New Release Round-up,
Jazz New Release Round-Up - 29th May 2020
Our new release round-up this week features some electronica-tinged fusion, archival recordings from a founding father of bebop bass, and some stripped-back arrangements of modern American classics.
Danish bassist Henrik Jensen leads his Followed By Thirteen quartet on a lyrical record of originals. Jensen and his group take on some playful, swinging tunes with the bassist himself accompanying with a gentle touch. With a tribute to his newborn son on ‘Four for a Boy’ and a late friend on ‘Gentle Giant’, Jensen’s third release with Followed By Thirteen takes his ensemble to some personal places.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Harmonicist Grégoire Maret teams up with pianist Romain Collin on a collection of American-rooted tunes, alongside the eminent country-jazz guitarist Bill Frisell. The meeting of these three players, all of whom have their careers firmly rooted in the American sound, sees them collaborating on tunes classic to new; from ‘The Wichita Lineman’ made famous by Glen Campbell, to the comparatively modern ‘Re: Stacks’ by Bon Iver, though the trio does throw in a curveball by British band Dire Straits for the opening track. Frisell also contributes some of his own tunes for the record, alongside originals by Maret and Collin themselves. A self-described “result of personal cultural experiences”, Americana creates a mutual ground between many corners of American styles; be it jazz, bluegrass or rock, showcasing them all with a wistful nostalgia.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
It seems like for many great artists, a Live in Japan record is but an inevitability, and Horst Hanson Trio are no exception with their energetic brass-led fusion, with a healthy dose of hip-hop and electronica thrown in to boot. A quintet (yes, quintet) of electric bass, keys, drums, saxophone and trumpet, the band takes its name from an influential German trumpeter, who makes an appearance in between tracks in the form of archival interviews; something for our German-speaking readers (sadly, not this reviewer). As hinted by their colourful attire on the record sleeve and exemplified by their lively performances, Horst Hansen Trio’s style is quirky yet confident; from head-bobbing synth bass grooves that sometimes border on drum & bass territory, to outward free-improvisation, with an underlying humorous edge. In true modern jazz fashion, Live in Japan is a synthesis of many modern styles of music, channelled through fun and colourful performances.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Oscar Pettiford - Baden Baden 1959
Oscar Pettiford, Dusko Goykovich, Lucky Thompson, Hans Hammerschimd, Rolf Kühn, Jimmy Pratt, Hans Koller, Attila Zoller, Oscar II Hammerstein, Kenny Clarke, Hartwig Bartz, Helmut Brandt, Helmut Reinhardt, Johnny Feigl, Rudi
One of the founding fathers of both bebop bass and jazz cello, this new release documents Oscar Pettiford’s recordings following a 1958 tour of Europe, made possible by the editor of German music paper Südwestfunk Baden-Baden. Pettiford was supposedly so enamoured with the continent he made it his home in the final years of his life, sadly cut short in an accident only a year later in 1960. As the title suggests, this new collection under SWR’s ‘Jazz Heroes’ series comprises recordings between Karlsruhe and Baden-Baden, 1958-59. Primarily a selection of standards sprinkled with a couple of originals, Pettiford’s swinging style serves everything from Ellington to Gershwin.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Mainstay of European free-jazz Christy Doran’s fourth release with his Sound Fountain trio, offering an eccentric intersection of fusion and progressive rock. Doran’s characteristic playing balances angular, rhythmic riffs, percussive noise, with tuneful and melodic melodies. Joined by Franco Fontanarrosa on bass and Lukas Mantel on drums, the trio are tight as anything; while Doran’s leads may steal the show for much of the record, Fontanarrosa and Mantel’s contributions in the rhythm section make for satisfying and punchy rhythms, both offering their own blistering solos on ‘Next Up’. Recorded live in Guetersloh for Between the Lines’ European Jazz Legends series, Lift the Bar does what it says on the tin and shows a group of three musicians playing their absolute best.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Joshua Lee - Jazz Content
