New Release Round-up,
Jazz New Release Round-Up - 7th June 2019
This week we gots… modern day big band mayhem from Fred Hersch, jap-jazz-psyche reissued on vinyl, Jan Garbarek's trademarked soprano stylings, also on vinyl, Polish spiritual jazz in no less than four(!) editions, and a bunch of Argonauts wreaking havoc.
Fred Hersch’s new Palmetto release featuring the Cologne-based WDR Big Band is a handy rough guide to his unique, freewheeling compositions. Hersch writes for large ensemble with real flair, and this features nine of his original compositions, plucked from throughout his various projects and preferred formats, including one previously unrecorded piece.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Noe Tavelli & The Argonauts Collective
Fabien Iannone (double bass), Francesco Geminiani (saxophone/ tenor saxophone), Matthias Spillmann (trumpet), Noe Tavelli (drums)
Noe Tavelli & The Argonauts Collective are an adventurous bunch on the evidence of this self-titled album. Tavelli’s drums are especially interesting – nice and splashy when needed. Once they stop tiptoeing around this turns into a very agreeable set. (As a note: I really wanted to work a Ray Harryhausen joke in here somewhere, being called The Argonauts and all, but I’m not feeling especially animated.)
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Who doesn’t love a bit of Japanese psyche? I know I do. Minoru Muraoka plays ‘shakuhachi’ - a traditional bamboo Japanese flute - joined by his band members accompanying him on the ‘koto’ (strings) and ‘tsu-tsumi’ (drum) amongst others, to create their ‘Shakuhachi Jazz’ sound. Includes cover versions of very well-known jazz & pop classics, coupled with two original songs.
Available Format: CD
In Praise of Dreams - Vinyl Edition
Jan Garbarek (tenor and soprano saxophones/synthesizers/samplers/percussion), Kim Kashkashian (viola), Manu Katché (drums)
This 2004 album is issued for the first time on vinyl, and features two musicians with whom the great Norwegian saxophonist shares some history - American-Armenian violist Kim Kashkashian and African-French drummer Manu Katché. Stuart Nicholson wrote ‘From the very first track ... the saxophonist serves notice that this is going to be a very different album to anything he has done before.’ Erm, sounded fairly on trend for Garbarek to me, except with coffee-table breakbeats. Which is great, if you’re a fan of the Norwegian’s nasal sound.
Available Format: Vinyl Record
Slavic Spirits
Marek Pedziwiatr (piano/synths/vocal), Vojto Monteur (guitar), Pawel Stachowiak (bass), Jakub Kurek (trumpet), Olaf Wegier (tenor saxophone), Marcin Rak (drums), Spisek Jednego (samples/sound fx/percussion)
Polish septet EABS, with guest, Londoner Tenderlonious apply an innovative approach to jazz, distilling it through the prism of hip-hop, blending it with elements of soul, funk and electronic music. Two years in the making and containing 100% original material. They are joined by 22a head-honcho Tenderlonious who lends his exceptional soprano saxophone and flute playing to all seven tracks. This thing has no less than four issues: CD, vinyl, and limited edition versions of both CD and vinyl with much lavishness. Why not secure all four editions from your favourite purveyor of all things jazz?
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Matt Groom - Head of Jazz
