Republic of Jazz: May 20, 2017

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Walt Weiskopf - Fountain of Youth (POSI-TONE RECORDS 2017)

Saxophonist Walt Weiskopf unleashes a wellspring of creativity for his fourth release for Posi-Tone on the aptly entitled "Fountain of Youth." Also along with Weiskopf for the journey are a familiar crew of accomplished collaborators including vibraphonist Behn Gillece, pianist Peter Zak, bassist Mike Karn, and drummer Steve Fidyk. With a program of exciting original compositions and a few tasty covers, the whole session swings into action and shines with bright moments.

Weiskopf has clearly advanced to another level of compositional mastery and effortless virtuosity with this tour-de-force performance. This new album clearly encourages us to enjoy the wondrous discovery of sounds and secrets from this "Fountain of Youth.”

Sean Jones - Live from Jazz at the Bistro (MACK AVENUE RECORDS 2017)

The young jazz veteran trumpeter Sean Jones believes passionately in championing the creative arc of artists who are committed to their life journey. “I think the progression of the art form [jazz] comes with people being allowed to be themselves in their rawest form with no compromise,” he has noted and added, “My body of work is going to show a progression of who Sean Jones is in the most honest form.”

While he spoke these words a few years ago, they serve as a vivid manifesto for his new Mack Avenue Records album, Live from Jazz at the Bistro, his eighth for the label and arguably the most dynamic, playful and loose-limbed excursion of his career. Indeed, the 38-year-old Jones brings to the sessions a stalwart poise, the fire of ecstasy and a whimsy in motion. “In a nutshell, I’ve been wanting to do a live album for a while,” he says. “I wanted to capture the band’s energy live and record what it’s like to go to one of my gigs. Granted, recording in a studio creates a polished sound where the music is all tied up. But this album, it’s real raw.”

1) Art's Variable

2) Lost, Then Found

3) Piscean Dichotomy

4) Doc's Holiday

5) The Ungentrified Blues

6) Prof 7) BJ'S Tune

Sean Jones - trumpet

Orrin Evans - piano

Brian Hogans - saxophone

Luques Curtis - double bass

Obed Calvaire - drums

Mark Whitfield Jr. - drums

Modern Art Orchestra: The Mind's Ear (MAO plays the music of Gábor Subicz) 2017

A lemez kikacsintás a kortárs zene keretei közül a 60-as évek ritmikus zenéi felé - funk, r'n'b, funk, bossa nova is felcsendül a közel egyórányi anyagban. Mindez Európa egyik legjobb, hazai jazz big bandjének előadásában páratlan élmény és valóságos kalandozás korok és zenei stílusok dimenziói között.

Subicz Gábor szerzeményei a jazz big band előadásában letölthetőek lesznek minden nagyobb online zeneáruház virtuális polcáról.

"A zeneszerzés vagy hangszerelés folyamata nálam nagyon hasonlít egyfajta rajzoláshoz, festéshez; formák, színek, textúrák világa mindkettő. Azt hiszem, leginkább az közös ebben a két művészi kifejezésmódban, hogy előre el kell képzelni az egészet, mielőtt az ember nekilát meghúzni az első vonalakat. Ez néha nem több mint firkálás, de ha becsukom a szemem, látnom vagy hallanom kell előre, hogy mit akarok. Kell, hogy legyen egy előkép. Ez a kép persze néha homályos, de pont ez benne a kihívás: ahogy mondják, zenét szerezni nem más, mint rosszul emlékezni valamire, amit már hallottunk. Gyakran képek, furcsa terek vagy felületek jelennek meg a fejemben, mielőtt a zene nyelvére lefordítom a látottakat. És bár az érzékelés módja nagyon sokban különbözik, az érzés, ami egy vizuális élmény vagy egy építészeti tér nyomán keletkezik az emberben, gyakran nagyon hasonló, mint amit zenehallgatás közben élünk át. Pontosan ezért írtam ezt a lemezt, ez érdekelt, hogy hogyan lehet emberként megélni ezt a kapcsolódási pontot aközött, amit látunk, és amit hallunk. "

1. The Call

2. Early Music

3. Fountain

4. One Bigband Piece

5. Shelter

6. The Mind's Eye

7. Dudi

8. Cavatina (bonus track)

A dalokat Subicz Gábor szerezte, ez alól kivétel az utolsó, Cavatina c. szerzemény, mely Rossini: A sevilla-i borbély c. operájának egy részletének átirata. A One Bigband Piece című dal Carl Nielsen: Three Piano Pieces c. szerzeményét vette alapul.

Chicuelo & Marco Mezquida - Conexion (TALLER DE MÚSICS 2017)

Se dice que en este proyecto Marco Mezquida y Juan Gómez, Chicuelo se encuentran, no se preguntan de dónde vienen. Conexión es el nombre del nuevo álbum de estos dos músicos, disponible en tiendas a partir de abril y cuya presentación oficial será en L’Auditori de Barcelona el 4 de mayo, a las 21:00 h.

Ganador del Goya, brillante como solista o como socio de Poveda y de Duquende, Juan Gómez ‘Chicuelo’ es uno de los guitarristas más relevantes del panorama actual del flamenco y, al mismo tiempo, uno de los compositores más prolíficos e interesantes de las últimas generaciones.

Marco Mezquida, músico total, rotundo, creador de un pianismo único, a sus 30 años Mezquida se ha convertido en uno de los músicos más valorados y solicitados del panorama jazzístico y las músicas improvisadas en España como demuestra su intensa y versátil actividad concertística y creativa junto con muchos de los mejores músicos del país.

Juntos, “el pulso del mediterráneo que resuena”, un cruce de caminos de dos personalidades artísticas tan nítidas como dúctiles. Una intersección marcada por la autenticidad, la admiración mutua y la entrega absoluta a la música que define a sus protagonistas.

Tony Allen - A Tribute to Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers EP (BLUE NOTE 2017)

Blue Note Records has announced the May 19 digital release of Tony Allen’s new EP, A Tribute to Art Blakey. On the 4-track EP the legendary Nigerian drummer and Afrobeat pioneer best known for his work with Fela Kuti pays tribute to his longstanding idol, the American jazz drummer and Blue Note legend Art Blakey. The pre-order for the EP launched today with the release of the track “Moanin” which is available now to stream or download.

The EP was recorded live in Allen’s current hometown of Paris and features a fiery 7-piece band interpreting the Jazz Messengers classics “Moanin’,” “A Night In Tunisia,” “Politely” and “Drum Thunder Suite” through an Afrobeat prism. The EP was produced by Vincent Taurelle, whose production credits also include Allen's previous album Film of Life.

While American jazz -in particular the recordings of Blakey and Max Roach- had a big impact on Allen during his early musical development in Nigeria, the music of Africa was also hugely influential for Blakey (aka Abdullah Ibn Buhaina) throughout his career. In the late-1940s Blakey spent time traveling abroad in West Africa exploring the culture, religion, and of course, the drumming. Blakey later recorded several albums that were heavily influenced by African music including Orgy in Rhythm (1957), Holiday for Skins (1958), and The African Beat (1962), which featured the Nigerian drummer and percussionist Solomon Ilori.

Michael Wolff - Zenith (Solo Piano) 2017

On Zenith, Michael Wolff approaches the solo piano encounter with masterly mischief, attitude and gratitude for those who came before, including John Coltrane, Charlie Parker and Jerome Kern. He also looks to present-day artists like Sufjan Stevens, makes a homegrown nod to New Orleans, and toasts his wife, noted actress and director Polly Draper.

Wolff has worked with Cannonball Adderley,Cal Tjader and Nancy Wilson; led the TV band on Arsenio Hall's late night show, and led his own trios and expanded groups. But this one (by only one) just might feature some of his best playing yet.

SIDE 1

The Doc (Michael Wolff)

Giant Steps (John Coltrane)

Makin’ Whoopee (Walter Donaldson / Gus Kahn)

Flint (Sufjan Stevens)

Euphoria (Michael Wolff)

All the Things You Are (Jerome Kern)

Blue Couch (Michael Wolff)

SIDE 2

Billie’s Bounce (Charlie Parker)

Cry Me a River (Arthur Hamilton)

Little M (Michael Wolff)

Madimba / St. Thomas (Michael Wolff / Sonny Rollins)

Polly (Michael Wolff)

Too Long at the Fair (Billy Barnes)

Hush (Michael Wolff)

Michael Wolff Website

Jimmy Weinstein - Sobrinos (2017)

Jimmy Weinstein / drums, composer. Leader of a consortium of New York based ensembles, Jimmy has been on the move for over 25 years, touring the US, Europe and Japan. Recordings and tours with virtuoso improvisers, Ahmed Abdullah, Chris Cheek, Ben Monder, Satoko Fujii, Alex Harding, Jeff Parker, Oscar Noriega, Masa Kamaguchi and Matt Renzi. Jimmy’s 2015 quintet features Chris Cheek, Ben Monder.

1. Marianna 05:41

2. Children/G Vamp 10:09

3. Sobrinos 04:13

4. El Segundo 06:59

5. Arthur Young 05:31

6. Cycles 07:07

7. Playtime 05:12

8. My Lilli Song 04:47

9. Calypso Dario 04:49

10. Margherita 02:28

Mads Vinding 4tet - Standards (STORYVILLE RECORDS 2017)

A live jazz concert with some of Denmark’s brightest jazz musicians

Last year the record ”Walk With Me” was released to great critical acclaim. It featured a collaborative project spanning beautiful ballads and swinging jazz, completed by a handful of the most hard-working and skilled Danish jazz musicians. A little while later, three of the original players gathered for a memorable evening in the concert hall of Amager Bio.

The bassist Mads Vinding ties the quartet together with his confident style. Vinding has played with all of the legends of jazz, and is often mentioned as the musical heir of late NHØP.

The pianist and composer Carsten Dahl takes the keys. His play is, as always, playful and technically skilled. Carsten Dahl is a highly productive musicians, but his work never lacks quality – instead, his piano is rich with experience.

Above all soars the unique voice of Margrete Grarup. She manages to balance force and delicacy and always retains a certain humility even when her powerful voice is at its most expressive.

Niclas Campagnol plays the drums, a recent addition to the original group. A regular on the Danish jazz stage, he easily complements the others with cool and understated rhythm.

The mood is audibly lively, and the musicians clearly long to entertain as they invite the audience along on the journey.