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Elias Stemeseder / Christian Lillinger: Umbra II
by John Sharpe
Austrian pianist Elias Stemeseder and German drummer Christian Lillinger capture the Zeitgeist in a nervy, occasionally anxiety inducing, pairing under the moniker Umbra. Although extant as a duet, they often supplement the numbers with like-minded collaborators, and on Umbra II trumpeter Peter Evans and bassist Russell Hall take to the full on interaction like ducks to water. Unlike their debut recording, this time out they swear off the electronics for an all acoustic outing, although, truth be told, such is ...
Continue ReadingStemeseder Lillinger Quartet feat. Peter Evans & Russell Hall: Umbra II
by Glenn Astarita
Imagine a musical universe where jazz's avant-garde explorers join forces with the precision of Swiss watchmakers. In this paradoxical realm, the Stemeseder Lillinger Quartet thrives, crafting intricate sonic tapestries that defy conventional melodic structures. At the helm of this audacious ensemble are Elias Stemeseder (piano) and Christian Lillinger (drums), two maverick minds whose collaborative chemistry could power a small city. The Quartet features Russell Hall (bass) and Peter Evans (trumpet), crafting a complex and intriguing follow-up album with Umbra II. ...
Continue ReadingRiley Mulherkar: Riley
by Jerome Wilson
Trumpeter Riley Mulherkar is best known as the leader of brass group the Westerlies. This, his debut solo album, is a heavily atmospheric session where his trumpet fills plush, cushioned spaces with spare accompaniment from piano, rhythm and voice created by the sound designs of Chris Pattishall and Rafiq Bhatia. With several classic tunes in the set list, this album acknowledges the jazz trumpet tradition even as it subtly distorts it. “Chicken Coop Blues" and Jelly Roll Morton's ...
Continue ReadingRiley Mulherkar: Riley
by Vincenzo Roggero
Il nome di Riley Mulherkar potrebbe risultare sconosciuto ai più, ma il trentaduenne trombettista originario di Seattle presenta un percorso artistico di tutto rispetto. Vanta due mentori come Wynton Marsalis e il compianto Frank Kimbrough, collaborazioni con musicisti come Theo Bleckmann e Dave Douglas e soprattutto è co-fondatore di Westerlies, il quotato quartetto di ottoni con nove album alle spalle e una miscela esplosiva di tradizione e modernità. Tradizione e modernità che ritroviamo anche nell'album di debutto ...
Continue ReadingBenny Benack III: Third Time's The Charm
by Jack Bowers
While it remains to be seen whether rising star Benny Benack III's third album as leader is a charm (that is up to the listener), it is definitely a charmer, with delightful turns by trumpeter (and vocalist) Benack and pianist Emmet Cohen complementing stellar performances by a number of well-known and talented guest artists. This is basically a quintet date (Benack, Cohen, tenor saxophonist Ruben Fox, bassist Russell Hall, drummer Kyle Poole) enriched by star turns along ...
Continue ReadingBenny Benack III: Third Time's The Charm
by Dan Bilawsky
Though the title of this third album from multihyphenate Benny Benack III might imply misfires with his first two go-rounds, the truth really runs contrary to that line of reasoning. One of a Kind (BB3, 2017), while flying under the radar, introduced some listeners to a talent far too large to be contained; and A Lot of Livin' To Do (La Reserve, 2020) proved to be a strong follow-up statement, earning greater attention and acclaim for a dashing leading man ...
Continue ReadingTyshawn Sorey Trio +1 (with Greg Osby): The Off-Off Broadway Guide to Synergism
by Troy Dostert
Even for a musician who thrives on unsettling expectations, Tyshawn Sorey's Mesmerism (Yeros7 Music, 2022) caught a lot of listeners by surprise. The inimitable drummer's recordings have long occupied that amorphous space between avant-garde jazz and contemporary classical music, and “accessibility" has rarely been the term of choice for his creative output. But utilizing a trio format including pianist Aaron Diehl and bassist Matt Brewer, the album offered six remarkable renderings of classic jazz repertoire, including such time-worn standards as ...
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