Friday, October 5, 2018

Lotte Anker / Gerald Cleaver / Craig Taborn - Floating Islands (Three Pieces) CENTRIFUGA November 1, 2018


The album is a live performance recorded during CPH jazz festival in 2008. Floating Islands was issued on CD in 2009 on ILK music, and finally we are able to make this superb recording available on vinyl in a collaboration between ILK, Insula Music and Centrifuga.


Saxophones – Lotte Anker
Drums – Gerald Cleaver
Piano – Craig Taborn

Mixed and Mastered By – John Fomsgaard
Recorded live at Borups Concert Hall



Sábados Porta-Jazz | Desidério Lázaro "Moving" - 19:00 e 22:00 - 6 Outubro


Com a chegada do Outono a Porta-Jazz volta ao nº 305 da Rua de João das Regras, em parceria com a agenda cultural da Junta da União de Freguesias do Centro Histórico do Porto e com o apoio da Poças Vinhos.

Para além dos concertos semanais, a Porta-Jazz apresenta também  durante Outubro e Novembro Jazz Sem Tretas, uma série de conversas com oito figuras incontornáveis do Jazz Português, em especifico do Jazz do Porto. 

Desidério Lázaro "Moving" 
6 Outubro - 19:00 e 22:00
Desidério Lázaro (Foto: João Hasselberg)

“Moving” é o título do 5º álbum do saxofonista Desidério Lázaro.

Desidério Lázaro, reconhecido saxofonista e tido como um dos melhores músicos de jazz português, regressa às gravações em nome próprio. Neste disco apresenta-se em quarteto, fazendo-se acompanhar de João Firmino nas guitarras, Francisco Brito nos baixos, e Joel Silva na bateria.

“Moving” é um disco de viagens, temporais e físicas, uma soma eclética de géneros e estados emocionais, algo a que o saxofonista algarvio já nos habitou. Assim, desde o enérgico tema homónimo “Moving” ao sereno “Introspective”, passando pelas homenagens a pai (“Hidden Pain”) e filho (“Lullaby”), é impossível não se relacionar com esta música que, embora polvilhada de jazz e rock em doses repartidas, se quer cada vez mais cinematográfica e envolvente.

O 5º álbum de música original do saxofonista Desidério Lázaro, “Moving”, chegou-nos no início deste ano, sob o selo da editora independente Sintoma Records.

Desidério Lázaro - Saxofone tenor
João Firmino - Guitarra elétrica e acústica
Francisco Brito - Contrabaixo e baixo elétrico

Joel Silva - Bateria

Jazz Sem Tretas
Quintas-feiras às 21:30

De 11 de Outubro a 29 de Novembro, a Porta-Jazz convida oito figuras incontornáveis do Jazz Português, em especifico do Jazz do Porto, para em tom de tertúlia após jantar, partilharem na primeira pessoa, as histórias e memórias vividas ao longo da fundação e desenvolvimento do movimento Jazz do Porto. A entrada é livre.

Ações de Formação da Fundação GDA 
Em coprodução com O Eixo do Jazz, Associação Luso-Galaica para Promoção do Jazz 

2 de Outubro a 13 de Novembro 2018
Rua de João da Regras, 305 - Porto 

Um conjunto de módulos de curta duração, que se dirigem maioritariamente a elementos práticos e acionáveis da atividade de gestão e produção das artes performativas.

Preço normal: € 20 por módulo
Preço para membros da Porta-Jazz: € 10 por módulo


Informações: T: 222 085 578 / 9 - E: geral.porto@gda.pt

INTENSIVSTATION: John Schröder / Wolfgang Zwiauer / Alfred Vogel - POWWOW​!​!​! (BOOMSLANG RECORDS November 9, 2018)


“It is a very rare thing to hear complex music being played in such a relaxed and soulful manner” (jazzthing, Götz Bühler) 

John Schröder is a multiinstrumentalist and kind of a Free Jazz Godfather from Berlin. No matter if he is playing drums for Nils Wogram or guitar for Erdmann 3000, nor piano in his trio – he is always on the edge of artistry! In this certain trio, John is featured on 3 instruments which he is playing simultaneously. So the band sometimes sounds like a quartet or even quintet. Wolfgang Zwiauer on bass is probably one of the most desired musicians in Switzerland and together with Alfred Vogel the two men lay down serious multi-time layered grooves. 

Their second album POWWOW!!! will be released in Jan 2019 (Boomslang Records / distributed by Galileo Music GmbH.

Along comes 12 tracks monthly as a digital release starting November 2018 at this very place since the 3 doctores recorded so much music in the last 3 years which they like to share with you.

John Schröder: fender rhodes, guitar, drums 
Wolfgang Zwiauer: bass + electronics 
Alfred Vogel: drums 

recorded by Olli Rath (2015) and Alfred Vogel (2018) 
mixed and mastered by Alfred Vogel

1. Morpheus 11:56

Norbert Mayer / Alfred Vogel feat. Joe Bär - ÜÜÜ (BOOMSLANG RECORDS November 2, 2018)


We think about the world or not. Norbert Mayer the poet speaks out what needs to be said, sometimes in Bregenzerwald dialect, but always with german and english counter parts. What you don´t understand is catched up by the drums of Alfred Vogel and floored by the Tuba of Joe Bär ... humorous, serious, gentle, dense, and solid as a rock. Anyway improvised. In the moment. Spoken word meets an alpine rhythm section. You may laugh or cry. It doesn´t make a difference.


Norbert Mayer, words + vocals
Alfred Vogel, drums
Joe Bär, Tuba + loops

1. gäng und schpräng 03:56
2. höümilk hey! 03:22
3. künnö 03:37
4. lällarfüörz 02:09
5. nümma dicht 05:12
6. redo redo redo 03:27
7. schüö so schüö 05:05
8. ufschtau 04:01
9. und? 04:06
10. wia odr was? 03:43

Yan Tregger - Ducks & Drakes (BBE MUSIC October 5, 2018)


Originally released on library music label Musical Touch Sound back in 1979, ‘Ducks & Drakes’ is an instrumental disco LP by pioneering French electronic musician Yan Tregger. Reissued this year by BBE alongside his 1978 album ‘Catchy’, Ducks & Drakes has achieved cult status among crate diggers and DJs, thanks to its ebullient charm and rock-solid leftfield grooves. 

Virtually impossible to find on vinyl for many years now, ‘Ducks & Drakes’ found wider allure in 2008 when Alexis Le-Tan selected album track ‘Girls Will Be Girls’ for experimental disco compilation ‘Space Oddities’. UK music hero Frankie Valentine brought these two magical albums to BBE’s attention and curated the project alongside the team. 

Amazingly (especially given the era in which it was recorded) the album was almost entirely performed, produced and composed by Tregger himself. Presented with its beautiful original artwork and previously unavailable to all but a lucky few record collectors, we’re excited to share the disco-infused magic of ‘Ducks & Drakes’ with the world.

1. Friend Island 03:25
2. The Girl In the Gold 02:50
3. Dawn and Darkness 03:34
4. The Ivy Heart 00:15
5. The Last Girl 04:07
6. Threshold 01:57
7. Haunting Refrain 04:39
8. The Ivy Heart (Reprise) 00:15
9. Girls Will Be Girls 05:21
10. Lanterns and Lances 03:18
11. Head for the Hills 00:13
12. The Way of All Flesh 02:48
13. Huff 02:47


Jerome Sydenham - Cosmic Urban Flight (BBE MUSIC October 5, 2018)


Deep-thinking, heavy-grooving House music for connoisseurs, Cosmic Urban Flight is the new album from revered producer and DJ Jerome Sydenham. 

Recorded entirely in Sydenham’s Berlin studio, the Cosmic Urban Flight project was originally planned as an EP for BBE Music, but a hot streak of musical inspiration soon swelled the proposed track-list and this unique album was born. As Jerome puts it: “It was a nonstop process until I felt, creatively, my point had been made.” 

Musically, Jerome says, “the sound of Cosmic Urban Flight was inspired by the idea of creating an energetic, DJ-friendly form of Deep House to fit into todays diverse sets.” Diversity is something this album has in abundance, as distinctly European house and techno influences meet with afro flavours and carefully weighed spoken word sections, giving a powerful commentary on today’s cultural and social climates. 

Featuring collaborations with Fatima Njai, Janne Tavi, E-Man, Karim Kaz, Mr V and Demetr1us, Cosmic Urban Flight is yet another reminder of why Kerri Chandler once likened Sydenham’s impeccable musical arrangement abilities to those of Quincy Jones. Cover photo by Marie Staggat.

1. Jerome Sydenham - Cosmic Urban Flight (Inflight Dub) 06:01
2. Jerome Sydenham - Soul Descendants 06:41
3. Jerome Sydenham - Purple Beech 05:58
4. Jerome Sydenham - Cortège 06:27
5. Mr. V - Til the Morning (Jerome Sydenham Special Edit) 05:09
6. Jerome Sydenham - Sifah & the Queen 05:14
7. Jerome Sydenham - Talk to Me 05:00
8. Jerome Sydenham - Track Model 17 05:26
9. Jerome Sydenham - The Tombs 06:09
10. Jerome Sydenham - Talk to Me (Instrumental) 04:58
11. Jerome Sydenham - Red Zero 05:55
12. Jerome Sydenham - Purple Beech (Janne Tavi Remix) 06:20


Pianist GEORGE BURTON (10.5) in Boston @ at Scullers + Announces Fall European Tour starting 11.9!


Boston: THIS FRIDAY!

Friday, October 5th at Scullers, Boston, Massachusetts

GEORGE BURTON GROUP

George Burton (Piano, Wulitzer & Effects); Chris Hemingway (Sax); Andy Bianco (guitar) Pablo Menares (bass); Wayne Smith Jr. (drums)

+ NOVEMBER EUROPEAN FALL TOUR:

“Burton speaks the language of Logan Richardson and Ambrose Akinmusire - modern harmonic choices and rhythms with a strong influence of hip hop and r&b, the melody always at the center of the conversation..." - Free Fall Jazz

There’s no doubt that George Burton is a rising star: his debut release, The Truth of What I Am > The Narcissist was chosen as one of the top ten debut albums in the 2016 NPR Music Jazz Critics Poll, and hailed as "a fantastic statement of modern jazz" by Downbeat critic Chris Tart and “one of the most exciting debuts I have heard in years” (NextBop). 

Burton and his band are on a roll - they kicked off 2017 playing at NYC Winter Jazzfest; spring found them at The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage; and in August they made their debut appearance at the pinnacle of US jazz - The Newport Jazz Festival. Meanwhile, the raves for the album keep continue to roll in including: TOP DEBUTS OF 2016, NPR Music Jazz Critics Poll

Burton's own work is in a category by itself: he brings not only stunning technique, but music that is complex, uniting all the dimensions of his experience, filtered through the sensibility of a Romantic composer. His compositions are incomparably beautiful - make that scary-beautiful - and powerful - as in mesmerizingly powerful - and haunting - as in "where has this been all my life" haunting. Always creative and unique, he shines on his debut album, "THE TRUTH OF WHAT I AM > (is greater than) THE NARCISSIST," the title a remark on today’s “me” driven culture and art’s ability to transcend the self. His multi- dimensional compositions push the boundaries of the genre and bring to light what many reviewers have noted—his ability to bring out the best in his band. 

JazzTimes wrote that George Burton "seemed destined for great things - and soon."

Marcel Vogel - The Sound of Lumberjacks in Hell (BBE MUSIC 2018)


For the best part of a decade Marcel Vogel has been carefully building a reputation as a refreshing voice of authenticity in today’s musical landscape.

A gifted pair of ears, DJ and owner of the seminal ‘Lumberjacks In Hell’ label and visionary imprint, ‘Intimate Friends’, Marcel’s reputation has been earned through persistent work, and impeccable taste. There are no gimmicks or shortcuts in his rulebook, just a passion for raw, soulful sounds geared towards the dancefloor.

Like many a DJ, Marcel found his route to the turntables through a love of Hip Hop and later house, but the gravity towards disco and soul was what really pulled him in and still reflects in his DJ Sets and productions.

Although he started messing around with the AKAI MPC in the early 2000’s it would take him about a decade to release his first productions with the 7” Body to Body feat Milos Gersi (MATE 001) in 2013 and the mini Album Human Being (2016) . After residing in Berlin amongst other cities he relocated to Amsterdam in 2010 to train for a degree in Audio Engineering. In the same year as his relocation he founded his esteemed Lumberjacks in Hell imprint. First as a hub for his own edits but quickly developing a profile for cutting edge dancefloor favourites, releasing music by acts like Karizma, Soulphiction and Jamie 3:26.

As part of Marcel’s touring schedule he regularly hosts Lumberjacks in Hell nights all over Europe in clubs like DJOON (Paris), Prince Charles (Berlin) and Ampere (Antwerpen) as much as having toured Northern America, Australia and Asia.

1. Giovanni Damico – Even The Stones
2. Beam Me Up – Rabbit’s Foot
3. Ant La Rock – Goddess
4. Funk Butcher feat. Trim – Check The Flow
5. Seven Davis Jr – Get To Know Me
6. Krewcial – Over
7. Boogie Nite – Jazz-A-Nova (Oooh)
8. Nachtbraker – Jared Fogle*
9. Harry Wolfman – Ava*
10. Reece Johnson – Neyt Life
11. Joel Holmes – Outer Light
12. Jonna – Everyday
13. Frawl – Be Good To Me
Tom Noble – Lord I’m Trying**

* CD only
** Vinyl and mixed CD only

Includes unlimited streaming of The Sound of Lumberjacks in Hell via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.


Ralph Thomas - Eastern Standard Time (BBE MUSIC October 5, 2018)


Following hard on the heels of BBE delving into the archives of Detroit’s Strata Records and delivering their widely acclaimed and hugely in-demand exploration of J-Jazz, comes another crate digger’s delight- Ralph Thomas’ ‘Eastern Standard Time’, which dropped in the USA back in in 1980, on the obscure Zebra Jazz imprint. 

This is the is the kind of “spiritual’ jazz gem that appears on You Tube and upon checking it out on Discogs reveals a price well in excess of £150.00. To have it widely available in its original vinyl format, as well as digitally and on CD, is a real treat. So, who is Ralph Thomas?

The self-produced ‘Eastern Standard Time’ features Thomas on baritone, alto and tenor saxophones as well as flute and percussion. He describes himself as a practicing ethno- musicologist who’s musical vision evolved during the Sixties and it’s Thomas’ multifaceted, global approach that gives the music on Eastern Standard Time’ an engaging and distinct flavour.

“My music has always been open to different cultures and sounds Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Mexican, Peruvian, American, Hebrew, Turkish, African, Indian and Japanese,” declares the Chicago born musician. While attending the Chicago conservatory of music in 1969 he became a member of the Chicago A.A.C.M, studying with master musicians Phil Cohran and Richard Muhal Abrams. He also recorded with well-known blues legends, Howlin’ Wolf and Mighty Joe Young for the Cadet imprint of Chess records. 

In 1974, he moved to Los Angeles and was employed as a session player with both 20th Century Fox and Motown – where he recorded with Marvin Gaye, Jermaine Jackson, Smokey Robinson and Rick James. In the early Eighties he was working for Quincy Jones Productions appearing on the soundtrack of Roots and The Color Purple but a passion for reggae music led him to Jamaica where he recorded with producer Jack Ruby and artists like Augustus Pablo and Gregory Isaacs. 

In ’86 he moved to NYC where he collaborated with Boogaloo legend Johnny Colon and played with like-minded musical explorers Sun Ra, Don Cherry and Olatunji. However, by 1993 his restless spirit carried him to Paris where studied Ethnomusicology and performed with trumpeter Mra Oma and film-maker Ranaivo-Rajaona Hery. There were also gigs with percussionist Trilok Gurtu as well as drummer Sunny Murray and saxophone legend Archie Shepp. Upon moving to the South of France Thomas ran an art gallery and initiated his MusArt project – which has since toured in the US, Canada and Japan 

After a productive stint in Chiang Mai, Thailand – where he immersed himself in Issan culture – Ralph Thomas recently re- located back to the US to live and work. Though creating a huge amount of music over the years ‘Eastern Standard Time’ remains Ralph Thomas’ only album and it’s available now from BBE Music. 

1. Cafe Phillipp 08:02
2. Doloreso 05:32
3. Muscavado 04:01
4. Big Spliff 05:52
5. Venice 01:33
6. E.S.T. 06:16
7. Spellbound 07:52


Yan Tregger - Catchy (BBE MUSIC October 5, 2018)


Yan Tregger remains one of the more cultish names to emerge from the experimental French disco scene of the 1970s. But to a growing number of obsessive crate diggers, the two LPs recorded for the Musical Touch Sound label in 1978/9 ‘Catchy’ and ‘Ducks & Drakes’ have become like the holy grail of rare disco. 

Those diggers include Mark Grusane of the late Mr Peabody record store in Chicago. One of the deepest collectors of rare soul, disco and boogie, he included an edit of the sleazy disco bomb ‘Riff On’ from ‘Catchy’ on ‘The Real Sound of Mark Grusane’, his recent collection of hen’s teeth rarities for BBE. 

Now, thanks to the careful curation of UK music hero Frankie Valentine, BBE is delighted to dig deeper into the Yan Tregger archives and reissue these two in- demand LPs. First up is the 1978 LP ‘Catchy’, a heady collection of cosmic disco that should see Tregger’s name ranked alongside those of Arpadys, Cerrone and Space as one of the pioneers of French dance music. 

Characterised by its energetic rhythm sections, space-age synths and funky guitar riffs, ‘Catchy’ couldn’t be a more perfect title for this classic collection of late 70’s grooves.

1. Carry On 03:25
2. Catchy 04:11
3. Gimmicky 03:05
4. Sunny Wing 02:10
5. Light Heart (Pt. 1 & 2) 05:08
6. Riff On 03:26
7. Lyric Soul 03:18
8. Slow Zoom 02:30
9. This Time 03:48
10. At the Feet 03:37


Takeo Moriyama - East Plants (BBE MUSIC 2018)


BBE Music is proud to present the next instalment in the J Jazz Masterclass Series: ‘East Plants’ by Takeo Moriyama, one of Japan’s finest jazz drummers. 

A genuine ‘under the radar’ album known only to a handful of Japanese jazz collectors, ‘East Plants’ is now available once more, reissued for the first time as a double 180g LP, with exact reproductions of the original artwork, obi strip and insert. It also comes with the original notes fully translated. ‘East Plants’ is also available as CD and digital formats. This reissue is fully endorsed by Takeo Moriyama himself. 

Originally released in 1983 on the Japanese VAP label, ‘East Plants’ is an essential album in the J Jazz canon. It’s an album that distils several key characteristics of Moriyama’s music: clearly articulated and inventive rhythms, open yet orderly arrangements, and an accessible groove balanced with a graceful control. 

‘East Plants’ features no piano, just percussion, bass and reeds. From the luxurious raga-like build of the album’s hypnotic title track and the fierce post-bop workout of ‘Fields’, to the stately modal track ‘Kaze’ ( as featured on the sell-out BBE compilation, ‘J Jazz: Deep Modern Jazz From Japan 1968-1984’), the album was, until now, a rarely acknowledged masterpiece. ‘East Plants’ shows Moriyama’s quintet at their most transcendent: delicate layers of percussion by Yoji Sadanari, a warm and pliant bass from Hideki Mochizuki, with colour and texture provided by the eloquent reed work of Shuichi Enomoto and Toshiko Inoue. And, overseeing it all, Moriyama’s discreet yet commanding drumming. 

The BBE J Jazz Masterclass Series is curated by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden and is dedicated to presenting the very finest in Japanese jazz. The series will feature rare, long-lost and unreleased material presented in the highest quality reproductions of the original releases, fully licensed and authorised.

1. East Plants 10:22
2. 竹 (Take) 06:50
3. か げ ろ う (Kagelou) 01:34
4. 風 (Kaze) 05:11
5. Fields 04:18
6. 遠 く (Tooku) 08:16


Charles Mingus - Jazz in Detroit / Strata Concert Gallery / 46 Selden (BBE MUSIC November 2, 2018)


“I’m trying to play the truth of what I am. The reason it’s difficult is because I’m changing all the time.” Charles Mingus

The radical discovery by Amir Abdullah of 5 two-track master tapes in the care of Hermine Brooks ­– widow of innovative Detroit drummer Roy Brooks – of the Charles Mingus Quintet recorded live in Detroit at Strata Concert Gallery is cause for some serious celebration.

These electrifying recordings took place during Mingus’ week-long residency in February 1973. They were broadcast live by drummer/producer and broadcaster Robert “Bud” Spangler for WDET FM – a public radio station dedicated to jazz – from Kenny and Barbara Cox’s multi-purpose home for Strata Records at 46 Selden. Entrance to the gig was $5 dollars in advance and $6 on the door.

By the early Seventies Mingus’ militant musings, volatile character and hugely innovative musical offerings had already earned him global notoriety. He’d played with the Bird, Dizzy, Max Roach, Duke Ellington and had released universally acclaimed albums as a leader like ‘Blues & Roots’, Oh Yeah’ and ‘Black Saint & The Sinner Lady’. This gig – one of a Jazz In Detroit series that also included Keith Jarrett, Tribe and Herbie Hancock – took place a few months after the release of Mingus’ “third stream” masterpiece ‘Let My Children Hear Music’.

The music on these tapes is blazing. According to the late Roy Brooks, the band – which included himself and fellow Detroit trumpeter Joe Gardner – had not long returned from playing two tours in Europe. Fresh to the quintet was stellar pianist Don Pullen and listening to these recordings Pullen’s church-driven power, blues sensibility and harmonic sophistication perfectly complements the bassist’s own vision. On tenor saxophone we have the soulful and innovative John Stubblefield. Like Pullen he was a recent recruit. Unfortunately, the saxophonist’s time with Mingus lasted a mere 5 months: “I got in a fight with Mingus and I shouldn’t have done that. After that, I couldn’t get arrested in New York.” Ironically, when Sue Mingus formed the Mingus Big Band in 1992, to perpetuate her husband’s legacy, Stubblefield emerged as a talismanic presence in the ensemble until he passed in 2005.

PRE-ORDER ITEM : Released November 2nd 2018. This item will only be shipped to you 4 days before official release date. Please note any orders containing pre-order items won’t be shipped until all items are available, so please order this separately to avoid delays.

EXCLUSIVE: THE LOST TAPES!!

MINGUS MEETS STRATA: LIVE FROM THE GALLERY

CD Quintuple Album
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

5CD boxset includes poster, CD booklet,5 CDs in cardboard wallets, housed all together in a clamshell box.

CD Tracklisting:

CD 1
1. Pithecanthropus Erectus
2. The Man Who Never Sleeps
3. Peggy's Blue Skylight

CD 2
1. Introduction by Bud Spangler / Celia
2. Bud Spangler Interview with Roy Brooks and Commentary

CD 3
1...  more
shipping out on or around November 2, 2018


Vinyl Quintuple Album
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

5LP Boxset includes 5x180g vinyls, booklet & poster

LP Tracklisting:

A1 - Pithecanthropus Erectus
B1 - Pithecanthropus Erectus (continued)
C1 - The Man Who Never Sleeps
D1 - Peggy's Blue Skylight
E1 - Introduction by Bud Spangler / Celia
F1 - Celia (continued)
G1 - C Jam Blues
H1 - C Jam Blues (continued)
I1 - Orange Was the Color of Her Dress, Then Blue Silk
J1 - Dizzy Profile 

Includes digital pre-order of Jazz in Detroit / Strata Concert Gallery / 46 Selden. You get 1 track now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.
shipping out on or around November 2, 2018


Digital Album
Streaming + Download
Pre-order of Jazz in Detroit / Strata Concert Gallery / 46 Selden. You get 1 track now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.
releases November 2, 2018

1. Pithecanthropus Erectus
2. The Man Who Never Sleeps
3. Peggy's Blue Skylight
4. Introduction of the Band by Bud Spangler / Celia
5. Bud Spangler & Roy Brooks - Bud Spangler Interview with Roy Brooks and Commentary
6. C Jam Blues
7. Orange Was the Color of Her Dress, Then Blue Silk
8. Dizzy Profile
9. Noddin' Ya Head Blues
10. Celia (Alternate Take)
11. Dizzy Profile (Alternate Take)
12. Bud Spangler - Strata Gallery Announcement / Radio Broadcast WDET FM
13. Pithecanthropus Erectus (Alternate Take) (Digital Exclusive Track)