Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Daniel Erdmann / Christophe Marguet - Three Roads Home (DAS KAPITAL RECORDS March 30, 2018)


Free and open minds and quiet temperament, Daniel Erdmann (tenor saxophone) and Christophe Marguet (drums) have naturally found themselves in a face-to-face formula, in 2010 for fun and very seriously in 2012 to record the album "Together Together" published in 2014 (Abalone), one of our favorites that year. So we find them together, surrounded by two of their most faithful contrabassist friends: Henri Texier and Claude Tchamitchian. One or the other (in trio of this fact) or the two gathered in an unusual quartet with two double bass on three beaches while playing contrasts bow (Tchamitchian) vs pizzicato (Texier). The stunning compositions are signed Erdmann and Marguet but also Tchamitchian (The Shadow of Water) and Texier with one of his "tubes" in the form of a slogan (Do not buy Ivory, anymore). Its full and suave tenor saxophone by Daniel Erdmann on a very natural phrasing, finesse and subtlety of Christophe Marguet's colorful drum playing, limpid beat of Henri Texier's double bass, Claude Tchamitchian's rich sound palette ... A combination of qualities that make this record a cheering success.

01. A n’importe quel prix (Marguet)
02. Ornette (Erdmann)
03. Les Agnettes (Erdmann)
04. L’ombre de l’eau (Tchamitchian)
05. Manif contre personne (Erdmann)
06. Valse pour eux (Marguet)
07. Middle Life (Marguet)
08. Forever éphémère (Erdmann)
09. One back, two forward (Erdmann)
10. Don’t buy Ivory, anymore (Texier)
11. Summer Colour (Marguet)
12. A pleasant serenity (Marguet)

Daniel Erdmann : saxophone ténor
Christophe Marguet : batterie
Henri Texier : contrebasse sur 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12
Claude Tchamitchian : contrebasse sur 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

Enregistré au studio Sextan de Malakoff (France) en décembre 2015

Impact Fuze - Moscow (2018)


IMPACT FUZE is a jazz fusion trio formed in 2011 in Moscow, Russia. The band was formed by drummer and vocalist Damien SCHMIDTT, bassist Anton DAVIDYANTS, and guitarist Feodor DOSUMOV. The power trio's members are all world class session musicians from around the world that convene in Moscow. The band took about a year to write and record their debut album, Moscow, which was released late 2011.

The band's style is a very fast-paced and virtuosic, as DOSUMOV's energetic and Vai/Holdsworthian guitar playing accents SCHMIDTT's precision chops and DAVIDYANTS accurate and spot-on bass lines. The music is recommended for fans of hard-hitting and complex jazz fusion.


1. Moscow 05:57
2. Punisher 05:35
3. Song For Elena 05:39
4. The Way To Itself 08:57
5. Focused Power 06:54
6. Lost In Found 05:24
7. Idea 03:47
8. Gladiator 05:26


Dominique Vantomme (feat. Tony Levin, Michel Delville) - Vegir (MOONJUNE RECORDS 2018)


Dominique Vantomme of VANTOMME, is a pianist, keyboardist, composer, band leader, music educator and producer, equally well known for his work with many European pop and rock acts as for being the jazz piano instructor at the Music Conservatory in Kortrijk, Belgium. This album was born from his nomadic adventures: traveling in 2016 to see Stick Men, in Holland, and meeting up with old pal, MoonJune's Leonardo Pavkovic; and shortly thereafter befriending the legendary bassist/stickist Tony Levin of the King Crimson, Peter Gabriel and Stick Men hall of fame. In the studio session which shortly followed, Dom and Tony were joined by veteran MoonJune artist, also from Belgium, Michel Delville (The Wrong Object; douBt; Machine Mass), who was recruited on guitar, and another Belgian musician, Maxime Lenssens, tasked with holding down the timekeeping duties. The spontaneity and freshness of this sizzling, high-altitude set reflects the equally unpretentious manner in which the session itself came together.

Tackling some decidedly hip musical sketches of  Dominique Vantomme, the band is given full artistic liberty – and with all participants in top form, the resulting music weaves and winds its way across paths previously untrodden ... in stunning fashion, and with sure footing! In the truest MoonJune tradition, "Vegir" thumbs its nose at convention and showcases these seasoned veteran musicians at the top of their game: with the skill set, bravery and chutzpah to follow their instincts and, in the process, allow the music to seek out and ultimately capture its own form. It slinks; it growls; it stalks; it devours! It grooves; it stutters; it holds you in suspense, then explodes! (... think 'juggling chainsaws' in the sonic realm.

1. Double Down 07:36
2. Equal Minds 10:19
3. Sizzurp 10:45
4. Playing Chess With Barney Rubble 09:04
5. The Self Licking Ice-cream Cone 13:08
6. Plutocracy 04:38
7. Agent Orange 09:46
8. Emmetropia 09:00
9. Odin's Wig 01:54

MICHEL DELVILLE: Electric Guitar
TONY LEVIN: Bass Guitar, Chapman Stick
MAXIME LENSSENS: Drums

Produced by DOMINIQUE VANTOMME
Recorded by Pascal Deweze at Studio Jezuz, Hoboken, Belgium, October 29th 2016
Mixing by Fritz Sunderman
Mastering by Mark Wingfield
Photos by Perry Schrijvers
Artwork by Marcel van der Heyden



Dominique Vantomme first studied classical piano, then switched to jazz at the age of 20. He took lessons from pianists Mike Del Ferro and Marc Matthys at the Royal Music Conservatory in Ghent and attended workshops given by Mark Levine and Rob Madna. 

In 1996, he attended another workshop with Andy Laverne and David Baker at the University of Louisville, Kentucky (USA). 

From '96 to '98 he had electric jazz bands 'Fuzzlite' and 'Jazziz' together with one of his best friends and musicians Tom Mahieu. In 98, he studied in New York with US pianist Kenny Werner. In 99, he received a Prize at the Europ' Jazz Contest in Hoeilaart (B) and was laureate of the Torneo Internationale Musicale (Jazz) Rome. 

Dominique Vantomme leads his own bands and works as a freelance pianist and keyboard player for various bands, including work in recording studios for jazz and folk/world. He has played with Toots Thielemans (B), Judy Niemack (USA), Theresa Malenfant (Can), Laurent Maur (Fr), George Kilby Jr. (USA), Aidan Burk (Irl), David Ray Hadley (USA), Jakob Rostoll (Dan), Louisiana Red (USA), Hans Van Oost (B), Rietta Austin (NZ), John O'Leary (UK), Daithi Rua (Irl), Pascal Schumacher (Lux), Rufus Stone (UK), Jules Fothergill (UK), Coco Jr. (B), Laïs (B), Cosmo St.-Clair (USA), Plane Vanilla (B), Boo Boo Davis (USA), Ana Popovic (Yo), Junior Jazz (B), Roland Van Campenhout (B), Viktor Lazlo (B), An Pierlé (B), PJDS (B), Ronny Mosuse (B), etc.

Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio - Close But no Cigar (COLEMINE RECORDS 2018)


The debut album from Seattle's Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio. The group channels old-school organ combos like The Meters and Booker T & The MGs, but are making it fresh and feel new again! We couldn't be more happy to be involved with such talented musicians.


We're not sure of the back-story of Devlon Lamarr's eponymous trio, but this debut album for Colemine is an absolute killer. Lamarr is a virtuoso organist, and it's jammed-out Hammond organ and electric piano solos that naturally take centre stage throughout. That said, both drummer David McGraw and guitarist Jimmy James play their part throughout, with the former's ambidextrous fills and the latter's raw licks also catching the ear throughout. Musically, the tracks range from Meters-style heavy funk and lounge soul workouts to a range of cuts more heavily influenced by the blues of John Lee Hooker and the similarly instrumental brilliance of Booker T and the MGs.



COLLECTIVE X - LOVE & PROTEST (TWO RIVERS RECORDS March 30, 2018)


London-based vocalist-composer Alya Al-Sultani has been nothing if not ambitious in her musical development to date, and her latest project Collective X is no exception. Formed in the aftermath of the bitterly divisive 2016 European Union referendum, this is a highly experimental supergroup that brings together several of Britain and Europe’s most adventurous musicians. On its debut Love And Protest the band delivers a strong socio-political and cultural message framed by a compelling tapestry woven of avant-garde jazz, blues, electric funk and acoustic roots music. 

Born in Basra, southern Iraq and raised in Tottenham, north London, Al-Sultani released Chai Party in 2015 to explore her Middle Eastern heritage as creatively as possible but this new project has a distinct objective. “For me Collective X is where I use jazz more as method, as aesthetically I’ve moved away from the American songbook,” she explains. “I love funk and breakbeats, contemporary jazz and free improvisation and hip-hop. I wanted that all to come together, not in a forced way… just through open-minded musicians, and by giving them a basic structure. I wrote the songs but it was collaborative in rehearsals, which led to a single day of live takes.” 

Produced by vibraphonist-multi-instrumentalist Orphy Robinson Love And Protest is set to be one of the most intriguing releases of 2018 for both the elusive, indefinable character of the music as well as the premium quality of the band. Assembled from what was Al-Sultani’s wish list of cutting edge musicians on both the jazz and avant-garde scenes in London and Europe the group features the likes of vocalist Cleveland Watkiss [“The perfect foil for my voice but we also have very contrasting improvisational styles”], bassist Neil Charles [“I’ve always rated him, and he also has an alter ego as a producer, his landscape is broad”], drummer Mark Sanders [“Although he’s a free player he holds a very good groove”], and pianist-keyboardist Pat Thomas [“What he hears in the music I don’t think anybody else hears.”] 


They are joined by poet Joshua Idehen, guitarist Dave Ital, and two of Al-Sultani’s other regular collaborators, pianist Clements Christian Potzsch and saxophonist Robert Menzel, who both hail from Germany. This international gathering of musicians fully embraces the conceptual verve of Al-Sultani, who wrote thought-provoking lyrics on the lived reality of a contemporary British-Arab woman, as well as her spontaneous approach to improvisation and arrangement. Together the musicians create an ensemble sound where myriad harmonic layers and rhythmic tangents spin off a strong compositional core. Al-Sultani hears the group as ‘something quite dense’ but individual voices still pierce through due to both the attention to detail and advanced synergy that has flourished between the players. 

True to Al-Sultani’s mindset the music is not restrained in any way, and defies any lazy categorization. All of which resonates powerfully with the stories Al-Sultani is telling. She indeed broaches a wide range of identity politics, from fetishization of the black body to honor killings to sisterhood, in an entirely liberated way. “I struggle with labels and but I also feel they’re important,” says Al-Sultani. “I think it can encourage the idea of a monolith or homogenous group yet it’s important because in some ways people like me smash stereotypes; it’s a very fluid identity we have. I certainly am a Londoner, I am Iraqi, I am Muslim in my own definition, which is problematic for some people. I guess the artistic journey has been parallel to that of trying to understand who I am. Well, I’m not here to give people what they expect.” 

1. Take A Moment 06:08
2. Don't Let Me Go 05:46
3. Greed 07:08
4. Banaz 05:04
5. Fetish 05:22
6. Black Eyes 05:27
7. Right Swipe 05:20
8. Dear Sister 04:40

CLEVELAND WATKISS • VOCALS
NEIL CHARLES • BASS
PAT THOMAS • KEYS
JOSHUA IDEHEN • VOCALS
CLEMENS CHRISTIAN PÖTZSCH • KEYS DAVE ITAL • GUITAR
ROBERT MENZEL • SAXOPHONE
MARK SANDERS • DRUMS

PRODUCED BY ORPHY ROBINSON
RECORDED BY TOM PARKER, KONK STUDIOS
MIXED BY TOM PARKER & ORPHY ROBINSON
MASTERED BY MIKE CAVE
ARTWORK BY ALBAN LOW
DESIGN BY COREY CLARKE

Aaron Flores - Nova Insula (2018)


1. Nova Insula 02:32
2. Oxtopulco 06:52
3. Mitte 06:14
4. Westfalen (die Einwanderer in der Station) 04:21
5. Cumaná 04:40
6. Towards Pier 78 01:16
7. Bělehradská 29 (Ona v okně) 06:54
8. Porte Maillot 05:55
9. Passeig de Gràcia 01:27
10. Primeras impresiones (13:14) 03:18
11. Boulevard Saint-Joseph 05:48

Aarón Flores - guitar
Federico Hülsz - tenor sax
Benjamín García - double bass
Hernán Hecht - drums

Recorded, Edited and Mixed by Hernán Hecht at HHStudio, CDMX 2017
Mastered by Luis Herrera at Masterhead Lab Mastering MX, 2018
Produced by Aarón Flores and Hernán Hecht
Artwork by Guillermo Trejo

All compositions by Aarón Flores



Trio HLK - Standard Time (May 11, 2018)


Trio HLK's debut album reworks well-known standards, drawing on techniques from Contemporary Classical composition, weaving familiar fragments into complex, intricate new pieces.


Trio HLK is the union of three distinct, forward thinking musical personalities.

A belief in the high art of improvisation and intrigue with the infinite art and science of rhythm is what brings H, L and K together. Together they address ambitious improvisational frameworks which often resemble contemporary classical music more than jazz.


1. Smalls (feat. Steve Lehman)
2. Extra Sensory Perception part i (feat. Evelyn Glennie)
3. Extra Sensory Perception part ii (feat. Evelyn Glennie)
4. painS part i (feat. Steve Lehman)
5. painS part ii (feat. Steve Lehman)
6. Twilt
7. Dux
8. Chewy
9. Stabvest
10. The Jig (feat. Evelyn Glennie)

Steve Lehman- Alto Sax
Evelyn Glennie- Vibraphone and Marimba
Rich Harrold- Piano
Ant Law- 8-string Guitar and effects
Richard Kass- Drums and percussion

Compositions by Rich Harrold. Drum parts by Richard Kass


CD album / Double Vinyl album / Digital Album

Peripheral Vision - More Songs About Error And Shame (2018)


JUNO-nominated Canadian jazz quartet, Peripheral Vision launches their fourth album, More Songs About Error And Shame. "A rules-breaking quartet made up of some of the best modern players around" (CBC), Peripheral Vision extends their no-holds-barred performance aesthetic into the production concept on this album. Once again, they have teamed up with mad-scientist engineer, Jean Martin (Barnyard Records) to orchestrate a bigger sound for the record, adding layers of overdubs and studio treatments to the live-off-the-floor recordings. Peripheral Vision has always been a live show band, and the seven new Herring and Scott originals on More Songs About Error And Shame show what can be gained from years of touring, including three recent tours throughout Europe as well as many trips across Canada. 

Co-leaders Michael Herring (bass) and Don Scott (guitar) delve into their own neurotic psyches, finding inspiration not only in music, but also in art, literature and standup comedy. The album title is a reference to the iconic album by famously neurotic band, Talking Heads, and this cross genre nod is indicative of how they like to mix genres and themes, blending classic and modern jazz, the rock music of their youth, and non-musical influences such as the Catalonian artist Miró, and British comedian Stewart Lee. 

This is a working band with a long-time rapport - Herring and Scott have been joined by drummer Nick Fraser and tenor saxophonist Trevor Hogg since the band’s inception in 2008. Peripheral Vision is fuelled by this long-time musical friendship, bringing years of tour van talks about music and life to the stage and studio, and this dynamic group interaction creates the provocative sound of More Songs About Error And Shame.


1. The Blunder 08:02
2. Syntax Error 07:40
3. "And the metaphysical concept of shame." 07:46
4. Portrait of a Man in a Late Nineteenth-Century Frame 05:57
5. Chubby Cello 06:19
6. Mycelium Running 07:25
7. Click Bait 09:31


The recording was made possible through a grant from the Ontario Arts Council

Produced by Michael Herring and Don Scott with Jean Martin
Recorded at Canterbury Studios by Jeremy Darby
Mixing & Additional Recording at the Farm by Jean Martin
Mastered by Fedge
Art & Design by Howie Shia & Leo Shia
© 2018 Don Scott & Michael Herring (SOCAN)


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CONCERSTS

April 2018
Apr. 3 The TranzacCD RELEASE PARTY!

May 2018
May. 1 The TranzacOpening Band: Stephan Heggerat 

June 2018
Jun. 5 The TranzacOpening Band: Tara Kannangara 

July 2018
Jul. 3 The TranzacOpening Band: Andrew Marzotto

August 2018
Aug. 7 The TranzacOpening Band: TBA

September 2018
Sep. 4 The TranzacOpening Band: TBA

October 2018
Oct. 2 The TranzacOpening Band: TBA

November 2018
Nov. 6 The TranzacOpening Band: TBA

December 2018
Dec. 4 The TranzacOpening Band: TBA