New Releases [Jazz] … for the week of 9/6/2010

Tags

Bass, Chris Laurence Quartet, Jazz, New Releases

Greeting’s jazz enthusiasts, it’s great to be back in the mix with you after the holiday weekend. On today, I’m featuring “New View” the latest project by multifaceted bassist CHRIS LAURENCE as our featured “Album of the Week.”

Each week we attempt to explore the intricate canvas of stimulating and innovative jazz that awaits our attention. You see, the origin of new music featured each week encompasses a generous diet of sounds which exudes a wealth of complex and distinctive styles, insinuating textures, immaculate melodies, and cohesive rhythms exalted by a host of definitive and creative voices.

Featured Album of the Week

Chris Laurence Quartet - New View (Basho Records, 2009)

Chris Laurence Quartet -][- New View – [Basho Records, 2009]

CHRIS LAURENCE was born in London and studied at the Guildhall school of music. Since then he has maintained a dual career in both jazz and classical music. He plays regularly with John Surman, Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor and Norma Winstone. In the classical world he was principal double bass with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields until 1995, playing on many of their famous recordings ranging from the film “Amadeus” to Benjamin Britten’s “Curlew River”. Jazz artists he has recorded with include trombonist J.J. Johnson, Tony Coe, Joe Williams, Sarah Voughan, Norma Winstone and Johnny Mathis.

Most recent recordings are John Surman’s “Coruscating” Andy Sheppard’s “Dancing Man and Woman“, Kenny Wheeler’s “Kayak” and Norma Winstone’s “Manhattan in the rain“. He also spends a lot of time recording music for T.V, film and albums, most notably “Leaving Las Vegas” and “The Man who Cried” with the Kronos Quartet. As well as jazz and classical music Chris has also featured on albums with many stars including Elton John, Sting, David Gilmour and guitarist John Williams. —Basho Records

[Classic Jazz Revisited] … Joe Henderson -][- Multiple [ORIGINAL JAZZ CLASSICS]

Tags

African American, Jazz, Joe Henderson, Saxophone

Flux Classic Jazz Revisited

Each week at The Urban Flux one of my main goals is to continually pursue the legacy of jazz artists and their compelling recordings from previous decades primarily the sixties era when cool jazz and be-bop reign supreme as the cornerstone of this phenomenal movement is simply unmatched.

Today, we’re stepping out of the sixties into the seventies with the legendary tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson and his timeless masterpiece titled “Multiple.”

Joe Henderson - Multiple

Joe Henderson -][- Multiple – [ORIGINAL JAZZ CLASSICS]

The early Seventies were a time of accommodation for jazz and rock. Joe Henderson even had a brief 1971 stint in the horn section of Blood, Sweat and Tears; and Larry Willis, keyboard player on this album, joined BS&T shortly after Henderson left. The stellar band assembled here shows more of these fusion leanings than it might if assembled today–one doubts that Henderson would ask Willis to play electric keyboards, or drummer Jack DeJohnette to place as much emphasis on funk rhythms. (Dave Holland, a recent Henderson collaborator, still has his electric bass in mothballs.)

This is not to discount Multiple’s distinct energy and groove, or its uniqueness in Joe Henderson’s discography with its overdubs (including the leader’s vocals) and the brief presence of James “Blood” Ulmer. DeJohnette and Holland each contribute tunes, plus an infectious, uncoiling momentum that makes the date a most congenial meeting of giants.

With Larry Willis, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, Arthur Jenkins, James Ulmer, and John Thomas.

..:: Source: Concord Music Group ::..

Flux Music [Jazz] Essentials … [Turner, Cohen, Glasper, Mahanthappa & Rosenwinkel]

Tags

Avishai Cohen Trio, Jazz, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Mark Turner, Robert Glasper, Rudresh Mahanthappa

Flux Music Essentials

Greeting’s jazz connoisseurs, I’m back with another intriguing palette of creative music from some of today’s most inspiring voices known and unknown coupled in the world of jazz.

Mark Turner - Ballad Session

Mark Turner -][- Ballad Session – [Warner Bros. 2000]

Tenor saxophonist Mark Turner, who at least in the photographs included in this CD bears a striking resemblance to the Indiana Pacers’ Reggie Miller, shows in this CD that he has the potential for being as big a star on the jazz circuit as Mr. Miller is in the NBA. Ballad Session features a crack lineup of Turner on tenor, Kurt Rosenwinkel on guitar, Kevin Hays on piano, Larry Grenadier on bass, and Brian Blade on drums. The ballad selection is also sterling, starting off with Gershwin’s “I Loves You Porgy” and ranging over cuts such as Wayne Shorter’s “Nefertiti,” Hoagy Carmichael’s “Skylark,” Paul Desmond’s “Late Lament,” and several others.

The musicians really seem to enjoy playing these classic tunes; Rosenwinkel deserves special mention, as he is able to blend perfectly into the texture of the music, never calling overt attention to himself, but adding immeasurably to the beauty of the sound. Brian Blade has a wonderful touch on the drums, so soft and sure and deft, and of course Turner himself sets the tone, playing with a tone at once caressing and confident, and always serving the music, never once seeming to be showing off. —Karl W. Nehring | Amazon.com

Tom Grant -][- Delicioso [Nu-Wrinkle Records]

Tags

Jazz, Piano, Tom Grant

Tom Grant - Delicioso

Tom Grant -][- Delicioso – [Nu-Wrinkle Records, 2010]

Nu-Wrinkle Records is proud to announce the CD release of Delicioso (“Dee-lish-e-oso”) by pianist Tom Grant. The single, “Cute New Car,” will be going for adds to radio on August 30, 2010.

Since 1983, Tom’s records have repeatedly topped the contemporary jazz charts. Radio fans will remember his previous releases with labels like Windam Hill, Verve, Shanachie. Keyboard Magazine declared, ” he dishes out a pop-flavored jazz that goes down easy and gives discerning listeners plenty to chew on.”

Through the years, several of his songs, including the popular “Mango Tango,” “Night Charade,” “In My Wildest Dreams,” and “The View from Here,” enjoyed lengthy stays at number one. “We now add to our list of all-time favorites one of Tom’s finest selections ever – the aptly named Morning Glorious and the Café Jazz absolute #1 most played selection for 2009!! (sic),” said JazzLynx.com in a review about his 2008 release, “Life is Good.”

Tom Grant also made a name for himself early on with his road band as a darling of the critics. The Express News said, “As jazz pianists go, Grant’s style is boldly and uncommonly melodic In short, the man can play.” The San Antonio Light would also add, ” definitely striking the right chord with the record buying public, and at just the right moment.”

..:: Source: Smooth Jazz Daily ::..