D. D. Jackson, Asher Gamedze & Caroline Davis

A big "welcome back" to pianist D.D. Jackson who's not been heard much on recordings for the last several years. He returned to his native Canada to make Poetry Project, inspired by a commission received during the pandemic to compose music for a poem written by former poet laureate George Elliott Clarke. That led to Clarke creating a curated list of other Canadian poetry for D.D. to set to music. Also featured in this episode, South African drummer Asher Gamedze's latest; he's joined by the Black Lungs Ensemble for another powerful statement. Another impressive follow-up album stands out as well—saxophonist Caroline Davis' Portals Vol. 2—Returning. It too has a connection to poetry. Davis created a tribute to a major inspiration, her grandmother, British poet Joan "Lady" Anson-Webber. Other albums to take note of include drummer Devin Gray's outspoken Melt All The Guns II, fiery trumpeter Peter Evans' Extra, the Satoko Fujii Quartet, and Open Thread, a meeting of Canadian and Australian avant-garde players. Much more to keep your ears busy too.

Playlist

• Marty Ehrlich Rites Quartet "Ballade" from Frog Leg Logic (Clean Feed) 00:00
• Nacka Forum "Graden Pa Moset" from Peaceful Piano (Moserobie) 10:38
• Host speaks 16:39
• Asher Gamedze & The Black Lungs Ensemble "Find Each Other" from Constitution (International Anthem) 19:17
• Asher Gamedze & The Black Lungs Ensemble "Determining Facts" from Constitution (International Anthem) 23:02
• Kris Davis Trio "Knotweed" from Run The Gauntlet (Pyroclastic) 39:34
• Host speaks 47:37
• Devin Gray "Melt All The Guns II" from Melt All The Guns II (Rataplan) 49:17
• Linda Sikhakhane "Ukukhushulwa" from Iladi (Blue Note) 55:06
• Kojato and the Afro Latin Cougaritas & The Kojato and the Afro Latin Cougaritas "All About Jazz" from All About Jazz (Buyu Records) 1:00:45
• Host speaks 1:05:35
• Peter Evans "Boom" from Extra (We Jazz) 1:07:18
• Samuel Blaser, Marc Ducret &Peter Bruun "Dark Was The Night" from Dark Was The Night (Blaser Music) 1:12:59
• Jumaane Smith "Come On Home" from Come On Home (Zinn Music) 1:18:30
• Host speaks 1:23:45
• D. D. Jackson "Alternative Current" from Poetry Project (Self-released) 1:26:14
• D. D. Jackson "Coda The Blues" from Poetry Project (Self-released) 1:31:55
• Lac Lu "Winter Fog Morning Part 1" from Lac Lu (Pukeko) 1:36:51
• Host speaks 1:43:04
• Caroline Davis "Gate Of The Year" from Portals Vol. 2—Returning (Intakt) 1:45:38
• Caroline Davis "City Flora" from Portals Vol. 2—Returning (Intakt) 1:51:31
• Satoko Fujii Quartet "Metropolitan Expressway" from Dog Days Of Summer (Libra) 1:56:39
• Host speaks 2:05:04
• Peggy Lee, Julian Wilson, Theo Carbo & Dylan van der Schyff "Lore" from Open Thread (Earshift) 2:07:18