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New Jazz News – 2/4/2020

Rashied Ali & Frank Lowe – Duo Exchange (Survival): Rashied Ali (drums) and Frank Lowe (tenor sax) recorded this set in 1972 as they brought their new label “Survival” to life. These are seemingly the complete takes in the entirety even including some brief discussions and soundcheck. “Every musician who worked steadily with John Coltrane in the Sixties achieved a certain kind of immortality. But drummer Rashied Ali earned a special distinction thanks to a February 1967 duo recording date with the legendary horn player, five months before Coltrane’s death. Released seven years later as Interstellar Space, the music from that session essentially launched an entire subgenre of fervent, spiritually attuned free jazz played by just a saxophonist and drummer. Yet as a new series of reissues and archival releases shows, Interstellar Space is only part of the Rashied Ali story. Of the first two titles to be released physically and digitally as part of a relaunch of Survival — the label the late drummer ran on and off from the early Seventies through his death in 2009 — one is a companion piece of sorts to that magical Coltrane release. Recorded after Interstellar Space but released before it, in 1973, Duo Exchange features duets between Ali and tenor saxist Frank Lowe, a lesser-known player but a potent force on his instrument.” (https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rashied-ali-frank-lowe-duo-exchange-reissue-941535/) Click here to listen to a section from this performance.

Rashied Ali Quintet – First Time Out, Live at Slugs 1967 (Survival): “The musical legacy of Rashied Ali receives a powerful rejuvenation with the publication of a previously unissued set by Ali’s group, recorded live at Slugs in 1967. This obscure appearance may have been only the second time that Ali had led a band in public. Band membership is stellar and unprecedented, and the tunes they play predate all known segments of Rashied’s career as a composer or bandleader.
Drummer Rashied Ali (1933–2009) was still officially on the job as John Coltrane’s drummer when he assembled this band for perhaps as little as two sets of music in the Spring of 1967. It’s about the first documentable activity for the late tenor saxophonist Ramon Morris, who had thoroughly absorbed the lessons of John Coltrane, post 1961. Trumpeter Dewey Johnson (who, like Morris, died months before this release) had his peak moment of fame two years prior, appearing with Coltrane on the orchestral Free Jazz masterpiece Ascension. Pianist Stanley Cowell was just emerging as a distinctive voice among the open-minded ‘Young Lions’ of the day, on his way from Marion Brown’s quartet to groups led by Max Roach. Bassist Reggie Johnson was already familiar with Slugs; he had worked there, alongside Ali and Cowell, across the previous two years.
Little or no announcement heralded this gig; It may well be that only the neighborhood regulars and Ali’s associates (might Trane himself have been there?) would have known about it. But the players came to burn: They crackled and glowed in long treatments of Rashied’s loosely-structured pieces. Ali has more to say here as a soloist than in the several years of his recording career prior, and all of the musicians show a side different from how they appeared on records.
This stereo recording gives us a front row seat—with all the grit and mayhem from those heady times. Meticulous remastering from the original tapes has polished this bit of East Village verité into a riveting, glistening-but-raw pearl from the black underground of the Sixties.” Click here to listen to this disc. (https://rashied-ali.bandcamp.com/album/first-time-out-live-at-slugs-1967)

Lila Ammons – Genealogy (Self-produced): “Lila Ammons is a blues and jazz vocalist. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Ammons is the granddaughter of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons and the niece of tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons.” (Wikipedia) “From her first public performance at age 5, childhood piano and violin lessons, and early experiences in theater, Lila was surrounded with a wide range of music, leading to Vocal Performance degrees at the University of Michigan (BM) and the Manhattan School of Music (MM). After 12 years working in classical music and opera in New York and Europe, Lila returned to her true calling, finding a home in the Twin Cities’ jazz and blues community, as well as a “second home” as a touring boogie woogie artist in Europe. She has wowed the crowds at the Chicago Blues Festival, the Cincinnati Blues and Boogie Woogie Festival, and the Twin Cities Jazz Festival….Lila launched two ensembles, the Lila Ammons Jazz Quintet and the Lila Ammons Trio and has toured with…German blues/boogie woogie pianist Axel Zwingenberger.” (https://myspace.com/lilaammons/bio) Ammons sings throughout and the songs range from “Nica’s Dream”, “In A Sentimental Mood” and a nice variety of jazz styles with new lyrics added from Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jon Hendricks and others. Accompanying musicians include Robert Everest (vocal on one song); Bryan Nichols, Javier Santiago and Benny Weinbeck (alternating on keys); Jeff Bailey (bass); Arthur “LA “ Bruckner and Kevin Washington (drums); Robert Everest (acoustic guitar); David Feily (electric guitar); and Pete Whitman (tenor sax and flute). Anyone who enjoys jazz vocals will certainly want to check this out. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.

John Bailey – Can You Imagine? (Freedom Road): “Veteran trumpeter John Bailey imagines a world inherited from a President Dizzy Gillespie administration on his celebratory second album. Can You Imagine?… reflects on the jazz icon’s tongue-in-cheek 1964 campaign with a swinging all-star group featuring Stacy Dillard, Stafford Hunter, Edsel Gomez, Mike Karn and Victor Lewis, with special guests Janet Axelrod and Earl McIntyre…In 1964, Dizzy Gillespie announced his candidacy for President of the United States. The campaign was, in the iconic trumpeter’s wry fashion, in large part satirical – particularly his proposed cabinet, which included Duke Ellington as Secretary of State, Louis Armstrong as Secretary of Agriculture, and Miles Davis as CIA Director among others. But the issues that Gillespie raised on the campaign trail, during one of the most heated periods of the Civil Rights movement, were serious, and resonate with the conflicts we still face today. On his new album, veteran trumpeter/composer John Bailey posits an alternate reality half a century on from a President Gillespie administration… Here we are in 2019 and there’s a lack of compassion and basic decency in our leadership and in our culture. I’m just asking: where would our culture be today if someone like Dizzy had actually occupied the White House in 1965? Can you imagine?”…. The album is not meant to bemoan our current turmoil but to offer a better alternative, one in which we rise to our better natures.” (https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/johnbailey22) Click here to listen to samples of the performances on this release.

Massimo Biolcati – Incontre (Sounderscore): “In the 21st century jazz is truly a global movement, and New York bassist Massimo Biolcati embodies the music’s creative reach. A first-call accompanist, producer, composer and bandleader, he’s best known as a founding member of Gilfema, the acclaimed collective trio with Hungarian drummer Ferenc Nemeth and Beninese guitarist and vocalist Lionel Loueke that recorded two albums for Obliqsound. The group also recorded three albums for Blue Note as the Lionel Loueke Trio, including Karibu with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock….Biolcati has worked with some of jazz’s most celebrated artists, including tours with Paquito D’Rivera, Terence Blanchard, Ravi Coltrane, Lizz Wright, and Luciana Souza….The impetus for this recording was to bring together musicians that I love and respect and to let them freely explore some of my original compositions and arrangements of old and new songs I like.” (https://www.massimobiolcati.com/biography) Biolcati is joined by Dayna Stephens (sax), Sam Yahel (piano, organ) and Jongkuk Kim (drums) and the combination is fantastic. Four of the songs are Biolcati originals and the covers range from Dave Holland’s “How’s Never” and Monk’s “Boo Boo Birthday” to Mingus’ “Duke Ellington’s Sound Of Love”. There is rich playing and terrific interaction among the players. Click here to listen to samples from the songs on this disc.

Alex Levin Trio – A Sunday Kind Of Love (Self-produced): “Alex Levin has been performing jazz in New York City for more than a decade.  A native Philadelphian, he studied at The New School Jazz Program in the 90’s before graduating from Brown University and moving to Berlin. His quartet, The Living Room, performed throughout Europe.  Alex returned to New York City in 2001….” (https://www.alexlevinjazz.com/about) The trio includes pianist Alex Levin, Phil Rowan (bass) and Ben Cliness (drums). In the words of Dr. Davy Mooney, “A refreshing disc—Levin, Rowan, and Cliness treat the material with respect by presenting these expertly composed tunes without any of theprecious bells and whistles that often suffocate modern renditions of jazz standards. On A Sunday Kind of Love, 1950s classic jazz swing is king, and we’re all the better for it. I’m grateful to the three of them for their courage. Straight, no chaser, as they say. Down the hatch!” (https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/thealexlevintrio2?SourceCode=HEARNOW) Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.

Dave Liebman Group (Expansions) – Earth (Whaling City Sound): “In the late 1990s, I embarked on a project to musically depict manifestations of the four natural elements. In 1997 I recorded “Water” with Pat Metheny, Billy Hart and Cecil McBee; in 2006 I did “Air” with the late genius engineer, Walter Quintus; fast forward to 2016 for “Fire” featuring Kenny Werner, Jack DeJohnette and Dave Holland and finally, with my present group Expansions, I conclude the series with “Earth”…. Each composition has a specific intervallic element. For example, “Concrete Jungle” features the intervals of fourths and fifths suggesting a city landscape, while “Sahara” incorporates major and minor seconds representing the heat and sun of the desert.” (Liner notes) Liebman plays soprano sax and wooden recorder with Bobby Avey (Vintage Vibe piano, acoustic piano), Matt Vashlishan (wind synthesizer), Tony Marino (electric bass) and Alex Ritz (drums, kanjira). Sometimes challenging, but always intriguing thoughtful. Click here and scroll down to listen to a sample of “Earth Theme”.

Pacific Mambo Orchestra – The III Side (Pacific Mambo): “Pacific Mambo Orchestra’s new album ‘The III Side’ cements PMO’s claim to the legacy of Latin Big Band with a vengeance. This is a perfect blend and example of how Latin Big Band can appeal to young and new audiences alike in 2020. PMO effortlessly combines diverse genres such as Classical, Pop, Mambo, Timba, Cha Cha and Bolero into the now recognizable PMO sound, which is as danceable as it is appealing to the listener with its intelligent arrangements, superb musicianship and infectious energy! The opening track, Mr. B’s Mambo, leaves no doubt about the direct lineage to the Big 3 Machito, Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez – an original Mambo at its finest with anything but subtle hints at the great Mambos from the 50’s. After quickly establishing the bridge to the past, PMO moves on to the likely 2020 Summer hit “Mi Carnaval”, a blockbuster dance track!  If there was ever any doubt regarding the highest caliber of PMO’s musicianship, the next track “Mambo Rachmaninoff” will silence those voices forever! A brilliant arrangement by co-leader Christian Tumalan of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Piano Concerto, that pays homage to one of the most beautiful Piano Concertos of the Romantic Period combined with Cuban Danzón, Mambo, Guaguancó and even Tango rhythms, that will lead the listener on a breathtaking musical journey.” The only thing left is to listen for yourself! I regret I am unable to find a sample from this disc.

Tim Ray – Excursions And Adventures (Whaling City Sound): “Perhaps best known as long-time pianist for Lyle Lovett, Tim Ray’s wide-ranging skills as a soloist and accompanist have afforded him the opportunity to perform with legendary performers from all walks of music. Appearing on over 70 recordings to date, Ray has performed in concert with an extensive list of pop music icons, notably Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt, Jane Siberry, and Soul Asylum. He regularly performs with leading figures in the jazz world, among them Gary Burton, Esperanza Spalding, Dave Douglas, and Brian Blade, and his classical credits include solo performances and concerts with Gunther Schuller, the Boston Pops, and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project.” (https://dev.highresaudio.com/en/artist/view/806c5ec5-8262-40cd-8535-e9e078b6e035/tim-ray-with-terri-lyne-carrington-john-patitucci) Ray is accompanied by Terri Lyne Carrington (drums) and John Patitucci (acoustic & electric bass). The program is quite varied starting with Billy Preston’s soul song “Nothing From Nothing”, followed by Berstein and Sondheim’s “Maria”, a Ray original, “Gone, Not Forgotten” and then Jagger and Richards’ “Paint It Black” and so it goes. This is a fine collection from many directions. Click here to listen to a Ray composition from this disc.

Chanda Rule & Sweet Emma Band – Hold On (PAO): This appears to be Chanda Rule’s tenth release and it is a fantastic mix of blues, jazz, soul and recitation of traditional songs like “Another Man Done Gone”, “I’ll Fly Away” and “Motherless Chile”. Rule’s vocals are straightforward, sometimes declarative and at others so soulful. She is accompanied by Mario Rom (trumpet), Osian Roberts (tenor sax), Paul Zauner (trombone), Jan Korinek (Hammond organ) and Christian Salfellner (drums, percussion). Billy Branch adds harmonica to “Another Man Done Gone” and Avirbhav Verma plays tabla on two songs. This is a fantastically soulful update on this timeless collection of songs. Add this release to Professor Bebop’s certified list of “Wax Devoid of Cracks”! Click here for a video of “Rosalie” by the band.

Jeff Rupert & George Garzone – The Ripple (Self-produced): “The Ripple in this instance refers to the far-reaching effect of Lester Young’s profound voice in music. By the late thirties he emerged as the most profound improviser after Louis Armstrong. Not just saxophonists, but pianists, trombone players, etc., learned how to improvise through Lester Young, or “Pres” as Billie Holliday nicknamed him. Pianist Jimmy Rowles opined that he learned how to play by memorizing Lester Young solos. He goes on to say that he didn’t know what he would have done had he not learned them. Lester used to carry around C-melody saxophonist Frankie Trumbauer recordings, exclaiming that “he liked the way he told a little story”…Lester Young developed an individual style, sound, and concept. Yet at the time, Coleman Hawkins was considered the “father” of the tenor saxophone, projecting a virile sound and virtuosic arpeggiated improvisations. Lester Young came to be in many ways the antithesis of Hawkins’ style. He had a warm, round sound, and his improvisations were floating, at times nonchalant, but always grooving…. It’s often said by musicians that Lester was the first “cool” musician (the style embodied on the Miles Davis album Birth of the Cool and adopted by a host of west coast musicians of the fifties)…. There are no compositions by Lester Young, or songs he recorded, on this album. This repertoire encompasses pieces recorded or composed by some of the musicians influenced by him, including Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, Eddie Harris, Zoot Sims, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, and others. George Garzone and I show reverence for Lester Young’s impact, and as most jazz musicians do, we flirt with the surreal in music, all the while trying to play pretty, swing, and tell a little story.” (https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/jeffrupertandgeorgegarzone) Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.

Steve Yeager – VibraHarp (Self-produced): “This record features compositions that focus on the sound of the Vibes in combination with a rhythm section, strings, B-3 and other instrument colors. Evocative and stunning audiophile production of acoustic music.” (https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/steveyeager7) He is accompanied by Adi Yeshaya (piano), Kevin Gastonguay (Fender Rhodes, Hammond B-3), David Singley (guitars), Chris Bates (bass) and Reis Kennedy (drums) with a wide and shifting variety of backdrop instruments, including concert harp, percussion instruments, marimba, guiro’s, trumpet, alto sax, trombone, bass trombone, euphonium, violins, viola, cello and a vocalist. These are the instruments tat create this singular release. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this release.

Kopasetically,

Professor Bebop