Jerome Etcheberry Popstet - SATCHMOCRACY (April 16, 2021 Camille Productions)

« SATCHMOCRACY knocked me out from start to finish and listening to it was one of my most satisfying experiences in a very turbulent year. Instead of pretending it’s the 1920s, Jerome Etcheberry and company perform this music in the 2020s, keeping it fresh-sounding and moving forward. In such a contemporary, swinging setting, Louis Armstrong’s original trumpet lines jump out and hit the listener between the ears in exciting new ways, especially when scored for multiple instruments and when placed over consistently shifting rhythms. It’s further proof that every note Armstrong played will simultaneously remain hip and timeless, especially when presented the way it’s done on SATCHMOCRACY! » Ricky Riccardi – december 2020.

1. TIGHT LIKE THIS 05:43

2. HEAR ME TALKIN TO YA 04:24

3. WEATHER BIRD 04:16

4. HOTTER THAN THAT 03:14

5. I DOUBLE DARE YOU 03:56

6. MEMORIES OF YOU 02:43

7. BIG BUTTER AND EGG MAN 03:02

8. SOMEDAY YOU'LL BE SORRY 03:35

9. CORNET SHOP SUEY 04:16

10. STRUTTIN WITH SOME BARBECUE 04:53

11. WEST END BLUES 04:00

12. POTATO HEAD BLUES 04:03

13. YES I'M IN THE BARREL 03:55

14. NEW ORLEANS STOMP 04:04

Jérome Etcheberry (lead, trumpet, arrangements)

Malo Mazurié (trumpet)

César Poirier (clarinet, tenor sax)

Benjamin Dousteyssier (alto and baritone sax)

Ludovic Allainmat (piano)

Félix Hunot (guitar)

Sébastien Girardot (double bass)

David Grebil (drums)

Producteur : Michel Stochitch

Enregistré, mixé et masterisé au Studio de Meudon par Julien Bassères

Liner notes : Ricky Riccardi et Michaël Steinman

Photos : Zoé Forget

Design digipack : Olivier Boeuf

Design booklet : Dolly Prann

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Maddalena Ghezzi / Francesca Naibo - Opal (February 22, 2022)

Opal, inspired by the qualities attributed to the mineral of the same name, is a sonic journey in search for internal clarity.

Abyss is an improvised immersion in the depth of sound, Meadow is an enriching solitary moment surrounded by poppies, Instabile is the struggle for certainty and Confluence is bright crystalline light.

1. Pre-order preview mix

2. Abyss

3. Meadow

4. Instabile

5. Confluence

Maddalena Ghezzi - voice and composition

Francesca Naibo - guitar, voice and composition

Opal was recorded at Nitön Studio (Laboratorio di Sperimentazione Sonora)

Recording, mixing: Enrico Mangione

Master: Luca Martegani

Released on DēngYuè Records

Artwork Maddalena Ghezzi

Produced by Maddalena Ghezzi and Francesca Naibo

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Søren Kristiansen & Thomas Fonnesbæk - The Touch (February 2022 Storyville Records)

Only time can tell if a musical composition will be considered a “classical” piece by future audiences, but as Danish music critic Søren Schauser has predicted: “In a couple of years we will see pieces by an Ellington or a Peterson in regular concert programs in entirely classical contexts.”

With “The Touch” Søren Kristiansen and Thomas Fonnesbæk present their take on a classic piece of jazz, playing the music of Oscar Peterson and Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - classical but improvised!

OP and NHØP gave us something unique and unforgettable, just as the classical composers did and still do. Being the world’s greatest virtuosos on piano and double bass respectively, their immense technique and ‘Touch’ made them unique.

Their collaboration was likewise special because they were equals. For instance, Oscar Peterson’s arrangement for “On The Trail” (Great Connection, 1971) was presumably written because he had found a bassist that could keep up both musically and technically.

The music of OP & NHØP is maybe the most challenging repertoire that exists in classical jazz. It requires ‘The Touch’… The nuanced, personal touch – the soft, almost inaudible accompaniment and an effortless technique. Søren Kristiansen describes the process: “Exactly like in soccer, The Touch is something you practice. When you play piano or the double bass you need to be able to control the instrument to express yourself freely in the moment.”

Søren Kristiansen is one of the best and most acknowledged pianists in Denmark. Born and raised on the small Danish island Ærø he became a pianist in Jesper Thilo’s quartet at a very young age and later on he toured in Denmark and all over Europe with a number of great classical American musicians. Søren Kristiansen is famous for his great technique, phenomenal swing, and vast amount of repertoire. An unusual musician – one of the few of his kind in Denmark.

Thomas Fonnesbæk was the obvious choice as bassist to The Touch, and he is one of the younger Danish bass players who continues the virtuosity which NHØP was the first bassist to introduce. There is a wildness and energy in Thomas Fonnesbæk’s musical style that is very unusual. Unorthodox, but technically perfect. 

1. Soft Winds 05:13

2. Nigerian Marketplace 06:59

3. On The Trail 05:43

4. Love Ballade 04:54

5. Night Child 07:23

6. On Danish Shore 06:01

7. Wheatland 06:26

8. There Is No Greater Love 06:44

9. Hymn To Freedom 02:17

Søren Kristiansen – piano

Thomas Fonnesbæk – bass

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Evan Christopher - Blues in the Air (February 2022 Camille Productions)

En cette époque d’intenses déforestations nocives au climat, qu’il est réconfortant d’entendre la sonorité magnifiquement ‘boisée’ d’Evan Christopher ; un souffle bénéfique qui s’adapte aux changements climatiques, euh, pardon, aux changements de climats… musicaux salutaires de ce CD.

Et tout ça avec un son et un style différent du maître, thanks to the now famous « Christopher Sound ».

Evan a su s’entourer d’instrumentistes chevronnés et parfaitement soudés puisque trois d’entre eux forment les ‘Three Blind Mice’ (Malo, Félix et Sébastien).

Le dernier (Guillaume) à la batterie s’intègre tellement bien que cet opus aurait pu s’appeler « Evan Christopher et les Four Blind Mice rencontrent Sidney. »

Le résultat est étonnant, swinguant et rempli de surprises musicales particulièrement réjouissantes.

Je m’aperçois que je n’ai pas beaucoup parlé du chef d’orchestre. Je remarque ici un trait qui démarque Evan de Bechet : il ne profite pas de sa position de leader et se met souvent en retrait derrière la trompette, pour fournir des contrechants parfaitement adaptés au contexte de chaque morceau. Il ne prend pas beaucoup plus de solos que ses compagnons. On le sent attentif à la moindre des nuances, ne cédant pas à l’esbroufe potentielle du chef. Ce qui fait qu’on trouve dans ces interprétations un sens de la respiration, du bon tempo relax et de l’équilibre assez rares dans les productions actuelles.

Ça repose les neurones tout en flattant les oreilles !

PHILIPPE BAUDOIN 

1. Blues Dans le Blues 05:46

2. Polka Dot Stomp 04:16

3. Southern Sunset (When the Sun Sets Down South) 06:35

4. Dans les Rues d'Antibes 05:36

5. What a Dream 05:02

6. Si Tu Vois Ma Mère 03:51

7. Lastic 05:23

8. Blues in the Air 05:24

9. Girl's Dance (Themes from the ballet: La Nuit Est une Sorcière) 05:09

10. This Is That Tomorrow That I Dreaded Yesterday 06:52

11. Ghost of the Blues 04:40

Evan Christopher (cl)

Malo Mazurié (tp)

Félix Hunot (g)

Sébastien Girardot (b)

Guillaume Nouaux (dms)

Michel Stochitch - Camille Productions

Enregistré, mixé et masterisé au Studio Meudon par Julien Bassères. Juillet 2021

Design graphic et artwork Ryan Calloway Art

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Didier Burgaud & Simon Teboul - Chet in Mind (February 2022 Camille Productions)

Le premier album de ce quintet réuni autour de Didier Burgaud (anches, vocal) et Simon Teboul (contrebasse) nous emmène au coeur du répertoire du trompettiste et chanteur Chet Baker. Un pari artistique qui repose sur de très belles mélodies serties dans des arrangements originaux et qui respectent l’esthétique de Chet. Une musique authentique et rafraîchissante.

The first album of this quintet gathered around Didier Burgaud (reeds, vocals) and Simon Teboul (double bass) takes us to the heart of the repertoire of trumpeter and singer Chet Baker. An artistic adventure based on very beautiful melodies with original arrangements and which complies with Chet’s sense of esthetics. A genuine and refreshing music.

Chet ! … Ces quatre lettres sonnent comme une onomatopée, celle d’une gueule d’amour au destin tragique.

Après avoir sillonné avec bonheur les terres du swing, entouré d’un remarquable trompettiste et porté par une rythmique impeccable, le clarinettiste et saxophoniste Didier Burgaud met en avant ses qualités vocales pour nous livrer un itinéraire amoureux au cœur de l’esthétique de Chet Baker.

L’entreprise nous fait penser à l’album « Chet sings again » mais pas que… les arrangements et le lâcher prise de l’équipe créent une oscillation entre swing et bop, éclairant ainsi les zones de fragilité du Petit Prince de la West Coast.

Un témoignage sincère et rafraîchissant.

Laurent Mignard 

1. But NotFor Me 05:14

2. Dear Old Stockholm 03:59

3. Let's Get Lost 03:32

4. Just Friends* 03:44

5. Time After Time 04:08

6. I Fall In Love To Easily 05:22

7. For Minors Only 03:10

8. No Moon At All 03:57

9. My Funny Valentine 03:21

10. It Could Happen To You** 04:08

11. You Don't Know What Love Is 05:40

12. Look For The Silver Lining 03:59

13. Comes Love 05:35

14. You And The Night And The Music 04:23

Didier Burgaud, clarinet, tenor sax, vocals

Brice Moscardini, trumpet

Vinh Lê, piano

Simon Teboul, double bass

Yves Nahon, drums

Arrangements: Simon Teboul, Didier Burgaud, *J. "Cannonball" Adderley, **Mikael Skoglund

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Christopher Culpo - Culpo Solo at the Pavillon (February 2022)

As I have continued along several musical paths over the years – composing chamber and orchestral music, composing for and performing in various jazz and modern jazz groups, and performing in free improvisation contexts, I have maintained a solo piano “project”. My preferred format for a solo concert over the past 20 years has been a suite; an uninterrupted set of compositions, a mix of standards and my own compositions. I was first drawn to the format after listening to a solo concert by Randy Weston in Paris where he performed the compositions in sets of 3. I was impressed by how captivating the weaving in and out of the songs was, and by how free one could be with the transitions. I was swept along through each set of 3 pieces but at the end of the set I repeatedly felt a letdown; I wanted the musical spell to continue. So I began to perform concerts where I try to not let the spell end until the end.

As the tradition of the piano, jazz or otherwise, is vast, for any musician who takes on a solo concert many stylistic choices can be made. From single line passages, to stride, to two full hands of notes, from a solo voice to an orchestra, from harmonic simplicity to clusters, it is all in front of the musician.

I hope you will enjoy my choices.

This recording is from one of the few concerts I have been able to give since the arrival of Covid19, performed October 24 at the Pavillon d’Artois in Vaux-sur-Seine.

I have uploaded the concert as a single track. Below is the program with approximate timings.

0:00-3:24 Up Jumped Spring (Freddie Hubbard)

3:24-7:00 Stella by Starlight (Victor Young)

7:00- 9:44 It Could Happen to You (Jimmy Van Heusen)

9:44-13:00 I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (Richard Rodgers)

13:00-18:20 Prelude to a Kiss (Duke Ellington)

18:20 22:30 Rose Moon (Christopher Culpo)

22:30-25:30 I’ll Remember April (Gene de Paul)

25:30-29:30 In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning (David Mann)

29:30-32:35 Willow Weep for Me (Ann Ronell)

32:35-37:03 In Love In Vain (Jerome Kern)

37:03-38:00 Coda -Up Jumped Spring

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Julien Wilson - Outtake Takeouts (February 2022 Lionsharecords)

During 2021 I've been preparing 3 solo albums for release in 2022. They all feature spontaneous solo improvisations manipulated live without any overdubs utilising effects pedals and loopers. I feel they fall more in to the "Experimental / electronic / ambient" arena than "solo jazz saxophone" territory, although, obviously, there's plenty of saxophone (and even some clarinet, although at times it's hard to tell which it is). I think it's music. You can call it whatever you want.

The first two albums will be released on Bandcamp as high definition 24bit/96kHz downloads called MEDITATIONS and MUTATIONS, followed by a more primitive LoFi prequel called "...and friends". I considered releasing these on streaming platforms, but recent events have convinced me to stick to my rusty guns. I plan to print a limited run of CDs, and possibly an LP if there's enough interest.

OUTTAKE TAKEOUTS is a collection of LoFi offcuts that didn't make it on to any of the albums. You're welcome to download it for free. Just enter ZERO at checkout - unless you really want to leave a tip. Bandcamp will always let you do that, and I won't object, (gigs have been thin on the ground), but there's no obligation. I just want to share these samples with you as a taste of what's to come.

This is an unmastered recording. All sounds were created and captured by me at Liberty Sounds in August 2019 and June 2020

Soprano Saxophone on all tracks except track 2 (Bb Clarinet)

The one exception to the "recorded live with no overdubs" process is track 3 which was put together in five parts: two parts percussion, two parts sax + one part drone

The photo is one I took in Großer Tiergarten, late 2006

1. Good For You 00:48

2. I'm Sure You'll Work It Out 02:58

3. Winter Sun During Lockdown 03:44

4. You're a Real Sweetheart 02:28

5. Oh You Do Do You? 00:53

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Christina Guala - What It Is (February 2022)

Led by Christina Guala, CG Octet features many of Adelaide’s finest musicians playing jazz inspired original compositions. After releasing her debut saxophone quartet album and winning Creative Original Music Adelaide’s (COMA) inaugural Emerging Jazz Writer’s Award, Christina created this new band incorporating her writing style with a vocal focus.

1. Just Work 06:02

2. What It Is 04:39

3. Man Coloured Glasses 06:31

4. Last Effort 06:45

5. Let Them Come 04:45

Christina Guala - Vocals/Compositions

Josh Chenoweth - Trumpet

Jack Degenhart - Alto Sax

Jordan Noble - Tenor Sax

Thomas Voss - Trombone

David Goodwin - Piano

Bonnie Aué - Bass

Josh Baldwin - Drums

Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Jarrad Payne @ Wizard Tone Studios

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Rahel Talts - Power of Thought (February 2022)

Rahel Talts is a younger generation rising jazz pianist and composer from Estonia, based in Denmark.

In her music, she likes to mix jazz with elements from folk, pop and fusion, using sweet melodies, interesting rhythmic layers and switching between acoustic piano and electric keyboard sound.

Rahel plays in many different bands and projects over Europe, either as a leader or a sidewoman.

"Power of Thought" talks about the opportunities and possibilities that our thoughts give us in life, and how much do different kinds of mindsets and thinking affect us.

Rahel Talts Ensemble consists of 14 musicians from 5 different countries. The music is well thought-through and thoroughly composed and arranged, but there is also a lot of room for improvisation. This is my first album and I have put every piece of energy, love and appreciation into making the music, I hope You will enjoy it!

1. Gratitude 08:10

2. Sunset in the Meadow 05:26

3. Power of Thought 06:42

4. Flow of Life 06:19

5. Spring in Quarantine 09:30

6. Innermess 06:06

7. Forward Motion 05:38

Rahel Talts (ES) - piano

Isabella Østenby (DK) - piccolo

Monica Vejgaard (DK)- flute

Wojtek Morelowski (PL) - trumpet

Donatas Petreikis (LT) - saxophone, vocals

Ida Frederike Vermehren (DK) - vocals

Kristýna Duchoňová (CZ) - violin

Emilia Blaszczyk (PL) - violin

Daniel Mortensen (DK) - viola

Asger Agerskov Buur (DK) - cello

Jacob Djursaa (DK) - guitar

Rahel Talts (EE)- piano, synthesizer

Mariusz Praśniewski (PL) - double bass

Kasper Grøn (DK) - percussion

Jesper Lørup Christensen (DK) - drums

Marek Talts (EE)- acoustic guitar (track 2)

Jakob Bänsch (DE)- flugelhorn solo (track 6)

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Mario Barreiros - Dois Quartetos Sobre o Mar (2022)

Um documentário, que é um retrato real sobre a vida dos oceanos, tornou-se no ponto de partida para esta criação em colectivo.Assim foi nascendo este trabalho de dois 'moods' distintos, ora com o Quarteto Pacífico, com uma toada mais contemplativa, ora com o Quarteto Abissal, mais exploratório de águas densas e profundas. Este é um mergulho no misterioso grande azul, e na melhor das companhias.

1. Só Ten o Corpo Memoria 06:34

2. Aquática 06:28

3. Narciso 04:36

4. Pacífico 05:34

5. El Árbol Negro 07:46

6. Clarabóia 05:17

7. Abissal 05:50

8. Rede 04:29

Quarteto Pacífico:

Mário Barreiros, bateria

Carlos Barretto, contrabaixo

Abe Rábade, piano

Ricardo Toscano, sax alto

Gravado no dia 14 de Julho de 2021 no Atlântico Blue Studios por André Tavares.

Produção, mistura, masterização, fotografias e capa de Mário Barreiros

Quarteto Abissal:

Mário Barreiros, bateria

Demian Cabaud, contrabaixo

Miguel Meirinhos, piano

José Pedro Coelho, sax Tenor

Gravado no dia 11 de Agosto de 2021 no estúdio CARA por João Maia

Produção, mistura, masterização, fotografias e capa de Mário Barreiros

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