Ellery Eskelin - From the Archives: Trio New York - Live in Switzerland, 2012 (December 2021)

Switzerland, 2012

1. Improvisation / Conjuring (Witchcraft) 23:04

2. Improvisation / Spirits (Ghost of a Chance) 11:45

3. Improvisation / Regret (After You've Gone) 15:57

4. Improvisation / Happenstance (Just One of Those Things) & Aspiration (My Ideal) 36:04

5. Improvisation / Monk (We See) 11:24

6. Improvisation / Watchful (I Cover the Waterfront) 10:09

Ellery Eskelin - tenor saxophone

Gary Versace - Hammond B3 organ

Gerald Cleaver - drums

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Ellery Eskelin - From the Archives: Trio New York - Live at the 55 Bar in NYC, 2010 (December 2021)

These performances are free improvisations. They each involve a sort of meditation on or poetic homage to certain classic 20th century popular and jazz compositions. In this way they function a bit like musical contrafacts, pieces of music historically played by jazz musicians in which the melody of a standard tune is replaced with something new and the existing harmonic form utilized as a vehicle for improvisation. In our case it’s even looser than that. You will hear some quotations and references but each of these long form improvisations might best be thought of as a weather pattern, a mix of conditions in which elements come and go but the overall focus is on the big picture.

The 55 Bar NYC, 2010

1. Introduction 00:35

2. Improvisation / Rumination (Memories of You) & Desire (Lover Come Back) 46:18

3. Improvisation / Blues 11:11

4. Improvisation / Conjuring (Witchcraft) 17:36

5. Improvisation / Time Past (Yesterdays) & Coordinates (East of the Sun) 35:10

Ellery Eskelin - tenor saxophone

Gary Versace - Hammond B3 organ

Ted Poor - drums

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2022!!!

Sumari - Ramsey (December 2021 Unseen Rain Records)

Though mostly known for his time as violinist with Cecil Taylor, Ramsey Ameen was a musician, polymath, computer engineer, mathematician and philosopher. When I learned we lived close by each other we began to drive together to gigs in NYC. Ramsey was well versed in any subject I could bring up, and could discuss deeply for hours. And we did. Bach, Ornette Coleman, Gurdjieff, Blavatsky, geometry, world events, politics, et al. I called him about recording a duo with him on violin and guitarist Dom Minasi. Two days later I learned Ramsey had passed. A shock to say the least, heartbreaking news at the loss of this dear friend and great man. This album, Ramsey, is dedicated to him.

This performance by Sumari at a concert in memory of Ramsey with several ensembles was recorded at Scholes Street Studio in Brooklyn, NY.

The performance was attended by numerous Downtown Music luminaries and is likely the last recording from Sumari, an improvising unit that started as a trio and was later augmented by the presence of double-bass master Hilliard Greene. Sumari recorded 5 previous album for Unseen Rain Records. This album, Ramsey, has three extensive tracks with the last one a surprise blues. - Jack DeSalvo

1. Piece 1 for Ramsey 19:42

2. Piece 2 for Ramsey 13:54

3. Blues for Ramsey 07:28

MATT LAVELLE - Trumpet, Alto & Bass Clarinets

JACK DeSALVO - Guitar

HILLIARD GREENE - Double Bass

TOM CABRERA - Drums

Recorded at Schole Street Studio, Brooklyn, NY by René Allain

Mixed and mastered by Larry Hutter, Orlando, FL

Cover painting by Tom Cabrera, design by Qua's Eye Graphix

Produced by Jack DeSalvo

In memory of Ramsey Ameen (1945-2019)

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Gorm Askjær Secret Safari - First Movement (December 2021 Jaeger Community)

The album First Movement is a musical journey into the near: From the splashing of West Jutland surf waves in Cold Hawaii, past three fantastic fantasy dances and what lurks under the veranda, to a trip into the first 16 bars of a Brahms symphony. For the open mind, every place is a treasure trove of new experiences.

1. First Movement 05:59

2. Something Lurking Under The Front Porch 04:32

3. Secret Safari 05:11

4. Phantasie Gymnopedie 05:07

5. Slow Surfing In Cold Hawaii 05:34

6. In The Dark Of The Light 06:46

7. Three Dances 05:26

Gorm Askjær - guitar and composition

Thomas Sejthen - double bass

Morten Nottelman - drums

Kasper Tranberg - trumpet

Christian Vuust - saxophone

Recorded, mixed and mastered at FinlandStudio by Jacob S. Worm

All compositions by Gorm Askjær

except Phantasìe Gymnopédie (Askjær/Satie)

based on Gymnopédie No. 1 by Erik Satie

Photo (front) by Gorm Askjær

Photo (back) by Hreinn Gudlaugsson

Layout by Simon Gorm Eskildsen

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Peeter Uuskyla / Tellef Øgrim / Anders Berg / Harri Sjöström - Tlaxkon / Soft City / Have a Drink, Have a Drive (December 2021 Simlas produksjoner)

This quartet's music is an oblique and deconstructed but red-hot mix of jazz, rock, and several other styles in between. It's taut and metallic, sprung, flexed and twisted, hitting hard on the recoil.

NOTE ...

This is part of the second set recorded live at Kafé Hærverk, the entire first set has been released as an album on JAZZTRAU

1. Tlaxkon / Soft City / Have a Drink, Have a Drive 15:20

Peeter Uuskyla - drums and bells

Tellef Øgrim - guitar

Anders Berg - bass

Harri Sjöström - soprano and sopranino saxophones

Recorded at Kafé Hærverk, Oslo, 10 October 2021 by Jens Ole Bjerkan.

Edited, mixed and mastered by Anders Berg.

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Peeter Uuskyla / Tellef Øgrim / Anders Berg / Harri Sjöström - A Band Off And On (2021)

This quartet's music is an oblique and deconstructed but red-hot mix of jazz, rock, and several other styles in between. It's taut and metallic, sprung, flexed and twisted, hitting hard on the recoil.

1. Off And On We Go 14:56

2. Why Do You Worry? 06:41

3. Slow Down Ride 05:15

4. Sky Rider 08:06

Peeter Uuskyla - drums and bells

Tellef Øgrim - guitar

Anders Berg - bass

Harri Sjöström - soprano and sopranino saxophones

Recorded at Kafé Hærverk, Oslo, 10 October 2021 by Jens Ole Bjerkan.

Edited, mixed and mastered by Anders Berg.

Cover art: Public graffiti by unknown artist.

Executive producer: Petter Flaten Eilertsen.

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THAR - THAR [KR​-​5] December 2021 Koshkil Records

THAR

LONG-TIME COLLABORATORS TAYLOR HASKINS AND ANDREW RATHBUN TEAM UP WITH THE BRILLIANT TOM RAINEY AND ENERGETIC MATT PAVOLKA TO CREATE A RECORDING THAT RUNS THE GAMUT FROM THE WILD TO SERENE. THEY OPERATE IN BOTH OPEN FORMS AND WITH STRUCTURE, SOMETIMES DANCING TOGETHER AND OTHER TIMES SPARRING, TO CREATE A SONIC JOURNEY THAT IS ALWAYS EVOLVING.

1. WAKE UP CALL – Taylor Haskins 03:25

2. SKWONK – THAR 01:47

3. GO AHEAD AND TRY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ONLINE – Andrew Rathbun 02:45

4. SKWAAK – THAR 01:45

5. SLOW VIGNETTE – Andrew Rathbun 04:29

6. GLANCE – Taylor Haskins 03:13

7. SKWEEK – THAR 02:15

8. DO NOT CALL LIST – Andrew Rathbun 06:11

9. SKWERT – THAR 03:59

10. MARCH – THAR 05:11

11. SUN DOGS – Taylor Haskins 03:34

THAR

Taylor Haskins – trumpet

Andrew Rathbun – saxophone

Matt Pavolka – bass

Tom Rainey – drums

Recorded August 19-20, 2015 at SYSTEMS II, Brooklyn

Engineered by Michael Marciano

Mixed and Mastered by Taylor Haskins

Andrew Rathbun uses D’Addario reeds and products

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Stoch - WireWalker (December 17, 2021)

First in a series of jazz guitar constructions - live-in-the-studio improvisations developed into stochastic compositions in the jazz idiom. It's standard operating procedure for Stoch but this time with an instrumental focus. These constructions also involve destruction, deduction, obstruction, induction, ruction, suction, expansion and contraction.

"Experimental? Definitely didn’t know what I was doing or where I was going with this. But I got there."

Lead guitar parts are created by Stoch on a Telecaster or Ibanez AG97. It could be post-bop, post-fusion. It’s smoother than may have been intended but those are the research results and WireWalker is the resulting thesis.

"More dirt next time. I promise."

1. Show Me Tonight 02:36

2. Arp On 02:51

3. No Sleep 01:32

4. Ulterior 05:32

5. The Narrow Way 10:22

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Sven Wunder - Asterism Waltz (December 2021)

The word asterism comes from astḗr (ἀστήρ), the Ancient Greek word for star. In astrology, an asterism is a pattern of stars (that is not a constellation) and can be seen in the night sky. In meteorology, an asterism indicates light snowfall. In typography, an asterism is a symbol consisting of three asterisks placed in a triangle: ⁂. The symbol is a type of dinkus that can be used to divide text to emphasize a passage or a sub-chapter in a book.

Sven Wunder celebrates this space in-between by offering a brief hiatus in a gently tinkling jazz-waltz comprised of two variations for small ensemble, that calls attention to the starlit sky and the light falling snow, before resuming.

1. Asterism Waltz (Celesta Version) 02:32

2. Asterism Waltz (Piano Version) 04:02

Music by Sven Wunder

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Simon Lovermann - Handwerke (Songs for my Fathers)

The album deals with the personal story of the artist. Simon’s biological father, Robert, was a Jazz musician and died before his birth. Simon was raised by his father Christian. This album is therefore a vividly emotional way for him to explore topics like death, fatherhood, family, identity and belonging.

The album »Handwerke« brings together different core aspects of the artistic practice of Simon Lovermann – music, video, photography – as well as loop, remix and sample-based concepts. Composed between 2012 and 2015 and influenced by Jazz, Electronica, Hip Hop and Minimal Music, the album is focused around the piano, both as a harmonic and a percussive instrument.

The beats are created with the piano and are enriched with body-percussion and beatbox to create an idiosyncratic atmosphere and distinctive sound. All instruments are played by Simon Lovermann and the mixture of piano, percussion, analog synthesizers and Rhodes creates a structure that resembles a jazz trio.

1. Schweben 03:48

2. Fliegender Teppich 03:34

3. Spuren 04:53

4. Welk 03:51

5. Zwischenzeit 01:37

6. Repeater RPTR 04:34

7. Wanderlust 05:16

8. Weichen 04:18

9. Interlude #1 (for Robert) 02:43

10. Zugvögel (for Pascal) 04:51

11. Karavanserai 05:18

Recorded and mixed between summer 2015 and spring 2016. All compositions and arrangements by Simon Lovermann, except Interlude #1 (composed by Robert Walzer).

Recording & sound engineering: Michael Kamm, Lovebox Studios (Augsburg)

Edit: Karim Weth, Simon Lovermann, The Grand Post (Vienna)

Mixing: Sam Irl (Vienna)

Piano Tuner: Kilian Volz

Creative Direction & Production by Squama

Design by Daily Dialogue

Published in collaboration with Der Greif

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Yutaro Okuda - Rafflesia (December 2021)

Murmur - sound of blood flowing, soft utterances, to blend

Merits - 'merit' awards, meritocracy

Ruminants - cows/goats and humans

Rafflesia - world's biggest flower

1. Murmur pt. 1 08:00

2. Murmur pt. 2 06:03

3. Merits 07:54

4. Ruminants 09:35

5. Rafflesia 10:36

Yutaro Okuda - Guitar

Sam Gill - Alto Saxophone

Wilbur Whitta - Piano

Nick Henderson - Double Bass

Alexander Inman-Hislop - Drums

Recorded 15-16th December 2020 by Richard Belkner

at Free Energy Device, Sydney, Australia

Mixed by Richard Belkner

Mastered by Michael Lynch

Artwork and design by Chris Yee

All compositions by Yutaro Okuda (APRA)

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Ellery Eskelin - From the Archives: Ellery Eskelin, Vincent Courtois, Sylvie Courvoisier - Live in NYC, 2007 (December 2021)

Recorded at Roulette, NYC, 2007

1. Improvisation One 31:18

2. Improvisation Two 27:20

3. Improvisation Three 12:12

Ellery Eskelin - tenor saxophone

Vincent Courtois - cello

Sylvie Courvoisier - piano

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Ellery Eskelin - From the Archives: Ellery Eskelin & Sylvie Courvoisier - Live in Ukiah, 2005 (December 2021)

Penofin Jazz Festival, Ukiah California, 2005

1. Improvisation One 21:59

2. Improvisation Two 11:59

3. Improvisation Three 14:24

4. Improvisation Four 19:09

Ellery Eskelin - tenor saxophone

Sylvie Courvoisier - piano

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Mike Nock / Hamish Stuart / Julien Wilson / Jonathan Zwartz - Another Dance (December 2021 Lionsharecords)

Comprising four of Australia’s most esteemed jazz musicians, this celebrated jazz ‘supergroup’ made waves in 2020 with their critically acclaimed and ARIA nominated debut ‘This World’. Two years on, they ask you to join them for ANOTHER DANCE, their second full length album, recorded in Sydney on the very brink of the 2021 extended lockdown.

A lot of water has passed under (and over) the bridge since their first recording session in 2019. The band somehow managed to tour the East Coast twice during 20/21 against all odds. The first tour in Feb 2020 let them see firsthand the devastation wrought by the Black Summer bushfires through parts of regional NSW and ACT. In Braidwood the band donated the proceeds of their show to local bushfire victims, only to have floods prevent half the town from attending. Many shows and festival appearances were cancelled at the eleventh hour (no less than five shows in Melbourne) due to lockdowns and travel restrictions. The fact that the quartet have performed thirty shows in fifteen towns over four states during this period is a testament to their tenacity and vitality and their drive to share the unifying and uplifting power of live music with others.

The best creative pursuits offer reflection on the environment and events that they spring from, so it stands to reason that the music on Another Dance embodies different elements to This World. The eight new pieces presented here bear witness to the enduring bond the musicians share, and offer a deep and rich sense of optimism, hope and shared humanity as a tonic to these most interesting of times.

Press about This World:

“the fraught, euphoric, challenging, rewarding business of being human really seems to have been condensed into music” John Shand, SydneyMorningHerald

“at a time in history when division is the order of the day, four souls crafting melody together can abide by a deeper principle of love and listening.” Tyran Grillo, ECMreviews

“profound, moving and expressive jazz of the highest level.” Stuart Nicholson, Jazzwise 

1. Deception 06:01

2. LDT 07:09

3. Headlands 10:35

4. Winter 09:22

5. Little Stars 08:19

6. Johnston St 10:04

7. Wheelbarrow Road 05:13

8. Yearning 02:27

Mike Nock - piano

Hamish Stuart - drums

Julien Wilson - tenor saxophone and effects

Jonathan Zwartz - double bass

Recorded at Studios 301, Sydney

Engineer: Owen Butcher

Assistant: Reinert Wasserman

Mixed and Mastered by Helik Hadar

Produced by This World

Cover photo: Jonathan Zwartz

Design: Luke Fraser/Ahr+

Hamish plays Gretsch drums and Lauritsen cymbals

Jonathan and Julien are D’Addario Artists

Julien is a Yamaha Artist

Mike Nock compositions published by Fourth Way Music - ASCAP

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Art Pepper - FREE FOR CHRISTMAS: JAM SESSION ART PEPPER / ZOOT SIMS (December 2021)

1. Wee (Allen's Alley) 07:54

2. (Somewhere) Over the Rainbow 10:33

3. In the Middle of a Kiss 09:10

4. Broadway 06:34

5. The Girl from Ipanema 10:42

6. Breakdown Blues 10:35

FREEBIE ENDS AT MIDNIGHT, NEW YEAR'S EVE. (Unless I get sleepy. Then I'll end it when I wake up on New Year's Day.)

All Star Cast: ART PEPPER (tracks 1,2,6); ZOOT SIMS (tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6); VICTOR FELDMAN (all tracks); BARNEY KESSEL (tracks 4 & 5); RAY BROWN (all tracks but 2); CHARLIE HADEN (track 2); BILLY HIGGINS (all tracks)

Recorded at Royce Hall UCLA 1981. Produced by Tim Owens

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Dani Perez trio + Benet Palet - Contrafacts (December 2021 UnderPool)

An irrefutable reference point on the current scene, Dani Pérez takes up this new project on the heels of his prior success Resumen. On this new release, he makes full use of his talent, irony and sense of humour to turn these compositional games called contrafacts into energetic compositions that display the richness of the group’s language.

The addition of Benett Pelet on trumpet and Txema Riera on Rhodes (on tracks 4 and 7) for this album, brings new textures to Dani Perez’s music, without losing the essential qualities that characterise this group’s long trajectory.

This album transmits complicity and emotions; it was recorded live at underpool studios by Sergi Felipe. It reflects the personality traits of the guitarist, composer and educator who has never ceased to forge an outstanding trajectory.

Contrafacts is available on a carefully prepared vinyl edition with cover art by Pedro Stukelj and liner notes by journalist Josep Mestres.

“Dani Perez is a fountain of ideas; a mastermind of routes and short cuts that would have never occurred to us, a crafter of apparently simple phrases which are imbued with an implicit immenseness. If contrafacts didn’t already exist, he would have invented them. Definitely.”

Josep Mestres

1. Clouds 05:17

2. Glucosa 04:51

3. Fan 06:16

4. Mate 05:42

5. DIP 07:27

6. Leaves 05:59

7. Wine 07:51

Dani Pérez – Guitar & Composition

David Mengual – Bass

David Xirgu – Drums

Benet Palet – Trumpet

Txema Riera – Fender Rhodes

All music composeed by Dani Pérez

Recorded at UnderPool Studio 8 January 2021

Mixed and Mastered by Sergi Felipe

Cover Pedro Strukjel, Design Pepon Meneses

Produced by UnderPool & Dani Pérez Amboage

Published by UnderPool

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Filum - Stolyarka Live (December 2021)

1. Coffee Cream 10:16

2. Hot Week 07:30

3. Filum 10:24

4. Waltzin` In The Rain 05:49

5. Last Rainbow 10:18

6. Siberian Winter Tales 08:52

7. One Step On MARS 05:35

Concert in the the Stolyarka bar in Moscow

Recorded on Live in Bar Stolyarka, Moscow at 16/10/2021

Music of all tracks composed by Alexey Shapovalov

Alexey Shapovalov - guitar

Anton Maslennikov - guitar

Grigory Kozlov - bass

Valery Gurov - drums

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Tommy Carroll's Winter Clearance Event - The Time to Shop is Now! (December 2021)

Drummer / composer / producer from Chicago seeking to create the soundtrack to a more inclusive world.

1. Intro / The Time to Shop is Now 04:07

2. Buy One Get One Free 08:04

3. Two Day Shipping / Climate Change 04:05

4. Blowout 07:06

Tommy Carroll: drums

Naydja Bruton: percussion

Karl Maher: guitar

Maxx McGathey: keys

Trevor Hill: tenor saxophone, keys

Stuart Babcock: keys

Lyn Rye: bass

Sacramento Knoxx: vocals, percussion

Stephanie Alma: vocals

Sophie Rae: vocals

Recorded by Brandon Schnake at ReelSounds

Mixed by Karl Maher

Album art by Brit Parla

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Benny Golson - Up Jumped Benny (December 2021 Arkadia Records)

“Saxophonist/composer Benny Golson, supported by impressive young stars Kevin Hays, Dwayne Burno & Carl Allen, wonderfully explores this combination of his timeless standards & recent compositions from Golson, who shows why he is a living Jazz legend.” – Nat Hentoff, Author/Columnist, The New York Times

In this memorable Arkadia Records live concert CD, entitled Benny Golson: Up Jumped Benny, NEA Jazz Master, virtuoso saxophonist and renowned composer Benny Golson gives full expression to the refined poetic temperament and matchless musical intelligence which have made him a living jazz legend.

“One of the best things happening in jazz today is the bandstand combination of past masters and talented whipper-snappers. When everything gets right, what results is music that has both the reflective substance of time spent at the craft and the ambitious bite of focused youth. We hear that phenomenon on this recording, where Benny Golson has surrounded himself with youngsters. This is good for him and good for them. He can count on their energy and and they can count on his knowledge. This is how the culture of jazz is most truly passed on.

The rhythm section of Kevin Hays, Dwayne Burno, and Carl Allen is a triangle of serious young talent. Each of these men knows his instrument and is well aware of the precedents set by his artistic ancestors. The leader picked the right guys. They listen to each other and they listen to him. They know how to catch a groove and hold on to it. And, like all masters of the game, Benny Golson knows just what to do with what they provide.”- Stanley Crouch

“Golson’s “Up Jumped Benny” (Arkadia) is an absolute killer. (you) may have to install seat belts…” –S.D. Feeney, Face Magazine

Supported by an impressive trio of young stars, Kevin Hays (piano), Dwayne Burno (bass), and Carl Allen (drums), Golson’s mellow tenor saxophone wonderfully explores this combination of his timeless standards and recent compositions entitled Benny Golson: Up Jumped Benny.

“Neatly balancing Coleman Hawkins’ breathy elegance and John Coltrane’s tumultuous drive, he has most of the qualities one comes to jazz for. In Up Jumped Benny, Mr. Golson has rarely sounded more impressive…dramatically alive, impulsive and untethered.” – Ben Ratliff, New York Times 

1. Up Jumped Spring 08:48

2. Stablemates 08:46

3. Talk Intro 00:23

4. Tiny Capers 10:45

5. Talk Intro 00:24

6. I Remember Clifford 15:21

7. For Old Time’s Sake 06:32

8. Whisper Not 10:02

9. Gypsy Jingle Jangle 10:25

Benny Golson: Tenor saxophone

Kevin Hays: Piano

Dwayne Burno: Bass

Carl Allen: Drums

Bob Karcy: Producer

Mike Muller and Ilse Weinmann: Tour and Line Producers

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