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Luzia von Wyl Ensemble: Frost
by Glenn Astarita
The age-old debate, regarding the pros and cons of melding classical music with other genres will live on. And of course, the oil and water analogies will be discussed as many hybrid encounters may seem contrived, evidenced by hard-rock guitar solos wailing above syrupy strings arrangements or abstract scenarios where free-jazz soloists merge chamber music and ...
Bly De Blyant: Hindsight Bias
by Glenn Astarita
This genre-leaping international trio is fronted by Norwegian drummer Øyvind Skarbø, and features Icelandic guitarist Hilmar Jensson (TYFT, Jim Black's AlasNoAxis) and Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily (Marc Ribot, John Zorn). With its second album, the trio's enterprising electro-organic mix proffers a sense of adventure via these compact and disparate pieces, underscored by memorable themes, which is ...
Ensemble Super Moderne: Ensemble Super Moderne
by Glenn Astarita
Portugal has become a state-of-the-art hotbed for creative jazz musicians and improvisers, duly represented by driving forces such as the Clean Feed record label. And Ensemble Super Moderne is another exciting Portuguese unit that skirts the outside realm by surging into ultra-progressive modern jazz persuasions. Hence, this self-titled album, housed in an oversized 45RPM sized CD ...
Friends & Neighbors: Hymn For A Hungry Nation
by Glenn Astarita
This Norwegian band derives its moniker from one of saxophonist Ornette Coleman's slightly overlooked units Friends and Neighbors, culminating in the 1970 release Live At Prince Street on the Flying Dutchman label. But the impetus for the ensemble's doctrine resides in the expressive 60s era where Coleman, and other like-minded pioneers often ravaged conventional sensibilities of ...
Fish On Friday: Godspeed
by Glenn Astarita
Fish on Friday is a highly focused multinational progressive rock band and not necessarily alluding to a Friday fish fry during the Christian observances of Lent. You won't detect any filler material on this meticulously produced album, spanning alternative, Indie and progressive rock via soothing vocals and engaging harmonic content. Occasionally, the musicians instill memories of ...
Evan Parker - Paul Dunmall - Tony Bianco: Extremes
by Glenn Astarita
In the album notes, eminent drummer Tony Bianco advises that the various discourses of this program “were about the times we live in." It's a fitting correlation to the album moniker, featuring two legendary British improvisers, saxophonists Paul Dunmall and Evan Parker engaging in kinetic and at times, calamitous dialogues. Moreover, the Canadian label Red Toucan ...
Kenny Wheeler: Songs for Quintet
by Glenn Astarita
Songs for Quintet marks celebrated Kenny Wheeler's final recording. He passed away on Sept 18, 2014. And while it's quite apparent that a lengthy illness zapped some of the trumpeter/flugelhornist's strength, his hallmark musical persona remained intact. Wheeler's yearning notes, distinctive phrasings and enchanting lyricism are resident throughout this production. In the '70s, Wheeler ...
Equilibrium: Liquid Light
by Glenn Astarita
This European trio's third release is abetted by Songlines Recordings' pristine audio processes, which is a vital aspect since many of these tracks are quietly penetrating in scope and designed with ethereal atmospherics. The artists' specialty may lie within an artsy, avant-garde schema via a channel of electro-acoustic tone poems, enamored by Sissel Vera Pettersen's luminous ...
PC Energetic: Illusion
by Glenn Astarita
Young German guitar-slinger Philip Czarnecki's influences derive from the rock and jazz idioms, duly exercised on his quite laudable debut album. He communicates a comprehensive scope and vivid imaginative powers via a mature outlook while working within hard-hitting jazz fusion, funk and slamming rock grooves. His fluent jazz articulations and shifting thematic overtures pose a sense ...
ZZ Quartet: Beyond the Lines
by Glenn Astarita
Three Europeans and celebrated American drummer Adam Nussbaum stir up some chutzpah via the guitar-accordion based format. In recent times the accordion's role in jazz-centric vernaculars has been expanding. And while this quartet doesn't invent a newfound genre, its spunky and articulate disposition, containing all original compositions engender a sophisticated outlook. With alternating tempos and several ...
