February 2024
Some Recent Releases
Recent Releases
A few words about recent releases / reviews:
Apart from where they are included in articles on this website, I don't have a 'Reviews' section for a number of reasons:
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I receive so many requests to review recordings it is impossible to include them all.
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Unlike some publications/blogs, Sandy Brown Jazz is not a funded website and it is not possible to pay reviewers.
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Reviews tend to be personal opinions, something a reviewer likes might not suit you, or vice versa.
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It is difficult to capture music in words, so much better to be able to listen and see whether the music interests you.
For these reasons in particular I just include a selection of recent recordings below where I share the notes issued by the musician(s) as an introduction and links to samples so you can 'taste' the music for yourselves. For those who like to read reviews, these, of course, can be checked out on other sites.
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Some albums are priced in dollars or other currencies. These are marked ^. There are currency options if you proceed to order. Recordings are now regularly available on different formats (CD, mp3 downloads, vinyl) or platforms e.g iTunes, Spotify, etc. I am unable to list them all so it is worth checking if you have a favourite platform).
Featured In February 2024
UK
Rob Cope - Gemini
(Ubuntu Music) - Released: 12th January 2024
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Rob Cope (soprano saxophone, bass clarinet); Andy Scott (tenor saxophone); Liam Noble (piano); Paul Clarvis (drums).
'Gemini, derived from Greek mythology as meaning ‘two’ or ‘twins’, brings together two coexisting duos, and musicians who have inspired Rob greatly over the years. This project is a personal reflection of what musical collaboration means to him. For this release, Rob is joined by his great friend and saxophone teacher, Andy Scott, whose playing, compositional creativity, and freedom of expression through both contemporary and improvised music Rob has always admired. The outstanding improvising duo of Liam Noble and Paul Clarvis adds a dimension that celebrates true spontaneity, energy and colour. Rob describes the music of Gemini: “This music is a self-reflection and collaboration with my great friend and teacher, Andy Scott. Each of my compositions represents a lesson - be it in life or in music - and all the wisdom passed along the way. For me, music should be fun to play but also challenging, and I wanted to combine my love of difficult, contemporary saxophone music with improvisation, and hopefully contribute to the repertoire in a unique way. Liam and Paul are musicians I grew up listening to, so to record with them is the fruition of years of planning and dreaming.” ...... (album notes)
Billy Marrows - Penelope
(self release) - Released: 26th January 2024
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Billy Marrows (guitar/baritone guitar, compositions); Jonas Mbanu (bass 3,5,9); Angus Bayley (piano 2,3,5,9); Teresa Macedo Ferreira viola 3,5,7,9); Dijan Mbanu (flute 3,5,9); Gustavo Clayton Marucci (clarinet 2, B. Clarinet 3,5,9); Chris Willimas (alto sax 3,5,9); Tom Ridout (soprano sax 3, clarinet 5, tenor sax 9); Mike Soper (trumpet 3,5,9); Olli Martin (trombone 3,5,9); An na Drysdale (French Horn 3,5,9); Greg Sanders (shaker 5)
Billy Marrows charity debut album “Penelope”, is out on 26 January 2024 Billy says: "The album is in memory of my mother, who we lost to cancer last August. All proceeds are going to World Child Cancer who help children in developing countries beat cancer). The album features my new chamber-jazz group, Grande Família, both as a 12-piece ensemble and in smaller combinations, interspersed with solo guitar vignettes. Recorded as a surprise for my mum, it includes several family members playing alongside musicians special to me. The first single was premiered by Jazzwise, played on JazzFM and performed at the Vortex Jazz Club during my sold-out Billy Marrows Big Band gig atthe EFG London Jazz Festival ..... (album notes)
Kevin Figes - Wallpaper Music II
(ECN Records) - Released: 23rd February 2024
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Kevin Figes (saxes,flute,voice,composition); Brigitte Beraha (voice); Jim Blomfield (keyboards); Ashley John Long (bass):
Mark Whitlam (drums)
Multi-instrumentalist, composer and educator Kevin Figes will release his new album, Wallpaper Music II on 23 February. The recording features Brigitte Beraha on vocals, Jim Blomfield on keyboards, Ashley John Long on bass and Mark Whitlam on percussion and follows Figes’ critically acclaimed quartet album Wallpaper Music (2021) and the recently released limited edition 7” vinyl Seven For Lee/Green and Orange Night Park. “There are a range of influences in the writing, including jazz, folk, rock and contemporary classical, interspersed with improvisation,” says Figes. “Specific influences include Art Bears, Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, and Italian contemporary composers such as Bruno Maderna.” “The lyrics are an essential component, working with the music to set scenes and evoke particular feelings. I hear the voice as an integral part of my music and enjoy expressing myself through the text,” explains Figes. “Other ideas involve using more sounds (saxes, flutes, keyboard sounds, spoken word) and inventing my own scales, harmonies and rhythmic structures. Each band member has also placed part of their personality into the album.” (album notes)
Germana Stella La Sorsa - Primary Colours
(33 Jazz) - Released: 26th January 2024
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Germana Stella La Sorsa (vocals); Sam Leak (organ, Hammond B3); Tom Ollendorff (guitar); Jay Davis (drums)
'Two years since her debut album 'Vapour', Italian London-based singer and storyteller Germana Stella La Sorsa proudly announces the release of her second studio album, 'Primary Colours’ . The record is a concept album that draws parallels between the art of colour and musical narration and the title track 'Primary Colours' expresses the message of the album. It states how experiences and feelings mix together to change one's perception of things - just like primary colours and shades combine themselves, creating new tones - ultimately leading to one's feeling grounded, aware and self-reliant. The tune is an invitation to embrace life's events with curiosity and confidence.' (album notes)
The Harper Trio - Passing By
(Little Yellow Man Records) - Released: 27th October 2023
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Maria-Christina Harper (electro-acoustic Harp, effects, composition); Josephine Davies (soprano & amp; tenor saxophone); Evan Jenkins (drums)
'Greek born with Egyptian roots, electric jazz harpist and composer Maria-Christina Harper is reinventing the sound of the harp in the jazz world. With her anarchic spirit and an interest in exploring what the harp can do, rather than exploring its traditional sounds, she presents her instrument in new and exciting ways. Combining her traditional music roots with free jazz she creates an irresistible, compelling sound cosmos. It’s where East meets West. Maria-Christina has gathered two outstanding, highly acclaimed players to form The Harper Trio for whom she has specifically composed 7 original tracks. Featuring drummer’s-drummer Evan Jenkins and the dynamic saxophonist Josephine Davies (Instrumentalist of The Year, 2019 Parliamentary Jazz Awards), the trio release Passing By, a powerful debut recording of shimmering soundscapes and psychedelic sounds that flirt with the avant-garde creating an inventive slice of spiritual jazz.' (album notes)
Paul Dunmall - Bright Light : A Joyous Celebration
(Discus Music) - Released: 7th November 2023
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Paul Dunmall (tenor and c soprano saxophones); Soweto Kinch (alto and tenor saxophones); Xhosa Cole (tenor saxophone); Corey Mwamba (vibraphone); Dave Kane (double bass); Hamid Drake (drums)
'For his third Discus Music, Dunmall has brought together an absolutely incredible group of musicians. Four punchy compositions and one group improvisation allow everyone maximum space for expression and exciting interaction. Recording session sponsor Tony Dudley-Evans writes: “The music was magnificent, full of energy and the name of the session, Bright Light A Joyous Celebration, captures the atmosphere of the occasion….. Each track was recorded in one take. Each saxophonist contributed amazing solos, but this was essentially an interactive group performance driven by Hamid's drums, Dave's bass and Corey's brilliantly judged contributions on the vibes.” The fact that Dunmall is able to bring such a group together for a session like this, where every musician is a bandleader / significant figure in their own right, is a perfect demonstration of the regard in which he is held.' (album notes).
America
Ambrose Akinmusire - Owl Song
(Nonesuch Records) - Released: 15th December 2023
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Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpet); Bill Frisell (guitar); Herlin Riley (drums).
'Composer and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire makes his Nonesuch Records debut with Owl Song. The album features a trio with two musicians Akinmusire has long admired, guitarist Bill Frisell and drummer Herlin Riley. This is my reaction to being assaulted by information,” Akinmusire says of Owl Song. “This record is me wanting to create a safe space. Part of the challenge was: Can I create something that’s oriented around open space, the way some of the records I love the most do?” He says of his collaborators, “I had a feeling of wanting to record with Bill from the first time we played—it was a duo performance, very little rehearsal. We just played through some of my songs, and it worked. One of Bill’s special gifts is the ability to shape a piece he’s just heard for the first time. He seems to know what the music wants before the first note ...... (album notes)
Elijah Shiffer - City Of Birds, Vol I
(Star Jelly Records) - Released: 6th November 2023
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Elijah Shiffer (alto saxophone); Kevin Sun (tenor saxophone); Dmitry Ishenko (bass); Colin Hinton (drums).
'City Of Birds is a collection of compositions representing every species of bird I’ve seen in New York City. I have been fascinated by birds for my entire life, and a lot of my music is inspired by them. Sometimes I write music that directly incorporates the melodies of birds’ vocalizations; other pieces are more abstract, based on my impression of a bird’s habitat, behavior, or personality, or on my own experience of a particular sighting. All of these influences are shown in this album, the first of hopefully many volumes of recorded City Of Birds music.' (album notes)
Abdullah Ibrahim - 3
(Gearbox Records) - Released: 26th January 2024 [2 CDs]
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Abdullah Ibrahim (piano); Noah Jackson (double bass, cello); Cleave Guyton Jr. (flute, piccolo).
"People don’t like Abdullah Ibrahim, they adore him, bestowing on him the devotion normally reserved for Nina Simone. When he plays, melodies tumble out effortlessly, as he slides from theme to theme like a laid-back South African reincarnation of Thelonious Monk.” - The Guardian. Taken from Abdullah Ibrahim’s summer 2023 sold-out headline date at London’s Barbican Centre, the new album “3” follows suit and is spread across two performances – the first is recorded without an audience ahead of the concert straight to analogue on a 1” Scully tape machine, which had previously been used by Elvis at the famous Memphis-based Sun Studios. The second recording is taken from the evening’s performance itself with Ibrahim performing in a unique trio which includes Cleave Guyton (flute, piccolo, saxophone) who has performed alongside the likes of Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, and Joe Henderson, as well as lauded bassist and cellist Noah Jackson, both of which are members of EKAYA and featured on Ibrahim’s Top 3 Billboard Jazz album “The Balance” (album notes)
Mary Halvorson - Cloudward
(Nonesuch Records) - Released: 19th January 2024
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Mary Halvorson (guitar, composition); Patricia Brennan (vibraphone);, Nick Dunston (bass); Tomas Fujiwara (drums); Jacob Garchik (trombone); Adam O’Farrill (trumpet); Laurie Anderson (vocals).
'Halvorson’s second album with the sextet, Cloudward, includes plenty of indelible guitar playing, but it’s her astonishing growth as a composer and arranger that distinguishes the music. Halvorson continues to give her excellent band plenty of freedom in how the pieces come together, producing her most richly contrapuntal music yet. That achievement speaks to the elasticity, presence, and imagination of her bandmates, who built spectacular, rigorous marvels from her malleable frameworks. While Fujiwara and Dunston shape the music’s armature, it’s the harmonically and melodically dazzling frontline that brings a crystalline muscularity to her full-bodied themes. O’Farrill, Garchik, Brennan, and Halvorson shape endlessly shifting arrangements, as sublimely tuneful lines collide, melt together, and tangle into asymmetrical weaves in such a way that it’s hard to believe it’s not all meticulously plotted out.... (Bandcamp album notes)
Europe and Elsewhere
Tima Volozh - Jubilee
(Shifting Paradigm Records) - Released: 1st December 2023
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Timo Vollbrecht (tenor saxophone); Noah Franche-Nolan (piano); Brad Shepik (guitar tracks 2, 3, 6); Jerome Harris (bass); Tima Volozh (drums)
'One thing I love about drummer led albums is the tendency to showcase the collaborative efforts of all the band members. Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and Paul Motian’s Electric Bebop Band come to mind as examples of drummer helmed groups whose prolific leaders allowed their musicians to shape much of the musical direction, while fiercely commanding the band from the drum throne. Tima Volozh stays true to the tradition here with this quintet which, perhaps not coincidentally, features two veterans of Paul Motian’s groups: guitarist Brad Shepik and bass guitarist Jerome Harris. Tima and I met in grad school, where we quickly connected as friends and colleagues, and I’ve had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with him in New York and on the road. (An impromptu trip to Chicago in the middle of winter really helped seal our friendship.) I can say without hesitation that this album beautifully encapsules the thoughtful, passionate dedication that Tima has for his craft. Within Jubilee, you can hear traces of the history while feeling the cutting edge of the music throughout .......' (album notes)
Quinsin Nachoff - Stars And Constellations
(Adhyaropa Records) - Released: 13th October 2023
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Quinsin Nachoff (tenor saxophone); Mark Helias (acoustic bass); Dan Weiss (drums); The Bergamot Quartet ; Ledah Finck, Sarah Thomas (violin); Amy Huimei Tan (viola); Irène Han (cello)
'In 2006, saxophonist/composer Quinsin Nachoff released his debut album, Magic Numbers, announcing the arrival of a unique new voice innovating at the juncture of jazz and classical music. He has continued to explore and expand those boundaries in the nearly two decades since, though his investigations have taken on a variety of different forms. With his latest release, Stars and Constellations, Nachoff returns for the first time to the jazz trio-meets-string quartet format of that initial foray. The results feel less like the closing of a circle than like a map of the astronomical distance the composer has traveled in the meantime ...... Where Magic Numbers was very much an exercise in folding a chamber quartet into jazz forms, with concise tunes and strings serving as support for jazz-based improvisers, Stars and Constellations reflects the far more integrated and forward - reaching approach that Nachoff has evolved in projects like the malleable Flux ensemble and 2020’s adventurous Pivotal Arc. The new album features three sprawling and intricate compositions where any division between jazz and classical players dissolves, fluidly melding into an enveloping journey that leaves idiom far behind .... ' (album notes)
Cosmic Express Quintet - V​å​ren är V​å​r
(self release) - Released: 13th October 2023
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Ima Baeza Bilgin (piano, compositions); Benjamin Löfgren (trumpet); Isak Ingvarsson (tenor saxophone); Olle Lannér Risenfors (contrabass); Johan Förnell (drums)
'Cosmic Express Quintet releases their debut album .... The emotional dynamics are big. Be it joy, frustration, or melancholy. Ballad till dem jag alskar captures the feeling of gratitude to love and being loved, written shortly before a family reunion after being apart. Disco pa taget is 'only' a happy song with a lot of raw energy .... The title track and Our Burning House are two opposite views on the climate crisis which could be summed up as one hopeful and one disappointed angry ....' (album notes)
Tom Berkmann - Journey
(Whirlwind Recordings) - Released: 20th October 2023
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Ben Kraef (tenor saxophone); Carl Morgan (guitar); Simon Seidl (piano); Tom Berkmann (bass); Fabian Rösch (drums)
'Tom Berkmann has travelled a long way already. In his childhood home among the Bavarian Alps, where the loudest sounds were the ringing of church bells and the mooing of cows, he discovered the power of music via his sister’s collection of rock records: Jimi Hendrix, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana. Improvised music and the double bass were revelations that spurred his next voyages of discovery - first to the Richard Strauss Conservatory in Munich, then north to the Jazz Institute in Berlin, then across the ocean to New York at the Manhattan School Of Music. Since returning to Berlin, he has released two acclaimed albums as part of the band SCOPES. Now we are invited to join him for Journey, his debut album as a leader & composer. With him is a select crew of his peers from among the brightest young stars of the thriving Berlin scene .....The music hooks the listener immediately, anchored by Berkmann’s resonating bass sound, beautifully captured in all of its gut-string glory. His compositions are complex yet accessible, mixing the sophistication of his immersion in the jazz scene with his love of popular song. “Genre-wise I’d call it modern jazz but I don’t really fit into that box of contemporary jazz - sometimes too melodic, too groovy. I wasn’t thinking about whether it was experimental enough - it's just the music that felt natural to me as I wrote it.” (album notes).
Reissues
Fats Waller - All The Hits And More : 1922 - 1943
(Acrobat) - Released: 2023 [3 CDs]
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Fats Waller (piano) with various musicians including Herman Autrey (trumpet); Tommy Dorsey (trombone); Mezz Messrow (clartinet); Billy Taylor (bass) and others.
'Pianist, singer and songwriter, Thomas “Fats” Waller was one of the legendary and unique personalities of early jazz and the swing era, an artist with an unmistakably distinctive style and a way with a song whose work transcended the different strands of jazz that emerged during the 20 years or so when he established his reputation and enjoyed all his success as a recording artist. He was renowned as an influential innovator of the Harlem style of stride piano, but also became famous playing the organ and celeste on his sessions. Recording both solo and in small groups, and equally well-known and loved for his instrumental and vocal recordings, he had over 60 hits between 1929 and 1943, when he died suddenly from pneumonia at the tragically early age of 39. This great-value 75-track 3-CD collection contains all those hits plus selected other recordings which are among his most highly-regarded and popular work. It naturally features the recordings for which he is best-known, including his No. 1s with “Truckin’”, “A Little Bit Independent”, “All My Life”, “It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie”, “Smarty” and “Two Sleepy People and classics like “Honeysuckle Rose”, “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and “I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter”. It’s a substantial and enjoyable showcase for one of the great personalities of jazz.' (album notes)
The Oscar Peterson Trio - Con Alma : Live In Lugano, 1964
(Mack Avenue) - Released: 24th November 2023
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Oscar Peterson (piano); Ray Brown (bass); Ed Thigpen (drums)
'Oscar Peterson’s trio with Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen is widely regarded as Peterson’s “classic trio,” considered by fans as the most popular and in-demand of his long and storied career (featured on releases such as 1963’s Night Train and 1964’s We Get Requests). Recorded during their creative peak in 1964 (5 years into their collaboration), this previously unheard and unreleased live performance is destined to become a fan favorite from the Oscar Peterson vaults. In his memoir Peterson reflects on the dedication that Ray and Ed brought to the group: "In addition to our trio rehearsals, therefore, Ray would call his own rehearsals in his or Ed’s room and they would simply practice ‘time.’ They created a flexible and multi-faceted rhythmical language that they could apply to any musical statement I might make and enhance any direction I might choose. In short, they practiced ‘all the possibles.’” - Oscar Peterson (album notes)
Geri Allen and Kurt Rosenwinkel - A Lovesome Thing
(Motema Records) - Released: 24th November 2023
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Geri Allen (piano); Kurt Rosenwinkel (guitar)
'This one-and-only recorded collaboration between jazz greats Geri Allen and Kurt Rosenwinkel took place live at the famed Philharmonie de Paris in 2012—the two play as if with one mind. Geri often spoke of her desire to do a studio recording to document the ‘flow and freedom” she experienced playing with Kurt that night in Paris. Unfortunately, we lost her before that date never materialized, and fortunately, that concert was recorded. The acoustics in this hall are magnificent, This album, produced by Kurt Rosenwinkel and Motéma's Jana Herzen is dedicated to Geri's memory and is truly a 'lovesome thing' for fans of Geri, of Kurt, and of piano and guitar jazz. Includes digital pre-order of A Lovesome Thing. You get 1 track now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released. (album notes)
Mike Westbrook - Live 1972
(Cadillac Records) - Released: 24th November 2023
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Mike Westbrook (electric piano/harmonica); George Khan (tenor saxophone / electric saxophone / flute); Gary Boyle (guitar);
Alan Jackson (drums / alto saxophone); Butch Potter (bass guitar / pogo stick / flute)
'To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Cadillac Music & Publishing we’re delighted to announce this special reissue of Cadillac’s very first release, Live from 1973. With additional tracks*, mastered by Jon Hiseman of Colosseum, and released with the blessing of Mike Westbrook, Live 1972 stands out as a document of the Westbrook project in transition, and as a bloody great slab of music in its own right played by a brilliant collection of musicians. (* the unreleased tracks are additional to the original LP issue, but appeared on the Hux set that came out in 2017 but is no longer available)' (album notes)
Mildred Bailey - The Queen Of Swing 1929 - 1947
(Acrobat Records) - Released: 2023 [3 CDs]
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Mildred Bailey (vocals) with various personnel.
'Mildred Bailey was a jazz singer of Native American descent who was known variously as “The Queen Of Swing”, “The Rockin’ Chair Lady” and “Mrs Swing”, and who enjoyed a successful career during the 1930s and ‘40s, having more than 40 hits in her own name and as a band singer with Glen Gray’s Casa Loma Orchestra, and the orchestras of Paul Whiteman, The Dorsey Brothers, Benny Goodman and Red Norvo (who was also her husband). This excellent-value 73-track 3-CD comprises all those hits, plus selected recordings by Mildred with those and other bands, like those of Eddie Lang, Frankie Trumbauer and Jimmie Noone, and leading her own orchestra or with various top class accompanists, including the Ellis Larkins Trio. It features the No. 1 hits “All Of Me” with Paul Whiteman, “Please Be Kind” with Red Norvo and “Darn That Dream” with Benny Goodman, along with recordings which were among the original versions from that era of future classic Great American Songbook standards. As her nicknames suggest, she was a leading performer during the swing era as a highly individual and stylish interpreter of songs from across the spectrum of jazz, swing, Hollywood, Broadway and Tin Pan Alley pop, and this collection offers a substantial and thoroughly entertaining showcase for her talent.' (album notes)
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