Hasaan Ibn Ali - Metaphysics: The Lost Atlantic Album (April 23, 2021 Omnivore Recordings)

Hasaan’s 1965 Atlantic recordings, restored from long-lost acetate copies of the sessions. “He had ideas as deep as the sea. I mean I never heard anybody, even today, play like that.” – Odean Pope – tenor saxophonist

“The pianist, Hasaan Ibn Ali, whom saxophonist Odean Pope calls “the most advanced player to ever develop [in Philadelphia],” had practiced intensively with John Coltrane in the early 1950s and is thought, by Pope and others, to have been the influence behind Coltrane’s so-called sheets of sound as well as the harmonic approach that underlay Coltrane’s breathrough Giant Steps, and also, with Earl Bostic, one of the two role models behind Coltrane’s strict work ethic. Yet he was rarely employed, even by musicians who respected his playing and his knowledge, thus leaving him with little chance to develop an audience. When he sat down at the piano at the Woodbine, an after-hours club in Philadelphia, all the horn players would leave the stand for they were unable to play with him, so unfamiliar were his harmonic concepts.” —from the liner notes

In 1964, drummer/composer Max Roach convinced Atlantic Records to record him with producer Nusuhi Ertegun at the helm. Sessions were held in December of 1964 and the resulting album, The Max Roach Trio Featuring The Legendary Hasaan was released three months later. Atlantic invited Ali to record again in August and September of 1965, but before mixing sessions could turn the recorded material into a releasable album, Ali had become incarcerated on a narcotics possession. Atlantic shelved the album. Thirteen years later that tape went up in flames in an Atlantic Records warehouse in Long Branch, New Jersey. For years a rumor circulated, that a copy of the sessions had been made, but attempts to locate it never turned up a source… until now.

Restored and mastered by Grammy® Award-winning engineer, Michael Graves from a tape copy of long-lost reference acetates of the sessions and with notes from producer Alan Sukoenig and author/pianist/teacher, Lewis Porter, Omnivore Recordings is proud to present this long-thought lost piece of jazz history. The project, co-produced by Alan Sukoenig and Grammy® Award-nominated producer, Patrick Milligan, and Grammy® Award-winning producer, Cheryl Pawelski, features the seven surviving tracks from the album sessions along with three surviving alternate takes. Packaging includes photos from December of 1964 by notable photographer Larry Fink, who refers to Ali as, “the Prokofiev of jazz.”

Personnel on the August 23 and September 7, 1965 sessions that took place at Atlantic Studios in New York City were Hasaan Ibn Ali, piano; Odean Pope, tenor sax; Art Davis, bass and Kalil Madi, drums and all are profiled in the liner notes.

CD / 2-LP TRACK LIST:

1. ATLANTIC ONES

2. VICEROY

3. EL HASAAN

4. RICHARD MAY LOVE GIVE POWELL

5. METAPHYSICS

6. EPITOME

7. TRUE TRAIN

8. TRUE TRAIN (Short Version) [Bonus Track]

9. VICEROY (Short Version) [Bonus Track]

10. ATLANTIC ONES (Short Version) [Bonus Track]

LP 1st pressing limited to 1,500 numbered copies

Pre-order

Mirabassi / Di Modugno / Balducci - Tabacco e Caffè (March 30, 2021 Dodicilune / Ird)

A distanza di quasi sei anni dal precedente "Amori sospesi", torna con un nuovo progetto discografico il trio che riunisce il clarinettista Gabriele Mirabassi, il chitarrista Nando Di Modugno e il bassista Pierluigi Balducci. "Tabacco e Caffè" sarà disponibile da martedì 30 marzo in Italia e all’estero distribuito da Ird e nei migliori store digitali da Believe Digital, prodotto - come il precedente - dall’etichetta salentina Dodicilune e promosso con il sostegno di Puglia Sounds Record 2020/2021 della Regione Puglia (FSC 2014/2020 - Patto per la Puglia - Investiamo nel vostro futuro) e il supporto di Quarta Caffè. 

I tre musicisti proseguono, dunque, il loro viaggio evocativo e suggestivo dal Mediterraneo all’America del Sud, su una rotta - tra tabacco e caffè - in cui si intersecano jazz, folklore ed echi della tradizione classica. Il nuovo disco propone nove brani: quattro composizioni originali di Mirabassi ("Espinha de truta"), Di Modugno ("Salgado") e Balducci ("Tobaco y cafè" e "La ballata dei giorni piovosi") e cinque riletture di brani di Toninho Horta ("Party in Olinda"), Henry Mancini ("Two for the road"), Egberto Gismonti ("Frevo"), Guinga ("Ellingtoniana") e della conclusiva "Choro bandido" firmata da Edu Lobo e Chico Buarque.

«Tabacco e caffè: c'è chi li chiama vizi, e sicuramente una parte di ragione ce l’ha, ma più di tutto sono modi di stare insieme. In Italia poi, veri fondamenti della cultura nazionale. Posso offriti un caffè? Ci vediamo per un caffè? Così si prendono appuntamenti e si ricevono ospiti da noi», racconta Mirabassi. «Eppure quella tazzina contiene un pezzo di mondo. Partito dall'Africa il caffè ha costruito nazioni in Asia e in Sud America. La città di San Paolo del Brasile senza di esso sarebbe un paesino, e non la megalopoli di oltre 20 milioni di abitanti che è oggi. Il caffè è un compagno quotidiano, un segno di pace, di amicizia, l'odore del risveglio in tutte le nostre case, eppure è anche un selvaggio indigeno delle foreste tropicali, che abbiamo trasformato in simbolo stesso di accoglienza e convivio!», prosegue. «Il tabacco invece ce lo hanno regalato direttamente i nativi americani, eppure anch'esso, soprattutto sotto forma di sigaro toscano (mia grande debolezza e passione) si è lasciato trasformare in un pezzo di storia nostrana. Entrambi invitano alla ritualità, alla socialità, fino alla meditazione. La musica che condividiamo qui con Pierluigi e Nando è nata nella cordialità delle cucine delle nostre case, appunto tra un caffè e un sigaro, raccontando e suonando mondi lontani ed esotici,  trasformandoli in rifugio casalingo e in amicizia. Tabacco e caffè, moka sul fuoco, volute di fumo, essenze selvagge, profumo, esotico, domestico».

Ogni concerto di questo trio diviene un’esperienza coinvolgente, capace di trasmettere l’emozione e il pathos che nascono dal ‘sentire’ il profondo ed ancestrale significato della Musica, come arma della comunità per sconfiggere il buio di ogni solitudine individuale.

1 - Party in Olinda

2 - Salgado

3 - Espinha de truta

4 - Two for the road

5 - Frevo

6 - Ellingtoniana

7 - Tobaco y cafè

8 - La ballata dei giorni piovosi

9 - Choro bandido

Compositions by Toninho Horta (1), Nando Di Modugno (2), Gabriele Mirabassi (3), Henry Mancini (4), Egberto Gismonti (5), Guinga (6), Pierluigi Balducci (7, 8), Edu Lobo, Chico Buarque (9). Dodicilune edizioni (2, 8)

Gabriele Mirabassi - clarinet

Nando Di Modugno - classical guitar

Pierluigi Balducci - classical bass guitar

Alberto Rigoni (feat. Nathan East, Lee Sklar, Michael Manring and many others) - For the Love of BASS (April 2, 2021)

Alberto Rigoni's "For The Love of Bass", simply put, it’s bass heaven.

After the success of his latest prog rock album "Odd Times", Italian bassist & composer Alberto Rigoni (BAD As, Natural Born Machine, The Italians, Vivaldi Metal Project), now releases his 10th solo album.

As the title suggests, the instrumentation is exclusively electric bass, spanning ambient, fusion, jazz and new age styles. "It has been really challenging but the special guests contributed some gorgeous playing and we are all proud of the result", says Alberto. "For The Love of Bass" is an all-star bassists album featuring some of the best players anywhere: Nathan East, Leland Sklar, Michael Manring, Tony Franklin, Doug Wimbish, Adam Nitti, Lars Lehmann, Cody Wright, Mohini Dey, David Pastorius...

Are you ready to face a new bass experience?!

1. Drops of Memories (feat. Tony Franklin) 04:28

2. In the Loop (feat. David Pastorius)

3. Dreamers (feat. Michael Manring)

4. Alone in the Dark (feat. Doug Wimbish) 04:38

5. Paranoia (feat. Cody Wright)

6. The Maze (feat. Mohini Dey)

7. Masked Souls (feat. Nathan East & Michael Manring) 06:03

8. Social Distortion (feat. Adam Nitti)

9. ITQ822100009 - Mad World bass cover (feat. Leland Sklar)

10. Killers (feat. Lars Lehmann)

11. Misirlou bass cover (feat. Lars Lehmann)

12. Lost (feat. Adam Nitti)

Produced by Alberto Rigoni

All music composed by Alberto Rigoni except for "Alone in the Dark" composed and produced by A. Rigoni and Douglas Wimbish (©Serious Bass Music Publishing BMI). All rights reserved Alberto Rigoni 2021 SIAE Italy

Mixed and mastered by Federico Solazzo

For the recording and production of this album Alberto used: Schecter, Fender, Music Man and Cort basses, Darkglass Electronics, EarthQuaker Devices and Electro-Harmonix Mel9 and Synth9 pedals, Rheingold-Music cables, Waves Audio V12 plugins, Empirical Labs Distressor, RME audio card, Dynaudio monitors.

Pre-order

Pinheiro / Ineke / Cavalli Trio - Turn Out The Stars (The Music of Bill Evans) 2021 Challenge Records

Inspired by the music of the extraordinary pianist Bill Evans, the Pinheiro - Ineke - Cavalli Trio explores in this new album musical landscapes constructed from delicate arrangements and intricate musical interaction. In this vibrant recording, the trio reaches a new level of maturity and consolidated artistry that appears in the way the group develops musical discourse and improvisation. The guitar/bass/drums trio is here reinvented by the hand of these talented and experienced musicians. 

1. You Must Believe in Spring 06:19

2. Peri's Scope 04:20

3. Turn Out the Stars & Time Remembered 10:33

4. Very Early 04:49

5. Interplay 06:31

6. Waltz for Debby 04:52

7. Some Other Time 08:52

Ricardo Pinheiro (guitar)

Massimo Cavalli (bass)

Eric Ineke (drums)

Pre-order

Lex Jasper Trio & Strings - Lexposure (2021 Challenge Records)

It is not often that one is lucky enough to directly observe the creation of unique beauty, perfect craftsmanship, absolute passion and profound dedication. I recently had the wonderful opportunity to experience these with the creation of “Lexposure”, in Cologne at the end of August 2020. This took place in the legendary, state-of-the-art “Riverside Studios”, under the auspices of the producer Ralf Kemper, who actively and artistically directed the entire technical recording at the mixing desk.

Thus it came about that the best technology and the best musical skills came together here at one of the most high profile studio locations in the world. With ingenious talents on all of these different levels, it was inevitable that something uniquely beautiful was created.

This production was led by the well known Dutch bandleader, pianist, arranger & composer Lex Jasper, and his trio features Vincent Koning on guitar and Frans van Geest on bass . All are masterful veteran musicians in their own right, and complement.

So well captured here in this recording, we find a very successful, high-endproduction of harmonically and melodically beautiful arrangements... Ballads, Bossa Nova and groovy, swinging arrangements of 15 original compositions, which all come together here to form a beautiful “high work of art“.

Jasper’s compositions and arrangements all have their own musical horizon, their own claim to timeless beauty and the guarantee and claim to taste and brilliance. You hear it in every note. Its unique sound belongs entirely to him. It runs like a red thread through all of the compositions and arrangements.

The entire flow of the recordings synthesizes into a magical sound journey - and the real “Lexposure”.

1. Belle Époque 04:05

2. As the Decade Passed 06:39

3. Mysterious Lady Walks in the Night 03:48

4. Vince & Frans 03:02

5. I Remeber Eric Timmermans 04:41

6. I Will Be Like it Used To Be 03:46

7. Pedelex 02:12

8. Eccentric And Reclusive 04:52

9. The Coming Years 05:07

10. Prosperous and Pleasant 03:53

11. Parisian Streetcapes 03:42

12. Happier Moments 04:57

13. Mellow Treatment 02:51

14. I Wish I Had Known You Sanny 04:28

15. Thanks Marinus 02:47

Lex Jasper - piano

Vincent Koning - guitar

Frans van Geest - double bass

Pre-order

Enrico Pieranunzi / Bert Joris - Afterglow (2021 Challenge Records)

"Every time I listen to the very first tones of Afterglow, I get struck immediately, as if by a force of nature. Suddenly, I am part of a natural phenomenon, that manifests right in front of me. At that very moment, everything else in the world doesn’t seem to matter that much. There’s only you and the musical synergy of two masterminds, who put their hearts and souls in every detail of their private conversation.

Exactly the same feeling hit me over and over, when audio engineer Floren Van Stichel and I were part of the creation of Afterglow, in September 2018. The sheer beauty of the music by Enrico Pieranunzi and Bert Joris was present at every single moment. The only thing Floren and I had to do was listen. We simply guarded the entire process.

While performing together, Enrico once said: “Sometimes, the moment you don’t play adds more significance to the things you do play”. The same thing applies to being a producer. Being present was just enough. Nature took its course and Afterglow saw the light of day." Jasper Somsen (Double Bassist/Composer/Producer)

1. Siren's Lounge 04:24

2. Afterglow 03:31

3. Millie 03:18

4. Cradle Song for Mattia 02:51

5. Five Plus Five 05:10

6. Anne April Sang 05:20

7. Freelude 02:24

8. What's What 02:38

9. How Could We Forget 05:22

10. Not Found 03:33

11. The Real You 03:03

Enrico Pieranunzi - Piano

Bert Joris - Trumpet

Pre-order

Behn Gillece - Still Doing Our Thing (March 2021 Posi-Tone Records)

While to many eyes and ears the pandemic-era jazz scene appears to be darkened or shut down, Posi-Tone is here to assure listeners that we are "Still Doing Our Thing." Breaking the sound barrier with an inspired sense of purpose, rising star vibraphonist Behn Gillece leads his worthy constituents on an exciting quartet date of brilliant performances. The band features veterans pianist Art Hirahara, bassist Boris Kozlov and drummer Rudy Royston. From the opening salvo to the last hurrah, the musical program remains melodically straight forward, elegantly lyrical and clearly suggestive of a modern jazz sensibility with hard-swinging highlights.

Featuring an amazing combination of talents and an evocative collection of original compositions, "Still Doing Our Thing" is engagingly entertaining throughout and certain to deliver bright moments of intense delight to jazz fans everywhere.

1. Extraction 05:30

2. Rattles 05:00

3. Still Doing Our Thing 04:53

4. Blue Sojourn 05:20

5. Glad To Be Back 04:58

6. Outnumbered 05:40

7. Event Horizon 06:45

8. Back To Abnormal 05:21

9. Going On Well 05:14

10. Don't Despair 07:48

Behn Gillece - vibraphone

Art Hirahara - piano, Rhodes 1, 6 & 10

Boris Kozlov - bass, electric bass 6 & 10

Rudy Royston - drums and percussion

Nicole Glover - tenor saxophone 7

Marc Free - producer

Nick O’Toole - mixing & mastering engineer

Michael Brorby - recording engineer

recorded August 9-12, 2020 at Acoustic Recording, Brooklyn, NY

mixed & mastered at Woodland Studio, Lake Oswego, OR

Pre-order

Philipp Wisser - Just A Glimpse (2021 Jazzsick Records)

“Just A Glimpse” consists of a band of young musicians from the german jazz scene who play compositions by Philipp Wisser. The quintet is based on both a rough, carefree and melancholy streak. The built-in opposites ensure good stories and a dynamic that makes it possible to revive many exciting moments for the listener.

Can’t Go Back (4:31)

Big Moon (4:53)

Just A Glimpse (7:29)

Flow (4:06)

Very First Time (4:12)

On The Brink (4:00)

The Whistler (4:48)

Old Memories (4:39)

Unbound (9:18)

Never No Happy Ending (4:18)

Philipp Wisser – guitar, composition

Ruven Weithöner – trumpet

Christoph Klenner – tenor saxophone

Malte Winter – bass

Marvin Andrä – drums

Bernd Kaftan - Rooms & Places (2021 Jazzsick Records)

Was begann als „wir nehmen einfach mal was auf“, ist eine Folge von zumeist improvisierten Stücken geworden, lediglich zwei Titel („dawn in greenwood“ und „where i belong, with her“) basieren auf ausgearbeiteten Kompositionen. Den Ideen oder Ideen-Fragmenten folgend, entwickeln sich Klangräume, Melodien, Rhythmen, die zum Zuhören einladen, dazu, sich Momente von Ruhe zu nehmen und dabei der Phantasie freien Lauf zu lassen. Die Titel assoziieren Räume, Plätze oder Orte, die mit Erinnerungen, Kindheitsträumen, Sehnsüchten, spannenden Momenten oder Erlebnissen verknüpft sind, sollen aber nicht strenge Interpretationsvorgaben sein. Man kann auch einfach nur lauschen und genießen. Aufgenommen im ‚B‘-inspired Studio der großartigen Tonmeisterin Brigitte Angerhausen, lässt die Unmittelbarkeit des Klangs den Zuhörer quasi neben dem Flügel Platz nehmen.

wide open sky

dawn in greenwood

attic of mysteries

where i belong, with her

the sorcerer’s cavern

attic of unraveled mysteries

miradouro

Bernd Kaftan (piano)

Romano Schubert Quartett - Points of Return (2021 Jazzsick Records)

The Romano Schubert quartet comprises four musicians dedicated to playing and exploring music, sharing the excitement and tension as they respond to the developing themes flowing between them. The melodies may often sound like old friends, at times dancing happily, at times racing into ecstatic modern jazz. Then again you might think you hear Basie swinging until a floating melancholy infuses chamber music like ballads with a radiating calm before dissolving into infectious funky grooves.

1. Mach´s

2. Monday Night

3. How it ends

4. Vaalser Walzer

5. I love your smile

6. Transfer

7. Janas Hat

8. Still

9. Song for Nadine

Romano Schubert (sax)

Stefan Michalke (p)

Walfried Böcker (b)

Steffen Thormählen (dr)