Silvain Beuf - Plenitude (2015)

Label:

Source: Citizen Jazz

Plénitude, en effet, est le mot juste. Ce disque diffuse une belle ampleur, dans un souffle de ténor qui emporte tout le quartet. C’est le but, certes ; on ne l’atteint pas si souvent avec une telle tonicité. Ces amis là ne regimbent en rien, ni dans la fluidité du jeu, ni dans la cohérence du propos – les compositions étant toutes, sauf une, de Sylvain Beuf. Voilà qui aide à l’unité stylistique. Trois années de tournées ont donné de la consistance à l’aventure, parsemée de rock et de pop – et même de jazz, surtout de jazz évidemment, qui absorbe tout sur son passage, affaire de gènes. Il y a de l’électricité dans cet air-là, nourri d’un lointain « bulletin météo », ma foi bien frappé. (Irish Walk)
Manu Codjia fournit la couleur de ses touches toujours lumineuses. Philippe Bussonnet et Julien Charlet accrochent la rythmique à une solide charpente. Et voguent les lampions (Moon on the Sea, très punchy). Open Mind vire vers le rock, tandis que le soprano supplante le ténor d’une acidité discrète.
Soudain surgit le cinquième élément, Laurent Coulondre et son orgue, invités heureux dans ce Christmas Song tout en subtilité profonde.
Ce qu’on appelle un beau disque, encore un. Gérard Ponthieu

1. Mon ange
2. Matoubi 2. Matoubi
3. Clark and division 3. Clark and division
4. Christmas song 4. Christmas song
5. Moon on the sea 5. Moon on the sea
6. Open mind 6. Open mind
7. Irish walk 7. Irish walk
8. Enigmatic 8. Enigmatic
9. Lincoln park south 9. Lincoln park south

Sylvain Beuf (ts,ss)
Manu Codjia (el.g)
Julien Charlet (dm)
Philippe Bussonnet (el.b)
Laurent Coulondre (kb, org) 

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Florent Nisse - Aux Mages (2014)

Label: Moose

Source: Mozaïc Jazz

 Quelques semaines seulement après la sortie du disque Layers de David Enhco qui faisait l’objet du précédent post, le label Nome présente sa seconde référence, le premier disque sous son nom de Florent Nisse. Ce disque ne cache pas son jeu. Au premier coup d’œil, on sait à quoi s’en tenir. Le jeu de mot de son titre ainsi que la présence dans le line up de deux musiciens qui accompagnèrent à de nombreuses occasions Paul Motian laissent penser, à juste titre, que c’est dans le giron esthétique du batteur américain que se situera la musique. Auteur des notes de pochettes, Guilhem Flouzat évoque également Charlie Haden et Bill Frisell, deux artistes qui ont manifestement nourri la musique de Florent Nisse et de se ses complices.


Motian, Haden, Frisell, ces joailliers, ces magiciens… C’est merveilleux d’entendre les jeunes musiciens d’aujourd’hui s’approprier leur musique avec tant de naturel et de talent. Car ce disque, si vous ne l’aviez pas encore compris, est une de ces petites perles qu’on souhaite à tout le monde de découvrir. Pourtant, le pari était osé… Pensez-donc ! Faire un premier disque avec une majorité de titres calmes, atmosphériques, en préserver l’indispensable légèreté malgré la présence de deux instruments harmoniques, accueillir et aménager une place importante à deux invités de marque tout en assurant une dynamique collective… On peut imaginer conditions plus simples. C’est au prix de cette audace que les dix morceaux qui composent ce recueil se hissent à un tel niveau d’excellence. La musique coule, circule magnifiquement. Parfois elle se densifie, notamment sur les titres plus rythmés comme « H Code » ou « Intrépide », parfois elle s’aère, s’étiole même, jusqu’à ce qu’un simple fil mélodique ne sépare l’auditeur des abîmes du silence, ce qui confère à « Ombre et brouillard » son charme mystérieux. Quelques accords égrainés à la guitare sur fond de grelots, un solo de contrebasse suspendu, poésie de l’infiniment simple. La capacité du quintet à trouver un juste milieu entre le « jeu plein » et le minimalisme est une réelle force. La musique est posée, mais chargée de cette intensité que savent générer les groupes quand leur propos collectif est régi par un interplay subtil, parfois presque imperceptible. Les notes sont choisies, les interventions toujours mesurées, toujours utiles. Il faut dire que le socle du quintet est une équipe soudée qui se connaît bien puisqu’on retrouve aux côtés du contrebassiste Gautier Garrigue et Maxime Sanchez, qui font partie des heureux fondateurs du jeune label, et qui font la route ensemble dans différents contextes, mais notamment avec Flash Pig. La famille, quoi. A cette base indéboulonnable viennent s’ajouter deux musiciens sublimes : Jakob Bro et Chris Cheek.


Le guitariste danois partage bien des choses avec Bill Frisell, d’ailleurs. Notamment du temps, puisqu’il joue régulièrement avec lui au sein de ses propres projets. Bro fut un des guitaristes de l’Electric Be Bop Band de Motian, et le batteur fit également partie de son groupe, celui qui enregistra le très beau Balladeering, un album tout en finesse que je trouve proche par sa qualité et sa poésie du présent disque. Mais au delà des rencontres et des collaborations, il y a une forme d’évidence : Bro est un héritier de Frisell. L’un des seuls à mon sens qui sache si bien faire s’envoler par delà l’atmosphère terrestre les lignes de Blues. Mes propos croisent ceux de Guilhem Flouzat mais vous ne vous en rendrez compte que quand vous tiendrez entre vos mains cette belle galette : le solo du guitariste sur « H Code » est fantastique, simple, chantant et aérien. Bro est partout mais sa présence est discrète. C’est en parfaite intelligence qu’il noue son jeu à celui de l’excellent Maxime Sanchez. Tous deux sont à l’origine d’un impressionnant travail de fond. Je note au passage que le pianiste, instrumentiste raffiné, s’illustre une fois encore par la qualité de son écriture, tout comme Nisse. Signées de l’un ou de l’autre, les compositions sont très belles et recèlent de savoureux mouvements harmoniques, comme une maison d’architecte riche en fenêtres à ouvrir. Elles semblent en tous cas inspirer Chris Cheek, qui impose avec une autorité tranquille un son qui laisse rêveur, charnu, ample, rond, chaleureux. Son phrasé est à l’avenant, un modèle de jeu non précipité, où chaque prise de parole est une histoire, contée avec passion mais sans théâtralité abusive ni excès de vitesse. Tout cela est subtilement porté par Nisse et Garrigue, que je me garderai bien de comparer aux figures tutélaires évoquées. Parce que j’occulterais dès lors la part d’eux qui, indéniablement, contribue à donner à cet hommage  ses allures de pierre précieuse.

1  Eternal Thursday
2  A la pluie
3  H Code
4  Ombre et brouillard
5  Intrépide
6  Rêve normal
7  Image F
8  A Way Away
9  Des lits d'initiés
10 Priceless
 

Chris Cheek : saxophone ténor
Jakob Bro : guitare
Maxime Sanchez : piano
Florent Nisse : contrebasse
Gautier Garrigue : batterie 

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Doug Johns - Vodka in the Woodpile (2016)

Label: Self Released

Source: Doug Johns

Genre: Jazz-funk

Musician Doug Johns knows it’s all about the rhythm. After four solo recordings (Doug Johns, Pocket Fulla Nasty, Stank, and Blomp!), Doug is ready to invite listeners inside for his most autobiographical work to date, Vodka in the Woodpile.
Released on April 15, 2016, Vodka in the Woodpile reveals an unexpected new sound for the Cleveland bassist as he shares a sense of his life’s influences beyond the funk-bass standard. Doug kicks off the recording with a banjo in his hands on “Old Woman Creek,” salutes Rock and Roll in an energetic tribute to “Free Ride,” and still doesn’t miss a beat with his classic, full band funky sound in tracks like “Tricerafunk.”
Vodka in the Woodpile features performances with many of Doug Johns’ now-signature artists, including Jordan Simmons on Drums, Kenny Anderson and Joe Miller on Horns, and Oz Noy on Guitar. A special appearance from drummer icon Dennis Chambers and assistant production by Denali are Vodka highlights not to be missed.
Doug Johns has long been known for his deep groove and his open, sharing approach to music and life. Bass Player Magazine on Johns: “One of the most credit–deserving bass virtuosos in America…it’s his inventiveness that’s consistently compelling.”

1. Old Woman Creek
2. Tricerafunk
3. Free Ride
4. Happy Family
5. Make the Music Feel Good
6. Nemo 1934
7. Fairwood Blvd
8. Vodka in the Woodpile
9. Ode to the River
10. Berlin
11. Dominicana

Doug Johns
Jordan Simmons
Kenny Anderson
George McSears
Joe Miller
Rafael Guzman Jr.
Bri Bryant
Utah Witherspoon
Dennis Chambers
Steve Herrman
Oz Noy

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Giovanni Francesca - Rame (2015)

Label:

Source: Bird is the Worm

This is one of those albums that radiates a mysterious beauty.  There’s nothing straight-forward about Rame.  Guitarist Giovanni Francesca cloaks gorgeous melodies within harmonies that waver and bend and fade, and wraps it all up with obscure cadences that keep the ear guessing just enough to pull the listener up close.  It’s one of those albums that makes sense after its been revealed, from moment to moment, in a perpetual state of guessing.

With its electronics & effects, and an instrumentation that accompanies a drums & bass duo with a violinist, trombonist, and Francesca’s electric guitar, there’s some lines of comparability to be drawn between this album and Bill Frisell’s Nonesuch Records output.  But those lines speak as much to the spirit of invention as they do the sonic qualities of the two musicians’ respective sounds, and it’s why the sense of familiarity is a subtle comfort when encountering this album.

“Gocce” and “Novela” is all about the slow, sweet exhalation of melody.  It’s a quality common to most of this album, and the former bolsters it with a rising intensity, whereas the latter possesses the disposition of a bedtime story.  “Nuda” brings the noise, but slowly, one step after the other.  Conversely, “Neve” gets the pulse rate up with a chipper tempo and solos that ride the crests of motion.  The acoustic guitar of “Tuba” is a lovely light-and-shadow contrast with the soaring passages from trombone.  It’s effect is no less gripping when violin is guitar’s dance partner on “Rom.”

“Lite” has an appealing saunter, occasionally broken by a burst of melodic ferocity, whereas with “Greta,” the melody is whistled out like a song.  The quintet’s playful side comes out strong on “Sentinelle,” and on album finale “Atollo,” the quintet makes time to reveal all the different facets that drive this terribly compelling recording. 

1. Gocce 05:16
2. Novela 04:41
3. Nuda 05:20
4. Neve 05:30
5. Tuba 03:20
6. Rom 05:30
7. Lite 03:38
8. Greta 04:39
9. Sentinelle 05:10
10.Atollo 06:02
   

Giovanni Francesca - chitarra
Raffaele Tiseo - violino
Alessandro Tedesco - trombone
Dario Miranda - basso
Aldo Galasso - batteria

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Pierre Perchaud / Nicolas Moreaux / Jorge Rossy Trio - FOX (2016)

Source & Label: jazz&people

FOX is a new trio set up by two of the most lyrical French jazz musicians, guitarist Pierre Perchaud and bass player Nicolas Moreaux with the great Jorge Rossy, the original drummer from the Brad Mehldau Trio.

« Ce trio offre un propos audacieux et beau. Comme ce disque. » — Jazz News "Indispensable"

« Fox est une œuvre qui frappe par sa beauté alanguie, la clarté de son parti pris esthétique, loin de toute emphase, de toute virtuosité démonstrative » — Jazz Magazine * * * *

« Un nouveau signe de la belle santé du jeune jazz français. » — RTL "L'Heure du jazz"

« Un trio de très haut vol, qui nous entraîne en douceur (mais sans résistance possible) vers les confins du bonheur musical. » — DNJ

« La cohésion et la magie sonore de ce brillant triumvirat captivent dès les premières secondes. » — Guitarist

"C’est qu’elle est rusée, décidément, cette musique." Djam

« Go get this album. » — Bird is the Worm 

1. Paloma 05:20
2. And I Love Her 04:11
3. Fox 05:19
4. Vol de nuit 06:32
5. Strange Animal 05:19
6. Moon Palace 04:44
7. Pour Henri 05:07
8. Whisperings 04:50
9. Ya-Ya 05:27
10.Paloma Soñando 04:31
   

Pierre Perchaud, guitar
Nicolas Moreaux, bass
Jorge Rossy, drums

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Kevin Golden Trio - Pelham Parkway (2016)

Label: Self Released

 Source: Cdbaby

Pelham Parkway captures the Kevin Golden Trio performing 7 originals penned by Kevin Golden in the tradition of the guitar/organ trio reminiscent of the style of the legendary Grant Green. Kevin Golden is on guitar, along with Akiko Tsuruga on organ, and Peter Grant on drums. The session was recorded at the legendary Tedesco Studios in Paramus, NJ, by Tommy Tedesco in February 2016.

Golden is a long time journeyman of the NYC and Hudson Valley NY jazz scene and has been playing jazz for over 27 years in the Hudson Valley and greater NYC area. He often plays with the Steve Kaiser Quartet in the NYC club scene. Guitarist Golden style is influenced by Grant Green, Rene Thomas, and Joshua Breakstone. Golden is also the guitarist for Michael’s Jazz Quartet on the recording "Woody-n-Me" released in 2007 and is co-author of song "Golden Opportunity", 2nd place winner in 2008 Independent Music Awards for Jazz Song of the Year. Golden also wrote "Say What You Mean", which was chosen as an All About Jazz website "Download of the Day", and is currently available online under the Steve Kaiser Quartet.

Akiko Tsuruga (aka "Queen of the Jazz Organ") has been a mainstay on the New York jazz scene since 2001. Akiko has released five albums in Japan and four in the U.S. Both of her first two US releases, “Sweet and Funky” and “Oriental Express” (18th & Vine Records), have ranked within top 20 on the national jazz radio charts.

Akiko has been regular on the DownBeat magazine critics poll since 2008. In 2012, she placed 6th in the Rising Star category of the magazine along with ranking in the readers poll. DownBeat Magazine and Keyboard Magazine have featured articles on Akiko. Her third US album, “Sakura” released in 2012 scored 7th on the national Jazz radio chart. Her latest album, “Commencement”, released on August 20th, 2014 both in the U.S. and in Japan, ranked 4th in the Jazz Week Chart.

Drummer Peter Grant was born and raised in New York City and studied at the Manhattan School of Music. Peter is a creative and versatile musician who has been in demand in the New York recording studios and clubs for 35 years. He has performed in venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to the Blue Note to Royal Albert Hall, the Mount Fuji Jazz Festival in Japan, the Monterey Jazz Festival and the White House.

Grant has played on over 40 recordings with such artists as Gerry Mulligan , Peggy Lee , New York Voices , Harvie Swartz and Rodney Jones. Live performance credits include gigs with Astrud Gilberto, Peter Cincotti, Ben E. King, Dave Samuels and European tours with Bob Dorough and Linda Hopkins.

1. Market Square
2. Let's Do This
3. JJ's Smove Groove
4. Pelham Parkway
5. Where Are They Now
6. Let's Make the Time
7. Cherry Pie
    

Kevin Golden (guitar)
Akiko Tsuruga (organ)
Peter Grant (drums) 

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Dynamic Les Demerle Band - Comin' Home Baby (Origin 2016)

Source & Label: Origin Records

“In the same way that, say, Art Blakey or Buddy Rich drove their bands, DeMerle establishes an undeniable presence...”
- JAZZ REVIEW

Captured live in the jazz room of the Celebrity Eclipse Cruise Ship while sailing the Baltics, "Comin' Home Baby" is the Dynamic Les DeMerle Band's ninth recording on Origin, and its tightest - grooving hard, the music hot and sweet, swinging and soulful. Featured beside Les DeMerle's fiery drumming are his and Bonnie Eisele's equally dynamic vocals, as they perform classics such as "Steppin' Out With My Baby," "Learnin' The Blues," "Day In - Day Out," "High Fly," and more. "After hearing this quartet live for 12 nights with Les' tight group and the wonderful vocals of Bonnie Eisele, I can honestly say that I am truly a fan..." - George Wein, Newport Jazz Festival.

01. Shiny Stockings (4:44)
02. All That Jazz (2:30)
03. Steppin’ Out With My Baby (3:03)
04. The Good Life, I Wanna Be Around (3:49)
05. High Fly (5:09)
06. Day In Day Out (3:41)
07. It’s Only A Paper Moon (3:01)
08. The Girl From Ipanema (4:48)
09. The Nearness Of You (4:49)
10. All Right, Ok, You Win (3:16)
11. I Love Being Here With You (2:24)
12. Early In The Morning (3:22)
13. Meditation (4:13)
14. Frim Fram Sauce (3:37)
15. Peel Me A Grape (2:52)
16. Learnin’ The Blues (5:26)
17. Comin’ Home Baby (3:17)
18. Manteca (2:09)

Bonnie Eisele - vocals
Johannes Bjerregaard - piano
Chris Luard - bass
Les DeMerle - drums, vocals

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Nathan Hiltz - Songs Poetic (2016)

                          Label:

Source: Cdbaby

Nathan Hiltz (B.Mus, M.Mus) is a jazz guitarist who was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Based in Toronto since 1999, he attended Humber College and The University of Toronto. He studied jazz guitar with Reg Schwager, Jim Hall, Adam Rogers and many others. Over the course of his professional career he has played on over 25 albums and toured extensively across Canada. Nathan is a mentor to many aspiring guitarists from his home teaching studio and as a part time faculty member at Humber College.

ABOUT SONGS POETIC

It’s been ten years since jazz guitarist Nathan Hiltz released his first and only solo album Your Love Is A Plane Crash. He’s spent that decade touring Canada several times in addition to lending his immense talent to a wide variety of recording projects and song-writing collaborations including The Griffith Hiltz Trio, Melissa Lauren, Beverly Taft, Whitney Ross Barris, Hawksley Workman and Jill Barber.

At long last, Hiltz finally hit the studio to record his second solo project Songs Poetic. The setting is an intimate guitar trio, the songs are choice standards, and most importantly this live-off-the-floor session is swinging.

Songs Poetic, recorded in August 2015 in Toronto, is a collection of songs that represent the real Nathan Hiltz: an open-eared guitarist steeped in the bop tradition. Hiltz makes each musical moment count. He offers every audience his very natural, organic melodic instincts. In tandem with bassist Pat Collins and drummer Morgan Childs, Songs Poetic, Hiltz and company create multi-dimensional improvisations are multi-dimensional lines support the immediacy of the moment.

To a jazz musician, being ready for everything in the moment is everything. There is no big break. There’s the being at the right place at the right time, where preparation meets opportunity.

On a Saturday afternoon in 2014, Nathan was about to go on stage in downtown Toronto when he got an urgent phone call asking him if he’d be able to play the guitar chair that night at Koerner Hall with the legendary Boss Brass: Ted Quinlan couldn’t make it at the last minute. Nathan managed to sub out his gig for later that night, finish his afternoon gig, and get a cab home to retrieve his concert blacks and then back to Koerner Hall 30 minutes before downbeat. Playing Ed Bickert’s parts on Rob McConnell’s masterful arrangements to a sold out audience was an inspiring and transformative experience for Hiltz.  Read more...

 1. Tea for Two
2. Full House
3. Spartacus Love Theme
4. Baubles, Bangles & Beads
5. Tempus Fugit
6. I'll Be Around
7. Rita Hayworth
8. Jacqui
9. You're the Top

Nathan Hiltz – Guitar
Pat Collins – Bass
Morgan Childs – Drums

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Our Thing - Manhattan Style (2016)

Source & Label:

Manhattan Style” is the latest collaboration between guitarist Roni Ben-Hur whose roots are in Tunisia and Israel, bassist Santi Debriano who was born in Panama and grew up in Brooklyn, and percussionist Duduka Da Fonseca whose roots are in Brazil. In this, their second offering, they stir the well-seasoned pot of their distinct backgrounds, mirroring the convergence of diverse influences that characterizes the creative scene in New York.
Manhattan is finely representative of that creativity. It is home to iconic jazz venues, enduring legends, renowned schools of the genre, and the storied histories of Harlem, 52nd Street, and Greenwich Village. Manhattan, or simply “the City”, as it is often called, is, like jazz itself, vibrant, multi-layered, fluid, and rests on a foundation that respects the past and embraces new formulations and elements from around the world. It is both a microcosm of what’s happening now, and an island unto itself. 

01. Home
02. The Blessing
03. Polo Pony
04. Skelly
05. African Flower
06. Amy
07. Poise E
08. Imaginary Guinea
09. Ma'hof
10. Flying over Rio
11. Manhattan Style

Roni Ben-Hur
Santi Debriano
Duduka da Fonseca

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