New Releases [Jazz] … for the week of 9/14/2010

Tags

Bad Plus, Cyrus Chestnut, David Bixler, Helen Sung, Jazz, Kenny Burrell, Larry Goldings, New Releases

Greeting’s jazz enthusiasts, after taking a short weekend excursion I’m back with another exciting list of new jazz releases. Today, I’m featuring “Never Stop” the latest masterpiece by progressive jazz trio The Bad Plus as our featured: “Album of the Week.”

Of course, each week I attempt to explore the intricate canvas of stimulating and innovative jazz that awaits us. 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, textures, melodies, and rhythms exalted by a host of definitive and creative voices in the world of jazz.

Featured Album of the Week

Bad Plus - NEVER STOP

The Bad Plus -][- Never Stop – [E1 Entertainment, 2010]

For the past ten years The Bad Plus – Reid Anderson on bass, Ethan Iverson on piano and David King on drums have created an uncompromising body of work by shattering musical convention. Rolling Stone called their amalgam of jazz, pop, rock and avant garde about as badass as highbrow gets, while The New York Times said the band is better than anyone at mixing the sensibilities of post- 60s jazz and indie rock. Few jazz groups in recent memory have amassed such acclaim, and few have generated as much controversy while audaciously bucking musical trends.

Ten years together is a milestone we chose to mark with a set of originals, said Iverson. The new album, NEVER STOP, is a ten-track set, the group s first album of all-original material, strictly an instrumental affair and a collection whose live groove belies its studio origins. It s a rapid-fire succession of engaging performances showcasing the band’s range as well as its three distinct personalities. From gentle and melodic to fierce and abstract, from swing to 80s techno, NEVER STOP does just what the title says: it keeps rolling and flowing, a kinetic playground of new sounds.

With a year-long anniversary tour planned for 2010-2011, The Bad Plus is ready to solidify its status as the go-to band for the ultimate in jazz and beyond. You re going to have to deal with us some time or another,” says Iverson. “We re never going to stop. —Amazon.com

Check out this extended list of recordings by The Bad Plus …

[Classic Jazz Revisited] … features the remarkable Sonny Clark Trio

Tags

African American, Jazz, Piano, Sonny Clark

Flux Classic Jazz Revisited

One of my main goals at The Urban Flux each week is to pursue and capture the images of these legendary artists and their compelling recordings from previous decades (primarily the sixties era) when cool jazz and be-bop reign supreme. It’s an honor to to be allowed to pay homage to these powerful voices who made an unmeasurable imprint in the fabric of our culture as the cornerstone of this phenomenal movement in jazz are simply unmatched.

Sonny CLark Trio - Sonny Clark

Sonny Clark -][- Sonny Clark Trio – [BLUE NOTE, 1957]

Sonny Clark always chose the best sidemen, when he led a recording session. Like on his marvelous quintet album “Cool Struttin‘”, on bass and drums we have the very best musicians of their time, namely Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones, so be prepared for some great music. Though also known as a good composer, here Sonny Clark concentrates on bop standards written by Gillespie or Dameron. It’s quite interesting to compare his version of “Be-Bop” with Bud Powell’s interpretations of that tune. You will notice, that Clark cannot be called one of those numerous Powell imitators, he’s got a different, more “funky” touch and phrasing.

About the other tunes on that album, just let me say, that I was surprised to hear his romantic solo version of “I Remember April“, usually played at fast tempo. “One Bass Hit” also is quite a surprise with Clark choosing the original big-band arrangement of that tune with it’s change of the key from C-major into D-flat for solos. Really a most enjoyable trio-album. —G. Schranke | Amazon.com

..:: Source: Amazon.com ::..

Flux Music [Jazz] Essentials … features [Abbasi, Camilo, Sakésho & Bromberg]

Tags

Andy Narell, Brian Bromberg, Jazz, Michel Camilo, Rez Abassi, Sakésho

Flux Music Essentials

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

Rez Abbasi - Things to Come

Rez Abbasi -][- Things to Come – [Sunnyside Records, 2009]

In recent years we have been able to enjoy the chemistry between guitarist Rez Abassi and sax player Rudresh Mahanthappa in albums such as Abassi’s Bazaar, and Mahanthappa’s Kinsmen. For an even longer time we’ve been able to enjoy the dynamic combo of pianist Vijay Iyer and Mahanthappa. On this album for the first time, we hear all three South Asian all stars together and the results are dazzling. Abassi, Mahnthappa, and Iyer are joined by a stellar rhythm section made up by Johannes Weidenmueller on bass and Dan Weiss on drums. Special guest Kiran Ahluwalia adds her beautiful Indian vocals to tracks 1,2,4, and 6, and Mike Block adds Cello to tracks 2 and 7.

While there are tinges of Indian and Pakastani music throughout this album, Things to Come is first and foremost a modern jazz album in the post bop style. Abassi has obviously put a lot of thought and time into crafting clever songs with many tightly interwoven parts. The mood of the album tends to be dreamlike, reflective and cerebral. It’s easy to let you mind wander as the songs drift from one clever part to another. Abassi, Iyer and Mahanthappa are all great soloist with very different styles and textures. There are great solos throughout and it is fascinating to go from the blasting ferocity of Mahanthappa’s blistering sax solos, to the richly layered thought provoking explorations of Iyer, to the snaking, trance inducing, meanderings of Abassi.

Every song is good on this CD and is a joy to listen to from start to finish. —Scott Williams | Amazon.com

JAZZ LEGACY PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS JOURNEYS BY THE CYRUS CHESTNUT TRIO

Tags

African American, Cyrus Chestnut, Jazz, Piano

Chestnut’s Sophomore CD for the Label and Return to
Piano Trio Format Features Dezron Douglas and Neal Smith
Available September 28

JOURNEYS BY THE CYRUS CHESTNUT TRIO

When a young musician makes a sensational debut, it’s a moment that’s thrilling and yet also familiar; similar fireworks flash with the arrival of each successive prodigy. But when that musician achieves true insight, through talent informed by experience, and lifts his work into a higher realm of achievement, that is a real milestone, rare and sublime.

Arguably, Cyrus Chestnut crossed that line years ago. But with the release of his latest album, Journeys, it’s not arguable at all: He affirms his position as an artist among musicians, thanks to his mastery of one of the most challenging formats in contemporary music.

The piano trio is hardly a new concept in jazz. Certainly Chestnut has established himself as a giant in that format, through albums stretching back to his 1990 debut Nut and in countless appearances at clubs, concert halls and festivals throughout the world. Even so, Journeys, his sophomore release for the Jazz Legacy Productions label, marks a watershed moment in his ongoing growth as a pianist, composer and bandleader.

Lynn Baker Quartet -][- Azure Intention [OA2 Records]

Tags

Jazz, Lynn Baker, OA2 Records, Saxophone

Lynn Baker Quartet - Azure Intention

Lynn Baker Quartet -][- Azure Intention – [OA2 Records, 2010]

In addition to being a fluid, heartfelt improviser, Denver-based saxophonist, Lynn Baker composes with an ear for melody and a mind for artistic challenge. On Azure Intention, Baker’s debut recording for OA2 Records, he presents eight originals that were penned over the last 20 years.

Along with pianist Reggie Berg, drummer Paul Mullikin, and bassist Bijoux Barbosa, they create a cohesive, resonating statement ranging from Lament, an open wound responding to the impending first Gulf War, to the hard-driving swing of Into the Blues, and the strutting Appalachian Shuffle. —Amazon.com

..:: Source: Amazon.com ::..