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Manny Kellough: Speaking of Jazz (East to West Coast)
by Richard J Salvucci
If you are looking for some small group jazz that is relaxed but swinging, Manny Kellough, Billy Preston's drummer, has put together a nice package of standards and originals for your listening enjoyment. While the ensemble work is, to put it plainly, not tight, the instrumental solos are good and, at times, outstanding. Alto saxophonist Antonio ...
Whit Dickey / William Parker / Matthew Shipp: Village Mothership
by John Sharpe
Village Mothership presents a constellation of stars which first assembled some three decades ago. Although released on drummer Whit Dickey's Tao Forms imprint, on this 2020 studio date the trio, completed by bassist William Parker and pianist Matthew Shipp, manifests as a cooperative effort, unlike their first appearance on Circular Temple (Quinton, 1990) under Shipp's leadership. ...
Michael Eckroth Group: Plena
by Dan Bilawsky
Michael Eckroth had clear goals in mind for this project--"to create music that was lyrical, modern, true to its Afro-Latin roots, but never purist in its approach"--and he's accomplished his mission with gusto. Through Plena, this Grammy-nominated pianist/composer delivers a program of original music that, while acknowledging folkloric traditions, doesn't buy into their formal strictures and ...
Pedro Melo Alves: Lumina
by Mark Corroto
If the title was not already taken by author Dave Eggers, Portuguese drummer and composer Pedro Melo Alves might have titled this recording A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. During a brief reprieve from the global pandemic, in November 2020, Melo Alves presented the 22-piece Omniae Large Ensemble at the Centro Cultural Vila Flor in Guimarães, ...
The Rodger Fox Big Band: Plays New Zealand
by Jack Bowers
Even though such news would hardly make a ripple beyond the South Pacific, trombonist Rodger Fox's superlative big band was nearing its golden anniversary when Plays New Zealand was recorded in 2021. As the milestone loomed only two years in the distance, Fox decided it was time the band produced an album devoted entirely to new ...
Michael Robinson: A Parrot Sipping Tea
by Hrayr Attarian
Over the past several years, composer and keyboardist Michael Robinson has delved deep into the South Asian musical traditions. Using his own invention, the Meruvina, he creates, digitally enhanced, soundscapes filled with mysticism and spirituality. On A Parrot Sipping Tea he continues his explorations in the form of a singular interpretation of the traditional Indian raga, ...
Aye! Mirjam Hassig: Coralland
by Bruce Lindsay
Coralland is the debut album from Ayé! Mirjam Hässig, a quartet led by the young Swiss vocalist and composer Mirjam Hässig. An intense, atmospheric and often haunting recording, it combines original music with original lyrics or with lyrics drawn from classic poetry. The quartet's instrumental mix is unusual: electronic effects, harp and ukulele join a more ...
Malcolm Jiyane Tree-O: Umdali
by Ian Patterson
Umdali may be the debut as leader of South African trombonist and visual artist Malcolm Jiyane (Tree-O is the name of his band), but one listen to the music--somber and uplifting in turn, gossamer soft and rousing at the poles--is sufficient to recognize his singular talent. Recorded in Johannesburg at the tail end of 2018 with ...
Sverre Gjørvad: Time To Illuminate Earth
by Pat Youngspiel
Recorded in July 2021, mixed and mastered in September and released in October. Now that's what a tight release schedule looks like. Frisellian shimmer and sparsely percussive drumming return on Sverre Gjørvad's follow-up to the surprisingly resonant Elegy of Skies (Losen Records, 2020). The short period of time it took to produce Time To Illuminate Earth ...
Nicole Henry: Time To Love Again
by Richard J Salvucci
Nicole Henry has been making a lot of noise, nicely, with her latest album. It is easy to see why. While critics compare her to everyone from Natalie Cole to Whitney Houston, she really does sound like herself. She swings elegantly and does not oversing. Her intonation, diction and phrasing are impeccable. ...
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