The Calum Gourlay Quartet: Be Minor from New
Ears (Ubuntu)
Vincent Courtois, Robin Fincker & Daniel Erdmann:
Love of Life from Love of Life (La Buissonne)
The NDR Bigband with Michael Moore: Shotgun
Wedding from Sanctuary (Ramboy)
The Bad Plus: Dovetail Nicely from Activate
Infinity (Edition)
David Bennet 4: Frammande Mark from
Miljonarskvarteret (Eken Musik)
Theo Ceccaldi Trio: Acetone Charleston from
Django (Brouhaha)
Joel Harrison: Ballad of Blue Mountain from
Still Point: Turning World (Whirlwind)
chuffDRONE: Fresh Start from Re:Actio
(Jazzwerkstatt)
Mike De Souza: Morning Mind from Slow Burn
(self-released)
Vincent Courtois, Robin Fincker & Daniel Erdmann:
Am I Blue from Love of Life (La Buissonne)
Johann Lindvall Trio: Skidoo from No City,
No Tree, No Lake (Jazzland)
Yimba Rudo: Walking the Dogma from Yimba
Rudo (Barking Hoop)
Low-Fly Quintet: Shine from Winter Love
Song (Losen)
Peter Scharli: Flowers for the Women from
Peace Now! (Enja)
The NDR Bigband with Michael Moore: Anomalous Soul
from Sanctuary (Ramboy)
Brian Groder Trio: Sundog from Luminous
Arcs (Latham)
chuffDRONE: Asue from Re:Actio (Jazzwerkstatt)
The Calum Gourlay Quartet: New Ears from
New Ears (Ubuntu)
Intro/Outro - Stephane Huchard: Jakawa Jungle Spoon from Toutakoostiks (Blue Note Fr)
Zhenya Strigalev & Federico Dannemann: Algo
Rhythm from The Change (Rainy Days)
Rastko Obradovic Quartet feat. Arkady Shilkloper:
Road to Trondheim from The Northern Experience (AMP Music and Records)
The Workshop: Ornette Like from More
Conversations with the Drum (Onze Heures Onze)
Alberto Cavenati's Treifecter: The Timid Theory of Fallacy from 13 (Trouble in the East)
Alberto Cavenati’s Treifekter: La Temibile
Bicolore from 13 (Trouble in the East)
Wako: Savage Detective from Wako (Ora Fonogram)
Steve Garrett: Braw Day from In Arden
(Alt-Mor)
Leon Greening: Know Not One from Cookin’ in
Brooklyn (Leopard)
Leon Greening: The Summit from Cookin’ in Brooklyn
(Leopard)
Sirkis/Bialas IQ: Nocturnity from Our New
Earth (Moonjune)
Kevin Sun: Circle, Line III from The
Sustain of Memory (Endectomorph)
Ghost Horse: Forest for the Trees from
Trojan (Auand)
Ghost Horse: Five Civilised Tribes from
Trojan (Auand)
Emmeluth's Amoeba: No 1 from Chimaera (Ora Fonogram)
Emmeluth’s Amoeba: Circular Movements from
Chimaera (Ora Fonogram)
Leon Maria Plecity: Halcyon Bird from
Otherworld (Jazzhausmusik)
Julien Wilson: Exhale from Stock
(Lionsharecords)
As always, it was an honour to be asked to contribute to the annual El Intruso International Critics poll. Full results can be found HERE.
Ten albums that I have really enjoyed over the past twelve
months. If there is a theme to my selection then it's music that is unafraid of
incorporating the history of jazz into a forward looking approach. Unafraid of
melody with the contrast of dissonance.
Tracks from all these albums can be heard on my 2019
podcasts.
Tobias Wiklund – Where The Spirits Eat (Stunt)
This is Tobias’ debut under his own name, and presents
a quartet of two Swedes and two Danes. Tobias
cornet, Simon Toldam piano, Daniel Fredriksson bass and Lasse Morck drums.
Although the leader is equally adept at trumpet, here he focusses on the
cornet. And you don’t get many brass players spotlighting the cornet in
contemporary jazz. Kirk Knuffke comes to mind, but not many more.
Tobias has recently performed as part of Snorre Kirk's band. And whereas
that ensemble takes a retro stance, here Tobias covers the history from
traditional to free, with ten originals plus two numbers by Louis Armstrong.
From the heartfelt opening to the sombre closure, this is an inventive
album from an excellent quartet.
Paolo Botti & La Fabbrica dei Botti – Lomax
Lives! (Caligola)
Paolo is clearly besotted with the work of the late ethnomusicologist
Alan Lomax and this is not the first of Paolo’s albums to pay homage. 'Lomax
Lives!' features folk songs from Ireland, Italy, Spain, America and Haiti together
with originals and numbers from Jelly Roll Morton and Muddy Waters. Twelve
tracks divided into four medleys.
And Paolo’s no stranger to Jazz Today, having appeared before in small
group, big band and solo settings. His music always captures a mix of
humour and pathos rarely found elsewhere.
Here he splits his time between viola, mandolin, dobro and bowed psaltery.
And he is accompanied by a first class Italian band that he calls La Fabbrica
dei Botti, with the likes of Tony Cattano, Dimitri Grechi Espinoza and Zeno de
Rossi on board. A nonet that sometimes alludes to the Banda tradition of their
Italian homeland.
Magic. A real 'box of chocolates'.
Bite The Gnatze – Good Bike Fair Wheel (Trytone)
Jazz from the Netherlands. An album featuring nine compositions from guitarist, banjo
player Paul Pallesen, incorporating that typically quirky Dutch swing that I
find so appealing. There are also touches of Ellington, contemporary classical
and folk musics.
The band has been together (in one form or another) for over two decades and
I believe this is their 5th outing on record. Alongside Paul, the
current line-up harbours Michel Duijves and Steven Kamperman on reeds, Joost
Buis trombone, Frank van Bommel, keyboards, Meinrad Kneer, bass and Alan Purves
on percussion.
And it’s my second pick featuring banjo. Most definitely an instrument
making a comeback.
Good Bike Fair Wheel is
released by the Trytone collective and was recorded in 2017 and 2018 somewhere
between Amsterdam and Utrecht. The perfect spot for a bit of cycling……
Dave Douglas, Uri Caine & Andrew Cyrille –
Devotion (Greenleaf)
An album
released last May featuring the stellar line-up of Dave Douglas trumpet, Uri Caine piano, and Andrew Cyrille, drums.
All bar one
of the compositions were written by the trumpeter. His devotees include Dizzy
Gillespie, Mary Lou Williams, Carla Bley and the great Italian pianist Franco
D’Andrea, a musician Dave has performed with on many occasions.
I’ve always
enjoyed Dave’s work and to my ears this is possibly his best since the
wonderful septet date 'In Our Lifetime'.
The album harbours a soulful streak throughout with occasional nods to the Big
Easy. It also occasionally borders on freedom creating a tension to proceedings.
And, as is their nature, Uri and Andrew play their socks off!
Jeb Bishop Flex Quartet – Re-Collect (Not Two)
I first encountered Jeb Bishop in the late 90’s as
part of Ken Vandermark’s influential band The Vandermark 5. Since then he has
played significant roles with bands such as the Lucky 7’s, Mike Reed’s People
Places and Things and Eric Hofbauer’s Five Agents (see below). He’s a world
class trombonist adept at both mainstream jazz and free improv.
Here his Flex Quartet stake a claim in the middle ground,
giving us 70+ minutes of stirring freebop, recorded live at The Hungry Brain in
Chicago four years ago. On board are three of that city’s leading lights,
trumpeter Russ Johnson, bassist Jason Roebke and drummer Frank Rosaly.
Jeb provides them with six compositions to get their
teeth into (and fingers, lungs and limbs), allowing plenty of space for
extended improvisation. A fiery set, with the elegant ballad 'Sometimes' providing a peaceful oasis. Stirring stuff.
Eirik Hegdal – Musical Balloon (Particular)
As I’m prone to repeating, some of the most exciting
and creative jazz over the past couple of decades has come from Scandinavia.
One musician who has done his bit is Norwegian saxophonist Eirik Hegdal. Not
only has he led the prestigious Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, but he also fronts
Team Hegdal, a band that has turned up on previous Pete’s Pick listings.
His latest offering Musical Balloon was
commissioned by, and recorded live at the Vossa Jazz Festival in Norway last
year. And it must have been a fun occasion.
The sextet comes across as a mini version of the TJO, retaining the energy
of that larger ensemble and retaining some of its members. Alongside Eirik are
Eivind Lonning on trumpet, Mattias Stahl on vibes, Nils-Olav Johansen on
guitar, banjo (!) and jaunty vocals, Ole Morten Vagen on bass and Jon Falt
drums.
Contemporary jazz with a touch of the circus. Clowns, daredevils, jugglers,
balloons….. they’re all here.
Eric Hofbauer – Book of Water (Creative Nation Music)
Boston-based Eric Hofbauer is a musician who
encompasses the history of jazz guitar in his playing. He references everything
from early blues to Derek Bailey, yet makes it his own. Check out his back
catalogue, particularly his work with drummer Dylan Jack. He also has a
penchant for sizeable projects such as his four album 'Prehistoric Jazz' series
that he recorded with his quintet.
His recent album Book of Water is the first part of a
multi-ensemble project addressing global issues. The album title alludes to the
problem of climate change with composition titles taken from Ralph Waldo
Emerson’s poem 'Water'. A duo album Book of Fire (sadly a major
issue as I write this) is scheduled for release in early 2020.
The music on Book of Water comprises a suite recorded
live in Massachusetts in the spring of 2018, performed by a top rung US band going
by the name Five Agents; Jeb Bishop trombone, Jerry Sabatini, trumpet, Seth
Meicht, tenor sax, Nate McBride, bass, and Curt Newton, drums. They produce music
that is sometimes demanding but also has moments of swing and joyous polyphony.
Serious issues reflected in serious music (…..even though the CD cover shows
the leader being doused in the wet stuff!).
Monk Spent Youth – Monk Spent Youth (F-IRE)
An album that kicks off with a Thelonious
Monk composition played on toy piano! There have been many
takes on the music of TS Monk. Here’s one full of charm.
It comprises sixteen short tracks, featuring music written by, or
inspired by the pianist, from a trio going by the wonderful
name, Monk Spent Youth. It comprises multi-instrumentalist Zac Gvirtzman,
cellist Ben Davis and percussionist, Fred Thomas.
Zac splits his time between various keyboards and bass clarinet, sometimes
performing solo. And the music retains
the wonderful quirkiness of Monk’s compositions.
Colourful stuff. Monk refracted through a prism (rather than
a Sphere?). The whole was recorded, mixed and mastered by Alex Bonney. I wonder how
you mic up a toy piano?
Federica Michisanti Horn Trio – Silent Rides
(Filibusta)
It’s always exciting when you chance
upon a new talent. In this case, bass player Federica Michisanti, and a band she
calls her Horn Trio. And the horns concerned are top reedsman Francesco Bigoni
and trumpeter Francesco Lento.
Federica hails from Rome, where she
was classically trained and this is her 3rd release as leader. So
although I say ‘chance upon a new talent’, I’m clearly behind the times. In
fact Federica won second place in the New Talent Poll last year in the
prestigious Musica Jazz journal.
The sparse instrumentation
on Silent Rides allows plenty of space for the musicians to have their
say. Often, it’s as if you’re overhearing a conversation between colleagues. A
conversation that sometimes turns to heated discussion.
An album released at the end of 2018,
but didn’t come my way until January. Not easy to locate, but worth searching
out. Chamber jazz that incorporates free improv and reveals
its secrets over time.
Petera Sextet – Flashover (Requiem – Lydian Series)
The debut as leader of pianist Dariusz Petera. A
sextet featuring some of the leading protagonists of the thriving Polish jazz
scene; trumpeter Emil Miszk, saxophonist
Maciej Kociński, cellist Krzysztof Lenczowski, bassist Andrzej Święs and
drummer Krzysztof Szmańda.
Seven
originals from Dariusz, beautifully recorded in Lubrza Poland in February 2018. Driving postbop, with occasional touches of
freedom. A striking debut from a band I'm sure would be great to hear live.
As always, there are plenty more I wouldn’t be
without:
Florian Weiss Woodoism – Refugium (Neuklang); Johnny
Hunter – Pale Blue Dot (Northern Contemporary); Jurgen Kupke & Hannes Zerbe
– Alles Hat Seine Zeit (Jazzhausmusik); Tomeka Reid Quartet – Old New
(Cuneiform); Gebhard Ullmann Basement Research – Impromptus and Other Short
Works (WhyPlayJazz); Per Texas Johansson – Strak Pa Himlen Och Stora Hus
(Moserobie); Stahls Trio – Kalltorp Sessions Volume One (Moserobie); Bjorn
Marius Hegge – Ideas (Particular); Baldo Martinez – Cuarteto Europa (Karonte);
Ben Goldberg – Good Day For Cloud Fishing (Pyroclastic); Nature Work – Nature
Work (Sunnyside); Ilmiliekki Quartet – Land of Real Men (We Jazz); Isabelle
Olivier & Rez Abbasi – Oasis (Enja Yellowbird); Adalberto Ferrari 3
Ele-Ments – Unstable Watercolors (Dodicilune); Vorwarts Ruckwarts – Rewarding
Environment (Trouble In The East); Daniel Erdmann’s Velvet Revolution – Won’t
Put No Flag Out (BMC); Stephane Belmondo & Sylvain Luc – 2.0 (Naïve);
Mikael Mani Trio – Bobby (Smekkleysa); Lighthouse – Triple Amen (Kopasetic); The
Workshop – More Conversations With The Drum (Onze Heures Onze); Here’s To Us –
Animals, Wild and Tame (Hoob).
Gary Brunton, Simon Goubert & Bojan Z: Next Up
from Night Bus (Juste Une Trace)
Vorwarts Ruckwarts: Rewarding Environment from
Rewarding Environment (Trouble In The East)
Clair-Obscur: The Way of Adapting to Any Human
Being from The Camomille (QFTF)
Isabelle Olivier & Rez Abbasi: Cherry Blossom from
Oasis (Enja Yellowbird)
Joy Ellis: Veteran from Life on Land
(F-IRE)
Joy Ellis: Daffodils from Dwell (Oti-O)
Samba Azul: Mambembe from Samba Azul
(self-released)
Adalberto Ferrari 3 Ele-Ments: Mah from
Unstable Watercolors (Dodicilune)
Sirkis/Bialas IQ: If Pegasus Had One Wing (He
Would Fly In Spirals) from Our New Earth (Moonjune)
Vorwarts Ruckwarts: Sound Is All Around from
Rewarding Environment (Trouble In The East)
Matt Ulery: Nerve from Delicate Charms
(Woolgathering)
Elliot Galvin: Jackfruit from Modern Times
(Edition)
Frode Kjekstad: The Dark Hour from In
Essence (Losen)
Mortality: Mortality from Mortality
(Eclipse)
Gary Brunton, Simon Goubert & Bojan Z: Ready
For Riga from Night Bus (Juste Une Trace)
Harish Raghavan: Newe from Calls For Action
(Whirlwind)
Mike Nock, Hamish Stuart, Julien Wilson & Jonathan
Zwartz: Riverside from This World (Lionsharecords)
Florian Hoefner Trio: Calvary from First Spring (ALMA)
Fredrik Ljungkvist Trio: Flykt from
Atlantis (Moserobie)
Gwilym Simcock: Beautiful Is Our Moment Part II from
Near and Now (ACT)
Gwilym Simcock: You’re My You from Near and
Now (ACT)
Gwilym Simcock: Black Coffee from Blues
Vignette (Basho)
Okidiki: Le Voyage Improbable de L’Insondable
Haruki from When Oki Meets Doki (Linoleum)
Samba Azul: Casa Forte from Samba Azul
(self-released)
Fredrik Ljungkvist Trio: So-do-so-do-re from
Atlantis (Moserobie)
Florian Hoefner Trio: Hound’s Tune from
First Spring (ALMA)
Gebhard Ullmann, Hans Ludemann, Oliver Potratz &
Eric Schaefer: Enge Bewegnung from MikroPULS (Intuition)
Brian Groder Trio: Far Between from
Luminous Arcs (Latham)
Soren Siegumfeldt String Swing: Everybody Knows from
This Is Meschiya Lake (Stunt)
Escape Argot: Allowing (The Pride Question Mark) from
You Me Them (Traumton)
Marilyn Mazur, Fredrik Lundin & Kasper Bai:
Vibe from Maluba Orchestra (Stunt)
Richard Andersson & Immer Grun: Evidence from
What’s New (Hobby Horse)
Theo Ceccaldi Trio: Nin-Nin je T’aime from
Django (Brouhaha)
Lyder Ovreas Roed: The Moon Doesn’t Drink from
The Moon Doesn’t Drink (Jazzland)
Joy Ellis: Pollyanna from Dwell (Oti-O)
Rob Luft: Night Songs from Riser (Edition)
Alice Zawadzki: Superior Virtue from Within
You is a World of Spring (Whirlwind)
Magpie Trio: Autumn Leaves (unreleased)
Jim Rattigan’s Pavillon: Crout’n Confusion from
The Freedom of Movement (Three Worlds)
Fredrik Nordstrom, Palle Danielsson & Fredrik
Rundqvist: Kvarteret Oron from Svensk Standard (El Dingo)
Wojcinski / Szmanda Quartet: Conclusions from
With All Due Respect (Kansas)
Andrea Keller: Do Not Go Gentle from
Transients Vol 2 (self-released)
Aaron Novik: Sunset from Rotterdam
(self-released)
Aaron Novik: Garden from Rotterdam
(self-released)
Joachim Caffonnette Trio: Inner Necessity from
Vers L’Azur Noir (Neuklang)
Intro / Outro – Stephane Huchard: Jakawa Jungle
Spoon from Toutakoustiks (Blue Note Fr)
