward attitude, opening a breach for Harland’s rhythmic inspiration before the final chorus.

Sipiagin affords some feel-good vibes on the title track and “Breeze”, the two pieces featuring the warm voice of his fellow countryman Alina Engibaryan, yet, it was with the closing composition, “Dream”, that he impressed me the most. It is a fascinating Metheny-esque reverie that thrives with controlled collective outputs and laid-back ambiances enveloped by a strong synth presence.

Each move unleashes vibrant energies, builds up group dynamics, and reinforces the ineradicable rapport within the group. These ‘captured moments’ are kaleidoscopic decors that make for a gripping listen.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Evija Bridge ► 03 - Unexpected Reversal ► 07 – Dream

Cortex - Avant Garde Party Music

December 1, 2017

Label/Year: Clean Feed, 2017

Lineup - Thomas Johansson: trumpet; Kristoffer Alberts: saxophones; Ola Høyer: bass; Gard Nilssen: drums.

Cortex (not to be mistaken with the French jazz fusion band from the 70s) is a creative Scandinavian quartet - Thomas Johansson on trumpet, Kristoffer Alberts on saxophones, Ola Høyer on bass, and Gard Nilssen on drums - capable of reviving the decorous avant-jazz current with fierce determination by conjugating several elements from the past with a contemporary attitude.

Avant Garde Party Music, the fifth album of their career and the third for the Clean Feed Records, follows a pair of live records, unmistakably entitled Live! and Live in New York, released in 2014 and 2016, respectively.

“Grinder” is a tempting opener, boasting a straightforward statement that has some familiarity with the works of Don Cherry during the 60s, whether with Ornette Coleman, Pharaoh Sanders, or Gato Barbieri. The improvisations are linked by a brief unison passage over a nice groove. This creative section starts with Alberts, who constructs slowly, resolutely, and sometimes furiously, and ends with Johansson, whose vibrancy and force are eminent regardless the register he chooses to operate. Still, the high-pitched notes have an impactful reverberation that comes naturally from the trumpet sound.

With “Chaos” we feel invited to their party. The danceable head of the song, possibly inspired by electronic music, leads us to cackles, shrieks, and screams vociferated by Johansson, which, subsequently, pushes us to a distended solo by Alberts, who romps in a frenetic language filled with impetuous timbral variations and passionate rhythmic ideas.

Don’t expect a 3/4 tempo on “Waltz” because this piece, exhibiting a traditional AABA structure, swings with a 6/4 time signature on the A section and veers to 5/4 on the B. It features Alberts playing the soprano sax with utter enthusiasm.

One of the most gratifying tunes is “(If you where) Mac Davis”, a virulent exercise that immediately gains a statute of rebelliousness. The initial prayerful fervency, typical of David S. Ware, is deflected to an animated, powerful rock mode on top of which we can hear an expressive muted trumpet solo.

Brimming with exotic Latin pulses, “Disturbance” has timely snare drum hits working together with regular cymbal chatters. The purpose is to guide throughout the undeviating route, which finishes in playful counterpoint.

After the shifting “Obverse/Reverse”, where the band members transfigure from typical avant-garders to groove-oriented disciples of the cool, the record offers up the electrifying “Off Course”, featuring Nilssen’s gnarly preamble, which accommodates powerful drum rolls and tom-tom altercations, and another muscular saxophone bustle crammed with lively grit and optimum technique.

Cortex’s music brings a blithe humor attached, feeling solidly compact rather than frivolously cathartic. The like-minded quartet, constantly varying between the taut and the groovy, also found a laudable balance between the puissant unisons and the individual creativity.

Favorite Tracks:
02 – Chaos ► 04 - “(If you where) Mac Davis ► 08 – Off Course

Richard X Bennett - Experiments With Truth

November 29, 2017

Label: Ropeadope, 2017

Lineup – Richard X Bennett: piano; Matt Parker: tenor and soprano saxophone; Lisa Parrott: baritone and alto saxophone; Adam Armstrong: bass; Alex Wyatt: drums.

With Experiments With Truth, Toronto-born, New York-based pianist/composer Richard X Bennett shows his love for the Indian music as he presents eight raga-based, melody-oriented original compositions empowered by the massive lines of saxophonists Matt Parker (tenor and soprano) and Lisa Parrott (baritone and alto). The rhythm section is rounded out by the trustful members of his trio: bassist Adam Armstrong and drummer Alex Wyatt.

This is not the first time Bennett incurs in the classical Indian tradition, having released Ragas on Piano (Dreams Entertainment, 2009), Raga & Blues (Mystica Music, 2011), and New York City Swara (Times Music, 2013). However, this quintet session is his first work on an American label.

The first three tracks are colorfully designed with an attractive combination of Eastern melodic structures and a zesty jazz that sometimes steps on the avant-garde zone, mostly due to occasional incendiary reed dances, a key ingredient.

“The Fabulist”, based on the ancient Raga Malkauns, shows exactly that energetic flow, contrasting with the sultry ritual of “Portrait in Sepia”, a tune evocative of Duke Ellington, whose introductory bass slides and musical descriptions fit in the African Sahara and Indian landscapes alike. The rhythm section is exemplary while propelling an uncompromising caravan that counts on the groovy feeling delivered by Parrott’s baritone to advance. While Bennett, a texture builder rather than a soloist, chooses the best notes to preserve the song’s mood, Armstrong often shines by resorting to chromatic coloration.

I stumbled upon a strange duality on “Say Om 108 Times” since I can hear it as a happy R&B tune or as an optimistic mantra. While Parrott wrings a few low-pitched ‘om’ without wasting the chance of conveying some hype, cool patterns, Parker embarks on a frantic crusade that feels reinvigorating in its in-and-out definitions.

From this point onward, and despite an inclination to Pharaoh Sanders’ spiritual hymns evinced on the second part of the Durga Suite, the album declines a little bit, only returning to its best on the last tune, the title track (Raga Ramkali), where one can luxuriate in a clamorous saxophone exchange on top of the routemarch sparkled by Wyatt’s snare drum.

Favorite Tracks:
02 - Portrait in Sepia ► 03 - Say Om 108 Times ► 08 - Experiments With Truth

Mae.Sun - Vol. 1: Inter-be

November 28, 2017

Label/Year: Self-produced, 2017

Lineup – Hailey Niswanger: soprano saxophone; Nikara Warren: vibraphone; Andrew Renfroe: guitar; Axel Laugart: keyboards; Aaron Liao: bass; David Frazier Jr.: drums.

Vol.1-Inter-be marks the debut of Mae.Sun, a New York-based eclectic group led by the clear-pitched soprano saxophonist Hailey Niswanger, a Berklee-graduate who makes a bold move here in comparison with her previous three albums as a leader.

The adroit sextet, whose other members include vibraphonist Nikara Warren, guitarist Andrew Renfroe, keyboardist Axel Laugart, bassist Aaron Liao, and drummer David Frazier Jr., stacks up engaging sonic layers with a foot in the contemporary jazz and the other in a groove-oriented receptacle that encompasses funk, electronica, and neo-soul.

“River of Perception”, a progressive 6/8 adventure, immediately catches our ear when Niswanger’s adventurous patterns jump on top of a groovy bass line that articulates with a cadenced melodic ostinato and a wholehearted pulse. The mood is modified when the spotlight is given to Renfroe’s distorted guitar, whose wry remarks never calls the energetic balance into question. After elevating the human spirit throughout this intense ride, the band decelerates for the finale.

“Continuous Recognition” blends an occasionally-syncopated funky backbeat with an unfaltering yet laid-back bass groove, and an atmospheric organ-driven bliss to create a voguish foundation. The bandleader creates melodic figures with an effect pedal, bending and shaping angles and curves at her own will.

Both meditative, “Breathe” and “Be Love, Be Peace” feature Niswanger’s soaring vocals. The former, regulated by a dashing 5/4 meter, dips acoustic sounds and penetrating vibes in wooly sonic textures, while the latter moves surrounded by a glamorous electronic-style aura, featuring an utterly expressive solo by Renfroe and, closer to the final, the usual inside/outside prowess by the saxophonist.

An African folk groove enriched with wha-wha infusions, vibraphone melodic inspiration, and eccentric soprano drives are the keys to turning “Life is Limitless” in an elated celebration. This rapture is disintegrated, giving its place to a radiant spirituality, when the following track, “Universal Harmony”, begins to spin. This tranquil prayer, a true moment of inspiration, acquires further elasticity when the drummer reinforces the triplex kinesis reserved for the improvisations.

The advanced percussive skills of Frazier Jr. are also noticeable on “Investigation of Reality”, an immersive experience populated with syncopated, fraught backbeats, and full-toned bass drones.

Wielding a strong sense of composition, unity, and structure, Mae.Sun brings convincing doses of originality attached to its genre-bending routines. Give it a few listenings and let the fresh fusion reward you.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - River of Perception ► 06 - Universal Harmony ► 07 - Investigation of Reality

Tom Rainey's Obbligato - Float Upstream

November 27, 2017

Label/Year: Intakt Records, 2017

Lineup – Ingrid Laubrock: tenor and soprano saxophone; Ralph Alessi: trumpet; Kris Davis: piano; Drew Gress: bass; Tom Rainey: drums.

Multifaceted American drummer Tom Rainey reunited his all-star band Obbligato for their second outing, Float Upstream, following the same philosophy of picking out classic tunes from the Great American Songbook and transforming them according to a modern point of view.

The quintet, both responsive and malleable, features Ingrid Laubrock on saxophones, Ralph Alessi on trumpet, Kris Davis on piano, and Drew Gress on bass, each of them staggering improvisers and distinguished bandleaders.

The music passes a feeling of delight, showing the respect and admiration these adventurous musicians have for the repertoire, even if they’re mostly known for different voyages, certainly less accessible yet widely exciting. However, fans of their probing style can relax because the fearless, risky attitude and proneness for experimentation are all here, well adapted to the softer nature of the pieces, whose new aesthetics blooms under a loose-jointed predisposition.

“Stella by Starlight” gives the example, opening the recording with a breezy Motian-esque flow hinged to the natural swinging environment. The melodic conversation between Alessi and Laubrock finds Davis as a meddler, each of them contributing to the balanced hybridity of tradition and modernity.

Soaring like a feather in the wind, Sam Rivers’ “Beatrice” is subjected to a cultivated sonic treatment. The balladic journey starts with sophisticated trumpet lines over sparse piano textures. After interlocking bass lines and distinctive brushwork get aligned to build a solid ground, Laubrock’s saxophone pops up, weaving melodies in and out, as the gentle yet propelling swinging inflection takes over.

An intrepid avant-jazz invasion takes hold of the uptempo “What is This Thing Called Love”, which features thoughtful horn interplay and a jagged piano exhilaration cooked up with intelligence. Here, the tune’s melodic statement can be glimpsed during the last seconds, but on “What’s New” it's perfectly recognizable from the beginning on account of Davis, who never abandons the main melody completely, exploring around it. Before she appears, one may indulge in Gress' solo bass intro populated with gorgeous woody phrases, elastic slides, and brief quick trills. The saxophonist, less expansive than usual and working alongside Alessi, still tosses a few elliptical punches to keep things interesting, wrapping up the piece with melodic clarity.

Brandishing his unique sound and advanced rhythmic discernment, Rainey opens a surprisingly waltzing “There Is No Greater Love” with both wet and wry tonalities allied to other inventive percussive techniques. Expect nice call-responses throughout a soprano/trumpet improvisation.

Before closing the session with another well-known ballad, “I Fall in Love Too Easily”, there’s time for the uncompromising title track, the only piece composed by the quintet, which swinging straight, also explores boundlessly.

Only talented musicians create edgy perspectives from traditional forms and structures. Rainey’s Obbligato does it charmingly with a selfless commitment.

Favorite Tracks:
02 - Beatrice ► 03 – What is This Thing Called Love ► 04 - What’s New

Ernesto Cervini's Turboprop - Rev

November 22, 2017

Label/Year: Anzic Records, 2017

Lineup – Joel Frahm: tenor saxophone; Tara Davidson: alto and soprano saxophone; William Carn: trombone; Adrean Farrugia: piano; Dan Loomis: bass, Ernesto Cervini: drums.

Born and based in Toronto, Ernesto Cervini is a fluid drummer who deserves a space on the new scene. He is involved in several interesting projects that include Myriad3 and MEM3, both contemporary piano jazz trios; his own quartet - with Joel Frahm on tenor, Adrean Farrugia on piano, and Dan Loomis on bass; and Turboprop, a sextet he leads, displaying a forceful three-horn frontline.

In truth, the latter project, whose debut occurred in 2015, is an expansion of his original quartet, featuring Tara Davidson on alto/soprano saxophones and William Carn on trombone. This configuration leaves him plenty of wiggle room to arrange originals, covers, and even standards with a personal touch while squeezing the best musical qualities out of his peers.

Making use of a killer-instinct jazz as a point of departure, Rev comprises eight diversified pieces that are blistering and inspiring in its melodic/harmonic demeanors, as well as profoundly rhythmic in its instinctive drive.

With epic contortions, “The Libertine” couldn't have been a more delightful opener, comprehending varied time signatures in its multiple passages flooded with insurgent textures. Working dexterously with both hands, Farrugia, who penned the tune, combines clear melodies and sweeping gestures on the upper registers, while accompanying on the lower with dressy syncopated voicings. The following soloist, Frahm, strikes with a highly developed post-bop vocabulary over a brisk, rock-inflected groove, before flowing in parallel with Davidson for the theme’s reinstatement.

A jubilant merry-go-round of pronounced Spanish accents and Eastern folk dialects seems a good way to describe Cervini’s “Granada Bus”. Grooving in 5 and then waltzing lustfully in the B section, it feels simultaneously forward-moving and yearning. It also features a soulful solo by Davidson.

The bandleader brings another tune, precisely the one that gave the album its title. “Rev” is a blues, in the same line of Oliver Nelson’s “Cascades”, and was inspired by the sounds of traffic. It also serves as a showcase for the drummer’s energetic charges, as well as for a bass-less collective improv.

The other originals, “Ranthem” and “Arc of Instability”, were written by Loomis and Carn, respectively. The former piece stands out as a mutant folk dance, while the latter boasts an elegant sophistication and nice line conception.

The external songs, inevitably chosen from the pop/rock universe, include Blind Melon’s electro-acoustic hit “No Rain”, here transformed into a modern jazz hymn, and Radiohead’s B-side “The Daily Mail”, whose original characteristics were left recognizable, regardless the simultaneous horn-driven improvisations suffused with bluesy lines.

By rendering the beautiful standard “Pennies From Heaven”, the group honors tradition with passion, sagacity, and a genuine swinging feel, which gives the tune as much grit as glow. Dedicated to Cervini’s 1-year-old daughter, this striking arrangement by the proud dad, features Frahm in another majestic solo, this time further rooted in the bop compendium. The improvisational section is closed after Carn and Loomis made their voices heard.

Turboprop displays an enormous musical quality and the rapport between its members is unquestionable. Rev confirms Cervini as a drummer of witty accomplishment.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - The Libertine ► 04 - Rev ► 06 - Pennies From Heaven

Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band - Body and Shadow

November 21, 2017

Label/Year: Blue Note Records, 2017

Lineup – Brian Blade: drums; Myron Walden: alto saxophone, bass clarinet; Melvin Butler: tenor saxophone; Dave Devine: guitar; Jon Cowherd: piano, keyboards; Chris Thomas: bass;

American drummer Brian Blade has conquered many jazz fans with his sophisticated technique, open nature, and instinctual rhythm. His unique touch, never too loud and never too soft, has played a crucial role in projects of likes such as Kenny Garrett, Joshua Redman, Mark Turner, David Binney, and Wayne Shorter. He also built an amazing reputation as a leader of the Fellowship Band, a 20-year endeavor that normally comprises two saxophones, one or two guitars, piano/keyboards, and bass.

Body and Shadow is Blade’s fifth CD with this band, whose regular members include saxists Myron Walden and Melvin Butler, pianist/keyboardist Jon Cowherd, and bassist Chris Thomas. The novelty here is guitarist Dave Devine, a sure-footed Denver-based rock guru, who makes his debut in the group after Daniel Lanois, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Marvin Sewell, and Jeff Parker have occupied the position in the past.

Embracing identical methodologies as in the previous albums, yet cutting a bit in the improvisations in detriment of a more crafted textural work, the band opens with “Within Everything”, a melodious, unfussy piece that carries the lightness of a pop song entwined with the warm melancholy of Americana. I’m quite sure that both Joni Mitchell and Oasis would approve its atmosphere.

The title track was divided into three parts according to the parts of the day. “Body and Shadow (Night)” upholds a flowing chamber jazz quality, enhanced by bass clarinet melodies (expertly handled by Walden), low-toned key vibes, and bowed bass. The guitar, whether translucent or distorted, fingerpicked or strummed, fits perfectly within the uncongested musical scenario. Conversely, the ‘Morning’ part increases the electrified sounds, getting a tangy indie rock bite, while the ‘Noon’ part is a stagnant electro-acoustic episode with emphasis on Devine’s guitar.

Obeying to a 7/4 time signature, “Traveling Mercies” is arranged with compassionate melodies and harmonies that bring some sadness attached. It rekindles the flame during the chorus, in a successful combination of genteel jazz and untroubled folk-rock, as if Joshua Redman has fused with Crosby, Stills, and Nash.

The resplendent Christian hymn “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” was subjected to two opposite treatments. The first was ‘sung’ exclusively by Cowherd's harmonium, and the second devotionally orchestrated according to Blade’s categorical arrangement.

The syncopated rhythms that initiate “Duality” are also velvety. They are an integral part of a magical soundscape, which, even shifting along the way, maintains both the consistency and stability. The improvisations are further extended here, beginning with Cowherd, who pulls out interesting melodic lines over exuberant chord changes. Giving the best sequence to a short bridge, packed with horn unisons and counterpoint, it’s Walden who, taking advantage of the recently appeared balladic tones, makes his alto saxophone cry and beseech intensely within an outstanding, repeatedly motivic post-bop language.

Holding an absolute control of tempo, “Broken Leg Days” closes the session, flowing elegantly while Blade's drumming brings together simple rudiments and dynamic rhythmic accentuations.

Brian Blade, as stylish and generous as ever, continues to persuade, and Body and Shadow is another great personal achievement that also serves to commemorate two decades of a tight musical bond.

Favorite Tracks:
03 - Traveling Mercies ► 07 - Duality ►09 - Broken Leg Days

André Santos & Bruno Santos - Mano a Mano Vol. 2

November 20, 2017

Label/Year: Self-produced, 2017

Lineup – Bruno Santos: guitar; André Santos: guitar.

Mano a Mano, a duo of brothers/guitarists from Portugal, Bruno and André Santos, just released their sophomore album, Mano a Mano vol. 2, following a similar principle applied to their self-titled debut in terms of tune selection, which includes repertoire from the Great American Songbook, bossa nova classics, as well as original compositions explored with fresh electro-acoustic ideas and bold effects.

André’s “Super Mario”, a tune inspired by the famous computer game popularized in the 80s, opens the record as a unified effort delivered with 6 beats per measure in the form of an exalted rhythmic dance. Appropriate guitar hammer-ons and pull-offs are combined to emulate the excitement of playing the game with the guitarists taking advantage of the percussive possibilities offered by their instruments whenever they can.

Boasting an impressive tempo feel and swinging brio, the pair digs a few mainstream classics with a laid-back, unmystifying assertiveness. One can enjoy the melody of “Dinah”, designed in parallel, before a contagious swing is imposed in favor of the solos, “Without a Song”, which was elevated by a deep bluesy impression, “Grand Slam”, tackled with a robust rock n’ roll intuit, and pianist Hank Jones’ bopping valse “Vignette”, which functions as a getaway from the archetypal 4/4 time signature.

Bruno, the elder brother, contributes with two compositions, disparate in nature, but equally positive when it comes to stirring emotions. If “A Cadeira, o Baloiço e a Rosa" is an affectionate lullaby perfused with the folk delineations of André’s braguinha (a traditional four-string instrument from Madeira island, where they were born), “Nem Tudo é o Que Parece” is a multi-layered experiment on folk-rock and jazz fusion that could have been mounted by Pat Metheny or Mike Stern. This visible urgency in being more expansive with their sounds and textures should be further explored. The same dynamic duo that plunges headfirst into these waters also colors Jobim’s “Modinha/Carta ao Tom” with grandiose voicings and touching honesty, and “Bolinha de Papel”, a tune popularized by the great João Gilberto, with elated rhythms, shifting tempos, and the shrill sounds of the braguinha.

“Mano a Mano” (mano means brother in Portuguese and the expression ‘mano a mano’ stands for face-to-face or confrontation/competition) closes the session more as a fair cooperation rather than a duel, mixing Herbie Hancock’s subtle vibes with ethereal pop and wrapping it up with surrounding electronic loops.

Rendered with irresistible orthodoxy, Chico Buarque’s “Carolina” is presented at the end as a hidden track, and definitely deserves to be discovered.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Super Mario ► 06 - Nem Tudo é o Que Parece ► 07 - Modinha/Carta ao Tom

Kamasi Washington - Harmony of Difference

November 16, 2017

Label/Year: Young Turks, 2017

Lineup – Kamasi Washington: tenor saxophone; Ryan Porter: trombone; Dontae Winslow: trumpet; Cameron Graves: piano; Brandon Coleman: keyboards; Miles Mosley: acoustic bass; Thundercat: electric bass; Ronald Bruner Jr.: drums; Tony Austen: drums.

After the enormous acclamation received with the triple-album The Epic in 2015, LA saxophonist Kamasi Washington returns with Harmony of Difference, an EP that showcases six compositions deftly arranged to encompass such a different styles as post-bop, smooth jazz, psychedelic soul, funk, and gospel.

For this concise (total time is 31:54) yet impactful body of work he relies on many of the bandmates who helped him to conceive The Epic, namely, trombonist Ryan Porter, pianist Cameron Graves, keyboardist Brandon Coleman, acoustic bassist Miles Mosley, electric bassist Thundercat, and drummers Ronald Bruner Jr. and Tony Austen. Trumpeter Dontae Winslow is the new addition here, replacing Igmar Thomas, while leading vocalist Patrice Quinn joins the influential choir that enriches “Truth”, the 13-minute spacey opus that closes the record. Despite sharing an identical melody as the opening tune “Desire”, set as an ambient soul-jazz trance with chill-out harmonies and cool solos, this piece is expanded with additional sonic layers that include an 8-piece string section, guitar, vibraphone, flute, an extra sax (alto), and stately vocals. Embracing a fully-fledged symphonic poise, the tune revolves around the melody at first but speeds up conveniently for Kamasi’s solo, favorably challenged by guitarist Matt Haze’s pretty annotations and Graves’ responsive and diametrically opposed harmonic layouts. In the final section, ornamental guitar and dreamy horn ostinatos function as pigment intensifiers.

Only sinning for their too short duration, the remaining compositions trigger instant empathy and connection, revealing the strong bond between Kamasi and his peers.

If “Humility” is a demonstrative spiritual exaltation suffused with plenty of joy and excitement and featuring fervent if succinct improvisations from piano, trumpet, and tenor, “Knowledge” is a seductive, danceable manifestation of the spirit, propelled by sweet-tempered funky bass lines and a fulfilling patterned rhythm. The improvisations belong to Ryan Porter and the bandleader.

“Perspective” boasts an outlandish, hypnotic intro before settling in a zone dominated by R&B and retro funk. It will make you clap your hands. As usual, the melody in the chorus is simple and attractive, a procedure also followed on “Integrity”, an unanticipated 100% Brazilian samba song with cuíca sounds included and a hard-driving groove.

Kamasi Washington, whose music remains passionate and poignant, exteriorizes his musicality with feeling and manages to attract followers from opposite sides of the jazz spectrum. He does this with a deep understanding of the past and an eye in the future.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Desire ► 03 - Knowledge ► 06 – Truth

Earl MacDonald - Open Borders

November 14, 2017

Label/Year: Death Defying Records, 2017

Lineup – Earl MacDonald: piano; Kris Allen: alto saxophone; Wayne Escoffery: tenor saxophone; Lauren Sevain: baritone saxophone; Jeffrey Holmes: trumpet; Josh Evans: trumpet; Alex Gertner: French horn; Sara Jacovino: trombone; Henry Lugo: bass; Ben Bilello: drums + guests Atla DeChamplain: vocals; Ricardo Monzon: percussion.

Pianist, composer, arranger, conductor, and educator Earl MacDonald, a native of Winnipeg, Canada, leads a 10-piece ensemble on his new album Open Boarders. Besides original material, his fourth outing as a leader also includes carefully selected tunes authored by both acclaimed and not so known musicians, as well as celebrated jazz standards.

“Dig In Buddy”, composed by Alberta’s drummer Tyler Hornby, bursts with a compelling arrangement sparkled by fantastic rhythmic accentuations and magnifying unisons, at the same time that favors individual extemporizations selected from the bountiful horn section. Initially, tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery and trombonist Sara Jacovino collide for a brief period, but then split, alternating every two, and then four, bars of improvised statements. Josh Evans made a pompous entrance evoking a noticeable phrase from Freddie Hubbard on Art Blakey’s version of “Moanin”, and there was still space for drummer Bern Bilello appear, well backed by opportune horn fills.

“Sordid Sort of Fellow” offers up the swinging verve from the 60s as it carries much of that bop feel in his arms. Again, Evans quotes recognizable phrases from other times while improvising with Hubbard-esque lucidity. MacDonald also stands out with a two-hand demonstration on how to groove within the harmony.

Even thickened with powerful layers of sound, Jackie McLean’s “Appointment in Ghana” evinces a legitimate lightness that is put to the test during Lauren Sevian’s opulent baritone solo. She is momentarily left alone with the drums for a further kicking effect.

While “Miles Apart” expresses the cool-toned qualities of a ballad that finishes with a perhaps too abrupt fade out, both “Smoke and Mirrors” and Jerrold Dubyk’s “Catch of the Day” are dazzling, shapeshifting pieces pushed forward by the highly coordinated actions of the band. However, if the former displays multiple transitions in rhythm (funky beats with bass grooves, a vainglorious march brought up by snare eruptions, a rock flow adorned with horn unisons and counterpoint, and a final trumpet-piano poem in the form of gentle prayer), the latter assumes a metamorphic, daring posture when alternating time signatures.

After casting a strong Latin spell with the percussive “Dolphy Dance”, which starts as a ternary fantasia but veers into a 4/4 salsa big band, the album closes with the popular “East of the Sun”, completely transformed by the unique vocal touch of guest singer Atla DeChamplain and piqued by Kris Allen’s striking solo on top of punchy chords emanated from the Fender Rhodes.

Diversity, dynamism, and equilibrium are fundamental aspects in Earl MacDonald’s music making. These eleven stylishly orchestrated pieces are a pure reflection of his musical capabilities.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Dig In Buddy ► 07 - Smoke and Mirrors ► 08 - Catch of the Day

Tom Harrell - Moving Picture

November 14, 2017

Label/Year: HighNote Records, 2017

Lineup – Tom Harrell: trumpet, flugelhorn; Danny Grissett: piano; Ugonna Okegwo: bass; Adam Cruz: drums.

American trumpet/flugelhorn player and composer, Tom Harrell, keeps up a very active career with high levels of quality on each work released.
The successor of the commendable Something Gold, Something Blue (HighNote Records, 2016) is Moving Picture, which features a quartet comprising regular bandmates Danny Grissett on piano, Ugonna Okegwo on bass, and Adam Cruz on drums.

Despite the conspicuous inclination to embrace Latin/Brazilian rhythms throughout this record, the quartet opens with blazing post-bop inspiration. The title track, following an exciting 6/8 meter, has this quasi-imperial grandeur that imports Eastern folk idioms into the head’s melody, while bass/piano pedals, affixed to a nearly marching drum routine, sustain the whole thing together. This happens before a lustrous danceable groove walks in and brings the best in Harrell, an incredibly articulated declaimer in his melody-driven constructions. Furthermore, one can dig the brilliant moves of Grissett, constantly soulful and motivically versed, and Cruz, whose unhurried statement evolves into a luscious crescendo.

“Apple House” has distinguished features when compared to the other pieces. During its first minutes, it sounds like an electronic-influenced piece delineated by an almost puerile melodic line. However, instead of any crazy beat, the song progresses with Cruz’s subtle brushed drumming gradually procuring a docile bossa nova feeling.

“Montego Bay” wrings multiple rhythmic accentuations while elegantly integrates post-bop dialects and a sultry Caribbean pulse.

Latin America flavors also permeate “Time Passage”, whose initial impulse is given by geometric tom-tom figures and hi-hat triplets on the drum kit. Harrell unleashes transparent yet vibrant ideas throughout, having brisk harmonic movements developing underneath.

Both “Different Clouds” and “Gee A Bee” are easy-listening exercises. The former carries a breezy vibe and singable melody, while the latter opens the door to an elated jazz funk hinged to a perennial harmonic cycle.

As a jazzified Brazilian pop song, “Happy Ring” invites to chill out and would have given Michael Franks another vocal hit. Also with a Brazilian soul, “Sea” triggers lush harmonies delivered at 4/4 tempo, regardless the ternary folk dance as the starting point.

Flaunting a solo piano introduction that could fit in Jobim’s lyrical repertoire, “Vibrer” is a riveting trumpet/piano duet influenced by Olivier Messiaen and the music of New Orleans. It includes nice melodic lines over waltzing cadences and harmonic gestures typical of the rock genre.

Encircled by affable warmness, bold color combinations, and a soaring optimism, this is another recommended title from a trumpeter that got me recurrently hooked on his musical creations.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Moving Picture ► 05 - Different Clouds ► 08 - Vibrer

Esteves da Silva / Mario Franco / Samuel Rohrer - Brightbird

November 13, 2017

Label/Year: Arjunamusic Records, 2017

Lineup – João Paulo Esteves da Silva: piano; Mário Franco: bass; Samuel Rohrer: drums.

Immersed in a shimmering sea of creative beauty, Brightbird feels disciplined and free at the same time. The album results from a triangular interaction between the open-minded Swiss drummer Samuel Rohrer and two Portuguese explorers, pianist João Paulo Esteves da Silva and bassist Mario Franco.

The 13 original pieces oscillate between the static exploration and the minimalism, passing through erratic, contemplative ballads that sometimes are turned into classical-tinged laments.

With an enchanted tranquility, “The Fireplace” opens the album as a surreptitious expression of the soul, ending with Silva’s ruminative solo articulacy.

After a wayward introductory section, “Sun” becomes suavely propelled with a nice groove laid down by Franco and Rohrer, who provides the rhythmic stability for Silva’s prayerful utterances in an appreciative and contagious heliolatry.

The minimalistic “Trusting Heart/Cosmos” contains profound piano voicings, punctual bass reinforcements with floating harmonics, and timely cymbal splashes, opening up for a hypothetical spirituality. Also searching for an indestructible equilibrium we have “Noon Tide”, brought to life by a bass ostinato, discreet percussive touches, and intriguing intervallic exploration on piano, and also “Winter”, based on a descending phrase recurrently designed by piano and bass. “Oldness”, for instance, acquires a relentless percussive throb on the piano, which is manifestly complemented by arco bass hums and occasional taps, together with Rohrer’s attentive and unobtrusive drumming.

Stubbornly stationary but shrouded in a positive emotional cloud, “Renewal” encapsulates nuanced harmonic movements adorned with a few opportune snare drags thrown in by Rohrer, who seems to request some motion.

Melody plays a vital role in song-like tunes such as “Bird” and “There Were Shadows”, infusing a particular taste on the cerebral “Uncertain Steps”, which doesn’t sound so abstract as the title suggests but eschews the song format as it builds a sort of lament supported by mellifluous classical intonations.

“Waking” is perhaps the unique title that stood out poignantly against the lethargy embraced by the threesome throughout the record. The rhythmic steam clings to their triangular sound, forming an interesting combination of ecstatic turbulence and confined buoyancy.

Taking an unambiguous direction, the explorative Brightbird is made of intimate moments that require a no-noisy atmosphere to be fully apprehended. With that aspect assured, this classic piano trio gains both satisfying and unexpected perspectives.

Favorite Tracks:
02 - Sun ► 03 - Trusting Heart/Cosmos ► 10 – Oldness