Aki Ishiguro, Peter Schwebs and Rodrigo Recabarren - Mural (2016)

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American-Japanese guitarist Aki Ishiguro, German bassist Peter Schwebs and Chilean drummer Rodrigo Recabarren recorded their debut album MURAL in March of 2015 at Systems Two in Brooklyn, New York. 

MURAL is a collective group made of three rising jazz stars in New York. The band showcases each members' virtuosic instrumental skills as well as their refined compositions. Subtle influences of European classical music, Japanese folk, and South American rhythms are just one the culmination of the multiple nationalities and cultures represented in the trio. The group’s collaboration is apparent through their balanced sound, wide dynamics, and seamless interaction. MURAL is truly a band effort – a single instrument with three musicians. 

The album features ten pieces including eight original compositions and two standards. The original pieces are composed by members of MURAL. Also featured are arrangements of standards Pure Imagination, the theme song from the movie "Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory" (1971) and the Wayne Shorter composition Yes or No.

The members of MURAL found time to explore the trio medium even before its inception. "We have known each other for many years through different bands," says bassist Peter Schwebs. "But last year we finally decided to turn our regular trio sessions into a proper band and record an album." 

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Manuel Rocheman - misTeRIO (2016)

Label: Bonsaï Productions

Source: Jazz Magazine

Au Sunset, le trio de Manuel Rocheman a présenté les morceaux de son prochain disque, Mysterio. La musique jouée ce soir là se caractérisait par un alliage très rare d’énergie et de finesse.

Les trois musiciens arrivent sur scène avec un visage concentré, des partitions en accordéon dans tous les coins, bref tous les signes du groupe qui affronte un nouveau répertoire. Au bout de quelques morceaux on est frappé d’entendre à quel point ces musiciens avancent ensemble. Compacts, ils  produisent un son de groupe. Chacun, y compris le leader, ne s’accorde que de brefs solos. On remarque aussi l’énergie qui émane de cette musique. Pas une énergie spectaculaire et volatile, se dissipant en étincelles crépitantes. Plutôt une flamme tranquille, apaisante, nourrissante, qui prendrait le temps de savourer la chaleur qu’elle dispense.

 Le batteur, Matthieu Chazarenc est pour beaucoup dans cette énergie irradiée par le groupe. Il amène l’entropie, le désordre, l’instabilité. Sa frappe est forte y compris lorsqu’il joue les balais dans Together, belle ballade de Rocheman. Sa conception souple du tempo lui permet de proposer à Manuel Rocheman détours, fausses-pistes, itinéraires bis, ou raccourcis. Mais cette liberté a une contrepartie: le bassiste doit redoubler de rigueur et d’exactitude, sans y laisser sa chemise ni sa musicalité. Mathias Allamane relève le défi avec brio.

Quant à Manuel Rocheman, on goûte ses introductions délicates, sa capacite à accélérer la musique, sa finesse et son mordant.

Parmi les compositions de Rocheman jouées ce soir-là, et qui essuyaient leur baptême du feu, on retient notamment Mysterio, avec sa touche latine subtile qui se dessine au cours du morceau, Togeteher, Heart to Heart, et quelques jolies valses comme la valse des chipirons (Rocheman manifestant une tendresse non dissimulée pour les trois temps). Le trio jouera aussi une composition peu connue de Bill Evans, Here is something for you, jouée lors de la balance du fameux Paris Concert de 1979.

J’échange quelques mots avec manuel Rocheman après le concert. Il souligne la complicité des membres du trio (« On se connaît depuis plus de dix ans ») et sa volonté de s’inscrire dans l’esprit des formations de Bill evans, notamment pour le rôle de la basse. Il a quelques mots très simples et très jolis pour définir les deux autres musiciens: « Matthieu se promène, il est très libre, il est comme l’air…et Mathias…c’est la terre ». L’air, la terre, le feu. Voilà qui fait un beau trio…

Texte: JF Mondot
Dessins: AC Alvoët

1  Together
2  Promenade
3  misTeRIO
4  Heart to Heart
5  After Sorrow
6  Second Chance
7  So Close    
8  Good Luck    
9  Long Time Ago
10 Circle

Manuel Rocheman (p)
Mathias Allamane (b)
Matthieu Chazarenc (dm)

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Francisco Mela - Fe (2016)

Label: Self Released

Source: Francisco Mela

It's no secret that for most of the 20th Century, Cuban music and musicians played important roles in influencing and revitalizing North American popular culture. From Ernesto Lecuona and Desi Arnaz to Chano Pozo, Paquito D'Rivera and Gloria Estefan, a wide stylistic panorama, from classical to pop and jazz idioms, has been constantly invigorated by the presence of supremely talented Cuban musicians and their distinctive music traditions. Mela is very much a part of that grand and glorious tradition. His imposing talent will be on full display, bearing ear witness to his interactive quartet, featuring saxophonist Greg Osby, pianist Sam Yahel, and bassist Matt Penman.

Half Note Records released Cirio (Sept. 23), Francisco Mela's first live allbum and second recording as a leader. The Cuban-born drummer assembled a superior cast of playmates - Jason Moran, Lionel Loueke, Mark Turner and Larry Grenadier - for this live recording captured at the Blue Note Club in New York City. Together they make music informed by the rhythms of Mela's homeland, while also going beyond into adventurous modern jazz. In the process, he evinces a versatility rare among young players; his interactions with different combinations of group members underscore his collaborative instincts.

He is currently a favorite among elite jazz instrumentalists such as Joe Lovano (Us Five), John Scofield (John Scofield Trio), Joanne Brackeen and as a regular member of Kenny Barron's working trio, all of whom cite his charisma, sophistication, and life-affirming spirit.

His first opportunity to perform outside of Cuba came when Hernández was booked for an appearance at the Cancún Jazz Festival. In 1997, Francisco returned to Mexico to perform in Cancún with his own group, the MelaSon Latin Jazz Band. Then, a chance encounter with Panamanian jazz pianist Danilo Pérez led him to a life-changing decision. "Danilo encouraged me to move to Boston," Francisco reminisces. "He said, 'Don't worry. if you come to Boston, you're going to end up playing with better people than me.'"

He initially planned to study at either Berklee College or The New England Conservatory of Music, but professional opportunities headed him in another direction. It wasn't long before Francisco was the house drummer of Wally's Café, one of Boston's hottest jazz clubs. While honing his own sound as a jazz drummer and broadening his leadership role as leader of a quintet, he also had an opportunity to back such world class talent as Pérez, fellow Cuban Gonzalo Rubalcaba, and his longtime idol, drummer Roy Haynes.

Eventually, he started playing with music professors at Berklee. Then, one day, he received a call to teach at the prestigious institution. He currently balances a hectic schedule of appearances with the aforementioned pianist Kenny Barron, saxophonists Joe Lovano and George Garzone, bassist John Patitucci, guitarist John Scofield. Francisco's professional and artistic horizons continue to broaden as he collaborates with more and more musicians.

WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING:

"One of the most important Cuban drummers in jazz."
- JazzTimes

"Mr. Mela is a bandleader on the rise."
- The New York Times

1. Ancestros (4:12)
2. Mr. Alden (5:47)
3. Don Mccoy (6:23)
4. Fe (3:57)
5. Romeo Y Julieta (5:04)
6. Reflections (4:43)
7. Curcuros (3:24)
8. Lovano s Mood (4:02)
9. Just Now (6:43)
10. Open Dance (7:38)

Francisco Mela
Leo Genovese
Gerald Cannon

Special Guest: John Scofield 

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Tom Tallitsch - Gratitude (2016)

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 Saxophonist Tom Tallitsch shares his feelings with an abiding sense of " Gratitude" on his fourth release for Posi-Tone. Joining Tallitsch on the date is the wonderfully solid rhythm section of pianist Jon Davis, bassist Peter Brendler, and drummer Rudy Royston. Special guest and fellow label mate Brian Charette drops in to add some additional organ flavor to two tracks. Gratitude features an exciting program of original compositions, along with Tom's new arrangements of a few classics, and the whole session swings quickly into action and shines with bright moments. As both a saxophonist and a band leader, Tallitsch has clearly shifted his musical vibrations onto another level and this set of stunning performances should encourage jazz enthusiasts to Tallitsch's musical message of "Gratitude" with amazement and delight. 

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Brad Mehldau Trio - Blues and Ballads (2016)

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Nonesuch Records releases the Brad Mehldau Trio’s Blues and Ballads, the trio’s first new release since 2012’s Where Do You Start, on June 3, 2016. The previous release received critical acclaim, with the Financial Times saying, “Mehldau never lets his peerless technique and meticulous timing interrupt the narrative flow of a well-told tale. Here, the pianist and his trio burrow deep into left-field pop and the American songbook, and give an adventurous sheen to modern jazz.” Blues and Ballads similarly comprises interpretations of songs by other composers, this time with the focus on blues and ballads implied by the album’s title. The Brad Mehldau Trio is Brad Mehldau on piano, Larry Grenadier on bass, and Jeff Ballard on drums. Blues and Ballads is available for pre-order now at iTunes and in the Nonesuch Store, where CD and vinyl orders include an instant download of the album track "Little Person" and a download of the complete album available on release day. You can hear "Little Person" below.

Brad Mehldau moved to New York City and first came to prominence as a member of current label mate Joshua Redman’s quartet in the 1990s before becoming a bandleader himself. His trio, which tours the world extensively, made eight acclaimed recordings for Warner Bros., including the five widely praised Art of the Trio albums with former drummer Jorge Rossy, which Nonesuch released as a boxed set in December 2011.

The pianist’s time with Nonesuch has been equally productive, beginning with the solo disc Live in Tokyo and including five trio records—Day Is Done, House on Hill, Live, Ode, and Where Do You Start—as well as a collaboration with soprano Renée Fleming, Love Sublime; a chamber ensemble album, Highway Rider; and two collaborations with label mate Pat Metheny, Metheny Mehldau and Quartet, the latter of which also includes Ballard and Grenadier. In 2011, Nonesuch released Mehldau’s live solo performance on Live in Marciac and his collaborations with genre-crossing musicians Kevin Hays and Patrick Zimmerli on Modern Music. The following year, Nonesuch released Ode, which went on to be nominated for a Grammy, and Where Do You Start. In 2013, Mehldau was featured as a performer and producer on Joshua Redman’s acclaimed Nonesuch release Walking Shadows. His solo on “Sleeping Giant,” on his and Mark Guiliana’s 2014 Nonesuch album Mehliana: Taming the Dragon, was nominated for Best Improvised Jazz Solo in the 2015 Grammy awards. Nonesuch released the four-CD 10 Years Solo Live in November 2015; later that year, Mehldau received the Wigmore Medal, the first jazz musician ever to do so. Mehldau was also curator of an annual jazz series at Wigmore Hall from 2009 to 2011, and was the first-ever jazz artist to hold the Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair at Carnegie Hall, in its 2010–11 season. The Brad Mehldau Trio was named Best International Ensemble at the 2013 Echo Awards, the same year that Where Do You Start was chosen as Album of the Year by the Académie du Jazz.

Since I Fell For You
I Concentrate On You
Little Person
Cheryl
These Foolish Things
And I Love Her
My Valentine

Brad Mehldau
Larry Grenadier
Jeff Ballard

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Three Reeds Quintet - Across Two Centuries (feat. David Liebman, Federico Benedetti, Romano Pratesi, Paolo Ghetti & Mauro Beggio) 2016

David Liebman alla presentazione dell’album “Across two centuries”

Il sassofonista americano di fama mondiale in concerto con il gruppo gruppo "Three Reeds Quintet" al Jazz Club

Lieb concIn occasione dell’uscita del Cd “Across two centuries”, al Jazz Club Il Torrione di Ferrara si terrà un concerto di presentazione dell’album, mercoledì 11 maggio alle ore 21.30.

La presenza nel gruppo “Three Reeds Quintet” –  insieme a Federico Benedetti al sax alto, Romano Pratesi al clarinetto basso, Paolo Ghetti al contrabbasso e Mauro Beggio alla batteria – di David Leibman al sax soprano e tenore, basta a fare di tale occasione un evento da non perdere.

David Liebman, jazzista americano di fama mondiale, oltre ad aver fatto parte dei mitici gruppi di Miles Davis negli anni 70, ha collaborato con Chick Corea, Dave Holland, Elvin Jones, Pat Metheny, in più dei propri progetti e di un’incessante attività didattica culminata con la creazione dell’Associazione Internazionale delle Scuole di Jazz, Iasj. Una carriera esemplare nella costruzione di un progetto artistico coerente e senza compromessi hanno fatto di David Liebman un modello per almeno due generazioni di jazzisti.

David Liebman, soprano sax

Federico Benedetti, alto sax

Romano Pratesi, bass clarinet

Paolo Ghetti, double bass

Mauro Beggio, drums

01. Across Two Centuries

02. Boo Doo

03. Pablo’s Story

04. Like a Monkey in a Rocket

05. Blue Rose

06. Brite Piece

07. Thinging

08. Blindfold Test

09. Caruso

10. Pendulum

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Eric Rivers Trio - Crowded Solitudes (2016) CLEAN FEED RECORDS

CLEAN FEED RECORDS

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Eric Rivers Trio - Crowded Solitudes (2016)

The Eric Revis Trio is back, this time with Gerald Cleaver using sticks against skins and metal, replacing his elders Andrew Cyrille from “City of Asylum” – Cecil Taylor’s drummer of choice for a decade – and John Betsch from the project’s recent European tour – Steve Lacy’s partner for the same period of time. The brilliant newcomer Kris Davis remains at the piano. Although the music is different, the principles, objectives and personality are the same, coming from the mind and heart of the same man who has plucked his double bass for 17 years with the Branford Marsalis Quartet. “Crowded Solitudes” is another example of Revis’s “back-to-the-future” philosophy: the invention of the future of jazz is rooted in its past and tradition. With this attitude the bassist and composer defined his path in the world of jazz, travelling the routes of the mainstream and the avant-garde, with Kurt Rosenwinkel or Peter Brötzmann. In the case of this mutable trio, the tradition is represented by free-jazz and its connection with earlier forms and vocabularies. What’s coming appears through the creative exploration of all of the assumptions of the Sixties “New Thing”, showing that there’s always something new after the new gets old. As Søren Kierkegaard wrote, «life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward.»

Kris Davis  piano | Eric Revis  double bass | Gerald Cleaver  drums

1. Arcane 17

2. Bontah

3. Victoria

4. QB4R

5, D.O.C.

6. Crowded Solitudes... (for B.K)

7. Vertical Hold

8. Anamnesis... Parts I & II (for Tamir And Ms. Bland)

Tracks 1, 4 and 6 composed by Eric Revis (Rebay Music, BMI), Kris Davis (Socan) and Gerald Cleaver (Gerald Cleaver Music, SESAC) | Track 2 composed by Rio Sebastian Revis for Rebay Music, BMI | Track 3 composed by Paul Motian for Yazgol Music-BMI | Tracks 5 and 8 composed by Eric Revis for Rebay Music-BM | Track 7 composed by Greg Osby for Daigoro Music-SESAC

Recorded 6/19/15 and 10/28/15 at The Samurai Hotel Queens,NY (www.thesamuraihotel.com) | Recorded and mixed by Dave Stoller

Produced by Eric Revis for Rebay Music | Executive production by Pedro Costa for Trem Azul | Design by Travassos

Eric Revis plays Upton Basses (www.uptonbass.com), Velvet Strings, GK Amplifiers and David Gage Realist pickups

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Alexander Hawkins / Evan Parker - Leaps in Leicester (2016) CLEAN FEED RECORDS

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Alexander Hawkins / Evan Parker - Leaps in Leicester (2016)

Saxophone colossus Evan Parker is no stranger to the duo format with a pianist, and the recordings with the likes of Agustí Fernández, Sylvie Courvoisier, Matthew Shipp, Georg Graewe, Stan Tracey, Borah Bergman and John Tilbury are there to confirm it.

His encounter with Alexander Hawkins isn’t just one more experience in that context, however. “Leaps in Leicester” may put him in known territory instrumentally (after all, which contexts hasn’t Parker seen over the course of his illustrious career?); but it’s not the context which provides the route to new directions here, so much as the personality of the individual with whom the dialogue is developed.

A self-taught improviser and composer, Alexander Hawkins is one of a kind and the best partner possible for someone as unique as Parker. Although over recent years Hawkins has appeared in various Parker-led formations (ranging from trio through to a 15-piece large ensemble), this album captures the pair’s very first explorations in the duo format.

It’s not the first time Clean Feed has released a CD featuring him – Hawkins is a member of The Convergence Quartet, playing with Taylor Ho Bynum, Dominic Lash and Harris Eisenstadt. His background speaks for itself, including collaborations with Louis Moholo-Moholo, Joe McPhee, John Surman, Mulatu Astatke, Wadada Leo Smith, and Anthony Braxton. Additionally, the work he has developed in the collaborative trio Decoy (with John Edwards and Steve Noble) has brought the possibilities provided by a particular instrument, the Hammond organ, to new grounds. Prepare yourself for something special.

Evan Parker  tenor sax

Alexander Hawkins  piano

All music by Alexander Hawkins and Evan Parker

1. Jump Star

2. Gambade

3. Capriole

4. The Shimmy (For Tony Marsh)

Recorded 27th February 2015 at Embrace Arts, Leicester, UK by Chris Trent | Mixed by Chris Trent and Adam Skeaping | Mastered by Adam Skeaping

Production by Alexander Hawkins | Executive production by Pedro Costa for Trem Azul | Design by Travassos

Special thanks to Roger Gow

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Guillermo Klein - Los Guachos V (2016)

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For 20 years, Guillermo Klein has been creating some of the most singular and exciting music for his highly adept 11-piece ensemble, Los Guachos. His compositional style has been evolving over the years, though always utilizing elements of jazz, folkloric music of his native Argentina, rock and modern classical music. Klein’s musical voice has established a number of unique composing concepts. His new recording, Guachos V, heralds his use of a new method: symmetries. To highlight this work, Klein has created two suites, Suite Indiana and Suite Jazmin, that use familiar works of the jazz canon and his own material reworked using mirroring, inversions and retrogrades of harmonies and melodies to create new compositions. Klein celebrates this anniversary by doing what he does best, presenting new, challenging, but tremendously gripping and rhythmically attractive, music.

1. Suite Indiana - Back Home Again 03:44
2. Suite Indiana - Donna Lee
3. Suite Indiana - Patria Espiral
4. Suite Jazmin - Symmetry I
5. Suite Jazmin - Si No Sabes 4/4 04:40
6. Suite Jazmin - Si No Sabes 9/8
7. Suite Jazmin - Burrito Hill Mirror
8. Suite Jazmin - Human Feel Mirror
9. Suite Jazmin - Jazmin
10.Symmetry II (Si No Sabes Que No Sabes)
11.Ashes 02:20
12.Quemando Velas
    

Ben Monder - guitar
Bill McHenry - tenor sax
Chris Cheek - soprano, tenor & baritone sax
Diego Urcola - trumpet, trombone
Fernando Huergo - electric bass
Guillermo Klein - piano
Jeff Ballard - drums
Miguel Zenon - alto sax
Richard Nant - percussion, trumpet
Sandro Tomasi - trombone
Taylor Haskins - trumpet, flugelhorn 

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