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Lisa Ullén, Elsa Bergman, Anna Lund: Space

by John Sharpe
Although pianist Lisa Ullén, bassist Elsa Bergman and drummer Anna Lund supply a formidable bottom end to the surging horn polyphony of Anna Högberg's Attack, on Space they find an alternative means to convey emotion and rapport through collective improvisation. Across five studio tracks, the Swedish threesome practices an egalitarian creed which does not privilege any ...
Vilnius Mama Jazz Festival 2022

by John Sharpe
Vilnius Mama Jazz Festival National Drama Theater Lithuania May 27-29, 2022 Introduction It's a little known fact that Lithuania has more jazz festivals per capita than any other country. Prominent among them is the Mama Jazz Festival, held annually amid the baroque beauty of the capital Vilnius. And it says something ...
Zoh Amba: O Life, O Light Vol. 1

by John Sharpe
Since relocating to NYC from Tennessee, twenty one year old tenor saxophonist and flautist Zoh Amba has been keeping fast company. On her debut O Sun (Tzadik, 2022), in a sign of affirmation label boss John Zorn guests on one track, while O Life, O Light continues in the same vein as she helms a heavyweight ...
Cath Roberts & Olie Brice: Conduits

by John Sharpe
In some ways one could liken Conduits to a telephone call between two friends, given that it was recorded simultaneously over the internet at the homes of baritone saxophonist Cath Roberts and bassist Olie Brice who live some 60 miles apart in England. But, while the vibe is conversational, this being an instrumental exchange, it is ...
Potsa Lotsa XL & Youjin Sung: Gaya

by John Sharpe
German saxophonist Silke Eberhard received deserved plaudits for her trio effort Being The Up And Down (Intakt, 2021), but Potsa Lotsa, which has been one of her prime outlets for considerably longer, also merits attention. Originally a wind quartet convened to realize The Complete Works Of Eric Dolphy (Jazzwerkstatt, 2010), and named after one of his ...
Michael Bisio: Inimitable

by John Sharpe
Although unaccompanied recordings certainly had a moment during the pandemic, bassist Michael Bisio's Inimitable was actually recorded a few weeks before Covid upended the world. While he is a bandleader of some accomplishment, with a string of excellent albums from his quartet in the mid-2000s, and recent dates which include Row For William O (Relative Pitch, ...
Daniel Carter / Matthew Shipp / William Parker / Gerald Cleaver: Welcome Adventure! Vol. 2

by John Sharpe
Such is the magic of free jazz that even when uniting known quantities, the outcomes can still surprise and enchant. Welcome Adventure! Vol. 2 constitutes the second release from an October 2019 session which brought together four seasoned veterans of the NYC scene in reedman Daniel Carter, pianist Matthew Shipp, bassist William Parker and drummer Gerald ...
OGJB Quartet: Ode To O

by John Sharpe
An assemblage of stars doesn't always result in a constellation. But astronomers will need to take note in the case of the OGJB Quartet, called after the forename initials of the four members: reedman Oliver Lake, cornetist Graham Haynes, bassist Joe Fonda and drummer Barry Altschul. On the venerable collective's second album Ode To O following ...
Michael Bisio & Matthew Shipp: The Flow of Everything

by John Sharpe
Bassist Michael Bisio and pianist Matthew Shipp have enjoyed a near symbiotic relationship, ever since the former joined the latter's trio in 2009. The Flow Of Everything constitutes their third recording as a duet, following on from Floating Ice (Relative Pitch, 2012) and Live In Seattle (Arena Music Promotion, 2016), and maintains the preternaturally high standards ...
João Valinho / Luís Vicente / Salvoandrea Lucifora / Marcelo dos Reis: Light Machina

by John Sharpe
For discerning listeners, the presence on an album of the Portuguese double act of trumpeter Luís Vicente and guitarist Marcelo dos Reis is a near guarantee of excellence. They've appeared on a whole series of top drawer releases including Points (Multikulti Project, 2019), Chamber 4 (FMR, 2015) and For Sale (Clean Feed, 2015). To that roster ...