New Release Round-up,
Jazz New Release Round-Up - 12th June 2020
This week's new release round-up finds guitarists (acoustic, electric and bass) getting the lion's share of coverage, with John Scofield’s tribute to (and collaboration with) his friend Steve Swallow, a DVD and CD package of Allan Holdsworth live on German TV in 1986, demonstrating why he was held in such high esteem within the world of fusion, and electric bassist Michael Olatuja’s irresistible mix of world and jazz from Whirlwind. There’s also a delightful folk-electronica album from Bibio featuring woozy acoustic guitars on a gently psychedelic release, Christophe Delporte’s accordion takes centre stage for the latest IZVORA release, and cornetist Kirk Knuffke’s Tight Like This impresses in its tuneful channelling of early jazz into brand new shapes for a trio that includes tuba holding down the basslines.
Guitarist John Scofield has known bassist Steve Swallow since he was a 20-year-old student at Berklee, a meeting which lead to over forty years of collaborations in numerous different guises. On Swallow Tales Scofield salutes his friend and mentor, recorded in a day in New York in March 2019 "old school" style as Scofield says. "I love these songs", says Scofield of the selection of Swallow compositions explored here - a broad range including classics such as 'Hullo Bolinas', 'Eiderdown', 'Falling Grace' and 'Radio', as well as lesser-known works. With Bill Stewart on drums this is a terrific trio date, played by men whose energy levels would be the envy of those half their age, and Scofield finding plenty of new angles from which to approach his friend's music.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
British fusion guitarist par excellence, the late Allan Holdsworth is captured live in 1986 at the Deutsches Jazz Festival in Frankfurt, Germany, accompanied by Gary Husband on drums, Jimmy Johnson on bass and Kei Akagi on keyboards. It's great to have the footage broadcast on German television included in this set, reminding us why Holdsworth was considered the guitarist’s guitarist in jazz circles. Gary Husband also contributed some very personal liner notes to the package.
Available Format: CD + DVD Video
IZVORA is the project of accordionist Christophe Delporte, a forum for exploring the point where jazz, tango and classical influence meet. Sur l'Autre Rive leans towards jazz more than other releases have, with Delporte’s interactions with saxophonist Rhonny Ventat having real fire to them. The inspired bass lines of Adrien Tyberghein also caught my attention on this excellent set. Hang up your accordion prejudices on the peg alongside mine and enjoy.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
If you are looking for state-of-the-art sound combined with life-affirming music, check out this new album from bassist Michael Olatuja - a spectacular blend of West African Afrobeats and jazz, backed by a string orchestra. Arranged by iconic film music arranger Dave Metzger, the international all-star cast features Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves, Brandee Younger, Lionel Loueke, Regina Carter, Joe Lovano, Laura Mvula, Gregoire Maret, and Becca Stevens. Released on the ever-reliable Whirlwind label, Lago Pepper Soup leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling, especially Olatja’s singing basslines.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
There’s an enjoyable, stripped-down purity to this trio date from cornetist Kirk Knuffke, with Bob Stewart covering bass duties on tuba, and Kenny Wollesen on drums. All About Jazz have hailed Knuffke as ‘one of modern jazz's most skilled navigators of the divide between inside and outside, freedom and swing’, and this set, his tenth for Steeplechase, demonstrates just how approachable his music can be. Drawing influence from the early jazz pioneers, especially Louis Armstrong, this is an easy album to enjoy, and one that I’ll certainly be returning to.
Available Format: CD
Only slightly off-piste, I thought I’d draw attention to the delightful new Bibio album Sleep on the Wing on Warp. Stephen Wilkinson has proved to be one of the most thoughtful artists to have emerged from the UK electronica scene over the past twenty years, creating his own hybrid of folk-influenced modern-day pastoral music. This latest release finds him treating acoustic instrument with sparse touches of electronic manipulation to present some gorgeous compositions for nylon guitar, violins and Wilkinson’s airy vocals. The track ‘A Couple Swim’ recalls some of Soft Machine’s more introspective moments along with pitch-perfect Eno-esque monosynths. Fans of Bill Frisell and Board of Canada should certainly give this a try.
Available Format: CD
Matt Groom - Head of Jazz
