New Release Round-up,
Jazz New Release Round-Up - 20th August 2020
For this week’s new release round-up we’ve got a live recording of an unheard Miles Davis septet, saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa’s tribute to his heroes, and experimental sounds from saxophonist Guillaume Perret. We’ll also be recommending a standards record from Thomas Fonnesbaek and Justin Kauflin, a home-grown quarantine project from Tenderlonious, and some solo piano meditations by Benjamin Moussay.
The sixteenth studio release of saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa sees him leading a chordless trio of drums, bass, and of course saxophone, with Rudy Royston and François Moutin providing each respectively. Making a change from playing his own material, Mahanthappa instead dedicates this record to his personal heroes, with tunes from Charlie Parker, Stevie Wonder and Keith Jarrett making appearances, to name a few. The sparseness of the trio sees some creative interpretations of the tunes, with a feeling of spontaneity captured by the both emotional and virtuosic performances.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
A Certain Trip is one part saxophone-led jazz, one part progressive rock odyssey. Perret employs both percussive techniques and electronic textures to augment his sound, as well as extensive overdubbing for atmospheric effect like in ‘Air Blast’, which builds to a climactic end with rising synthesiser swells. Perret hasn’t forgone traditional instrumentation altogether, however; collaborator Martin Wangermée provides his backing with an acoustic kit, as well as electronic percussion. Also supporting the arrangements are Yessaï Karapetian on synthesisers, as well as Julien Herné on electric bass, though the core of the pieces is very much Perret’s powerful sax sound.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
The latest release from Danish bassist Thomas Fonnesbaek and American pianist Justin Kauflin is actually a selection of ‘leftovers’, recorded during the sessions for their 2017 album Synesthesia. While Synesthesia consisted of original material, the duo would perform standards together to warm up in the studio, naturally recording it simply because they could. Rather than scrapping them, the duo opted to release the unedited performances, the final results being some brilliantly smooth and natural takes on jazz standards.
Available Format: CD
A favourite of the Presto Jazz team, the ever-prolific Tenderlonious returns with yet another studio offering this year. A collection of ‘lo-fi’ beats and ambient tunes coupled with his jazz flute, all recorded in his London studio using his array of equipment during the UK’s lockdown in early 2020. Though certainly a troubling time for many of us, a silver lining to the lockdown measures is perhaps the many ‘quarantine projects’ musicians have been afforded the chance to make; indeed, a challenge for musicians in a time where concerts are no longer an option. Quarantena will be available on both CD and vinyl when it releases this Friday.
Available Format: CD
Available Formats: Vinyl Record, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Inspired by his love of mountaineering - even referencing Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours with its opening track ‘127’ - French pianist Benjamin Moussay’s latest record on ECM is a collection of short solo piano pieces, led by minimal melodies and atmosphere. Though perhaps more evocative of the serene landscapes than the actual endurance-testing treks themselves, if you’re in an introspective mood Moussay’s neat and minimal pieces will be the ideal soundtrack to a quiet afternoon.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
I mentioned in last week’s hi-res round-up how ‘lost albums’ have become surprisingly common nowadays - and sure enough, here we have another unearthed recording of Miles Davis, The Lost Septet. A follow-up to Sleepy Night Records’ The Lost Quintet released last year, this particular recording is a live set taken from a European tour in 1971, featuring a septet lineup that Miles would never take into the studio. With the recording taking place around his fusion era, tunes from In a Silent Way, Bitches Brew and Jack Johnson all make an appearance. This set also features Davis employing a wah pedal to emulate the sound of the electric guitar, enamoured with players of the time like Jimi Hendrix, with the band also reflecting that influence with steady hard rock beats eschewing the swing of Davis’s earlier work. While not a ‘lost album’ in the vein of Coltrane’s Both Directions at Once or Davis’s Rubberband, The Lost Septet is a glimpse into a previously unexplored territory of Miles Davis history, and another addition to the collection for any diehard Davis fans out there.
Available Format: 2 CDs
Joshua Lee - Jazz Content
