It’s that time of year again. The time when reviewers and
DJs take it upon themselves to select the albums that have given them most
pleasure over the past year. In my case, it’s a selection from 2015 and 2014. Last year, a spell in hospital
prevented me from producing a list, so this year I’ve decided to cover both.
All of the albums have featured on Jazz Today, and can be heard on my quarterly
Mixcloud podcasts (Jazz Today Online).
As always I have only listened to a fraction of the new jazz
that has been issued. So, with that caveat (and in no particular order) here
is my top 15:
Team Hegdal – Vol 3 (Particular)
There’s a Monk-ish slant to the free swing on this excellent new
release from Team Hegdal. Led by saxophonist Eirik Hegdal, they’re a band that deserves
to be better known outside of their native Norway. Eirik is a key mover with
the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra and Team Hegdal is his ‘smaller’ ensemble. It’s a
band that brings in guests as appropriate. On this occasion its pianist Oscar
Gronberg who fits in nicely alongside regulars, reedsman Andre Roligheten,
bassist Ole Morten Vagan and drummer Gard Nilssen.
This ‘wood’ harbours many shadows. Shadows given substance
by the intriguing compositions of leader and bassist Sebastian Gramss, with
titles taken from a poem by Robert FrostIt’s interesting to compare Slowfox with another of Sebastian’s bands, Fossile 3, with the inimitable Rudi Mahall on bass clarinet. Slowfox is less angular, but both bands are well worth tracking down.
Daniele
D’Agaro, Aldo Mella & Elio Rivagli – Bangalore (Ninety and Nine)
Released at the end of 2014, this album was recorded in the
Piedmont region of Italy in June 2013 and features three stalwarts of the
Italian scene. Saxophonist and clarinettist Daniele is Italian by birth; he’s
probably best known for his sojourn in Amsterdam where he worked with the likes
of Han Bennink and Tobias Delius. He’s also performed with some of the top
players in Chicago. Aldo and Elio are based in Turin. They also hold impressive
CVs, and provide a driving rhythm section for the reedsman.Bart Maris & Lode Vercampt – Krommekeer (El Negocito)
Another album that could fall into the category of chamber
jazz, this time from the duo of Bart Maris on trumpet and Lode Vercampt on
cello. Bart Maris is an unsung master of his intrument and sadly someone we
hear all too rarely in the UK. He is a member of the Flat Earth Society, the
quintet Moker and the quartet 1000.
The album is released on a small label based in Ghent, Belgium, a
label that is releasing some fascinating and challenging music from the local
scene.
Didier
Levallet Quintet – Voix Croisees (Evidence)
France has no shortage of world class bass players; Henri Texier,
Sebastien Boisseau, Renaud Garcia-Fons, and Helene Labarriere come to mind.
Another master of the instrument is Didier Levallet. I remember seeing Didier
performing with the late Harry Beckett in Mulhouse 20 years ago, and his
playing on this new album show that his skills have not waned over the years.
Joakim
Berghall – Dialogues 1 (Boulder Music)
Joakim Berghall is a young saxophonist I met at the 2014 Jazzahead
Festival in Bremen, where he kindly plied me a copy of his album Dialogues 1. It comprises ten duets,
each with a different Finnish pianist. Some of the keyboard players are
internationally known (such as Iro Haarla and Aki Rissanen), others less so.
However all play their part and reflect the depth and quality of the Finnish
scene.
Dialogues
1 was recorded near Helsinki in 2013 and is self-released. Dialogues 2 has just been released, features 10 duos with Finnish guitarists and is also worth investigation.
Le Rex –
Wild Man (Cuneiform)
Le Rex is a Swiss quintet comprising Benedikt Reising on alto sax,
Marc Stuckl, tenor sax, Andreas Tschopp, trombone, Marc Unternahrer, tuba and
Rico Baumann drums. This is their third outing on CD; their first two appeared
on the Swiss Unit Record Label. They’re effectively a mini brass band, but with
jazz chops and a great sense of humour. They mix old school with the new, referencing
everything from New Orleans to Chicago. In fact Wild Man was recorded in Chicago in September 2014 following a
successful US tour,
The debut release from the trio of drummer Scott McLemore,
guitarist Hilmar Jensson and saxophonist Angelika Niescier. All three musicians contribute compositions, creating an intriguing, sometimes haunting release. It’s an album that rewards repeated listening. And hopefully it’s the first of many from this creative trio.
Meinrad
Kneer Quintet – Oneirology (JazzHausMusik)
JazzHausMusic is a musician-run label that has been documenting
the German scene for over three decades. It has many excellent releases in its
catalogue, including this new outing from the Meinrad Kneer Quintet. The
Berlin-based bass player first came to my attention in the 90’s with the
quartet Dalgoo. Since then he has performed with the likes of Roscoe Mitchell,
Han Bennink and Jon Rose.
Leo
Postolovsky Quinteto – Bajoflores (self-released)
Sadly we hear precious little from the Argentine jazz scene in the
UK. And aside from Gato Barbieri, most would find it difficult to name an
Argentinian improviser. However online research indicates Buenos Aires, at
least, has a fertile jazz scene
In fact the album title seems to have changed since I downloaded
it from Bandcamp. Originally it was called Sincronia.....now
it appears to be titled Bajoflores
Regardless ...it’s a rewarding listen.
Mads La
Cour’s Almugi – Quartet (WhyPlayJazz)
Apparently Almugi is an ancient Scandinavian word that means ‘free men of the kingdom who possess the
ability of goodness’. It’s also a project devised by the Danish trumpeter /
flugelhorn player Mads La Cour, a project featuring ‘men who possess the ability to improvise’!It’s one of three new releases titled Almugi, the only one released on CD. The other two are download only, a duo with drummer Anders Mogensen and an 8-piece Large Ensemble. All three warrant investigation. They’re released on the always-interesting WhyPlayJazz imprint.
Hayden
Powell – Circadian Rhythm and Blues (Periskop)
The third release from trumpeter Hayden Powell. It’s a
double album. The first disc features Hayden with Eyolf Dale on piano and Jo
Skaansar
on bass. The second presents the trumpeter in isolation, sometimes with
overdubs. It was difficult to choose between this and Hayden’s previous release, Roots and Stems....also on Periskop. Why not give them both a listen?
Roberto Ottaviano – Forgotten
Matches: The Worlds of Steve Lacy (Dodicilune)
Another double album. The first disc features the stellar quartet
of Roberto on soprano saxophone, Glenn Ferris trombone, Giovanni Maier bass and
Cristiano Calcagnile at the drums, the second features Roberto in duet with our
very own Alexander Hawkins.On the second disc, pianist Alexander Hawkins dovetails perfectly with the Italian veteran, providing a nice contrast to the quartet outing.
Partikel –
String Theory (Whirlwind)
Partikel comprise Duncan Eagles on saxophone, Max Luthert, bass
and Eric Ford drums. On this 2015 release they are accompanied by the string
quartet of Benet McLean, David Le Page, Carmen Flores and Matthew Sharp. The album was recorded at the Real World Studios in Wiltshire and released on Michael Janisch’s prolific Whirlwind Label.
Wojtczak
NYConnection – Folk Five (Fortune)
Polish reedsman Irek Wojtczak has utilised a readymade
line-up to form his NYConnection. And I say readymade, as the US foursome of
trumpeter Herb Robertson, pianist Michael Stevens, bassist Joe Fonda and
drummer Harvey Sorgen have been performing together as a quartet for many
years. Irek has an extensive discography, and has performed with the likes of
Dave Douglas, Klaus Kugel and Chris Speed. He has also recorded before with the
Fonda / Stevens group.Plus some other albums I wouldn’t be without.....
Karol Beffa & Raphael Imbert - Libres (Jazz Village); Kristoffer Kompen – Agdergata 1 (Kompis); Oddjob – Folk (Caprice); Grencso Open Collective with Rudi Mahall – Marginal Music (BMC); Misha Mullov-Abbado – New Ansonia (Edition); Eric Vloeimans – Oliver’s Cinema (Buzz); Giovanni Maier, Luca Calabrese, Lauro Rossi & Emanuele Parrini – Azure (Palomar); Verneri Pohjola - Bullhorn (Edition); Mediums – Mediums (Label la Buissonne); Fulvio Sigurta - The Oldest Living Thing (CAM Jazz); Viktor Toth Arura Trio - The Present (BMC); Admiral Awesome - Makeout Music for Modern Lovers! (Gateway); Vertigo Trombone Quartet - Developing Good Habits (NWOG); Adam Baldych & Yaron Herman - The New Tradition (ACT); McCormack & Yarde Duo (feat. Elysian Quartet) – Juntos (Joy & Ears); Snorre Kirk - Blues Modernism (Calibrated Music); Drye & Drye - Open Letter (NCM East); Albatrosh - Night Owl (Rune Grammofon); Mario Rom’s Interzone - Everything is Permitted (Traumton).
