Innehållsförteckning för March 2024 från Jazzwise

Brad Mehldau Trio, Lakecia Benjamin, Downes/Winstone and more complete the 2024 Cheltenham Jazz Festival line-up The 2024 edition of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival is shaping up to be one of its strongest in recent years when it runs from 1 to 6 May at the Town Hall, Jazz Arena, Big Top, Parabola Arts Centre and other participating clubs and venues in and around the main Montpellier Gardens festival site. Following the first announcement of heavyweight artists such as Snarky Puppy (at the 2,200 capacity Big Top on the Sunday night), legendary Brit saxophonist Courtney Pine and US jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater, also added to the bill is US pianist Brad Mehldau with his Trio, who will headline the Town Hall on the Saturday night. Vocal star Gregory Porter also…

1 Travail, Transformation and Flow by Steve Lehman Octet (2009) Rich H: “Lehman’s completely unique compositions on this album fuse a French Spectral approach to harmony and orchestration with unpredictable rhythmic structures, and feature some incredible microtonal improvisations. Somehow this unconventional combination of ingredients form something completely natural and organic. Worth checking out for Tyshawn Sorey’s drumming alone.” 2 Medna Roso by PJEV/Kit Downes/Hayden Chisholm (2023) Ant: “Beautiful and intriguing, this live recording brings together the all-female vocal quintet PJEVwith Hayden Chisholm and Kit Downes. Kit is a consistently surprising artist, so prolific, often reaching into abstraction. You probably haven’t heard him in anything like this context before.” 3 Conversations with the Unseen by Soweto Kinch (2003) Rich K: “I stumbled across this album in a second-hand record shop back when I…

Saxophonist and composer Cassie Kinoshi will perform her biggest UK headline show to date when she appears at London’s Barbican on 7 March (the day before International Women’s Day) with her 10-piece band seed. alongside turntablist NikNak and the London Contemporary Orchestra (LCO). Describing the project as inspired by “women’s role in British music history in the ‘between the wars’ era… showcasing how conflict shapes new social and artistic movements emerging around them”, the music also draws on the legacy of women’s involvement in the early development of jazz in Britain between 1919-1939, which saw the emergence of all-female bands in the jazz and dance-band circuit such as Hilda Ward’s Lady Syncopators and Evelyn Hardy & Her Ladies Band. With the academic input from Liverpool University musicologist Professor Catherine Tackley…

The writer and broadcaster Philippe Carles, who has died aged 82, was editor of the French language Jazz Magazine, and a constant jazz voice on French radio. Born on 2 March 1941 in Algiers, in French colonial Algeria, he was a child when he heard his uncle playing boogie woogie piano. In 1958, while studying medicine, he met Jean-Louis Comolli, a fellow white Algerian, and exchanged a Thelonious Monk record for one by Miles Davis. He moved to Paris to continue his studies, renewing his acquaintance with Comolli who introduced him to Jean-Louis Ginibre, editor of Jazz Magazine, an informative, well-designed monthly. JazzMag was part of a publishing empire founded by Daniel Filipacchi, who began his career as a photographer on Paris Match. Carles worked for other publications in the…

The pedal harp spent much of the 20th century languishing in the terminally unhip zone of symphonic romanticism, sentimental chamber ensembles and gooey Hollywood soundtracks, but the turning of the epoch has seen it reclaiming some of its ancient and noble heritage in the hands of a new crew of switched on players across a handful of genres, from 'avantclassicalist' Zeena Parkin’s work with Björk to Joanna Newsome’s take on West Coast indie balladry. There’s been a resurgence across the jazz world as well, with Brandee Younger, Alina Bzhezhinska and Maddie Herbert building on the mid-1960s legacy of Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane. Maria Christina Harper, or MC as she’s known to her friends, adds her own distinct voice to this emerging company. On her latest release she combines the…

A Prayer for Andrew Newvelle Records NV035 (2 LP, DL) EDITOR’S CHOICE Ron Horton (t, f), Marty Ehrlich (as, bs, cl), John O Gallagher (as), Frank Kimborough (p), Dean Johnson (b) and Tim Honer (d). Rec. 2 June and 15 July 2016 The devious rhythms, angular lines and tense emotions that mark the late pianist/composer Andrew Hill’s music are embedded in New York’s contemporary left field. Ron Horton’s double album A Prayer for Andrew captures the essence without resorting to mimicry. The oblique harmonies remain as does the slightly otherworldly vibe, but fresh voicings and a different cast of musicians take the music on a slightly different track. Horton is the standout, but saxophonists Marty Ehrlich and John O Gallagher are fluent and thoughtful and the rhythm section is springy…

nublues Blue Note 583766263 (CD, 2 LP, DL) EDITOR’S CHOICE Joel Ross (vb), Immanuel Wilkins (as), Gabrielle Garo (f), Jeremy Corren (p), Kanoa Mendenhall (b) and Jeremy Dutton (d). Rec. date not stated Young vibraphone star Joel Ross went back to an unfinished music degree at New York’s New School in 2020, when the pandemic had scuppered live performing – and was inspired there to dig deeper into the endless adaptability of the blues. The result has been nublues, Ross' fourth Blue Note release. Its three predecessors have all been distinguished by an engaging directness, driven by rhythms and hooks from hard bop, classic Coltrane, the multifarious grooves of contemporary music, and often infusions from African-American hymnal traditions two pieces by John Coltrane and one by Monk, is perhaps his…

Geri Allen, Charlie Haden and Paul Motian In the Year of the Dragon Winter & Winter 917 027 (CD, LP) Geri Allen (p), Charlie Haden (p), Paul Motian (d) plus Juan Lazaro Mendolas (f). Rec. March 1989 In the days when the Arts Council were a much more active component of the UK jazz scene, they mounted a series of UK dates by this trio in 1991, and there was no doubting the then 34-year-old Gerri Allen’s star was in the ascendance. Remarkably, there was no major label interest in her, or this trio, at that time, but thanks to the independent labels Soul Note and Black Saint in Italy, JMT in Germany and DIW in Japan, the trio was properly documented over their four-year lifetime. By the time she…

Labyrinth – British Jazz On Record 1960-75 Richard Morton Jack Lansdowne Books HB £60 Alongside the resounding resurgence of UK jazz by the young Brit scene of the past decade, there has also been a growing re-discovery of the importance, influence and indeed collectability of early-1960s to mid-1970s British jazz recordings, a pivotal period which is increasingly, and justifiably, referred to as a ‘Golden Period of British Jazz’. Back then, with record company coffers overflowing with the vast spoils of the world-wide pop and rock ‘British Invasion’, the then UK major labels, particularly EMI, Decca, CBS and Philips/Fontana, had money to spend on jazz. Subsequently they released hundreds of excellent and imaginative British jazz albums at a point when UK musicians were moving forward from the overriding American influence, discovering…

BBC RADIO 2 88-91 FM and DAB Jamie Cullum show (Tues, 9pm) BBC RADIO 3 90-93 FM and DAB J to Z (Sat 5pm) The best in jazz - past, present and future (2 March) The best in jazz - past, present and future (9 March) The best in jazz - past, present and future (16 March) The best in jazz - past, present and future (23 March) The best in jazz - past, present and future (30 March) Jazz Record Requests (Sun, 4pm) Freeness with Corey Mwamba (Sat, Midnight) BBC RADIO 6 MUSIC DAB Gilles Peterson, Sat 3pm JAZZ FM DAB, Sky, Alexa, smartphone, tablet and online at jazzfm.com (Mon – Fri) 6am-6.30am Business Breakfast, 6.30am-10am Jazz FM Breakfast with Nigel Williams, 10am-2pm Midmornings with Danielle Perrys, 2pm-6pm Afternoon…

Return with us now 70 years ago to the grim post-war murk of March 1954, when rationing was still in force and the epitome of 'modern life' in the UK was squinting at a 12-inch black and white TV while scoffing spam fritters and tinned fruit with evaporated milk. That is unless the urge to escape straight street meant you'd scanned Melody Maker and were on your way to the Royal Albert Hall where for one night only the rarefied atmosphere became hip central with a provocative night of 'Jazz For Moderns'. Fresh from recording Mulligan’s Music for Decca two months prior, Vic Lewis brought his Orchestra, including Tubby Hayes, to town for a Gerry Mulligan and Stan Kenton workout. Meanwhile the Ronnie Scott Orchestra was at its peak, packing…

With the Scottish jazz scene going from strength to strength a new triple date tour under the moniker NU-AGE SOUNDS featuring eight of the new scene’s hottest names will take place from 1-3 March at venues in Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Each artist will premiere a newly commissioned piece of music with the touring line-up including singer Kitti, pianist Fergus McCreadie, saxophonists Helena Kay and Matt Carmichael, trombonist Noushy, bands corto.alto and KARMA, and BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year, bassist Ewan Hastie. The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO) will be performing pieces by the touring musicians with some of the music arranged by Berlin-based saxophonist, vocalist and composer Fabia Mantwill and German pianist Florian Ross, as well as pianist McCreadie, corto.alto bandleader Liam Shortall, saxophonist Kay, and the…

★★★★★ Landmark Recording ★★★★ Excellent ★★★ Good ★★ Average ★Disappointing Florian Arbenz Conversation #10 – Inland Hammer Recordings (CD, LP) Florian Arbenz (d, perc), Martial In-Albon (t, flhn, seashell), Rafael Jerjen (b), Nils Wogram (tb), Christy Doran (g), plus Matthias Würsch (glass harmonica). Rec. August 2022 In the tenth of 12 instalments of musical ‘Conversations’, the drummer/percussionist Florian Arbenz turns to the musicians of his Swiss homeland as a consequence of performance restrictions in his country during pandemic times. Known for being a member of the acclaimed Swiss trio Vein, who have toured and recorded over the past decade with Dave Liebman, Norrbotten Big Band and Greg Osby, Arbenz brings together a strong, characterful line-up including the internationally recognised trombonist-composer Nils Wogram. The influences behind the collaboration are wide-ranging and…

Compassion ECM 5567498/5835143 (CD, 2 LP, DL) EDITOR’S CHOICE Vijay Iyer (p), Linda May Han Oh (b) and Tyshawn Sorey (d). Rec. 2023 Vijay Iyer’s latest trio made its studio debut, Uneasy in 2021, and played an outstanding gig at the London jazz festival the following year, emphatically showing the band was in the creative ascendant. This new album confirms as much. The collegiate skill and advanced musicianship of pianist Iyer, double bassist Linda May Han Oh and drummerTyshawn Sorey are asserted without any individual dominating proceedings. This is a kind of pure trio music then, a three-into-one and one-from-three modus operandi, partly due to the great strength of character of each player, partly due to the democratic, egalitarian nature of the material, none more so than the title track,…

Youn Sun Nah Elles Warner Music Arts 505419781215 (CD, LP, DL) Youn Sun Nah (v, kalimba, music box) and Jon Cowherd (p, ky). Rec. 2023 This latest studio album from the South Korean vocalist and songwriter (previously with ACT Music) finds her creatively reimagining a wide-ranging collection of songs made famous by female artists. From the hypnotic four-note ostinato played on kalimba which announces ‘Feeling Good’ to a tintinnabulating music box which provides the backdrop to ‘Killing Me Softly With His Song’, the singer takes the listener on entirely new pathways through these songs. Key to the album’s success is the inspired pairing with the wondrous US pianist, Jon Cowherd, who summons up supremely subtle and expressive accompaniment, whether performing on Fender Rhodes (‘My Funny Valentine’), a gorgeous sounding piano…

Much has been made in recent years of the ‘vinyl revival’, and quite rightly so. But in the enthusiasm for the resurgence in LP sales, CDs tend to get overlooked – something that’s frequently mentioned in the letters and emails we get here at Jazzwise. On 9 January the BPI (British Phonographic Industry), the trade body for the UK music industry, published its annual report on UK music consumption. The BPI, whose membership is made up primarily of the big labels, concentrates mostly on streaming (which in 2023 accounted for a massive 87.7 per cent of all music consumption), but when it does talk about physical media, it has a propensity to talk up the ‘vinyl revival’ and marginalise the ongoing success of CDs – and this is the case…

Is jazz all over? Joshua Redman’s where are we topped your critics poll for 2023. However, according to my calculations, only five of the 18 Jazzwise critics who took part in the poll included Joshua’s album in their personal top 10. Or, to put it another way, 13 out of the 18 critics did not think where are we worthy of inclusion in their personal choices. Which got me thinking. If there is so little consensus among your critics about what constitutes the best current jazz, does that not suggest that much contemporary jazz is much of a muchness? Personally, I think 99% of the greatest jazz has probably already been recorded, and 99% of the greatest jazz artists are dead. Which is not to say that there are not…

If you’re looking for someone or something to get yourself motivated for what could be a challenging year ahead, then look no further that this month’s iconic cover artist, Charles Lloyd. A true living legend, Lloyd’s career continues to blossom even as he celebrates his 86th birthday on 15 March, with his creativity showing no sign of diminishing. His wonderfully named new album – The Sky Will Be There Tomorrow – philosophically hints that while politicians and conflicts come and go, those eternal truths remain, and his sax and flute’s inner-glow is still capable of warming the stoniest of souls. Lloyd’s partner, the remarkable Dorothy Darr, is also a big reason behind his longevity. As his manager and muse (she’s also a superb photographer), her strength and support are invaluable.…

NAME: Isobella Burnham INSTRUMENT: Bass and Vocals EXPERIENCE AND INFLUENCES: “I started playing bass at 14 after hearing a lot of bass driven music that my parents played at home. This included Earth Wind & Fire, The Gap Band, Jamiroquai and St. Germain. After moving back to London from Barbados in 2018, I’ve gone on to play and tour with Connie Constance, Jorja Smith, Tom Misch, Steam Down and since 2021 I’ve released two EPs. I’m now in the process of recording my first album.” THIS FUTURE MOVER SAYS: “I think it’s important to take your time and grow slowly with your craft. Nowadays we get caught up with instant gratification driven by social media. I plan to be playing music for the rest of my life, so when I…

The discipline of only celebrating anniversaries of whole decades or half-decades produces an embarrassment of riches in the case of Davis. From the Birth Of The Cool album (mostly done in 1949) to Bitches Brew (completed in August 1969), Miles’ constantly changing influence was vital. And don’t forget those significant sessions headed by famous tracks titled ‘Walkin’’, ‘Oleo’ and ‘Bags’ Groove’ – all done in 1954 – or the live albums My Funny Valentine and Miles In Berlin, both from 1964. All as unique for their time as Kind Of Blue, begun on 2 March 1959. Its personnel already came together for the standards-based ‘On Green Dolphin Street’ date, with Coltrane re-joining Davis at the start of 1958, and his replacement Adderley staying on to form a sextet. Paul Chambers…

ROYAL ALBERT HALL ANNOUNCES FIRST LATE NIGHT JAZZ SERIES OF 2024 The Royal Albert Hall’s Late Night Jazz series returns to the venue’s Elgar Room with five shows covering a range of sub-genres, from swing, jive and funk to Latin and Indo-jazz. Performers include multi-award-winning pianist Robert Mitchell’s trio Epiphany 3, Latin jazz duo Pisco Sour and versatile trombonist Laura Impallomeni with her quintet, among others. Dates are Laura Impallomeni Quintet (25 Jan); Pisco Sour (15 Feb); Jazz Orient (22 Feb); Caroline Cooper (14 Mar) and Robert Mitchell’s Epiphany 3 (4 Apr). For full listings and tickets visit www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/series/late-night-jazz BADBADNOTGOOD HEAD TO BROCKWELL PARK FOR CROSS THE TRACKS FESTIVAL South London’s one-day jazz-soul extravaganza, Cross The Tracks, returns for its fifth instalment on Sunday 26 May, taking over a sizeable…

‘Love Ship’ from Charles Lloyd Quartet Dream Weaver (Atlantic) 1966 The Charles Lloyd Quartet’s debut album on Atlantic caused big waves in 1966 with a spine-tingling mix of post-Coltrane spiritual jazz, eastern influences, counter-cultural awareness and future king-pins, Keith Jarrett, Cecil McBee and Jack DeJohnette. ‘Love Ship’ floats Lloyd’s graceful ballad into stormy seas and back. ‘Sorcery’ from Charles Lloyd Quartet Forest Flower (Atlantic) 1967 Recorded at the 1966 Monterey Jazz Festival and released in early 1967, Forest Flower was Lloyd’s breakthrough album uniting jazz fans and turned-on psychedelic heads, selling over a million copies and leaving Miles Davis in the shadows. ‘Sorcery’ ignites one of Lloyd’s most expressive flute improvisations before he and Jarrett go head to head on the fiery afterburn. ‘Lotus Land (To Thakur and Trane)’ from…

Passacaglia ACT Music ACT 9057 (CD, LP, DL) EDITOR’S CHOICE Adam Bałdych (vln) and Leszek Możdżer (p). Rec. 3-25 January 2023 Two of Poland’s most accomplished musicians at one with the art of spontaneous improvisation here create their own musical genre to create their own space Rather than being limited by the terms jazz and classical music, they dip into both with a spirit of enquiry and no little adventure to see where they end up. The result is a duo album of improvised chamber music that if committed to manuscript would never achieve the ease of execution, spontaneity of expression and engaging invention on display here. Monotony of tone is avoided by Możdżer’s use of three pianos – one grand tuned to 442 Hz, another to 432 Hz and…

The Hold Up Ubuntu UBU0151 (CD, LP, DL) EDITOR’S CHOICE Riley Stone-Lonergan (ts), Eddie Myer (b) and Spike Wells (d). Rec. date not stated Spike Wells came to jazz on the 1960s bandstand with Bobby Wellins and Tubby Hayes, Eddie Myer out of autodidactic 1990s love, Riley Stone-Lonergan with today’s academic grounding. They find generationspanning common cause in straightahead hard bop, their model of Sonny Rollins’ chordless trios made current by fluent conviction in jazz’s lingua franca – anyway timeless now every genre and era digitally co-exists, Sidney Bechet and Stormzy awaiting the same swipe or click. This superior follow-up to the band’s self-titled debut is frontloaded with Stone-Lonergan originals. His tenor is insistent then sinuous on ‘High Noon’, Myer holding the rhythm then diving forward, Wells’ bassdrum deployed as…

Words Unspoken ECM 2789 (CD, LP, DL) John Surman (ss, bs, bcl), Rob Luft (g), Rob Waring (vb) and Thomas Strønen (d, perc). Rec. December 2022 Words Unspoken is a natural heir to Surman’s Invisible Threads. As the titles suggest, this is music about the spaces between, of the unseen and unmeasured. The voicings are of course different across the recordings. Waring’s shimmer and suggestion remains from the trio and if Nelson Ayres' warm keys are gone, we are compensated by Luft’s deep lyricism and his orchestra of effects. The biggest difference is the patterning of Strønen’s percussion which is the glue that binds the others’ wanderings. As Surman clocks up his 80th circulation of the sun, his sonorities remain consistent (the less charitable may suggest predictable?), his soprano entry…

Classical BROUGHT TO YOU BY Martin James Bartlett La danse Warner Classics (5419 78968-0) Don’t be fooled by the funky title-lettering on the booklet. The programme of La danse is hardly calculated for kicking off your shoes and shaking it off. Having said that, the former BBC Young Musician of the Year Martin James Bartlett does sound rather keen to shake off some pianistic shackles. Since his 2014 victory, he has been combining more prize-winning with festival participation, concert-giving and recording; if his social media posts are anything to go by, he has also started a side-line in pairing wines with music. Not that showmanship is his aim. This thoughtfully crafted programme allows us to savour a variety of bouquets as it wafts from Baroque innocence towards mourning the loss of…

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