New Release Round-up,
Jazz New Release Round-Up - 7th May 2021
For this week’s round-up of recent jazz releases, we begin with Azerbaijanian pianist Isfar Sarabski, who blends sounds from modern jazz, classical and traditional Azerbaijani music in a simple piano trio. There’s a new remix album of the latest GoGo Penguin record, and fans of electronic-tinged jazz may also enjoy the rhythmic and Reichian Second Lives by drummer/composer Graham Costello. There’s also the latest volume of the Matchbox Bluesmaster Series, this time focussing on country blues and harmonica players; saxophonist James Brandon Lewis’ Jesup Wagon finds inspiration in the life of George Washington Carver, and Runar Nørsett’s Trio comes through with some spirited piano trio music on My Funny Quarantine.
Montreux Jazz Festival-featured pianist Isfar Sarabski’s latest recording has him heading a tight piano-bass-drums trio, with the occasional appearance of strings courtesy of the Main Strings Ensemble. Sarabski showcases both gentle melody and energetic, rhythmic pieces, providing a three-way intersection between the sounds of his native Azerbaijan, jazz and classical music. This particular recording also features Robert Glasper and Sufjan Stevens-collaborator Alan Hampton on bass, as well as the prolific Mark Guiliana on drums.
Available Format: CD
RMX features GoGo Penguin’s 2020 eponymous record, re-imagined by a group of producers and remixers assembled by the folks at Blue Note. Electronic artists like Squarepusher, Machinedrum and 808 State, as well as groups like Portico Quartet make an appearance; an electronica remix album feels all too fitting for GoGo Penguin, being inspired by electronic and alternative sounds themselves. RMX is available on both CD and vinyl.
Available Format: CD
The bulk of Jesup Wagon is a collection of tone poems, the work itself serving as a musical documentation of sorts of the life of George Washington Carver, the African-American scientist who was one of the most accomplished of the 20th Century. Alongside Lewis on this recording is the Red Lily Quartet, with cornetist Kirk Knuffke taking a particular spotlight on the recording as he duels with Lewis’ lead lines, and with great playing from the rest of the intergenerational ensemble this new recording is an excellent listen; poetic and raw.
Available Format: CD
We were big fans of the first two volumes of the archival Matchbox Bluesmaster Series, which chronicles early blues recordings from the mid-1920s onwards. While volumes 1 and 2 focussed on country & ragtime and harp players respectively, volume 3 features more country blues sounds with a particular focus on harmonica players; this hefty 6-CD set has plenty of historical recordings to dig into.
Available Formats: 6 CDs, MP3, FLAC
At the risk of harping on about the pandemic forever, this latest record comes to us from Norwegian pianist Runar Nørsett and his triomates, bassist Fredrik Sahlander and drummer Toblas Øymo Solbakk. Though the original recording session for My Funny Quarantine was booked for early 2020, the it wasn’t until October of the same year that the trio had the chance to commit these tunes to tape. Despite working as a doctor during the pandemic, Nørsett is quick to point out that these songs are not explicitly written with it in mind. Despite the dour mood of the title track, there’s a certain humour to much of the material on My Funny Quarantine, and each piece has a bounce and swing to it, all good fun.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Glasgow-based drummer and composer Graham Costello makes his debut recording with his new ensemble, STRATA. One thing that’s immediately apparent from the get-go is Costello’s slight Reichian tendencies, while Second Lives also bears resemblance to odd-timed prog rock and electronica. Stylistically minimalist, jazzy in its texture and rocking in its execution.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
Joshua Lee - Jazz Content
