About the album/track: An interpretation of a traditional Italian melody. Performed by Francesco Turrisi - piano, Claus Kaarsgaard - bass, and Joao Lobo - drums
Editor's comments: Piano and bass like a plastic bag spinning tight circles in the wind and sweep the drums up into its frenetic patterns. Piano trio with a sense of drama that enhances a pretty little melody. Jazz from Dublin, Ireland.
About the album/track: This album was recorded on a very snowy day in West London. Includes a wonderful trumpet solo by Joe Auckland ("Fantastic trumpet player" - John Fordham, The Guardian. "Brilliant player" - Kenny Wheeler), and a cracking drum solo by Ben Reynolds (Clare Teal, James Allsop's Fraud).
Editor's comments: A large ensemble piece by one of the freshest voices on the jazz scene today. Will's compositions have such a singular voice, giving the impression of something exciting and new, though leaving no doubt that the song's feet are both planted firmly dead-center of jazz and what makes it so great. Don't forget to check out Will's last album Everybody Loves..., too.
About the album/track: "Buena Conclusion" is a song with the meaning of a day in which a good conclusion was reached by directing the composition and improvisation through an emotional path. Charley Rose (sax), Baptiste Techer (trombone), Guillermo Muoz (piano), Eric Oxandaburu (contrabass), Vincent Thomas (drums). Recorded at "Studio du Moulin".
Editor's comments: A song heavy with a sense of finality, yet with a celebrity tone. Sax and trombone create a sense of the epic paired with piano's melancholy tone. Wonderful tune. Jazz from northern Spain.
TBob, if you're out there, thank you for your kind words on the emusic forum. I genuinely appreciate that you appreciate my thread. And Greg is correct, you can follow my AAJ dotd thread here. Also, I only included on my emusic thread dotds from albums that could be purchased on emusic.. but on this thread there are some dotds for albums that aren't available on emusic, so it's like bonus tracks, lol.
Also, I have the above posts set up as individual threads on the AAJ forums here...
About the album/track: Improvisation duo with soprano sax and electric guitar. Paulo Chagas - woodwind instruments; Paulo Duarte - electric guitar.
Editor's comments: Guitar and woodwinds interacting like seagulls taking flight over the choppy swells of a lake's surface. Thrilling avant-garde piece, evoking a serenity through designed subtlety and well-placed dissonance.
The entire album can be streamed and purchased on their bandcamp page.
About the album/track: Dedicated to classical composer Lou Harrison and also to the indigenous 'two spirit' shamans of yore.
Editor's comments: Absolutely love when a song possesses the complexities to challenge me cerebrally while simultaneously grabbing my heart with a pretty melody. Lots going on here, yet a simplicity to be admired. Acoustic guitar provides the dynamics while the dreamy sway of a recorder goes along for the ride, later interwoven with some startling percussive layering of sound. Jazz from Singapore.
About the album/track: Brian McCarthy- Alto Saxophone, Tom Cleary- Piano, John Rivers- Bass, Jeff Salisbury- Drums. Recorded at Lane Gibson Studio.
Editor's comments: Very lyrical piece. Straight ahead jazz with a clear voice and solid playing. Alto has plenty of fire without surrendering its lighter touch. Nice tune. Jazz from the Vermont scene.
About the album/track: Matt Anderson - Tenor Saxophone; Aubin Vanns - Guitar; John Marley - Double-Bass; Sam Gardner - Drums. Recorded at Savile and Chrome studios, Leeds. Funded by Jazz Yorkshire.
Editor's comments: Fans of Ben Allison's ensemble should download this song. Adopting rock influences while retaining its jazz identity, Matt Anderson's quartet steams through this thoroughly enjoyable tune. Jazz from the UK (Yorkshire).
Full album can be streamed and purchased on their bandcamp page (link on download page).
About the album/track: The track was recorded in RecPublica Studios, situated in a small village in Poland between 2 beautiful lakes. Inspired by a Polish Traditional music, Classical, and European trends in jazz. Josh Lawrence (trumpet), Pawel Tomaszewski (piano), Andrzej Gondek (guitar), Piotr Zaczek (bass), Jakub Cywiski (upright bass), Michal Bryndal (drums), Adam Sak (background guitar).
Editor's comments: Quite unlike anything I've heard before. At times, it treads on the same Indie-jazz territory as Sickafoose's Tiny Resistors, but really, Baldych seems to have paced off some jazz territory all his own. Beautiful violin with plenty of fire and grace, clearly influenced by other music, very much rooted in jazz. Adam relocated to NYC recently, but this is more excellent jazz from Poland.
About the album/track: What if Canadian folk musician and songwriter Stan Rogers joined American, Jazz legend Miles Davis' band? With their new release Live at the Ship's Company Theatre, the Ocean Sounds Quartet musically answers that intriguing question. A fusion of Jazz and Maritime-Celtic folk music, the Ocean Sounds quartet is based in Nova Scotia and made up of Paul Tynan, Fred Kennedy (now based in NYC), and Brothers Al and Dan Sutherland. The band's repertoire draws mostly from traditional and modern maritime folk music and places it in the jazz tradition. The Ocean Sounds Quartet started in summer of 2004 with its inaugural concert at the Ship's Company Theatre on the Fundy coast of Nova Scotia. The band returned for a live concert recording in 2005 and then took a hiatus for the members to peruse other projects. Reforming in 2011, the release of the band's first recording, Live at the Ship's Company Theatre, trumpets the return of the Ocean Sounds Quartet to Atlantic Canadian stages.
Editor's comments: A sublime album of modern jazz. Unsure if the ensemble name grew organically from the resulting music, but listening to this entire album, it's easy to imagine sitting on the waterfront on a cool evening as the fiery yet introspective sounds of this ensemble drift through the moonlight.
P.S. Thanks to emusers own Greg for his help in getting this track up on the dotd schedule.
About the album/track: Bryan Nichols- piano/composer; JT Bates- drums; Michael Lewis- sax; Brandon Wozniak- sax; James Buckley - bass.
Editor's comments: Song with plenty of life to it. Song begins with a pretty lullaby of a phrase which builds slowly in strength and launches up and away, each time to return to that first lilting phrase. Song has a storytelling feel to it, replete with plot changes and character (song) development. Jazz from Minneapolis, MN.
About the album/track: A rock drummer, a jazz bassist, and a classical pianist all set up under some microphones and pressed "record" without any pre-written music. The original working title of the track was "Forearm Killer". Curt Siffert (piano), Steve Turmell (drum), and Steve Morgan (bass).
Editor's comments: This initially meandering tune amazingly builds a cohesive groove which steers the song from out to in. Jazz experimentation with very satisfying results and, really, a fun listen. Out of the Portland, Oregon scene. Also, available on Bandcamp for full steaming (and purchase) of the album.
About the album/track: "Sail Away" is one of Randy Newman's most familiar compositions. It features Randy's sharp political satire by playing the roll of a slave herder telling Africans how great it will be when they get to America.
Editor's comments: Wow. Now that's my kind of vocal jazz. No vocal theatrics or forced drama, just respectfully embracing the melody and making the song her own. Roseanna takes ownership of this song with a seemingly effortless performance, one that I find reminiscent of early Herbie Hancock, in that way that the subtlety of the moment yields a powerful emotional reaction.
And here's a link to her site, where you can stream the entire album...
About the album/track: Steve Coleman: alto saxophone; Tim Albright: trombone; Jonathan Finlayson: trumpet; Marcus Gilmore: drums; Thomas Morgan: bass; Ramon Garcia Perez: percussion; Jen Shyu: vocals.
Editor's comments: Song begins with an explosion, parts flying everywhere. But instead of becoming more scattered, the song's elements come together. Sax and voices are the propulsion that drives this ferocious tune. I don't know if it's that my ear is getting attuned to Coleman's compositions, but I hesitate to call this avant-garde, though for the casual jazz listener, the description would be apt. Lots going on here, and with each subsequent listen, I'm finding more to like.
About the album/track: Lorenzo Feliciati (bass), Cuong Vu (trumpet), Roy Powell (piano), and Pat Mastelotto (drums).
Editor's comments: Distortion and dissonance are gently parted to make way for Cuong Vu's soaring trumpet and Roy Powell's sterling piano lines. The tension created by the conflict between pretty melody and powerful disharmony is one I never tire of. This whole album is fantastic.
About the album/track: Kekko Fornarelli (piano, synth), Luca Bulgarelli (doublebass), and Gianlivio Liberti (drums).
Editor's comments: Hell of a song. This album hits me the same way as much of Esbjorn Svensson's trio. Resonant piano that isn't afraid of some drama but never devolves into silliness. Bass that keeps to the shadows but when it shows its face, it does so with elegance. Drums a gentle wash with brief dynamic bursts. Electronics that enhance the tunes and never become obtrusive or gimmicky. Wow!
About the album/track: "Seven Seas" is the title track of the new album of bassist (and vocalist) Avishai Cohen. Featuring nursery rhymes, lullabies and suites in which heroic inspiration and symphonics abound, "Seven Seas" plunges us into a fabulous sound voyage, in which understatement and magnitude play a never-ending game of cat and mouse. Avishai Cohen (vocals, acoustic & electric bass), Karen Malka (vocals), Shai Maestro (piano, keyboards), Itamar Douari (percussion).
And here's a recent interview with Avishai just published on AAJ...
About the album/track: Emilio Marinelli (piano), Amin Zarrinchang (bass), Matteo Fraboni (drums). This song is the main theme of the Spike Lee movie 25th Hour re-arranged for the acoustic trio. A prepared piano with necklaces on the strings adds a strange element to the song.
Editor's comments: Oh hell yes. Like a classic Pharoah Sanders marathon session, Emilio's trio takes us on a long journey, exploring a series of musical paths that build one atop the other until, at the end, a slight return to the opening theme, giving the sense of having traveled a very long distance with a relaxed laid-back gait. The effect of the prepared piano is a magnificent touch. Jazz from Fano, Italy, in the "Regione Marche."
About the album/track: An original composition featuring a downward-shifting harmonic progression. Daniel Rosenthal - trumpet, Rick Stone - alto saxophone, Kendall Eddy - bass, Austin McMahon - drums.
Editor's comments: Daniel brings a nice confident voice on the trumpet for his debut album. This song has a modern inventiveness, yet remains a pleasantly simple tune to enjoy. It's a studio album, but has the feel of a live recording. Apparently brings in a banjo for other songs on the album, which, in my mind, requires a listen to the entire album. A promising track from a new voice. Jazz from the Boston scene.
About the album/track: Propelled by the rousing, red-blooded jazz guitar of JC Stylles, this disc marks the emergence of a great new guitar master. Along with Lawrence Leathers (drums) and Pat Bianchi (Hammond B3), Stylles expands the guitar/organ trio legacy into exciting new territory.
Editor's comments: Whoever wrote the artist description section above nailed it when they used the word 'propelled'. The song is less a sprint and more like a cant; the pace of the song is revealed in the strength of one note leaping ahead into the next. Fun song, and now with summer in the rearview mirror, the natural warmth of a B3-guitar trio is just what the doctor ordered. Jazz from NYC.
About the album/track: Yoshichika Tarue (piano), Katsuhiko Sasai (double bass), Isao Wasano (percussion & drums), Takehiro Shimizu (drums). Recorded live at Alchemy Studio.
Editor's comments: Jazz groove sprinters Indigo Jam Unit come crashing out of the gates with this tune and don't let up until the final note. Piano, drums, bass, percussion. Look away and they're gone. Understandable that they have a cult following. For fans of The Bad Plus. Jazz from Osaka, Japan.
About the album/track: This piece is dedicated to Harris's son Owen and was composed soon after his birth. "I was kind of floating along in a tired and sentimental way. I found myself writing simple songs...sketching straightforward harmonies on the piano or singing melodies in my head and then putting changes to them."
Editor's comments: Odd how this forward-thinking song has me so nostalgic for the jazz of my past. The understated playing on this track pays off big time with a sense of warmth and cheerfulness that doesn't lose its potency with repeat listening. For those of you new to modern jazz, you can follow the names of everyone in this ensemble to other great jazz albums. Fantastic line-up.
About the album/track: From my new album Castles and Hilltops, the piece 'Pond' features Danny Grissett (piano), Matt Clohesy (bass), and Tommy Crane (drums).
Editor's comments: Some musicians possess the ability to pull a listener into the world of their album and turn the simple act of listening to a CD into an event rivaling the experience of a live show. Tim Collins is one of those musicians, and if "Pond" is any indication of the rest of Castles and Hilltops, then pick this album up and expect something special. A vibe player with a cinematic tone, he's backed by a solid crew of all-star names in jazz circles. Grissett sounds like he's been playing with Collins since childhood. Enjoy!
There's a couple free John Scofield tracks available today and tomorrow off his latest releases. If you're a Scofield fan, this is a pretty big deal. Interviews, reviews... two days of jazz guitar great John Scofield at AAJ...
About the album/track: Multi-instrumentalist Vince Norman and drummer Joe McCarthy gather together some of the finest big band players on the eastern seaboard to create a creative and swinging album of modern jazz. Part big band and part small group workings, the album balances the intensity of the big band with wide open improvisations on nine original compositions by Vince Norman.
Editor's comments: After happening upon this exhilarating track in our archives, I decided to re-feature it for Big Band Friday. It's the immense sound that I think I love most about big band compositions, and this track nails it right from the start. Just a breathtaking tune. I'll be looking to feature a new release from these guys in the near future, but for now, enjoy this older tune.
The second is from their 2009 album Bright Future...
Song = "Knight For A Day", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
About the album/track: Saxophonist, composer and arranger Vince Norman teams up again with the recent Grammy-winning percussionist Joe McCarthy. The duo once again calls on their band of top-flight Washington D.C.-area musicians for a swinging performance of Norman's arrangements.
Editor's comments: Quickly becoming one of my favorite big bands. It seems like every one of their songs has an epic quality that transcends the sum of their notes. Highly recommended.
About the album/track: This track comes from Braid's 2011 solo piano album, Verge. The recording also includes one standard and six originals for piano and "prepared piano." Recorded and Mastered by Dixon Van Winkle.
Editor's comments: Criminally under-recognized pianist who, on this track, shows his talent at constructing eloquent compositions that are both introspective and celebratory. I highly recommend looking into Braid's discography, as there is a wealth of great jazz to be found.
About the album/track: "My Flying Dream" has an influence from someplace yet to be determined. Far East? Faraway? It's from anyplace but where you are. Randy Everett plays guitar and bass, joined by Bruce Golden on percussion and teenage cellist virtuoso Nathaniel Smith on this exotic melodic and rhythmic flight to a place you'll want to revisit.
Editor's comments: Fusion that's modern, yet has the warm appeal of classic Oregon recordings. Not a fusion guy myself, I was drawn right into this album (which Randy streams in full on his site) and sent out an invite to participate on the AAJ dotd. A must for fusion fans and perhaps a good choice for those who are looking to expand their music library with something a little different. Jazz from Brandon, Mississippi.
Comments
Craig
Song = "Attaccati li Tricci", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6677
About the album/track: An interpretation of a traditional Italian melody. Performed by Francesco Turrisi - piano, Claus Kaarsgaard - bass, and Joao Lobo - drums
Editor's comments: Piano and bass like a plastic bag spinning tight circles in the wind and sweep the drums up into its frenetic patterns. Piano trio with a sense of drama that enhances a pretty little melody. Jazz from Dublin, Ireland.
Song = "Those Who Wait", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6765
About the album/track: This album was recorded on a very snowy day in West London. Includes a wonderful trumpet solo by Joe Auckland ("Fantastic trumpet player" - John Fordham, The Guardian. "Brilliant player" - Kenny Wheeler), and a cracking drum solo by Ben Reynolds (Clare Teal, James Allsop's Fraud).
Editor's comments: A large ensemble piece by one of the freshest voices on the jazz scene today. Will's compositions have such a singular voice, giving the impression of something exciting and new, though leaving no doubt that the song's feet are both planted firmly dead-center of jazz and what makes it so great. Don't forget to check out Will's last album Everybody Loves..., too.
Song = "Buena Conclusion", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6740
About the album/track: "Buena Conclusion" is a song with the meaning of a day in which a good conclusion was reached by directing the composition and improvisation through an emotional path. Charley Rose (sax), Baptiste Techer (trombone), Guillermo Muoz (piano), Eric Oxandaburu (contrabass), Vincent Thomas (drums). Recorded at "Studio du Moulin".
Editor's comments: A song heavy with a sense of finality, yet with a celebrity tone. Sax and trombone create a sense of the epic paired with piano's melancholy tone. Wonderful tune. Jazz from northern Spain.
Also, I have the above posts set up as individual threads on the AAJ forums here...
http://forums.allaboutjazz.com/forumdisplay.php?f=44
Cheers.
The August 20th Saturday, the Fringes free track is from Paulo Chagas & Paulo Duarte's new album Boomerang...
Song = "Catalepsia", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6782
About the album/track: Improvisation duo with soprano sax and electric guitar. Paulo Chagas - woodwind instruments; Paulo Duarte - electric guitar.
Editor's comments: Guitar and woodwinds interacting like seagulls taking flight over the choppy swells of a lake's surface. Thrilling avant-garde piece, evoking a serenity through designed subtlety and well-placed dissonance.
The entire album can be streamed and purchased on their bandcamp page.
Song = "Shapeshifter Suite II", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6715
About the album/track: Dedicated to classical composer Lou Harrison and also to the indigenous 'two spirit' shamans of yore.
Editor's comments: Absolutely love when a song possesses the complexities to challenge me cerebrally while simultaneously grabbing my heart with a pretty melody. Lots going on here, yet a simplicity to be admired. Acoustic guitar provides the dynamics while the dreamy sway of a recorder goes along for the ride, later interwoven with some startling percussive layering of sound. Jazz from Singapore.
Song = "Flood Gates", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6736
About the album/track: Brian McCarthy- Alto Saxophone, Tom Cleary- Piano, John Rivers- Bass, Jeff Salisbury- Drums. Recorded at Lane Gibson Studio.
Editor's comments: Very lyrical piece. Straight ahead jazz with a clear voice and solid playing. Alto has plenty of fire without surrendering its lighter touch. Nice tune. Jazz from the Vermont scene.
Song = "Free Into Edinburgh", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6735
About the album/track: Matt Anderson - Tenor Saxophone; Aubin Vanns - Guitar; John Marley - Double-Bass; Sam Gardner - Drums. Recorded at Savile and Chrome studios, Leeds. Funded by Jazz Yorkshire.
Editor's comments: Fans of Ben Allison's ensemble should download this song. Adopting rock influences while retaining its jazz identity, Matt Anderson's quartet steams through this thoroughly enjoyable tune. Jazz from the UK (Yorkshire).
Full album can be streamed and purchased on their bandcamp page (link on download page).
Cheers.
Today's featured track is from Adam Baldych's excellent new album Magical Theatre...
Song = "Room of Fear", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6753
About the album/track: The track was recorded in RecPublica Studios, situated in a small village in Poland between 2 beautiful lakes. Inspired by a Polish Traditional music, Classical, and European trends in jazz. Josh Lawrence (trumpet), Pawel Tomaszewski (piano), Andrzej Gondek (guitar), Piotr Zaczek (bass), Jakub Cywiski (upright bass), Michal Bryndal (drums), Adam Sak (background guitar).
Editor's comments: Quite unlike anything I've heard before. At times, it treads on the same Indie-jazz territory as Sickafoose's Tiny Resistors, but really, Baldych seems to have paced off some jazz territory all his own. Beautiful violin with plenty of fire and grace, clearly influenced by other music, very much rooted in jazz. Adam relocated to NYC recently, but this is more excellent jazz from Poland.
Song = "Won Summer", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6631
About the album/track: What if Canadian folk musician and songwriter Stan Rogers joined American, Jazz legend Miles Davis' band? With their new release Live at the Ship's Company Theatre, the Ocean Sounds Quartet musically answers that intriguing question. A fusion of Jazz and Maritime-Celtic folk music, the Ocean Sounds quartet is based in Nova Scotia and made up of Paul Tynan, Fred Kennedy (now based in NYC), and Brothers Al and Dan Sutherland. The band's repertoire draws mostly from traditional and modern maritime folk music and places it in the jazz tradition. The Ocean Sounds Quartet started in summer of 2004 with its inaugural concert at the Ship's Company Theatre on the Fundy coast of Nova Scotia. The band returned for a live concert recording in 2005 and then took a hiatus for the members to peruse other projects. Reforming in 2011, the release of the band's first recording, Live at the Ship's Company Theatre, trumpets the return of the Ocean Sounds Quartet to Atlantic Canadian stages.
Editor's comments: A sublime album of modern jazz. Unsure if the ensemble name grew organically from the resulting music, but listening to this entire album, it's easy to imagine sitting on the waterfront on a cool evening as the fiery yet introspective sounds of this ensemble drift through the moonlight.
P.S. Thanks to emusers own Greg for his help in getting this track up on the dotd schedule.
Song = "The Beginnings of Things", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6722
About the album/track: Bryan Nichols- piano/composer; JT Bates- drums; Michael Lewis- sax; Brandon Wozniak- sax; James Buckley - bass.
Editor's comments: Song with plenty of life to it. Song begins with a pretty lullaby of a phrase which builds slowly in strength and launches up and away, each time to return to that first lilting phrase. Song has a storytelling feel to it, replete with plot changes and character (song) development. Jazz from Minneapolis, MN.
Song = "Trinomite", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6794
About the album/track: A rock drummer, a jazz bassist, and a classical pianist all set up under some microphones and pressed "record" without any pre-written music. The original working title of the track was "Forearm Killer". Curt Siffert (piano), Steve Turmell (drum), and Steve Morgan (bass).
Editor's comments: This initially meandering tune amazingly builds a cohesive groove which steers the song from out to in. Jazz experimentation with very satisfying results and, really, a fun listen. Out of the Portland, Oregon scene. Also, available on Bandcamp for full steaming (and purchase) of the album.
http://thesalvagery.bandcamp.com/
Song = "Sail Away", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6572
About the album/track: "Sail Away" is one of Randy Newman's most familiar compositions. It features Randy's sharp political satire by playing the roll of a slave herder telling Africans how great it will be when they get to America.
Editor's comments: Wow. Now that's my kind of vocal jazz. No vocal theatrics or forced drama, just respectfully embracing the melody and making the song her own. Roseanna takes ownership of this song with a seemingly effortless performance, one that I find reminiscent of early Herbie Hancock, in that way that the subtlety of the moment yields a powerful emotional reaction.
And here's a link to her site, where you can stream the entire album...
http://www.roseannavitro.com/
Song = "Jan 18", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6831
About the album/track: Steve Coleman: alto saxophone; Tim Albright: trombone; Jonathan Finlayson: trumpet; Marcus Gilmore: drums; Thomas Morgan: bass; Ramon Garcia Perez: percussion; Jen Shyu: vocals.
Editor's comments: Song begins with an explosion, parts flying everywhere. But instead of becoming more scattered, the song's elements come together. Sax and voices are the propulsion that drives this ferocious tune. I don't know if it's that my ear is getting attuned to Coleman's compositions, but I hesitate to call this avant-garde, though for the casual jazz listener, the description would be apt. Lots going on here, and with each subsequent listen, I'm finding more to like.
Now for some more catch-up...
The 9/3/11 featured track is from the Cuong Vu ensemble Naked Truth's new release, Shizaru...
Song = "Touching Corners", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6802
About the album/track: Lorenzo Feliciati (bass), Cuong Vu (trumpet), Roy Powell (piano), and Pat Mastelotto (drums).
Editor's comments: Distortion and dissonance are gently parted to make way for Cuong Vu's soaring trumpet and Roy Powell's sterling piano lines. The tension created by the conflict between pretty melody and powerful disharmony is one I never tire of. This whole album is fantastic.
Song = "Room of Mirrors", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6766
About the album/track: Kekko Fornarelli (piano, synth), Luca Bulgarelli (doublebass), and Gianlivio Liberti (drums).
Editor's comments: Hell of a song. This album hits me the same way as much of Esbjorn Svensson's trio. Resonant piano that isn't afraid of some drama but never devolves into silliness. Bass that keeps to the shadows but when it shows its face, it does so with elegance. Drums a gentle wash with brief dynamic bursts. Electronics that enhance the tunes and never become obtrusive or gimmicky. Wow!
Song = "Seven Seas", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6830
About the album/track: "Seven Seas" is the title track of the new album of bassist (and vocalist) Avishai Cohen. Featuring nursery rhymes, lullabies and suites in which heroic inspiration and symphonics abound, "Seven Seas" plunges us into a fabulous sound voyage, in which understatement and magnitude play a never-ending game of cat and mouse. Avishai Cohen (vocals, acoustic & electric bass), Karen Malka (vocals), Shai Maestro (piano, keyboards), Itamar Douari (percussion).
And here's a recent interview with Avishai just published on AAJ...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=39056
Song = "25th Hour Theme", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6699
About the album/track: Emilio Marinelli (piano), Amin Zarrinchang (bass), Matteo Fraboni (drums). This song is the main theme of the Spike Lee movie 25th Hour re-arranged for the acoustic trio. A prepared piano with necklaces on the strings adds a strange element to the song.
Editor's comments: Oh hell yes. Like a classic Pharoah Sanders marathon session, Emilio's trio takes us on a long journey, exploring a series of musical paths that build one atop the other until, at the end, a slight return to the opening theme, giving the sense of having traveled a very long distance with a relaxed laid-back gait. The effect of the prepared piano is a magnificent touch. Jazz from Fano, Italy, in the "Regione Marche."
Let's begin...
The 9/8/11 featured free track is from Daniel Rosenthal's debut album Lines...
Song = "Subo", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6821
About the album/track: An original composition featuring a downward-shifting harmonic progression. Daniel Rosenthal - trumpet, Rick Stone - alto saxophone, Kendall Eddy - bass, Austin McMahon - drums.
Editor's comments: Daniel brings a nice confident voice on the trumpet for his debut album. This song has a modern inventiveness, yet remains a pleasantly simple tune to enjoy. It's a studio album, but has the feel of a live recording. Apparently brings in a banjo for other songs on the album, which, in my mind, requires a listen to the entire album. A promising track from a new voice. Jazz from the Boston scene.
Song = "Samba Steps", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6728
About the album/track: Propelled by the rousing, red-blooded jazz guitar of JC Stylles, this disc marks the emergence of a great new guitar master. Along with Lawrence Leathers (drums) and Pat Bianchi (Hammond B3), Stylles expands the guitar/organ trio legacy into exciting new territory.
Editor's comments: Whoever wrote the artist description section above nailed it when they used the word 'propelled'. The song is less a sprint and more like a cant; the pace of the song is revealed in the strength of one note leaping ahead into the next. Fun song, and now with summer in the rearview mirror, the natural warmth of a B3-guitar trio is just what the doctor ordered. Jazz from NYC.
Song = "Roots", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6750
About the album/track: Yoshichika Tarue (piano), Katsuhiko Sasai (double bass), Isao Wasano (percussion & drums), Takehiro Shimizu (drums). Recorded live at Alchemy Studio.
Editor's comments: Jazz groove sprinters Indigo Jam Unit come crashing out of the gates with this tune and don't let up until the final note. Piano, drums, bass, percussion. Look away and they're gone. Understandable that they have a cult following. For fans of The Bad Plus. Jazz from Osaka, Japan.
Song = "Song For Owen", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6820
About the album/track: This piece is dedicated to Harris's son Owen and was composed soon after his birth. "I was kind of floating along in a tired and sentimental way. I found myself writing simple songs...sketching straightforward harmonies on the piano or singing melodies in my head and then putting changes to them."
Editor's comments: Odd how this forward-thinking song has me so nostalgic for the jazz of my past. The understated playing on this track pays off big time with a sense of warmth and cheerfulness that doesn't lose its potency with repeat listening. For those of you new to modern jazz, you can follow the names of everyone in this ensemble to other great jazz albums. Fantastic line-up.
Song = "Pond", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6855
About the album/track: From my new album Castles and Hilltops, the piece 'Pond' features Danny Grissett (piano), Matt Clohesy (bass), and Tommy Crane (drums).
Editor's comments: Some musicians possess the ability to pull a listener into the world of their album and turn the simple act of listening to a CD into an event rivaling the experience of a live show. Tim Collins is one of those musicians, and if "Pond" is any indication of the rest of Castles and Hilltops, then pick this album up and expect something special. A vibe player with a cinematic tone, he's backed by a solid crew of all-star names in jazz circles. Grissett sounds like he's been playing with Collins since childhood. Enjoy!
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=40431
The first is from their 2006 album Words Cannot Express...
Song = "Coming Home", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=2399
About the album/track: Multi-instrumentalist Vince Norman and drummer Joe McCarthy gather together some of the finest big band players on the eastern seaboard to create a creative and swinging album of modern jazz. Part big band and part small group workings, the album balances the intensity of the big band with wide open improvisations on nine original compositions by Vince Norman.
Editor's comments: After happening upon this exhilarating track in our archives, I decided to re-feature it for Big Band Friday. It's the immense sound that I think I love most about big band compositions, and this track nails it right from the start. Just a breathtaking tune. I'll be looking to feature a new release from these guys in the near future, but for now, enjoy this older tune.
The second is from their 2009 album Bright Future...
Song = "Knight For A Day", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6862
About the album/track: Saxophonist, composer and arranger Vince Norman teams up again with the recent Grammy-winning percussionist Joe McCarthy. The duo once again calls on their band of top-flight Washington D.C.-area musicians for a swinging performance of Norman's arrangements.
Editor's comments: Quickly becoming one of my favorite big bands. It seems like every one of their songs has an epic quality that transcends the sum of their notes. Highly recommended.
Song = "Bai Tian's Day", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6795
About the album/track: This track comes from Braid's 2011 solo piano album, Verge. The recording also includes one standard and six originals for piano and "prepared piano." Recorded and Mastered by Dixon Van Winkle.
Editor's comments: Criminally under-recognized pianist who, on this track, shows his talent at constructing eloquent compositions that are both introspective and celebratory. I highly recommend looking into Braid's discography, as there is a wealth of great jazz to be found.
Song = "My Flying Dream", which can be downloaded from AAJ here...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6790
About the album/track: "My Flying Dream" has an influence from someplace yet to be determined. Far East? Faraway? It's from anyplace but where you are. Randy Everett plays guitar and bass, joined by Bruce Golden on percussion and teenage cellist virtuoso Nathaniel Smith on this exotic melodic and rhythmic flight to a place you'll want to revisit.
Editor's comments: Fusion that's modern, yet has the warm appeal of classic Oregon recordings. Not a fusion guy myself, I was drawn right into this album (which Randy streams in full on his site) and sent out an invite to participate on the AAJ dotd. A must for fusion fans and perhaps a good choice for those who are looking to expand their music library with something a little different. Jazz from Brandon, Mississippi.