Alan Benzie Trio - Little Mysteries (2018)

Winner of the BBC Scottish Young Jazz Musician of the Year at only 17, and Berklee College of Music’s prestigious Billboard Award, pianist/composer Alan Benzie is one of the UK’s most exciting young talents. He is joined by friends and long time collaborators Andrew Robb on bass (BBC Scottish Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2009; BassEurope Jazz Competition 2016 - 2nd Prize) and Marton Juhasz on drums (Foundation for Hungarian Percussion Culture Award; “Drummer of the Year” 2014 and 2015, JazzMa reader’s poll).

Their debut album “Traveller’s Tales” garnered glowing reviews from critics, and they have been delighting audiences throughout the UK and Europe, including at London International Jazz Festival and United Europe Jazz Festival, as well as being the featured artists on BBC Radio 3’s “Jazz Line-Up”, Austrian National Radio and BBC Scotland’s “The Jazz House”. The music is rooted in European and American jazz, but is influenced by impressionist piano music and film music, and Benzie’s love of Japanese animation gives a visual, storytelling quality. From sensitive, magical textures to virtuosic explosions of energy, the trio are both sophisticated and accessible, with the warmth, empathy and interplay that can only be achieved through great friendship and years of making music together. 

“Andrew Robb and Marton Juhasz on bass and drums are all about close ensemble interaction, and sometimes it’s as if their sounds were coming out from the inside of Benzie’s piano... Benzie’s playing has a hushed yet yearning quality to it; an exquisite touch and elegant virtuosity make for a thoroughly engaging listen.” Jazzwise

“Tasteful and well-judged, this trio makes a terrific team... Benzie has created a set of memorable tunes and his playing, plus that of his colleagues, is exemplary… There is a radiance and beauty about this music…” The Jazz Mann

1. Natsume 2:49

2. The Warrior Who Became a Tiger 7:35

3. Beslan 7:22

4. Hatake Song 6:41

5. Sunken Ruins 6:41

6. Red Street 6:49

7. There Will Be Other Sunsets 5:24

8. Inexorable 5:29

9. The End of His Days 3:07

Alan Benzie, piano

Andrew Robb, bass

Marton Juhasz, drums

Dikeman / Allemano / Baggiani / Svirsky - The 2nd Path To NowHere (FLEA BOY RECORDS 2018)

The 2nd Path To NowHere” was released on February 21, 2018 by “FLEA BOY RECORDS”. Album was recorded by interesting and original jazz masters – Lina Allemano (trumpet), John Dikeman (tenor sax), Leo Svirsy (piano) and Marcos Baggiani (drums). All these four musicians are creative and talented jazz musicians – their original and innovative playing style is full of unpredictable stylistic waves, spontaneous musical decisions, extraordinary and dynamic sound and many other things. Because of creative, fascinating and interesting improvising the musicians are famous and active members of avant-garde jazz scene – they are concerting in various world countries, playing and collaborating together with other various avant-garde jazz masters. Their playing style is based on synthesis of different jazz styles – avant-garde jazz, free-jazz, creative jazz and other experimental jazz styles are combined together with bebop, post-bop, hard-bop and other intonations of modern and traditional jazz styles. Musicians masterfully combine all these elements together in one place and create energetic, active, vivid, gorgeous and bright sound.

This album compositions have original and dynamic sound. The synthesis between avant-garde jazz, bebop, hard-bop, post-bop, some intonations of cool and various traditional jazz styles, are the main element of this album compositions. Free, wild and spontaneous collective improvisations are full of different stylistic waves, unpredictable and sudden turns and surprises. All four musicians are improvising passionately and expressively. Trumpet melodies by Lina Allemano are full of many different musical language elements, which are masterfully combined together. Wild fast and furious solos, aggressive, provocative, rigorous and very sharp sounds, powerful and vibrant blow outs, stunning musical experiments and special effects are gently combined together with soft, memorable, melodic and romantic melodies.

She tries out many innovative and experiment ways of playing – organically combines together sudden and colorful trills, virtuosic and wild fast passages, gorgeous and interesting glissando and other traditional playing techniques with experimental and fascinating methods of playing. The improvisations by Lina Allemano are unpredictable and dynamic – the sound is always changing and never stays the same. Musician express many different moods, characters and create contrasting music elements – the sound of their improvisations sometimes is soft, lyrical and nostalgic or  very dramatic, loud, powerful and vibrant.

From the silent, abstract and subtle episodes her improvisations turn out to expressive, wild fast, harsh, sharp, dramatic, bright and turbulent culminations. Tenor sax improvisations by John Dikeman are as much expressive and interesting as trumpet melodies. Improviser also is playing especially expressive, bravely and creatively tries out new and unusual ways of playing, puts together many different music styles, which are the opposites to each other. His improvisations are based on contrasts – silent and extremely loud, vivacious and tragic, harsh and soft, depressive and joyful and many other different moods, characters and expressions are gently combined in his improvisations. Piano improvisations by Leo Svirsy are based on avant-garde jazz elements and form the harmonic basement of the compositions. Sharp, aggressive and provocative dissonances create dramatic, active, interesting and expressive harmonic background.

Virtuosic passages, turbulent and fascinating piano solos, wild fast passages and arpeggios, sudden glissando and many other traditional playing techniques are used together with innovative ways of playing. Marcos Baggiani drums form and keep firm, outstanding and solid bass line and drum section. His improvisations gently fit together with other musicians playing – for the most of the time he improvises very expressive, vivid, passionate and striking.

Marcos Baggiani  improvisations have especially rich and bright musical pattern, are contained by many different types of rhythms and basic rhythmic formulas of various jazz styles. Album improvisations have bright, vivacious, vivid, deep and vibrant sound.

1. The 2nd Path To NowHere 14:15

2. Mr. John abrió la puerta 06:57

3. BAM! 03:14

4. Under Leo's Sign 05:18

5. Dialogen 01:29

6. Popolocotocopoco 06:49

7. A Rare Sweetness 02:28

8. The Beginning 08:10

Lina Allemano: Trumpet

John Dikeman: Tenor sax

Leo Svirsy: Piano

Marcos Baggiani: Drums

Jean​-​Brice Godet - Épiphanies (GIGANTONIUM April 19, 2018)

Dans les K7, et dans le désordre, il y a des vrais morceaux de Julien Chamla, Sylvain Darrifourcq, Céline Boiroux, Élise Chauvin, Marine Mane, WATT, Julien Pontvianne, Antonin-Tri Hoang, Jean Dousteyssier, CUIR, Jérôme Fouquet, Nicolas Souchal, John Cuny, Marco Quaresimin, Yoram Rosilio, Jacques Brel, Jean-Sébastien Bach, James Joyce, Igor Stravinsky, Jean-Marc Foussat, Dan Charles Dahan. 

Dans le vent de la pointe du groin, il y a ma mère. 

Dans les radios, il y a mon père. 

Dans l’absence il y a Faustine Moulin. 

“Jean-Brice Godet, je l'appelle Godot.  

comme le personnage de Beckett.  

parce qu'il est loin et proche à la fois.  

comme sa musique.  

il semble venir nous prendre par la main pour que nous n'ayons plus peur, et quand il nous a apprivoisé, il nous laisse face à nous-même, tout seul, dans la neige.  

je pourrais croire qu'il en sait plus que nous, qu'il connait un endroit tout à lui,  

fabriqué avec des crayons de couleurs, des ciseaux, des bouts de papier, des bandes magnétiques.  

mais il y a un drône au-dessus de ce monde-là ,  

un drone qui plane très bas au-dessus de nos têtes  

avec des morceaux de voix comme des chuchotements .  

ces voix font tomber de la pluie.  

et la pluie,  

quand elle est généreuse,  

ça ne pardonne pas. » 

Marine Mane.

1. Ouverture

2. Dans la matière

3. Well you know

4. Petit poème symphonique

5. Continuum

6. L'absence

7. Dans les aspérités

8. Final

Épiphanies 

Jean-Brice Godet 

8 études pour dictaphones, radios et clarinettes

Enregistré, mixé et masterisé par Jean-Marc Foussat au Studio Pyjama, en juillet/août 2017 à La Garennes-Colombes. 

La pièce « L’Absence » a été créée à l’issue d’un travail en binôme avec Marine Mane, à l’occasion du « Laboratoire de traverse #8 - Créer en (dé)jouant les contraintes », le 6 décembre 2016.

Alex Hitchcock Quintet - Live at the London and Cambridge Jazz Festivals EP (May 11, 2018)

Saxophonist Alex Hitchcock (‘a fantastic talent' – Helen Mayhew, JazzFM) leads a powerhouse quintet that combines a compelling, adventurous ear for melody with virtuosic improvising. Highlights from the past year include performances at Love Supreme Festival, the Royal Albert Hall, Jazz in the Round, the London Jazz Festival and Pizza Express Jazz Club, as well as a tour of Hungary and Poland and radio play on BBC Radio 3 and JazzFM

Debut CD release from the Alex Hitchcock Quintet, recorded at the London Jazz Festival in 2016 and the Cambridge Jazz Festival in 2017.

'Sax virtuoso... one to watch' – Jazzwise

'A fantastic talent... undoubtedly one of the stars of the future' – Helen Mayhew, JazzFM

'The ideas and emotions cascading from his imagination... emerge as perfectly shaped notes and beautiful phrases from the bell of his saxophone. It’s a spellbinding process to witness’ – thejazzmann.com

1. Happy Ending

2. Gift Horse

3. Context

4. Wojciech

Alex Hitchcock – tenor saxophone

James Copus – trumpet / flugelhorn

Will Barry – piano / keyboard

Joe Downard – bass

Jay Davis – drums

All compositions by Alex Hitchcock

Recording, mixing and mastering by Viktor Volaric-Horvat at Undular Production

TbPn Camarasa & Mahler - TbPn (GIGANTONIUM March 20, 2018)

Le duo piano / trombone est une formation assez inédite dans le jazz, les musiques improvisées ou la musique contemporaine. La musique du futur disque se veut à la croisée de ces trois mondes musicaux et de leurs approches respectives du duo et des interactions de ces deux instruments.

Ainsi la musique de TbPn est conçue par le pianiste Xavier Camarasa et arrangée par les deux instrumentistes/compositeurs/improvisateurs, en élaborant un langage et une écriture reflétant cette problématique.

Cette exploration s'exerce sur les paramètres de sons et postures musicales: entre écriture et improvisation, entre matière sonore et hauteur, entre rythme et bruit blanc, entre événement sonore et silence, entre deux timbres d'instruments séparés et constitution d'un seul timbre d'instrument à deux.

Le langage développé dans les 2 suites reflète la saturation de l’environnement sonore, matériel et numérique actuel, il fait état de la déstructuration et superposition des couches sonores temporelles, sans lien entre elles, qui nous entourent.

A travers la recherche de liens, de mises en relation et de sens par des systèmes de connexions dans la constitution d'un langage musical propre, TbPn entend développer une poésie et une forme de beauté en résonance avec son univers contemporain.

1. Partie 1

2. Déconstructions simultanées

3. Partie 3

4. Partie 4 A

5. Partie 5

Xavier Camarasa   piano, piano préparé

Matthias Mahler    trombone

Composition Xavier Camarasa, Arrangement Xavier Camarasa et Matthias Mahler

Clément Janinet - O.U.R.S. (Ornette Under the Repetitive Skies) GIGANTONIUM March 20, 2018

Sur une proposition du festival « Jazz en Herbe », Clément Janinet réunit le quartet en juin 2016. Au fil des collaborations et après s'être investi dans des formes collectives (Radiation 10, Collectif LaVie Brève, Garden trio, le Banquet...), il fait appel à trois musiciens avec lesquels il joue depuis plus de dix ans.

Clément Janinet compose la musique du quartet en s'inspirant du lyrisme des mélodies du free jazz des années 60 (Ornette Coleman, Pharoah Sanders...) et des textures timbrales et rythmiques de la musique répétitive (Steve Reich, Philip Glass, John Adams).

La première création du quartet a eu lieu au Théâtre de verdure de Montceau-Ragny en juin 2016 autour des oeuvres d'Antonin Artaud, dont les mots ont été portés par le comédien David Rougerie. Cette création se nourrit des expériences Texte/Musique menée par Clément Janinet au sein du collectif de théâtre « La Vie Brève » (Le crocodile trompeur, Orfeo, je suis mort en Arcadie) et du quatuor à corde « Le Banquet ».

Le guitariste Gilles Coronado et le violoncelliste Mario Boisseau se joindront à O.U.R.S. sur quelques-uns des morceaux de l'album à paraître.

01. Crions (Part 1)

02. Crions (Part 2)

03. Ciel

04. Ornette Under the Repetitive Skies

05. Cassiopée

06. Momie

07. Danse

08. Fy (M.Boisseau)

09. Ton Pied, mon Pied

10. Ours

11. Lila

12. Niana (N.Doumbia)

13. Banyan Tree (Janinet-Boisseau-Florent)

Clément Janinet : violon

Hugues Mayot : clarinette basse, saxophone ténor

Joachim Florent : contrebasse sauf 8 et 9

Emmanuel Scarpa : batterie sauf 7, 8, 9

Gilles Coronado : guitare sur 1, 2, 10

Mario Boisseau : violoncelle sur 3, 7, 8, 13

Enregsitré récemment au Studio Juno à Yerres

O.U.R.S. - "Ornette Under The Repetitive Skies" from Romain Al'l on Vimeo.

Olivier Hutman / Marc Bertaux / Tony Rabeson - BeatGames (CRISTAL RECORDS May 11, 2018)

Ce trio mythique de la scène française des années 80, composé d’Olivier Hutman, Marc Bertaux et Tony Rabeson, a enregistré deux disques en 1983 et 1987. Ils figurent parmi les références obligées du jazz et de la fusion française et leur a permis d’obtenir en 1984 le prix Boris Vian de l’Académie du Jazz.

Après des parcours respectifs bien remplis tant en sideman qu’en leader (Eddy Louiss, Lee Konitz, Didier Lockwood,… pour Marc Bertaux ; TootsThielemans, Jo Lovano, Martial Solal… pour Tony Rabeson ; Stéphane Grappelli, Barney Wilen, Dee Dee Bridgewater… pour Olivier Hutman) le trio se retrouve enfin et prend comme nom BeatGames.

Il redécouvre avec délectation le plaisir de jouer avec le beat, qu’il maîtrise à la perfection. Le lyrisme à l’absolu contrôle de la basse de Marc Bertaux et l’inventivité de la batterie à nulle autre pareille de Tony Rabeson déroulent des chausse-trappes et des bottes secrètes sous les claviers jubilatoires d’Olivier Hutman.

Les retrouvailles de ces trois stylistes sont une vraie fête qu’ils ne demandent qu’à partager….

01. Music To My Ears (Olivier Hutman)

02. Horizon Opening (Olivier Hutman)

03. As If Nothing (Olivier Hutman)

04. Avec Paulette (Marc Bertaux)

05. Doris (Tony Rabeson)

06. So, You Know How ? (Olivier Hutman)

07. The Ahava Raba Step (Olivier Hutman)

08. Twicked Link (Olivier Hutman)

OLIVIER HUTMAN – PIANO, FENDER RHODES, SYNTHÉTISEUR

MARC BERTAUX – GUITARE BASSE

TONY RABESON – BATTERIE

Sébastien Texier & Christophe Marguet 4TET - For Travellers Only (CRISTAL RECORDS April 6, 2018)

Il nous aura fallu attendre 25 années de travail en commun pour que nous nous décidions à fonder ce quartet et réunir nos deux univers respectifs. Il n’est jamais simple de rassembler des musiciens pour un nouvel orchestre, mais dès les premières notes jouées ensemble, la musique qui se dégageait du groupe nous est apparue comme une évidence, belle, puissante, l’aventure était possible…

Le tuba, instrument rare dans un quartet de jazz apporte une très grande originalité ; à la fois bassiste et soliste, il est un clin d’oeil aux fanfares, au Marching Band et à la musique de la Nouvelle-Orléans. Nos compositions ont été imaginées et influencées par cette instrumentation singulière et par les fortes personnalités musicales de cet orchestre. Elles sont une évocation du cinéma italien (Cinecitta), mais aussi de la musique noire de Chicago (Eddie H), d’une paix possible (Peace Overtures) ou d’un exil subit (Migrants)…

For Travellers Only est un regard sur ce monde, une échappée. Prenez place, installez-vous confortablement, le voyage peut commencer !

Sébastien Texier & Christophe Marguet

01. The Next Door (C. Marguet) 4’51

02. Cinecitta (S. Texier) 6’24

03. The Same but Different (C. Marguet) 6’51

04. Travellers (S. Texier) 3’07

05. Peace Overtures (C. Marguet) 4’38

06. Hurry Up (S. Texier) 4’54

07. Migrants (S. Texier) 5’10

08. Le Jardin Suspendu (C. Marguet) 4’39

09. Lilian’s Tears (S. Texier) 4’56

10. Eddie H (C. Marguet) 5’42

Sébastien Texier – Sax alto, clarinette

Christophe Marguet – Batterie

Manu Codjia – Guitare électrique

François Thuillier – Tuba

Louis Sclavis & Bernard Lubat - Impuls (CRISTAL RECORDS 2018)

Les Dialogiques d’Uzeste ou l’art du dialogue improvisé à deux…

Depuis 40 ans, des artistes ont choisi de se rendre dans le village d’Uzeste pour s’exprimer dans le registre de la liberté assumée, sans concession…. Cette collection permet de garder des traces tangibles marquant la singularité des musiques fabriquées lors des concerts au théâtre l’Estaminet.

Après un premier album réunissant Sylvain Luc et Bernard Lubat, celui-ci sur un format plus long, propose les échanges et les partages musicaux de Bernard Lubat au piano, à la batterie, à la voix avec le saxophoniste et clarinettiste Louis Sclavis qui fut un des pionniers de l’installation de la Cie Lubat dans son nouveau territoire d’Uzeste Musical.

Comme sur le précédent album avec Sylvain Luc et comme sur le suivant auquel participera Michel Portal, ce duo Impuls, respire le désir du large, l’énergie du « dépensement de soi ».

EN SAVOIR +

« Depuis plus de trente ans nous avançons ensemble Bernard et moi dans la musique, dans la réflexion, parfois proches parfois éloignés.

Pendant trois jours à Uzeste, presque en vase clos, on a joué, parlé, attendu en silence que les mots ou les sons viennent.

En confiance, sans psychologie ni nostalgie on a improvisé un dialogue qui décrit, nomme, affirme notre relation, notre musique et nos idées, pas une fois pour toute non, juste à cet instant.
Cette musique créée et pour une fois fixée par l’enregistrement est parfaite puisque demain, nous en jouerons une autre. » Louis Sclavis

« Il y a longtemps, Louis Sclavis fut un des pionniers de l’installation de la Cie Lubat dans son nouveau territoire d’Uzeste Musical. Il venait de l’Arfi (Association à la Recherche d’un Folklore Imaginaire) et d’un de ses groupes fondateurs « le Workshop de Lyon » cette aventure artistique qui, à l’époque, moqua bien des idées reçues du centralisme parisien. Louis débarqua à Uzeste avec une énergie qui en éveilla plus d’un et qui en motiva pas mal d’autres. Il participa à la constitution d’une Compagnie Lubat local-ruralisée… radicalmement enjazzée à déjouer le climat provincialiste de ces années 80. Solidarités de l’époque : Patrick Auzier, Benat Achiary, Jean Bielsa, Francis Lassus, Bernard Brancard, Francis Bourrec, Christian Vieussens, Akim Bournane, Xavier Jouvelet, Emmanuel Bex…

Depuis… Louis, partout et avec les meilleurs, a joué, inventé, composé, improvisé, échangé, encore et toujours sur les chemins buissonniers de l’aventure, pour une liberté musicienne dont il a su devenir un des plus brillants œuvriers. C’est un partenaire solidaire singulier de l’enchantier Uzeste Musical, ce tiers état ludique en musique à vivre, cette résistance intense aux avatars hagards des musiques à vendre.

Impuls, ce duo dual, enregistré au Théâtre Amusicien l’Estaminet à Uzeste, respire le désir du large, l’énergie du « dépensement de soi ».

Comme pour la politique, la musique doit exprimer ce qui la dépasse. » Bernard Lubat

01. Essai y est (L. Sclavis, B. Lubat) 9’22

02. Trois et quatre à deux (L. Sclavis, B. Lubat) 7’42

03. En tendre l’autre (L. Sclavis, B. Lubat) 8’02

04. Balle neuve (L. Sclavis, B. Lubat) 6’12

05. Traçage (L. Sclavis, B. Lubat) 3’35

06. Voix sans soif (L. Sclavis, B. Lubat) 2’33

07. Essaie si tu l’oses (L. Sclavis, B. Lubat) 4’34

08. Net d’impro (L. Sclavis, B. Lubat) 27’29

Louis Sclavis : clarinettes

Bernard Lubat : piano, batterie, voix

Enregistré vers 2016 au Théâtre Amusicien l’Estaminet à Uzeste (Landes)

DASH! - BOOGIE (Live in Amsterdam Bimhuis) 2018

‘Adventurous and innovative’

Just like the olympic 100m dash, a concert by the Amsterdam free-funk trio DASH! is a profound, almost physical experience. Invariably, audiences rave about how the band combines complex interplay with a committed yet easy going stage presence. With deceptively simple material, DASH! creates a musical universe all of its own, a universe in which only the notes that matter are played in a highly transparent fashion. This results in a very intense, minimalistic and almost hypnotic band sound filled with moments of uncurbed swing, volcanic eruptions and whispering melodies. 

DASH! started in 2004 as an octet and restarted in 2012 in its current trio line up. As a trio, the band released 3 albums, of which BOOGIE (2017) is the latest. Leader Maarten Ornstein is an awardwinning saxophonist and clarinetist who works with leading musicians from jazz, classical and Arabic music. His eclectic playing has been featured on over 30 CD’s by a wide variety of international ensembles, including his own. Completing the trio are bassist Alex Oele and drummer Eric Hoeke, both among the most highly praised musicians in The Netherlands and members of bands such as SFeQ, Kraak & Smaak and Zuco103.

-”DASH! produces a worldclass free-funk album” (Dutch press on DASH! Off) 

-”Maarten Ornstein has proved once again he is an exceptional force in the contemporary Dutch music scene, both as a performer and composer” (Dutch press)

-”...that delicious looseness that gives the impression that the music, despite being under control, is fully flowing” (Dutch press)

-”it’s deliciously chaotic!” (Dutch press)

1. Boogie Five 07:26

2. Boogie One 06:34

3. Boogie Six 06:24

4. Boogie Too 07:24

5. Boogie Tree 09:23

Maarten Ornstein - tenor and soprano saxophones

Eric Hoeke - drums

Alex Oele - bass

Recorded by Jurre Wieman

Mixed and mastered by Alex Oele

Produced by Bimhuis Amsterdam

Maarten Ornstein

"Maarten Ornstein has proved once again he is an exceptional force in the contemporary Dutch music scene, both as a performer and composer." 

Maarten Ornstein plays tenor saxophone, clarinet and bass clarinet. On occasion he plays tarogato and electronica. He is also a composer and arranger. He leads the free funk ensemble DASH!, performs as a soloist and is a member of Splendor Amsterdam.

Gianluigi Trovesi - Mediterraneamente (DODICILUNE RECORDS 2018)

Mediterraneamente è il nuovo progetto discografico di Gianluigi Trovesi in uscita lunedì 12 marzo per l'etichetta pugliese Dodicilune, distribuito in Italia e all'estero da Ird e nei migliori store digitali.

Il clarinettista, sassofonista e compositore lombardo - accompagnato da Paolo Manzolini (chitarre), Marco Esposito (basso), Vittorio Marinoni (batteria) e Fulvio Maras (percussioni) - propone dodici brani tra composizioni originali ("Gargantella", "Cadenze Orfiche", "Rina e Virgilio", "Materiali", "Siparietto"), tradizione ("Carpinese"), musica italiana ("Le Mille bolle blu"), napoletana ("Tu ca nun chiagne", "Tammurriata Nera"), standard internazionali ("Yesterdays", "In your Own Sweet Way") e un pezzo ("La Suave Melodia") del compositore barocco Andrea Falconieri (1585-1656). 

«Credo che nell’ampia produzione discografica di Gianluigi Trovesi questo lavoro venga considerato dal suo autore come qualcosa di particolarmente intimo», sottolinea nelle note di copertina il giornalista, critico musicale e scrittore Claudio Sessa. «"Per me molti di questi brani sono come delle serenate", afferma Trovesi. Serenate, aggiungiamo, che si richiamano a un lirismo aperto, a volte teatrale: non le ruvide dichiarazioni d’amore che si potevano ascoltare nelle valli orobiche dalle quali è emerso il talento del nostro polistrumentista, ma la tradizione espressiva che egli definisce "mediterranea", in uno sguardo globalizzante che va da Gibilterra ai Dardanelli, dal Cairo a Marsiglia», prosegue Sessa. «E infatti spesso il suo interlocutore primus inter pares in questa incisione è la chitarra, storica protagonista (nelle sue varie incarnazioni regionali, dall’oud/liuto al mandolino al bouzuki) di tante appassionate canzoni notturne all’amata. Anche se poi Paolo Manzolini ne declina l’espressività in modo pienamente contemporaneo. Serenate del mondo d’oggi possono essere considerati anche gli standard della tradizione statunitense qui presenti, "Yesterdays" e "In Your Own Sweet Way" (entrambi riletti in modo appassionatamente originale), così come i momenti più ritmici dell’album, legati alla lunga (e un po’ autoironica) consuetudine di Trovesi per i temi danzanti e "dionisiaci"», sottolinea il giornalista. «Intima è anche la formula strumentale scelta dal leader, che lega alcuni suoi storici collaboratori in conversazioni a poche voci, duetti, trii, scarne aperture più collettive che lasciano poi spazio a lievi "a parte" per un singolo strumento. Intimo e rivelatore, infine, mi pare il grande spazio assegnato in questa occasione al sassofono contralto. "In fondo io mi considero da sempre un altista", sottolinea Trovesi, che è particolarmente orgoglioso di essere stato lungamente "primo sax alto" della gloriosa orchestra ritmica (cioè fondamentalmente jazzistica) della Rai di Milano; e la constatazione, uscendo dalla bocca di uno dei maggiori responsabili della rinascita del clarinetto (anzi, della famiglia dei clarinetti) nel jazz contemporaneo, europeo e mondiale, non è da trascurare. È vero», conclude Sessa, «Trovesi nell’animo è sempre un sax contralto, anzi un grande sax contralto. La duttilità melodica, la varietà timbrica, l’intensità dinamica che esprime col suo strumento in questo disco sono quelli di un canto aperto, libero, necessario. Proprio la libertà e la necessità che spingono gli uomini a cantare le loro serenate».

L’etichetta Dodicilune è attiva dal 1996. Dispone di un catalogo di oltre 220 produzioni di artisti italiani e stranieri ed è distribuita in Itali a e all'estero da IRD in circa 400 punti vendita tra negozi di dischi e store. I dischi Dodicilune possono essere acquistati anche online, ascoltati e scaricati su una cinquantina tra le maggiori piattaforme del mondo.

1 - Yesterdays

2 - Gargantella

3 - Carpinese

4 - Cadenze Orfiche

5 - Tu ca nun chiagne

6 - Tammurriata Nera

7 - La Suave Melodia

8 - Le Mille Bolle Blu

9 - Siparietto

10 - Rina e Vigilio

11 - In your Own Sweet Way

12 - Materiali

Gianluigi Trovesi, alto sax, alto clarinet

Paolo Manzolini, guitars

Marco Esposito, bass

Vittorio Marinoni, drums

Fulvio Maras, percussions

Produced by Gabriele Rampino for Dodicilune edizioni, Italy

Label manager Maurizio Bizzochetti (www.dodicilune.it) 

Recorded 21-22 August 2016 and 24 april 2017 at Artesuono, Cavalicco (Ud), Italy

Mixed and mastered September 2017   Sound engineer Stefano Amerio

Cover photo (c) Hyperific   Photos by Mario Rota, Ivonne Mercier, Angela Bartolo 

Contact: www.gianluigitrovesi.com

Carpinese is dedicated to Christina Pluhar   Thanks to Claudio Angeleri and CDPM

Kristjan Randalu - Absence (ECM 2018)

Estonian pianist Kristjan Randalu makes his ECM debut with a striking album of his own rigorous-yet-lyrical music, sensitively played by a trio formed especially for this recording, with US guitarist Ben Monder and Finnish drummer Markku Ounaskari. As an improviser of prodigious technique, once described by Herbie Hancock as “a dazzling piano player”, Randalu’s affinities are with the jazz musicians, but the forms and dynamics of his pieces also reflect a discerning sense of structure, and he has cited composers  Erkki-Sven Tüür and Tõnu Kõrvits amongst his mentors. Absence was recorded at Studios La Buissonne in the south of France in July 2017 and produced by Manfred Eicher.

1 FORECAST (Kristjan Randalu) 09:27

2 LUMI I (Kristjan Randalu) 05:09

3 SISU (Kristjan Randalu) 04:52

4 LUMI II (Kristjan Randalu) 03:23

5 ESCAPISM (Kristjan Randalu) 06:06

6 ADAPTION I (Kristjan Randalu) 03:07

7 ADAPTION II (Kristjan Randalu) 05:55

8 PARTLY CLOUDE (Kristjan Randalu) 05:12

9 ABSENCE (Kristjan Randalu) 04:49

Kristjan Randalu   Piano

Ben Monder   Electric Guitar

Markku Ounaskari   Drums

Jakob Bro - Returnings (ECM 2018)

“Danish guitarist Jakob Bro creates magical music, impossible to categorize”, wrote Downbeat recently.  On Returnings the magic is intensified as Bro and musical soul-mate Thomas Morgan reconnect with two living legends of European jazz, trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg and drummer Jon Christensen.  It’s a wonderful combination:  Bro’s watercolour guitar sounds,  Mikelborg’s soft Milesian flugelhorn,  Morgan’s impeccable choice of notes,  and Christensen’s  free-floating drumming . These components  add up to one of the prettiest and subtlest jazz albums of recent times.  Returnings was recorded  in July 2016 at Oslo’s Rainbow Studio and produced by Manfred Eicher.

1 OKTOBER (Jakob Bro) 04:19

2 STRANDS (Jakob Bro) 04:43

3 SONG FOR NICOLAI (Palle Mikkelborg) 05:19

4 VIEW (Jakob Bro) 08:38

5 LYSKASTER (Jakob Bro) 05:03

6 HAMSUN (Jakob Bro) 05:14

7 RETURNINGS (Jakob Bro, Palle Mikkelborg) 05:36

8 YOUTH (Palle Mikkelborg) 02:37

Jakob Bro   Guitar

Palle Mikkelborg   Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Thomas Morgan   Double Bass

Jon Christensen   Drums

Arild Andersen - In House Science (ECM 2018)

Norwegian master bassist Arild Andersen’s trio with big-toned tenorist Tommy Smith and powerhouse drummer Paolo Vinaccia is one of the most viscerally exciting jazz small groups of the present moment. Its energies are arguably best captured in a live context, and here the three musicians deliver a characteristically smoking performance at the Villa Rothstein in Bad Ischl, Austria, recorded in September 2016. Their earlier concert recording Live At Belleville, was issued a decade ago to rave reviews and a shower of awards. “Absolutely and unreservedly marvellous” said the BBC Music Magazine.  “How often do just three musicians produce music as vast and panoramic in its scale and vision?” asked Jazzwise, amazed.

1 MIRA (Arild Andersen) 09:50

2 SCIENCE (Arild Andersen) 11:10

3 VENICE (Arild Andersen) 08:44

4 NORTH OF THE NORTHWIND (Arild Andersen) 08:35

5 BLUSSY (Arild Andersen) 08:59

6 INHOUSE (Arild Andersen) 08:10

Arild Andersen   Double Bass

Paolo Vinaccia   Drums

Tommy Smith   Tenor Saxophone

Mika Pohjola, Miguel Zenón, Ben Monder, Fernando Huergo & Roberto Dani: Landmark - Remastered Expanded Edition (BLUE MUSIC GROUP 2018)

This remarkable disc features Mika Pohjola's crafty ensemble, with Miguel Zenón on alto sax and flute, Ben Monder on guitar, Fernando Huergo on bass, and Roberto Dani on drums, with Johanna Grüssner contributing haunting vocals on occasion. Pohjola plays Fender Rhodes and other electric keys in addition to acoustic piano; on Landmark and Retrospectives he doubles certain melodies on harpsichord, as he has done on two previous albums (he may well be the first musician to employ the arcane instrument in a modern jazz ensemble, although Herbie Hancock played an electric harpsichord on a couple of unissued Miles Davis tracks in the late 60s.)

Compositionally, Pohjola's work is involved yet infectious and profoundly melodic, driven by the virtuosity and strong personalities of his players. On tracks like Screenplay and Future Apparent the band purveys a hip, appealing species of electric jazz. Pohjola's mellower side comes through on A Ballad About Something and Old Couples Lullaby. In contrast, he makes loud mischief on the rhythmically skewered punk of Young in the '80s and conveys a peculiar, semi-rubato feel on the evocative Summer Garden (which features Monder and Dani in a duo exchange toward the end). Pohjola also works wonders with Grüssner's voice on an inspired arrangement of the fourth century Ambrosian hymn, as well as the Finnish-titled Reppurin Laulu (Vagabond's Song), the lyrics of which are in the Karelian language.

The highly recommended Landmark sets the bar very high for creative music.There is an underground alternative jazz scene that is beginning to bubble over the surface and its starting to leak into all the different areas of music and culture. It's based in Manhattan New York. People like Mika are leading the way. When you get a four star review with the All Music Guide you have made the grade. This gentleman has arrived in a big way. I knew that he would, and the deserving recognition was just around the corner after the last release. Yes, I knew that he was special, and so will you when you hear his music. This is the perfect title for this CD; it is no doubt a Landmark release. - Down Beat 

1. Landmark 06:18

2. Screenplay 06:53

3. A Ballad about Something 04:17

4. Future Apparent 05:01

5. Isämme kiitos päivästä (Thank You, Lord, for This Day) 02:25

6. Old Couples Lullaby 04:54

7. Young in the 80s 07:34

8. Forest Nocturne 03:42

9. Passing Recline 05:19

10. Movements in Style 02:18

11. Summer Garden 04:32

12. MikaSonik Theme 00:36

13. Retrospectives 08:11

14. Now Came to Us 03:14

15. Reppurin laulu (Vagabond's Song) 04:43

16. Old Manhattan Tango 04:57

17. Future Apparent (Live in Stockholm) 07:06

18. Old Couples Lullaby (Live in Stockholm) 05:32

19. Old Manhattan Tango (Live in Stockholm) 07:33

20. Screenplay (Live in Stockholm) 08:10

21. Landmark (Live in Stockholm) 07:31

22. Now Came to Us (Live in Stockholm) 03:11

23. Announcement - MikaSonik Theme (Live in Stockholm) 15:50

24. Passing Recline (Live in Stockholm) 05:14

25. Movements in Style (Live in Stockholm) 03:14

26. Summer Garden (Live in Stockholm) 06:19

27. Young in the 80s (Live in Stockholm) 08:12

28. A Ballad about Something (Live in Stockholm) 05:59

29. Retrospectives - MikaSonik Theme (Live in Stockholm) 10:39

30. Nights Flights Spice (Quartet Version 1) 08:14

31. My Mother Turned Fifty (Quartet Version) 06:15

32. Old Couples Lullaby (Quartet Version) 04:33

33. Screenplay (Quartet Version) 06:55

34. Announcement (Quartet Version) 08:13

35. Summer Garden (Quartet Version) 05:56

36. When Things Will Change (Quartet Version) 09:55

37. Movements in Style (Quartet Version) 04:47

38. Nights Flights Spice (Quartet Version 2) 07:59

39. Landmark (Take 1) 06:03

40. Passing Recline (Take 1) 04:35

41. Forest Nocturne (Take 2) 03:26

42. A Ballad About Something (Take 1) 04:10

43. Summer Garden (Take 2) 04:50

44. Screenplay (Take 2) 06:12

45. Future Apparent (Live in New York City) 05:52

46. Landmark (Live in New York City) 05:56

47. Old Manhattan Tango (Live in New York City) 05:45

48. Passing Recline (Live in New York City) 05:30

49. Screenplay (Live in New York City) 06:30

50. Young in the 80s (Live in New York City) 07:14

Mika Pohjola - piano, harpsichord, fender rhodes, all compositions (except 5 and 15)

Miguel Zenón - saxophone, flute

Ben Monder - guitar

Fernando Huergo - bass

Roberto Dani - drums

Johanna Grüssner - voice (1, 5, 6, 7, 13, 15)

Matt Penman - bass (32-38)

Mika Pohjola, Chris Cheek, Matt Penman & Roberto Dani: Announcement - Remastered Expanded Edition (BLUE MUSIC GROUP 2018)

Mika Pohjola is a superb technician who also possesses a crafty compositional pen as the artist generally pushes his creative faculties to the limits, evidenced by an increasingly rich recorded legacy. With this 1998 effort, the pianist along with saxophonist Chris Cheek and longtime running mates, drummer Roberto Dani and bassist Matt Penman integrate ferocious soloing into a palate often consisting of vibrant choruses, peppery exchanges, swiftly executed rhythms and lyrically rich unison lines. However, Pohjola also excels as a forward thinking visionary who draws upon widespread influences, whether it is far eastern modalities, Scandinavian folk or the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, while also injecting innocent, lullaby style melodies into the grand scheme of things. Simply stated, Announcement represents a joyous event that supersedes a good portion of the nondescript, overly hyped, and rigorously marketed 90's and 2000 brand of post-bop, whereas this refreshing and altogether stirring production imparts a lasting impression. – Glenn Astarita, All Music Guide

1. Party 08:29

2. Indian Restaurant 03:29

3. Announcement (Kungörelse) 08:29

4. Thinking, Wondering, Dreaming 06:04

5. When Things Will Change 08:19

6. Hair, Scarf & Fragrance 06:29

7. A Portrait of Three Statues 07:40

8. Maalaiselämää (Country Living) 03:46

9. Relax in the Sun 06:53

10. Mustat Ruusut (Black Roses) 04:15

11. Frau von Stroyanowsky 05:02

12. My Mother Turned Fifty 04:40

13. Kids' Song 01:57

14. The Ice That Breaks 04:17

15. The Secret of the Castle 07:28

16. Romance 04:05

17. A Swedish Fairy-tale 07:40

18. A Visit to Look Forward to 06:39

19. And She Appeared 09:32

20. Snapshots 03:21

21. Hymn of the Immortals 04:09

22. Muistoja Torkkelinmäeltä (Memories from Hometown) 04:04

23. A Farmer's Dream 08:21

24. Reverie 05:46

25. Kaféet 05:42

26. Party (Take 3) 09:07

27. Party (Take 4) 07:46

28. Hair, Scarf & Fragrance (Take 1) 06:25

29. Hair, Scarf & Fragrance (Take 2) 06:24

30. Hair, Scarf & Fragrance (Take 3) 06:29

31. A Portrait of Three Statues (Take 1) 07:37

32. Mustat Ruusut (Black Roses) [Take 4] 04:27

33. Frau von Stroyanowsky (Take 1) 04:36

34. Kids' Song (Take 1) 02:00

35. A Portrait of Three Statues (Composite Take) 09:17

36. Relax in the Sun (Take 1) 06:43

37. Snapshots (Take 1) 03:54

38. The Ice That Breaks (Solo Piano version) 05:59

39. A Swedish Fairy-tale (Take 2) 09:14

40. The Ice That Breaks (Short Solo Piano version) 01:47

41. Kids' Song Story (Original CD version) 01:18

42. Kids' Song Story (Alternate Mix 1) 01:04

43. Kids' Song Story (Alternate Mix 2) 01:21

44. Kids' Song Story (Alternate Mix 3) 01:21

45. When Things Will Change (Live in Finland) 11:54

46. Indian Restaurant (Live in Finland) 04:59

47. Announcement (Live in Finland) 12:02

48. Fall of 1978 (Live in Finland) 11:35

49. Hair, Scarf & Fragrance (Live in Finland) 07:42

50. Party (Live in Finland) 12:21

Mika Pohjola - piano & all compositions

Chris Cheek - saxophones

Matt Penman - bass

Roberto Dani - drums

Jason Klobnak Quartet - Friends & Family (2018)

The Jason Klobnak Quartet performs infectious originals with a B3 organ centered rhythm section; they blend hard bop, soul, gospel, and other world rhythms to create a memorable Jazz experience.

1. Through Her Eyes 05:00

2. Friends & Family 04:58

3. Dad's Game 05:05

4. S.I.K. 03:58

5. My August Auburn 04:12

6. One For the Mother 04:48

7. Inception (It's Mike's Fault) 07:24

8. Dean and Margaret 06:45

9. Brothers and Sisters 06:15

10. Why Couldn't We? 05:52

11. Ms. Terrie 05:25

Jason Klobnak - trumpet

Eric Erhardt - tenor

Jeff Jenkins - hammond B3

Kevin Matthews - drums

Philippe Lemoine / Ulf Mengersen / Wolfgang Seidel - II (Berlin 2017) 2018

1. II 25:50

PHILIPPE LEMOINE - TENOR SAXOPHONE

ULF MENGERSEN - DOUBLE BASS

WOLFGANG SEIDEL - DRUMS AND PERCUSSIONS