New Release Round-up,
Jazz New Release Round-Up - 7th April 2023
A strong batch of releases this week, starting with Brandee Younger's enchanting sophomore album Brand New Life on Impulse!, which focusses on the music of Dorothy Ashby, and a couple of corkers from Blue Note, with Walter Smith III's long awaited Return to Casual, and Erik Truffaz's salute to the silver screen Rollin'. From Sweden we enjoyed the Simon Westman Trio's Moving Forward as it's chock full of choice tunes, and there's also the penultimate volume of the Matchbox Bluesmaster series, for those of us who enjoy a bit of crackle and pop whilst waiting at the crossroads.
The latest in a rich line of women harpists, from Dorothy Ashby, through the innovations of Alice Coltrane, and more recently Alina Bzhezhinska, Brandee Younger has something fresh to say whilst honouring her forebears. On her second album Brand New Life Younger sits her own originals alongside lush reinterpretations of Dorothy Ashby compositions. Absolutely captivating, Younger mixes R’n’B and hip-hop influences into her palette, and the soaring vocals of Mumu Fresh make the title track a standout.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Brandee Younger
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Nine years after his debut recording as a band-leader, Walter Smith III returns with the hotly anticipated Return to Casual, which marks the tenor saxophonist’s Blue Note debut. Smith’s regular band of pianist Taylor Eigsti, guitarist Matt Stevens, bassist Harish Raghavan, and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire join in the fun.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
One of Blue Note's long-term partners, Erik Truffaz has built a reputation as a creditable heir to Miles Davis; ie a player with an unmistakable trumpet tone, whether pushing the boundaries of fusion or revelling in a sentimental ballad. On this latest project Truffaz reinterprets some of the great themes of the golden age of cinema, including 'La Casse' starring Jean-Paul Belmondo, 'La Strada' directed by Fellini, and 'One SilverDollar' featuring Marilyn Monroe.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
The Gothenburg based Simon Westman Trio are back with a new album, Moving Forward. The three musicians, all of them strong voices on the Swedish jazz scene, have truly found their sound here. Catchy melodies have become something of a hallmark for the trio, as have the mix of sensitivity and great energy. It’s a very dynamic and playful trio.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
The Matchbox Bluesmaster series has been delighting fans of the earliest blues recordings with each new volume over the past few of years, as each instalment unearths fresh delights, all transferred to disc at the highest fidelity, often from the original shellacs. Volume 11 focuses on blues piano – from the unique playing of Cripple Clarence Lofton to two albums from “The High Sherriff From Hell” himself, Peetie Wheatstraw, a cross-section of the music of Little Brother Montgomery and much else besides.
Available Format: CD
Matt Groom - Head of Jazz
