Monday, May 17, 2021

Greg Smith Group - Cluster 001 (2021 Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records)

Drummer/composer Greg Smith GS has been active on the international jazz, classical, and beat-music scene since the mid 1990s. His chameleon-esque ability has led him to work with artists as diverse as David Binney, Chris Speed, Reggie Washington, Sandra St-Victor & Family Stand, and Kori Withers. Smith has additionally developed an affinity with experimental electronics, creating works for contemporary dance-theater companies around the world.

Now, you can hear this synthesis of beats, pop-ish melodies, electronics and highly-charged improvisations come together in his debut album, CLUSTER 001. The album features the fantastic lineup of David Binney, Logan Kane, Vanja Kevresan, and Alexander Maksymiw. A thoroughly engaging and fun recording, with slightly dystopian echoes. Recommended for the curious listener seeking an alternative, unique voice in the modern jazz landscape.

“I am captivated by sounds that evoke imagery. It’s what first led me on a path of making music for contemporary dance and theater, which in turn influenced and guided me to being a more expressive and emotional composer in the field of improvised music. If I have a unique talent, it’s in my ability to mix seemingly incongruous styles and forms into a captivating and compelling narrative. My new album is the platform, and the amazing musicians who have joined me on this journey make beautiful contributions to the story. This is modern jazz painted with wide brush strokes, creating a rich tapestry of sounds and colors,” states Smith.

Born and raised in Montreal, Greg Smith joined forces in the mid-90s with some of Canada’s best musicians to form the award-winning jazz projects, Life On Mars, and the Shuffle Demons. Much of that success was owed to his musicianship and fresh-sounding compositions. He lived in NYC in the 90’s where he embraced and played with the new alternative underground jazz scene, and made connections to some of his favorite musicians. There was, among others, a four-album stint with the LAMA Trio (Cleanfeed Records) featuring clarinet/saxophonists Chris Speed and Joachim Badenhorst, and The Erik Ritfeld Unit with bassist Reggie Washington and current bassist Zach Lober.
A musician who had significant impact on him at that time was saxophonist/composer David Binney, the featured artist on Smith’s first jazz album, Life on Mars (1994). “I was impressed by how much David cared about not only his own contribution, but our performances as well. We hired him to play, but he really was a sort of producer-by-default. He pushed us to create our own unique sound,” says Smith.

Fast forward to 2019. Greg Smith is ready to make his debut solo album. He searches deep within himself to come up with an honest, adventurous sound. He creates samples and soundscapes, establishing a dark, somewhat dystopian mood. The self-contained forms have pop-tinged melodies that function as tracks on their own. In Berlin, he finds two eclectic musicians in guitarist Vanja Kevresan, and guitarist/synth-guitarist Alexander Maksymiw, both fierce and empathetic improvisers. They give the music a unique flavor and vibe. And Smith turns again to David Binney, for his phenomenal sax playing and production abilities.

Binney suggests the bassist from his own current band, Logan Kane. The band is complete. “Logan is truly a beast of a bassist”, says Smith, “with a very strong sound and creative edge. David guided the recording session and urged us to make unconventional choices. The performances are strong. In post-production he mixed and mastered the album, bringing out a dreamy quality with enhanced effects. So the recording has spirited performances and futuristic, abstract sonics. A really dynamic and colorful mix.”

1. My Pet Robot 06:47
2. N.L.X. 05:53
3. Leolo 05:36
4. Ice 911 07:45
5. A Stable Genius 04:17
6. The Closing 04:16
7. Angels & Insects 03:05

Greg Smith - drums/laptop/keyboards
David Binney - alto sax/fx
Vanja Kevresan - guitar
Alex Maksymiw - guitar, synth guitar
Logan Kane - bass

Mixed and mastered by David Binney
Artwork by Nina Petkovic

Lacci: il nuovo singolo di Francesco Del Prete anticipa l'uscita dell'album "Cor Cordis" (Dodidiclune / Ird)

DAL 6 MAGGIO I “LACCI” DI FRANCESCO DEL PRETE:
IL SINGOLO È UN’ANTEPRIMA DI “COR CORDIS” NUOVO PROGETTO DISCOGRAFICO DEL VIOLINISTA E COMPOSITORE SALENTINO IN USCITA IL 18 MAGGIO PER DODICILUNE

Da giovedì 6 maggio sulle principali piattaforme digitali e su YouTube, con un videoclip diretto da Stefano Tamborino, esce Lacci di Francesco Del Prete. Il brano è un assaggio di "Cor cordis", nuovo progetto discografico del violinista e compositore salentino, prodotto dall’etichetta discografica Dodicilune che dal 18 maggio sarà in distribuzione in Italia e all’estero per IRD e disponibile nei migliori store on line con Believe Digital.

“Lacci” (che non sarà contenuto nel disco) parla di rapporti indissolubili costruiti nel tempo, vincoli e relazioni talmente forti da annullare e superare distanze e ineluttabili incomprensioni. Il brano – accompagnato da un videoclip nel quale il violinista in prima persona si esibisce con e senza violino a rimarcare l’intensità della connessione indipendentemente dalla presenza o meno dell’altra parte – narra di legami e collegamenti che si nutrono magicamente della stessa relazione, qualunque essa sia: un rapporto parentale, di amicizia, un amore travolgente e duraturo. Il disco proporrà nove composizioni originali per scoprire ciò che vive oltre la superficie delle cose e dell'essere umano e per andare al di là di ciò che l'occhio vede in "prima battuta" per approdare nel “Cor cordis”, il "cuore del cuore" del microcosmo che ci circonda. In alcuni brani il musicista, che alterna il violino acustico ed elettrico e si accompagna con loop station e suoni elettronici, è affiancato dalla voce di Arale - Lara Ingrosso, con cui condivide e cura anche la produzione musicale e artistica del disco, dal violoncello di Anna Carla Del Prete, dalla batteria di Diego Martino, dal sax soprano di Emanuele Coluccia, dal synth di Filippo Bubbico e dal trombone di Gaetano Carrozzo.
Francesco Del Prete inizia il suo percorso violinistico con gli studi classici per poi appassionarsi al mondo della musica etnica in generale e jazz in particolare, passioni che lo portano a ricercare sonorità inedite e modi alternativi di utilizzare lo strumento e di svelarne i lati nascosti anche attraverso l'utilizzo dell'elettronica. Da questa ricerca hanno preso vita i suoi tre principali progetti: "Corpi d'Arco", per violino solo e pedaliere (il disco omonimo è stato pubblicato nel 2009); "Respiro", originale duo elettro-pop violino e voce; “Francesco Del Prete Jazz Ensemble”, il cui primo disco, Colibrì, è stato pubblicato nel 2018. Il suo percorso musicale rievoca i nostalgici echi di un interminabile viaggio nella musica attraverso l’Italia, il Giappone, la Francia, la Grecia, la Germania, la Svizzera, la Slovenia, attraverso la sua più che variegata (proficua) collaborazione con: l’ensemble de La Notte della Taranta (al fianco di artisti del calibro di Stewart Copeland, batterista dei Police, Lucio Dalla, Francesco De Gregori, Piero Pelù, Teresa De Sio, Gianna Nannini, Ares Tavolazzi, Mauro Pagani, Vittorio Cosma, Franco Battiato, Ambrogio Sparagna, Giovanni Lindo Ferretti), Arakne Mediterranea, Nidi D’Arac, Manigold, Demotika Orkestar.

Pokusa - D.W.A. (May 2021)

1. POKUSA feat. MARTINE HAUSER - MARTINE 01:13
2. ARRIVA 05:02
3. HORUS 03:56
4. SETTLEMENT 03:57
5. FLO RIDA 03:00
6. RHCPh 04:56
7. TÜRKISH 05:03
8. FINDERS KEEPERS 03:56
9. DOROTA 05:21
10. VANKIA 06:34

Tymek Bryndal is bass
Natan Kryszk is saxophones
Teo Olter is drums

Lumina - Fractals (May 2021)

Fractals (from latim fractus) = "broken" or "fractured"

A fractal is "a rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be subdivided into parts, each of which is a reduced size copy of the whole". Because they appear similar to all levels of magnification, fractals are often considered to be infinitely complex.

Lumina ́s Sound = Fractals

The “free-style sound” of Lumina, although at the first moment it sounds like “broken” or “fragmented” without any structure, it shows us an unexpected “organic” structure after many auditions. That ́s why they choose “Fractals” as the main symbol of Lumina.

Lumina in quartet formation, with the great addition of Vítor Alcântara on soprano sax.

This album is composed by 5 tracks. The first one is here and others will come shortly. Enjoy it!

1. Fractals 08:52

Fábio Fernandes, drums
Sizão Machado, bass
Vítor Alcântara, soprano sax
Johny Murata, guitar, sitar, tampura

Recorded at São Paulo, Brazil, 2010
Mixed & Mastered by Johny Murata

Bruo Duo - Episodes (May 2021)

These thematic episodes emerged from structuring a wholly spontaneous recording session, in the habit built by two musicians and friends who have shared musical sensitivity and experiences for a long time.

1. Vaulting Caves 06:08
2. Shaded Naves 05:02
3. 3.2 Mhz 03:05
4. 1.4 Mhz 07:35
5. 3.3 Mhz 02:30
6. Chording 04:34
7. Hoquetus 03:24
8. Marcha Frigia 05:56
9. Phrasing 03:16
10. Creature I 02:51
11. Creature II 04:51
12. Creature III 06:05
13. Creature IV 04:25
14. Lighthouse 02:59
15. Caleidoscopio 05:12
16. Open Windows 07:30

Paloma Carrasco López on piano and cello
Ricardo Tejero on saxes and clarinet

All music by Paloma Carrasco López and Ricardo Tejero

Recorded by Javier Ortiz at Estudios Brazil (Madrid, Spain) on 26th of February 2017
Mixed and mastered by Ernesto Santana

Ensemble Progresivo - Hesitancy (May 2021)

The concept of Progression in this record is ever-present in the work of this band. Following the principle of non-repetition and ephimeral existence that free improvised music has at its core, the Ensemble Progresivo aims to draw upon what they like to call "Progressions": pieces where the structures is prearranged using a combination of references and musical elements work out by Ricardo Tejero, achieveing a different form every time a new "Progression" is played.

In this way, every time the band performs they play a different "written progression", or piece, never to be repeated again. There are now 27 progressions writen and played.

In this album there are a number of pieces played by the whole band and 4 pieces where Ricardo Tejero makes a duo with each memeber of the band.

1. Progresion 22. Misnuet 05:05
2. Progresion 25. F.A.Q 04:00
3. Progresion 19. Ida y Vuelta 05:48
4. Progresion 27. Double R 02:44
5. Progresion 20. Dilema 19:09
6. Progresion 24. Moundfield 02:01
7. Progresion 21. Mannock 07:44
8. Progresion 23. For Ana 04:55
9. Progresion 26. Tic-Tak.Toe 01:32

Ricardo Tejero, alto sax, tenor sax, clarinet and compositions/idea;
Alison Blunt, violin
Adrian Northover, alto and soprano saxes
Marcio Mattos, cello and electronics
Roberto Sassi, electric guitar

Veuveleuge - The Demo (May 17, 2021)

After every Dark Age, there's a Renaissance, and after every toil there's rebirth. In living the life of a musician, there's no shortage of endings and new beginnings. Sometimes, many things must end for the new beginning to feel just right. When Veuveleuge made music for the first time in early 2021, it was clear this new beginning was here to stay. From the ashes of several bands, three friends came together in true harmony to create an eclectic sound not quite anything heard before. After only several jam sessions and meetings, nearly a dozen songs came forth with such natural ease and enthusiasm.

We simply couldn't wait to share with you a taste of what's to come. This official demo is a tasting menu of our sounds and styles- a snapshot of the joy we feel in our music. There's plenty more where this came from. We hope you enjoy!

1. Funky Chicken 05:18
2. The Gooey 02:29
3. It Girl 02:08
4. PPH 06:47

Dylan DeFeo -Keys
Michael Krause -Guitar/Strings
Ross Procaccio -Drums

John Edwards / Andrew Lisle / Dirk Serries / Colin Webster - Peck and Fleet (May 31, 2021 Raw Tonk Records)

1. Peck 22:02
2. Fleet 22:24

John Edwards : double bass
Andrew Lisle : percussion
Dirk Serries : acoustic guitar
Colin Webster : alto sax

Recorded at the Dave Hunt Studio, London on February 8th 2020

Mixed by Dave Hunt
Mastered at Sunny Side Inc. Studio