Tara Minton & Ed Babar - Two For The Road (Jazzizit Records)

Australian harpist Tara Minton and British double bass player Ed Babar are to release a their new alum, Two For The Road, on January 28th 2022, on Jazzizit Records. The release serves as a follow up to Tara’s 2020 solo album, Please Do Not Ignore The Mermaid, on which Ed provided bass, and features a specially commissioned piece of art for the album cover by Paya Lehane.

In January 2021, inspired by the great jazz duo albums, Tara and Ed resolved to record their own contribution to the art form: ‘Two For The Road.’ The repertoire was carefully selected from The Great American Songbook and the modern British Jazz Canon to capture the pair’s love of travel and life on the road. A notable composition chosen was Dave Holland’s ‘Dream Of The Elders’ whose spiritual lyrics Tara greatly admired. Originally penned by Norma Winstone, Tara was granted special permission by Norma and Dave, to record them under the new title, ‘What We Have To Be.’

Tara connected with Geoff Gascoyne and asked if he would like to direct and produce ‘Two For The Road’, adding a musical heroes to the creative team. Around the same time whilst hiking, the duo happened upon British saxophone legend, Stan Sulzmann, resulting in an invitation for him to guest. Lastly, Tara and Ed invited Bulgarian percussionist, Lilia Iontcheva to guest on three songs, thus completing the all-star lineup. The album was engineered by David Holmes and recorded over three days on board Lightship 95 studio at Trinity Buoy Wharf.

In ‘Two For The Road’ Tara’s harp style has matured with a richness of language and melodic fluency that is rare on her instrument. Director of Camac Harps, Jakez François says, “There are so few harpists who push the phrases and harmonies to this level, the kind which can compare with piano and guitar. I am so happy and proud to hear that on a harp at last.” Ed’s versatility as a bassist is given plenty of space to shine with intricate solo lines, beautifully crafted bass solos and stunning bowed passages, whilst Tara’s vocal performance is both intimate and powerful, urgent and reflective. 

1. Life In A Bubble 02:58

2. On The Sunny Side Of The Street 04:06

3. Games 03:56

4. What We Have To Be 06:14

5. Caravan 05:33

6. You Go To My Head 04:19

7. 'Round Midnight 03:30

8. Whirlpool 05:34

9. The Shadow Of Your Smile 04:52

10. Jazz Autographs 04:19

11. Blackbird 04:02

12. Two For The Road 04:20

13. Life In A Bubble - Epilogue 01:23

Tara Minton - harp/voclas

Ed Babar - double bass

Stan Sulzmann - tenor saxophone

Lilia Iontcheva - percussion

Produced by Geoff Gascoyne

Arranged by Tara Minton and Geoff Gascoyne

Recorded at Lightship 95 Studio

Engineered by David Holmes

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Stan Sulzmann and Tony Hymas - KRARK (January 2022 Jazz In Britain)

Originally released on vinyl LP on Mosaic Records (GCM 792) in 1979

Re-issued for the first time here in digital format with the support of Stan Sulzmann and Tony Hymas

1. Double Threat 04:42

2. Toon 08:00

3. Snow 06:56

4. KRARK 15:56

5. Just Above The Treeline 04:09

Stan Sulzmann - tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute

Tony Hymas - grand piano, electric piano (Fender Rhodes), synthesizers (Oberheim OB. 1, Roland RS 202)

Recorded at BBC Kensington House on 27th January & 1st March 1979

Engineer & Mixing: Pete Freshney

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Indo Jazz Fusions with Larry Adler (February 2, 2022 British Progressive Jazz)

This is one of those occasions when we ‘labellers of music’ get stuck in our own glue. Consider the complication: A group called Indo Jazz Fusions containing Indian and British musicians, an American-born guest, and the result, a uniquely beautiful music which is patently not quite Indian, not quite jazz, not quite contemporary-American. I think the most accurate thing you can say is that it can only be played the way it is by men in contact with the jazz tradition.

The group is led, and all the compositions save one were written, by John Mayer. Born in Calcutta, trained first in Indian music, then in classical European music, he came to England about twenty years ago to pursue an orchestral career as a violinist. More recently he has devoted his time entirely to composition and to his Indo Jazz Fusions unit, an idea dating from four or five years ago. As a group it’s been through a number of changes so that now it’s a very fiery, jazzy unit indeed, which doesn’t mean that it’s no longer Indian, as can be heard in the first piece - Raga Malika, based on the rules of the classical Indian raga, a set scale of notes - a kit of parts almost - from which all the resulting solos are built. The rhythm in that case, twelve beats. Not to a bar so much as twelve beats in a recurring cycle.

In Serenade you’ll notice the pastoral nature of the sound of Larry Adler’s harmonica against Stan Sulzmann’s flute. In John Mayer’s composition Romance, from which guitar, sitar and tabla are absent, it reaches a degree of intensity seldom heard outside the music of Vaughan Williams, and the piece has one of the most sinuous, unpredictable melodies I’ve ever heard.

Larry Adler is the first man as far as I know to have made the harmonica a concert instrument, a feat he achieved in the 1930s, and it’s from the late Thirties that George Gershwin’s Summertime comes. It’s the first time that John Mayer has ever arranged a standard number for this group, and the results are very beautiful indeed.

Sarabande by John Mayer is a little more Indian in flavour, though it has a familiar title. In this, John Mayer himself plays violin.

The final piece is a return to the raga form, in this case built on a rhythm of eighteen beats. Among the things you’ll hear is a kind of duetting between Jim Moyes on guitar and Clem Alford on sitar. A technique known as the Raga Mehga.

I think that Britain is the only place where so many elements could be brought together so successfully.

Peter Clayton - July 1970 

1. Raga Malika

2. Serenade

3. Romance

4. Summertime

5. Sarabande

6. Raga Megha

Recorded 'live in-studio' in London, July 1970

Previously unreleased

Larry Adler - harmonica (tracks 2-6)

John Mayer - piano, violin

Stan Sulzmann - alto saxophone, flute

Jim Moyse - guitar

Clem Alford - sitar

Jeff Clyne - bass

John Marshall - drums

Keshav Sathe - tabla

Tape transfer by Ian Priston

Restored and mastered by Matt Parker for British Progressive Jazz

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John Taylor Sextet - Eye To Eye: Live 1971 (February 2, 2022 British Progressive Jazz)

1. And Think Again 08:53

2. Wait For Me 10:50

3. Awakening 04:31

4. Eye To Eye / Aw 04:58

Recorded live in London, April 1971

Previously unreleased

John Taylor - piano

Kenny Wheeler - trumpet, flugelhorn

Chris Pyne - trombone

Stan Sulzmann - alto sax, flute

Chris Laurence - bass

Tony Levin - drums

Tape transfer by Dave Harwood

Resorted and mastered by Matt Parker

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Stan Sulzmann & Vein with The Mon Ami Ensemble - Mon Ami (August 20, 2021)

* All proceeds to Médecins Sans Frontières *

Early in 2020 like many colleagues, I found myself left high and dry for creative output as the pandemic took a hold. I took a leap of faith into recording virtually as the only foreseeable option, which was a daunting prospect. “No previous experience” but up for learning.

Having played some great UK concerts as a guest with the Swiss trio Vein over a previous couple of years I was so disappointed at the inevitable cancellation of our short tour in UK and Ireland at the end of 2020.

For quite some time a couple of the young members of my Neon Orchestra , particularly Tom Walsh had broached the idea of a virtual recording of some of my big band music. As always young musicians were already finding a way to experiment with this option. So I thought ok maybe I could combine Vein with an ensemble of players from here, and Jim Hart in the Alsace recording virtually. Vein had already issued such a recording ‘ The Chamber Music Effect’ which sounded lovely.

This collection is the result. Great! A Lockdown Project to work on which involved writing some new compositions and arrangements whilst learning a little about recording virtually without the live interaction we all so love. I'd already heard some excellent large ensemble recordings as in Billy Marrows ‘Genmaicha’ with the Patchwork Orchestra which inspired me to want to get involved in the possibilities and not be beaten by the demoralising circumstances that we all faced. No live Music-making!

I set out to make an albums worth of music, culminating in 6 varied pieces.

'Chu Chu' (originating from my trio NEON), 'Between Moons' (a commission from composer John Taylor from my 65th Birthday tour), and 'Shadow Painting' from my 70th tour in 2019 plus three new pieces; 'Love for Sale' (the Cole Porter classic) blended with 'Resolution' ( John Coltrane) into one long arrangement that was premiered on a Royal Academy socially distanced Big Band online concert, itself another new experience in a great new theatre but with no audience. Then an arrangement of 'One Day I'll Fly Away' ( Joe Sample & Will Jennings from The Crusaders) I just always liked this tune sung by Randy Crawford.

Finally a brand new composition 'Mon Ami' which reflects this project at a time when we were all thinking about our friends and personal and musical relationships, not to mention what does the future hold in store for us all!

Stan Sulzmann

1. Love For Sale/Resolution

2. Chu Chu

3. Mon Ami

4. Shadow Painting

5. Between Moons

6. One Day I'll Fly Away

Stan Sulzmann - tenor sax

VEIN:

Michael Arbenz - piano

Florian Arbenz - drums

Thomas Laehns - bass

Trumpets - Tom Walsh, James Copus, George Hogg, Nick Smart

Trombones - Mark Nightingale, Olli Martin, Harry Maund

Saxes - Matt Sulzmann, Sam Glaser, Tom Barford, James Allsopp

Alex Munk - guitar

Jim Hart - vibraphone

Phil Todd - flute (5)

Produced by Jim Hart

Mixed and Mastered by Alex Bonney

Executive Producer - Stan Sulzmann

Project Consultant - Elaine Crouch

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Miriam Ast & Victor Gutierrez - Secret Songs (MONS RECORDS 2018)

German jazz singer Miriam Ast and Spanish pianist Victor Gutierrez met just two years ago while studying for their masters at the Royal Academy of Music in London. It was an encounter that would become a key moment for both artists. Having played together just once, the two immediately discovered their common musical language. The Ast/Gutierrez Duo was born, and their success proves that they‘ve taken the right step! In May 2017, after working together for only a year, they won the „Best Vocalist Prize“ at the International Jazz Competition in Bucharest. They were also delighted by the constantly growing fan base at their concerts. In the same year, the duo launched a hugely successful crowdfunding campaign to finance their debut album Secret Songs, which Ast/Gutierrez are presenting here.

Secret Songs has become a very personal album. The two artists play mostly their own compositions, together with a few special arrangements of well-known jazz standards. Miriam Ast‘s vocals and Victor Gutierrez‘s piano playing enter into an intense musical dialogue that is characterized by warm and lyrical sounds, experimental and free-form passages, and virtuoso improvisations. Ast employs her voice like a true musical instrument, knowing when to caress and when to emphasise. Her brilliant scat singing is complemented on some pieces by the distinctive intonations of British saxophonist Stan Sulzmann, a player who also serves up nimble and impressive duets with the pianist Gutierrez.

A veteran of the British jazz scene, Stan Sulzmann has played with greats like Kenny Wheeler, Michael Brecker and Gil Evans. He is one of the duo‘s London instructors, and they have dedicated three compositions on the album to him. With his exciting improvisations and lively interactions with both vocals and piano, he has enriched the works enormously.

On all of these pieces, as well as those containing lyrics, Ast/Gutierrez focus on melody and harmony, telling stories of emotional intensity and urgency.

With their debut album Secret Songs, Miriam Ast and Victor Gutierrez have managed to bridge the gap between vibrant freshness and musical maturity. It‘s a huge success!

Stan Sulzmann & John Taylor - Double Exposure (INVERSION RECORDS 2017)

This previously unreleased album by two of Europe's finest jazz musicians, John Taylor and Stan Sulzmann, was recorded in 1990 and features the duo at its artistic peak. It is a testament to its quality that it's more than stood the test of time. The interaction between Stan and John, coupled with their precision and musicality is as listenable and exciting today as in the original performance.

Pure & Simple

Slow Loris

Stango

Free Ballad

Extracts

CD Smith

Country / Raindrops

Cartoon / Room for Improvement

Straight Man

'Q'

Ocean Deep

Spider

Haari