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 …

Flux Music [Jazz] Essentials … [Hargrove, Redman, Goldings, Crusaders & Valentin]

Tags

African American, Crusaders, Jazz, Joshua Redman, Larry Goldings, Roy Hargrove

Greeting’s jazz connoisseurs, I’m back to showcase another tasty review of who’s who in the world of jazz from the shelves of “Flux Music Essentials.”

Flux Music Essentials

Roy Hargrove - Nothing Serious (Verve, 2006)

Roy Hargrove -][- Nothing Serious – [Verve, 2006]

… releases by Hargrove out now is another stellar turn at just how remarkable and inventive and vibrant a band leader he is. DISTRACTIONS is a great fun record, this is a powerhouse of intricate turns on jazz standard style music, with a subtlety and a dynamism that often gets buried by those attempting to preserve the “purity of jazz.” Whatever that is.

In Hargrove’s case, the point is shut up and play. And does he ever! In so doing he has assembled a group of colleagues who still have something to prove within a given context – i.e. that this context can still matter vitally to how you consider your life. And while it is ironically titled, his irony underscores the accomplishments he has effected with this terrific release. You’ll like everything about this: it was recorded nearly perfectly – the definition among the players is clear. The music reaches over and pulls you into its confidence, and you will find yourself coming away from the experience beaming with ideas. This is a truly inspirational effort and without making any more of it, let’s just say that God help us all if Roy gets real serious. —o dubhthaigh | Amazon.com