Recording News

Matthew Shipp - Art of the Improviser (Thirsty Ear, 2011) ****a1/2

Source: Free Jazz by Stef Gijssels
March 20, 2011

By Paul Acquaro It begins all sustain and fury, a forceful melody and thick harmony raining down. The strident melody of 'The New Fact' is unleashed on the first beat and driven even harder when the drums and bass join in. Then the floor drops out and pianist Matthew Shipp lays into a spirited improvisation that is buoyed by the restrained propulsion of the rhythm section. What a start to this recording—a two disc set of separate 2010 concert dates ...

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Jazz Song for Japan by Martin Taylor

Source: James Taylor
March 20, 2011

The massive earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck Japan on March 11th has caused widespread destruction and suffering, relayed on television screens around the world. Jazz guitarist Martin Taylor regularly tours Japan and is due to play in Tokyo on the 4th and 5th April with fellow guitarist Ulf Wakenius.

In order to help raise money for the people of Japan Martin has recorded a tune called “One Day" and is making it available for download. The download is only ...

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Living Room Spin: Cuong Vu 4-Tet - Leaps of Faith

Source: Jazz Online By Joseph Vella
March 19, 2011

One of my favorite pastimes is to gather a few friends in my living room with some good food and drink to hang out and listen to a new jazz recording. Just take it all in and then talk about our impressions of what we heard. So instead of keeping it a small and private affair, I have decided to open my living room and invite the Jazz Online community to participate through an ongoing feature I'm calling the Living ...

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Steve Kuhn: Non-Fiction (ECM 1124)

Source: Between Sound and Space - An ECM Records Resource
March 19, 2011

Steve Kuhn Non-Fiction

Steve Kuhn piano, percussion Steve Slagle soprano and alto saxophones, flute, percussion Harvie Swartz bass Bob Moses drums Recorded April 1978 at Tonstudio Bauer, Ludwigsburg Produced by Manfred Eicher

Steve Kuhn is the all-purpose element: his presence heightens any musical concoction. Like no jazz pianist I know, he is aware of the negative spaces between his notes and shapes those spaces to suit ...

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A New Recording of Schumann's Scenes from Faust

Source: Gapplegate Music Review by Grego Edwards
March 19, 2011

Classical music acolytes will know that Robert Schumann (1810-1856) fashioned a cornerstone of the romantic era repertoire primarily via his four symphonies, his concerto for piano and the one for cello, his lieder, his solo piano music and his chamber works. Compositions for vocal soloists, choir and orchestra are rather few and for the most part underperformed. So when a new recording of his Scenes from Goethe's Faust (2-CD Naxos 8.572430-31) becomes available, it is an occasion. The version at ...

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Oluyemi Thomas, Sirone and Michael Wimberly - Beneath Tones Floor (No Business, 2010)

Source: Music and More by Tim Niland
March 19, 2011

Combining the beauty of art, poetry and music this beautiful package (available as compact disc or LP) makes for a fitting send off for the great bassist Sirone who passed away not long after this recording was completed. Along with Sirone's deep and resonant bass, the musicians in this collective performance include Oluyemi Thomas on bass clarinet, flute, soprano, musette and percussion (he also composed the music) and Michael Wimberly on drums and percussion. Like the meditative poem that is ...

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Noel Taylor and Alberto Popolla - All Fall Down (Citystream, 2010) ****

Source: Free Jazz by Stef Gijssels
March 19, 2011

By Joe Higham This 14 track CD is possibly one of the most delightful wind duos I've heard for a long time, and it's easy listening! By using the words easy listening I'm certainly not trying to evoke the image of James Last or Bert Kaempfert, here we have music that whilst pushing at barriers is quite unpretentious, even the length of the tunes is very modest, with the majority of the pieces having an average of 2 to 3 ...

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Hot Tuna: Steady as She Goes

Source: JamBase
March 18, 2011

FIRST ALL-NEW STUDIO ALBUM IN 20 YEARS

Hot Tuna are set to release their new album Steady As She Goes on April 5. The release marks their first set of original material in twenty years. Click here for pre-orders.

Produced by Larry Campbell, mainstays Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady are joined by Barry Mitterhoff on mandolin and Skoota Warner on drums. Check out the tracklist and see Hot Tuna at one of their record release shows. All dates are below. ...

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