Bryan Murray & Jon Lundbom - Beats by Balto! Vol. 2 (November 17, 2021 Chant Records)

Jon Lundbom (Big Five Chord) and Bryan Murray, a.k.a. Balto Exclamationpoint (Bryan and the Haggards) are back for their second Chant Records release. Joined by an all-star roster of accomplices, Lundbom and Murray blend hip-hop-style beat construction with avant-jazz and much more in a collage of sounds from various corners of the musical universe. Beats by Balto! Vol. 2 features performances from Jon Irabagon, Moppa Elliott, Nick Millevoi, and many more. A funky, wild, and adventurous collection of music with virtuosic improvisation and revelous glee, Beats by Balto! Vol. 2 is sure to please adventurous music lovers throughout Planet Earth and beyond. All artists' proceeds to benefit the Jazz Foundation of America's COVID-19 Relief Fund: jazzfoundation.org/covid19fund/.

1. Battalions

2. Beat Like This

3. Big P. (Interlude)

4. Tears and Fists

5. Ex Machina

6. Cap'n Crunch (Interlude)

7. Truck Gun

8. Enter!

9. Weak Sauce (Interlude)

10. Hot Shit

MUSICIANS

Bryan Murray - soprano, alto, c-melody, and tenor saxophones

Jon Irabagon - sopranino, soprano, mezzo-soprano, balto!, and tenor saxophones; alto clarinet

Jon Lundbom - guitar

Matt Kanelos - keyboard

Moppa Elliott - bass

Nick Millevoi - guitar

Richard Mikel - bass

Sam Kulik - trombone

Beats by Balto Exclamationpoint

COMPOSERS

Battalions - Jon Lundbom

Beat Like This - Jon Lundbom

Big P. - Bryan Murray

Ex Machina - Jon Lundbom

Tears and Fists - Jon Lundbom

Cap'n Crunch - Bryan Murray

Truck Gun - Jon Lundbom

Enter! - Jon Lundbom

Weak Sauce - Bryan Murray

Hot Shit - Jon Lundbom

All songs composed to beats constructed by Balto! Exclamationpoint

Recorded across the country, assembled in quarantine at Balto! World Headquarters

Mastered by Louie Lino at Resonate Music

Produced by Bryan Murray and Jon Lundbom

PREORDER

Guido Spannocchi / Martin Siewert / Gina Schwarz / Matheus Jardim - ease & ooze (2021 Chant Records)

ease & ooze is the debut album from four of Europe’s most exciting contemporary improvisers: Guido Spannocchi (alto sax), Martin Siewert (guitar, effects), Gina Schwarz (electric bass, prepared electric bass) and Matheus Jardim (drums). Spanning genres, generations, genders, histories and continents, Spannocchi Siewert Schwarz Jardim had never been in the same room let alone played music together before the recording of this album. Tracked in an afternoon at Audiomanufaktur Studios (Vienna) and without cuts, edits or overdubs, ease & ooze beautifully captures the spontaneous creation of distinct compositions and soundscapes. It is a four-way musical conversation illustrating the elusive truth that playing together is always secondary to listening together.

1. Prelude

2. Allegro

3. Triple Axle

4. Scherzo

5. Coda

All songs collectively spontaneously composed by:

Guido Spannocchi alto saxophone

Martin Siewert guitar, slide guitar, effects

Gina Schwarz electric bass

Matheus Jardim drums

Recorded at Audiomanufaktur Vienna by Florian Jauker, mixed and mastered by Martin Siewert

Artwork screenprint on 35mm film by Julia Vogl 2021

Guido Spannocchi is endorsed by Austrian Audio, Corry Bros Mouthpieces UK and Marca Reeds France

PREORDER

Shay Hazan Quintet - Nuff Headlines (September 14, 2021 Chant Records)

Bassist and composer Shay Hazan is a mainstay on the vibrant Tel Aviv jazz scene. His new album Nuff Headlines finds him in the leadership role, a rare (although not unheard of) position for a bass player. The quintet is filled out by the two-horn duo of Tal Avraham on trumpet and Eyal Netzer on saxophone, along with Milton Michaeli on piano and Haim Peskoff on drums. Hazan’s musical roots spread far and wide into the magical realm of Moroccan Gnawa music (Hazan often plays gimbri, the traditional three stringed skin-covered bass lute), the new wave of hip hop, and the 1960's Chicago free jazz and human rights movement. These roots all feed the single organism of the band, with Hazan leading from the bottom, anchoring and propelling the music with a force only a bassist can provide.

1. Beber's Cha Cha 04:06

2. Evening Puja (Netzer) 07:40

3. Vertigo 06:48

4. Kebero 07:40

5. Desert Snake 07:01

6. Olam 05:14

7. Old Tart (ft. Rosa Lea Salmon) 05:50

Tal Avraham - trumpet

Eyal Netzer - saxophone, zurna

Milton Michaeli - piano

Shay Hazan - bass, gimbri, percussion

Haim Peskoff - drums, percussion

Rosa Salmon - vocals (*Old Tart)

Nir Tom Sabag - lyrics (*Old Tart)

Recorded December 18th 2019

Haogen Studios with Shlomi Gvili and Nitzan Levi

Mixed & Edited by Nitzan Levi and Shay Hazan

All music by Shay Hazan (ACUM)

*Evening Puja by Eyal Netzer*

Cover art by Dekel Hevroni

PREORDER

Alfred Kpebesaane & Brittany Anjou - Nong Voru / Fake Love (2021 Chant Records)

Nong Voru, translated from Dagara to English as 'Fake Love', captures the journey of xylophonist Alfred Kpebesaane's (pronounced Kway-Beh-SAH-Nay) origins from the Upper West Region of Ghana to NYC, channeling a novel and eclectic collaboration blending traditional Ghanaian xylophone (gyil) with computer processing and electronic synths by keyboardist producer Brittany Anjou. On Nong Voru, one hears Alfred’s characteristic eccentricities shouted atop his hypnotic master xylophone, Anjou’s melodic at-times-detuned mirroring keyboards playing the traditional role of support xylophone, and the rarest of rare: gyil sampled into electronic sounds of ping pong fractals, by creative Brooklyn-based computer musician Michael Clemow.

1. N Saa Kuuna Veso (The Orphan Song) 05:28

2. Gandaakpina Yangmaa Domme (The Landlord Passed Away) 03:58

3. Yuor Na Nume (Sweet Problem) 09:43

4. The Women Are Taking Over The Men 09:14

5. Nang Nyong Me (Be Poor and See) 08:40

6. The Impossible Song 05:41

Alfred Kpebesaane – vocals, gyil (Ghanaian xylophone)

Brittany Anjou – Nord Electro, Casio 1000P

April Centrone – drums

Oren Bloedow – bass on 3, 4, 5

Michael Clemow – live computer processing on 4, 5, 6

Rich Bennett – recording engineer, mixing engineer, sound design compositor

Kevin Reeves – mastering engineer

All music and lyrics by Alfred Kpebesaane. All tracks recorded on May 28, 2017 by Rich Bennett at Acme Hall Studios in Brooklyn, NY. Additional recording sessions with Michael Clemow and Brittany Anjou at Acme Hall Studios, and Oren Bloedow at The Owl Music Parlor completed in 2018. All tracks mixed at Acme Hall Studios by Rich Bennett. All tracks mastered at Universal Music in NYC by Kevin Reeves.

Pre-order

The Modulators - Drivetime (CHANT RECORDS 2018)

Drivetime is the latest album from ultra-prolific madman keyboardist Brian Marsella and presents the debut of The Modulators, with Reid Taylor on bass and Kenny Grohowski on drums. Drivetime is the perfect car playlist, tunes to accompany you whether driving on the open road or stuck in an unrelenting LA traffic jam. From surf rock to punk to glitch synth, psychedelia, circus music, film noir and more, Drivetime never stays in neutral. Throughout the 44 minute journey are sprinkles of references to Twin Peaks and the surreal world of David Lynch. Featuring special guests Cyro Baptista on percussion and Jon Irabagon on clarinet, Drivetime will get you where you want to go in style. (And by the way, despite what your ears may tell you, no guitars were used in the making of this album.

The Modulators are 

Brian Marsella- keys 

Reid Taylor- bass 

Kenny Grohowski- drums

Special guests: 

Cyro Baptista- percussion (2,7,8,10,13,18) 

Jon Irabagon- alto clarinet (8) 

All compositions and arrangements by Brian Marsella 

Produced by Brian Marsella 

Recorded February 19-20, 2018 at Red Palace Studios in West Orange, NJ 

Engineered by Iuri Oriente 

Mixed by Iuri Oriente and Brian Marsella 

Mastered by Scott Hull 

Album artwork and design by Anna Z Christensen-Taylor 

Brian Marsella plays: Clavinet E7 (through an Ampeg Gemini II), Wurlitzer 200, Yamaha CS60, Fender Rhodes, Farfisa VIP 233, Yamaha Reface YC, Kawaii toy piano, Arturia Analog Lab 2, Glockenspiel, Vibraphone, bell piano, tambourine, wooden spoons, slide whistle 

*No guitars were used in the making of this album 

Thanks for nothing and everything 

In cherry pie, coffee, and douglas firs we find truth. 

May light and dark continue to dance as music fills the air

1. Start Your Engines 00:32

2. TP Is Coming Back In Style (featuring Cyro Baptista) 03:18

3. C# 03:01

4. Chinese Food In New Jersey 02:44

5. Just In Case 02:26

6. The Fibers Are Telling Me Something About What LIES Beneath 03:08

7. Easy Rider (featuring Cyro Baptista) 02:50

8. No Sleep Tonight (featuring Cyro Baptista and Jon Irabagon) 05:09

9. Basement 04:49

10. Time Travelers Overture (featuring Cyro Baptista) 01:22

11. Space Between Dimensions 01:38

12. Fecal Core 01:21

13. Dr. Jacoby Ain’t Nothin’ but a Gigolo (The Doctor Is In) (featuring Cyro Baptista) 02:09

14. Stupid 03:18

15. Cul-de-sac 02:04

16. Smoke 02:26

17. The Timely Death of 2017 03:16

18. Better Days (featuring Cyro Baptista) 01:45

XOL: XOL plays X​.​EN (CHANT RECORDS August 13, 2018)

XOL is a quartet of veteran improvisers on the vibrant European free music scene, with Guy Bettini on cornet, trumpet and fluegelhorn, Harri Sjöström on soprano sax, Luca Pissavini on bass and Francesco Miccolis on drums and percussion. Going beyond traditional structures and tonalities and composing collectively in the moment, they take the listener on a sonic journey to the outer reaches of the universe. XOL has toured extensively with the legendary Peter Brötzmann, and members have worked with other luminaries including Derek Bailey, Cecil Taylor, Gerry Hemingway and Tiger Okoshi.

1. still water has no mind

2. to receive the image

3. of the migrating geese

4. the whole moon

5. and the entire sky

6. are reflected in one

7. dewdrop on the grass

Guy Bettini: cornet, trumpet, fluegelhorn

Harri Sjöström: soprano sax

Luca Pissavini: double bass

Francesco Miccolis: drums, percussion

Recording, mix and master by Eliyah Reichen - Beyond Groove Studio – Switzerland 

Photo and graphic by guy bettini 

Playing Band Photo by marx@photomusix 

Produced by guy bettini CircoRu, www.circoru.org 

Label: chantrecords.com New York City

Bret Higgins' Atlas Revolt - Illusion Machine (CHANT RECORDS 2018)

Picking up from where the band left off with their 2015 debut CD on John Zorn's Tzadik Records, Bret Higgins’ Atlas Revolt digs deeper, refining a collaborative sound which draws upon film music, desert blues, psychedelia, Balkan, and Central and South American music. On their sophomore recording Illusion Machine, the usual line-up adds sixth man of the year, virtuoso Columbian percussionist Juan Carlos Medrano to the fold, elevating the overall sound into a darker and more orchestral version of itself. The music on Illusion Machine is overflowing with exciting rhythms, searing guitar work and beautiful melodies, performed by an incredible group.

1. Shadowboxing 05:13

2. Hunter 05:19

3. Last Man Standing 04:40

4. Euculipsa 04:06

5. Astral Soul Shake 04:38

6. Sun Gazers 05:57

7. Stero 05:39

8. Illusion Machine 04:19

9. Zebop 05:01

10. Moon Catchers 03:49

Bret Higgins - Double Bass

Aleksandar Gajic - Violin

Robbie Grunwald - Electric Piano and Organ

Tom Juhas - Electric Guitar

Juan Carlos Medrano - Percussion

Joshua Van Tassel - Drums

Recorded and Edited by - Jeremy Darby at Canterbury Music Company, Toronto

Additional Editing by - David Hermiston at Woodbine Studio, Toronto

Mixed by - Justin Phelps at Hallowed Halls, Portland, Oregon

Mastered by - David Travers-Smith

Artwork and Design by - Asli Alin www.aslialin.com

Produced by - Bret Higgins

All music composed by Bret Higgins (SOCAN)

NPO Trio: Meg Okura / Sam Newsome / Jean-Michel Pilc - Live At The Stone (CHANT RECORDS 2018)

NPO Trio (Meg Okura, Sam Newsome, and Jean-Michel Pilc) is a group of like-minded friends celebrating their freedom of expression through music and sounds. Within the context of experimental music, the group weaves through musical idioms of jazz and classical – Romantic to Atonal, blues to free jazz.

1. A Four Forty 05:58

2. Bells, Whistles and Sirens 05:01

3. Oyfn Pripetchik-ish 07:16

4. Travels 06:26

5. Exodus and Emancipation 08:47

6. Pleading 05:37

7. Unkind Gestures 06:54

8. Yiddish Mama No Tsuki 18:54

NPO stands for Newsome, Pilc, Okura. soprano-saxophone master Sam Newsome, jazz pianist and Guggenheim fellow composer Jean-Michel Pilc, and jazz composer and violinist Meg Okura create the world of improvisational music which draws influences from different genres of music – from Romantic to Atonal, blues to Free jazz, from Yiddish and Japanese melodies to Coltrane.