New Release Round-up,
Jazz New Release Round-Up - 21st April 2023
Guitarist Dominic Miller returns for his third outing on ECM, Vagabond, whilst on Silk and Sand, Nguyên Lê revisits the trio format in which he started his career. Rising star Alfa Mist goes back to his roots with Variables, taking his signature London sound to the world, and Kahlil El'Zabar revives his Ethnic Heritage Ensemble in their fiftieth year to present a fitting tribute to the mighty Don Cherry, through originals and tunes that likely would have inspired the late musician himself.
With Vagabond, Dominic Miller returns to explore the tranquil tones one might associate with the idea of peaceful wayfaring. The delicate ensemble work on tracks like ‘Cruel But Fair’ offers impressions of boats gently rocking above the waves on a warm summer’s evening in the South of France, incidentally where the album was laid down with label-founder Manfred Eicher at the controls. Drummer and Avishai Cohen-collaborator Ziv Ravitz quietly grooves away in the background whilst pianist Jacob Karlzon and bassist Nicolas Fiszman embalm the sound with a gentle but precise feel. An ideal soundtrack for those anticipating the brighter days to come.
Available Format: Vinyl Record
Spirit Gatherer: Tribute to Don Cherry
Kahlil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble ft. Dwight Trible & David Ornette Cherry
Spiritual jazz shaman Kahil El'Zabar fulfils his legendary fifty-year tenureship of the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble with this expansive tribute to trumpeter and composer, Don Cherry (1936-1995). This project ties together the world-fusion of Cherry’s own opus as well as the ‘spiritualised milieu’ that inspired him, featuring works by Coltrane, Coleman and Monk, amongst others. Perhaps, more touchingly, this record serves as a joint-tribute to Cherry’s oldest son, David Ornette (featured here on keys), who passed away just two days after the group’s stellar performance at the Barbican in London last November. With the legendary spiritualist Dwight Trible on vocals, the multidirectional objective of this record is clear from the offset; it is at once an evocation of rituals past, as well as a vision of future possibilities.
Available Format: CD
Kneebody-founder Wendel climbs to new sonic heights on this all-star collaborative release featuring guest appearances from such heavy-hitters as Cécile McLorin Salvant, José James and Terence Blanchard to name but a few. A piece of crossover sophistication, flautist Elena Pinderhughes simply soars on ‘Speak Joy’, an instrumental track that wouldn’t appear out of place amongst the finer examples of 80’s New York minimalism, often by way of Stravinsky. Don’t be swayed by the predominance of elite soloists, however - the real star is Wendel’s bold underscoring of woodwind and brass (all performed by the man himself) that staunchly pulsates throughout the record across dense layers of instrumentation.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Stronger than ever, world-jazz icon Nguyên Lê retraces his steps via the format in which he first arose to fame. Emulating the album’s title, he doesn’t play his guitar as much as he extracts dulcet tones from within like a woven fabric. Similarly, in his role as leader, he provides ample room for Chris Jennings’ equally vocalic double bass lines, all the while held together by the wise support of Moroccan percussionist, Rhani Krija. Through inspired worldly (and, at times, otherworldly) instrumentation, the ensemble expertly navigates a variety of far-flung soundscapes with intricate simplicity and aplomb, from the epic prog-rock drive of ‘Tiger’s Dance’ to the serene and mystical lilt of ‘Becoming Water’. The musicians’ collective ability to connect these musical dots is completely intoxicating, but never overbearing - ultimately proving that three really is a magic number.
Available Format: Vinyl Record
MOBO Award-nominated Alfa Mist returns with his fifth album, Variables. Since emerging from the emotive hip-hop soundworld of London that often characterised his earlier work, this latest effort showcases the much in-demand keyboardist broadening out into a more pensive and mature brand of mellowness. Whether it’s the soulful Brazilianesque string arrangements of ‘Aged Eyes’ with its hypnotically soothing vocals from returning guest Kaya Thomas-Dyke, the wild and trippy breakbeat aggression of ‘BC’, or Bongeziwe Mabandla’s passionate outcries on the South African-inspired ‘Apho’, this album truly contains something for everyone.
Available Format: Vinyl Record
Barney Whittaker
