New Release Round-up,
Jazz New Release Round-Up - 12th July 2019
Howdy bebop pickers. Is acceptance of trad jazz a sign of impending wisdom? Probably not in my case, but I’m certainly listening to more dixieland than I could ever have countenanced in my youth. When I worked in the classical and jazz department at a Virgin Megastore I even printed a rack card witheringly titled ‘Trad Jazz for Dad’, so chock full of hubris was I. And now look at me, spending my lunch break combing second-hand shops for anything remotely musty and yellowing. Just to be clear though, I am doing my research and keeping it real with the first generation – Louis, Sidney, King Oliver, Jelly Roll - but it can only be a matter of time before I get the Humph. Feel like I should man-up and crack out the Ayler, but why stress when this stuff’s so darned easy. Ever come across clarinettist Edmond Hall? I’d never heard of him until two weeks ago, and now his cutting clarinet tones are on permanent rotation, especially when he’s got musicians as witty as Vick Dickenson on the ‘bones.
What’s this got to do with new releases you might well ask. Absolutely nothing, so without further ado…
Ranky Tanky are an interesting prospect, specializing in jazz-influenced arrangements of traditional Gullah music, a culture that originated among descendants of enslaved Africans in the Lowcountry region of the US Southeast, where most of the members were brought up. “Ranky Tanky” translates loosely as “Work It,” or “Get Funky!”. I’ve been enjoying this a lot, and it’s prompted me to check out their debut too.
Available Format: CD
It’s rare to find a Hammond B-3 fiend like Mike LeDonne, (leader of the Groover Quartet), in a piano trio setting, but here it is! Interesting to hear how his primary instrument informs his tinkling of the ivories, this is a likeable, swinging set, aided and abetted by Christian McBride and Lewis Nash. Why not feed his piano through a Lesley cabinet next time though?
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Hold onto your hats, this is a real stonka. I’ll be posting my Record of the Week review shortly, but in the meantime if you like mid-sixties Archie Shepp, let's say circa Mama Too Tight you should find this ticks all the boxes, you naughty boy.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Reeds-man Alan Barnes celebrates his 60th birthday with this album of new arrangements of songs all recorded in the year of his birth. Compositions by eleven jazz greats, including Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Horace Silver and Gerry Mulligan. Nice one Alan!
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Soul-Jazz man Lonnie Smith's (not to be confused with the jazz-fusion dude Lonnie Liston Smith) 1968 classic Think! Hammond loveliness with Lee Morgan clearly enjoying the loose vibe.
Available Format: Vinyl Record
A little bit of world music close things off, Yelema, the new album from Keita Mamani is an unexpected treat . There are some enjoyable changes of pace in these songs, and quite an eclectic ranges of styles at play, whilst honouring Mamani's Mali heritage.
Available Format: Vinyl Record
Matt Groom - Head of Jazz
