New Release Round-up,
Jazz New Release Round-Up - 6th November 2020
Welcome to the Presto Jazz new release round-up. With the second lockdown beginning, I imagine many of us will be spending a little more time cooped up inside, and hopefully some new recommendations may be just what you need to occupy yourselves. There’s a handful of newly reissued releases from Norwegian guitarist Terje Rypdal on ECM’s Touchstone series, as well as a re-release of ‘The Thing’, a project by Swedish baritone saxophonist Mats Gustafsson on Ezzthetics. If you were a fan of Keith Jarrett’s live album Munich 2016 last year, you’ll be pleased to hear that Budapest Concert, taken from the same tour, also released last week. This week’s round-up also features reworkings of some Sun Ra tunes by Polish ensemble EABS, some eccentric piano-led music by Frank Woeste, and some filmic jazz by Russian group LRK Trio.
Aside from releasing his latest record - and first in two decades - Conspiracy this year, ECM are also re-issuing a handful of Norwegian guitarist Terje Rypdal’s 70s recordings as part of their Touchstones series. Besides 1979’s Descendre, the series also includes his eponymous 1971 record, What Comes After (1973) and Whenever I Seem to Be Far Away (1974). Descendre features Rypdal alongside his lifelong friend and drummer Jon Christensen, having played in many bands over the years, and includes some particularly atmospheric and open-sounding tunes in a trio format.
Available Format: CD
The Thing is a project of baritone saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, initially created for the formation of the label Crazy Wisdom back in 2000, which Gustafsson himself had a hand in. Formed with the express purpose of assembling a trio for playing some Don Cherry, Gustafsson called upon bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love after hearing or playing with them live, with Joe McPhee also joining the group on pocket trumpet and tenor sax. All recorded in a day back in 2001, She Knows… is an incredibly raw collection of takes, now reissued on Ezzthetics, known for picking out many seldom-heard or underappreciated classics.
Available Format: CD
EABS, standing for Electro-Acoustic Beat Sessions, are a Polish jazz group taking many cues from the youthful sound of hip-hop-infused jazz music, greatly inspired by the contemporary sounds of the UK scene. Intersecting their takes on Sun Ra tunes with audio clips of the man himself, sharp horn leads intersect brilliantly with shuffling electronic beats, the ensemble’s playing is tight yet loose and elastic. The tunes aren’t so much faithful recreations as they are celebratory reworkings, given a new life with EABS’ energetic style; Sun Ra’s music continues to resonate with players all around the world.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
As the title suggests, pianist Frank Woeste’s latest recording is a ‘sequel’ of sorts to 2016’s Pocket Rhapsody. Blending many different styles - electric jazz, electronica, choral music and fusion - with the use of synthesisers and keyboards blended tastefully in the compositions, Woeste’s music is some of the more idiosyncratic jazz I’ve heard as of late. The cyclical piano ostinatos and irregular, spiky rhythms almost remind me of a Tigran Hamasyan, Woeste also sharing the Armenian virtuoso’s affinity for unconventional yet beautiful melodies.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Some very cinematic music from this Russian jazz trio of drums, piano and bass. Despite only being a trio, LRK strive for a large, expansive sound that evokes a kind of filmic quality, only further shown by the whimsical forest landscape in the album art. The recording of each instrument is particularly crisp; the drums have an especially ‘close’ sound to them, serving Ignat Kravtsov’s busy style well. Within their limited format, the trio make use of several different instruments; piano, double bass and drums on many tunes, but also embrace the sounds of electronic keys, electric bass, sampled percussion and extra acoustic percussion. All in all, an enveloping album that is always throwing new things at the listener.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Joshua Lee - Jazz Content
