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Jazz Articles about Wadada Leo Smith
Sylvie Courvoisier: Chimaera
by John Sharpe
Even though pianist Sylvie Courvoisier has bassist Drew Gress and drummer Kenny Wollesen on hand for Chimaera, the six-piece band is a long way from being merely the storied threesome, which made Double Windsor (Tzadik, 2014), D'Agala (Intakt, 2018) and Free Hoops (Intakt, 2020), plus added guests. As she explains in the liners, the music was originally commissioned for the 2021 Sons d'Hiver festival in Paris and was inspired by the surreal works of French Symbolist artist ...
Continue ReadingA Compilation Of New Releases From 2023 Including Cory Wong, Jizue And Matteo Mancusco
by Len Davis
Continuing our wrap of 2023 new releases including Wadada Leo Smith, Jizue, Cory Wong, Funky Knuckles and Marriage Material.Playlist Echoes of Zoo “Lizard Dance" from Speech of Species (W.E.R.E) 00:00 Wadada Leo Smith “Muhammad Ali and George Forman Rumble in Zaire" from Fire Illuminations (Kabel) 05:52 Cory Wong “Stomping Grounds" from The Power Station Tour (Roundwound) 11:46 Loam “Choose Your Fighter" from Featherbrained (Self Produced) 17:50 Jizue “Quindago" from Biotop (Victor)23:50 The Funky Knuckles “Back Meetings" from The ...
Continue ReadingSylvie Courvoisier: Chimaera
by Troy Dostert
It says something about pianist Sylvie Courvoisier's current profile in creative jazz that she could assemble such a distinguished ensemble for her latest release, Chimaera. Augmenting her usual trio of bassist Drew Gress and drummer Kenny Wollesen are trumpeters Wadada Leo Smith and Nate Wooley, and with the always interesting Christian Fennesz completing the group on guitar and electronics, one would expect extraordinary results. And so they are--worthy of a lengthy, two-CD treatment, in fact. Courvoisier's work with ...
Continue ReadingSatoko Fujii: Hyaku: One Hundred Dreams
by Alberto Bazzurro
Inciso al DiMenna Center di New York nel settembre 2022, questo album è forse il migliore, il più importante e ambizioso, realizzato dalla pianista giapponese in tempi recenti (e sappiamo quanto corposa sia la sua produzione da un po' di anni in qua). Basta, da subito, scorrere i nomi coinvolti nel progetto (in special modo il “grande vecchio" Wadada Leo Smith) per rendersene conto. La musica, poi, ci toglie da ogni dubbio o imbarazzo: siamo di fronte a un lavoro ...
Continue ReadingEuphorium_freakestra: Free Acoustic Supergroup
by Mark Corroto
Thanks to pianist and director Oliver Schwerdt, the Euphorium_freakestra is and always has been a glorious experiment in organized disorganization. The double CD Free Acoustic Supergroup is the ensemble's seventh release. Schwerdt's experiments began with the single disc Ðal Ngai (Euphorium Records, 2004) and eventually the group's 3-CD Grande Casino (Euphorium Records, 2018). Ðal Ngai included the guest artists Friedrich Schenker and Günter Baby Sommer. Other releases found the ensemble hosting musicians such as Thomas Lehn, Barry Guy, and Bertrand ...
Continue ReadingWadada Leo Smith, Greg Spero and Berklee Indian ensemble
by Len Davis
Wadada Leo Smith with his latest Fire Illuminations, the latest from guitarist Cory Wong, and pianist Greg Spero. UK band Loam from Featherbrained, Japanese band Jizue, and Drift Lab featuring guitarist Matteo Mancusco. The Berklee Indian Ensemble from Shuruaat. Plus MAMOGI with Mohini Dey and Austrian band EKKO 3 featuring guitarist Gerald Gradwohl.Playlist Echoes Of Zoo “Lizard Dance" from Speech Of Species (W.E.R.F Records) 00:00 Wadada Leo Smith “Muhammad Ali and George Forman Rumble in Zaire Africa" from ...
Continue ReadingTony Williams, Miles Electric Band & Wadada Leo Smith
by Joe Dimino
We begin the 801st Episode of Neon Jazz with the legendary trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith joined by his Orange Wave Electric honor the late, great Tony Williams. We follow that opener with a song from the early '70s Life Time. We also get some hip, new jazz infused music from Girls in Airports, Emily Braden and Miles Electric Band. We also hear some classic old school jazz from Clyde McCoy, Gary Peacock and Billie Holiday. Finally, we say goodbye to ...
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