New Release Round-up,
Jazz New Release Round-Up - 1st November 2019
Keith Jarrett must surely rank as the most influential living jazz artist, one whose name is invariably mentioned whenever I speak to younger pianists, and this week sees the release of his most recent live solo concert, recorded in Munich in 2016. Also we have an exciting debut from Polish bassist extraordinaire Kinga Glyk, Steve Gadd, Michael Blicher and Dan Hemmer present a swinging album of hammond and sax ditties, Chantal Chamberlain covers Cher, and Bill Frisell makes his Blue Note debut.
You’d be forgiven for thinking you’re hearing Cecil Taylor from the opening track of Keith Jarrett's new solo recording, as it's a veritable angst-fest. As the album progresses Jarrett runs the gamut of emotions, often recalling twentieth-century classical piano music. Although there's plenty of that inimitable Jarrett lyricism, it's clear we’re not in Köln anymore.
Available Formats: 2 CDs, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Calling all Pastorius and Miller style slap bass fanatics… 21 year old Polish bassist Kinga Glyk is a mean player judging by this very retro-sounding debut album. She began her adventure with music at the age of 12 playing in a family band called Głyk P.I.K. TRIO. “I can’t sing that well, that’s why I play bass,” says Kinga Glyk. This sounds suspiciously modest considering the hype that has surrounded her for the past two years, so do give this plucky album a go, as Glyk’s bass leaps out of the speakers.
Available Format: CD
Third release from the power-house tenor/organ combo featuring the legendary drummer Steve Gadd with Michael Blicher (saxophones) and Dan Hemmer (Hammond organ). Blicher’s music is classic bluesy jazz flavoured with the soulful sounds of saxophone and Hammond organ. The album features a fab guest performance by vocalist Paul Carrack (Mike & Mechanics, Eric Clapton etc).
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Chantal Chamberlain presents a collection of ten diverse songs for which the description 'eclectic' is an understatement. Her seventh full-length release, Temptation moves from Blues, Jazz to Bossa, and features such classics as "I Put A Spell On You" and "I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl" nestling alongside tunes written or made famous by artists as diverse as Tom Waits, Bill Withers, Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson, Rodriguez, Cher, U2, and modern rock band Snow Patrol. I was particularly impressed with her de-autotuned version of Cher’s "Believe".
Available Format: SACD
Bill Frisell’s Blue Note Records debut was produced by his longtime collaborator Lee Townsend and recorded by Tucker Martine at Flora Recording in Portland, Oregon. Frisell appears with a distinctive quartet comprising two longtime collaborators, Petra Haden voice (daughter of bassist Charlie Haden), Hank Roberts cello and voice plus a relative newcomer, Luke Bergman on acoustic guitar, baritone guitar, bass and voice. More of a bluegrass project than jazz, Haden’s haunting vocals play a large part in the success of this low-key, haunting album, with Frisell on excellent form throughout.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Matt Groom - Head of Jazz
