New Release Round-up,
Jazz New Release Round-Up - 11th February 2021
For your consideration this week, we’ve a selection of new jazz releases spanning archival releases, collector’s editions and forward-thinking new recordings. Two resurfaced and restored studio albums from British jazz pianist Stan Tracey make an appearance as Wisdom in the Wings, the first time his two albums Free an’ One and The Seven Ages of Man have been in print for over half a century. The latest release from modern Dutch big band The Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw showcases some of its youngest talent’s original pieces, while saxophone veteran Archie Shepp collaborates with pianist Jason Moran for an album of both gospel songs and jazz standards in a duet format. Edition Records’ Eyolf Dale makes his trio debut with Being for a slice of tidy Nordic jazz, while Swedish jazz trio Post-Sun-Vision give us their brand of ‘accessible avant-garde’. Finally, we highlight a hefty Charlie Parker box set covering his years with Mercury and Clef Records on 10” vinyl LPs.
Wisdom in the Wings is the first commercial release of British jazz pianist Stan Tracey since his passing in 2013, and comprises the albums Free an’ One and The Seven Ages of Man from the late 60s. Both albums fell out of print quickly after their initial release, only now getting a new life in this double CD release, the first of which being a quartet record while the second sees Tracey leading his big band. You can hear Tracey at a key point in his career, having just finished his time at Ronnie Scott’s Club, while delving into two different sides of the British pianist’s sound in one release.
Available Format: 2 CDs
Following a recent singing to Ubuntu Records, jazz pianist Yoko Miwa’s latest trio recording, Songs of Joy, is due to release tomorrow (as of writing). With past albums like 2019’s Keep Talkin’ sitting nicely at the top of jazz charts and enjoying praise from the likes of Downbeat magazine, the Ahmad Jamal-certified pianist returns with her longstanding trio, cycling through a diverse range of styles within the trio setting. Featuring a mixture of originals coupled with tunes from Thelonious Monk among others, the Kobe, Japan-hailing Miwa has an almost classical-like touch to her playing, with the fluidity of a jazz mindset.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
The Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw (JOC) have been going since 1996, and have long since solidified themselves as one of the most solid contemporary big band ensembles in Europe, having played with young talents like Ruben Hein and Christian Scott. For The Jazz Influencers, the JOC take a similar approach to their last record, 2018’s Crossroads, with a set of big band tunes penned by its members. What results is a selection of highly progressive tracks, each with a unique character as per the many different composers on this record.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Saxophonist Archie Shepp collaborates with pianist Jason Moran on this album of jazz standards and gospel songs. A pure duo album, the lack of a rhythm section really drives home the intimacy of the pair’s interpretations. Shepp’s style is rough and raw, even in the otherwise gentle tune, Monk’s ‘’Round Midnight’, while the pair’s take on Coltrane’s ‘Wise One’ taps into the same spiritualistic angle of Coltrane’s 60s work.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Cardiff-based Edition Records seem to be on something of a winning streak lately. One of the latest in this independent label’s catalogue is a trio album from Norwegian pianist and composer Eyolf Dale. The first album Dale has recorded in a trio format - an arrangement he admits to having avoided until recently - Being makes his fourth Edition release, following his fellow countrymen in performing moody, sophisticated Nordic Tone jazz. The trio themselves all play with a careful attention paid to dynamics, the tunes having a sort of effortless flow to them.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
The press blurb for Swedish jazz trio Post-Sun-Vision rather accurately describes them as ‘accessible avant-garde’; indeed, while the trio flirt with unpredictable rhythms and jagged melodies, there’s just as much harmony and ambience found in Once a Honey. The opening track ‘Isabella By the Supermarket’ includes some fun odd-metered syncopation, at points disguising itself as a steady walking bassline before switching back to a 7/4 pattern. In a different vein, textural tunes like ‘Let the Night in Through the Windows’ or the melodic ‘Bli min höst’ do away with some of the more out-there concepts of avant-garde jazz for something a little more atmospheric.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Joshua Lee - Jazz Content
