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Jazz Articles about Wadada Leo Smith
Satoko 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 ...
Continue ReadingWadada Leo Smith, Aruan Ortiz & Neill Duncan
by Maurice Hogue
I know that the official International Jazz Day is April 30th, but around the One Man's Jazz HQ, pretty much every show features international artists. This episode is no exception with music from artists representing 14 different countries over the 23 tracks. Heading the list is the unstoppable Wadada Leo Smith with a new band called Orange Wave Electric. The last word in the name is the clue as to the direction Smith takes on Fire Illuminations. Pianist Aruan Ortiz ...
Continue ReadingWadada Leo Smith: Fire Illuminations
by Mike Jurkovic
Eighty-one year old trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith comes out flaring like Bitches Brew era Miles Davis, as Fire Illuminations jumps the funk rock from the break of the muscular conflagration “Ntozake." And the grunge jazz clips along as guitarists Nels Cline, Brandon Ross, and Lamar Smith vie, bite, sting, and quarrel over an insistent bass drum power-groove courtesy of bassists Bill Laswell and Melvin Gibbs, percussionist Mauro Refosco, drummer Pheeroan aKlaff, and the deep space electronics of Hardedge.
Continue ReadingWadada Leo Smith: Fire Illuminations
by Dan McClenaghan
Trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith fronts lots of different bands and puts out lots of albums. After a busy period when he released five boxed sets, totaling 27 CDs, here he debuts his new all-star ensemble Orange Wave Electric, with the download-only offering, Fire Illuminations. As the band name implies, the sound is electric, featuring three electric guitarists, two electric bassists and an electronicist, joining the leader's horn, percussionist Mauro Refosco and drummer Pheeroan aKLaff. For comparison's sake--and using ...
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