New Jazz Releases – 11/18/2024
By Russell Perry
Vanisha Gould
Wow! Such great music this week. I couldn’t stop listening to Vanisha Gould’s new disc. All-Star Chicago quartet Entre Amigos has released their debut. A couple of trios – Day Dream Trio and Ben Goldberg – Todd Sickafoose – Scott Amendola are out with terrific efforts. Trumpeters Avishai Cohen and Frank London have released memorable sets. And we have added a 2020 release from Charlottesville favorite Pureum Jin that snuck by us the first time out.Lots to hear.
Vanisha Gould – She’s Not Shiny, She’s Not Smooth (Cellar Music, released 11/08/2024). Chris McCarthy – piano, John Sims – bass, Jongkuk Kim – drums, Vanisha Gould – vocals.
Singer Vanisha Gould (Life’s A Gig, previewed 02/05/2024) has a captivating conversational singing style (shades of Rene Marie at times) and a candid and forthright writing style that combine to make a compelling presentation. She has written all the tracks and they explore imperfection and sexual politics. As with her last release, she is ably accompanied by pianist Chris McCarthy, this time in a fine ensemble with John Sims on bass and Jongkuk Kim (Aaron Parks, Simon Moullier, Dayna Stephens) on drums. Confession – I don’t always pay attention to all the lyrics in vocal music, but this one grabbed me and wouldn’t let go – highly recommended.
Reviews: Jazz Views, Paris Move
Entre Amigos – Entre Amigos (Entre Amigos Records, releases 11/15/2024). Roy McGrath – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone, Hana Fujisaki – piano, Kitt Lyles – bass, Gustavo Cortiñas – drums.
When trumpeter Emily Kuhn came to Charlottesville, two members of her excellent band were bassist Kitt Lyles and drummer Gustavo Cortiñas (Live in Chicago, previewed 02/12/2024). Both are back with fellow Chicago players saxophonist Roy McGrath (Menjunje, previewed 02/27/2023) and pianist Hana Fujisaki in a road-tested collaborative, with eight tunes penned equally by the four band members. This one has a great spirit and is highly recommended.
John Hollenbeck & NDR Big Band – Coloring Sockets (Flexatonic Records, released 11/15/2024). Thorsten Benkenstein, Ingolf Burkhardt, Christian Höhn, Percy Pursglove – trumpets, Dan Gottshall, Klaus Heidenreich, Stefan Lottermann – trombones, Ingo Lahme – bass trombone, Fiete Felsch – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone / clarinet / flute / alto flute, Peter Bolte – alto saxophone / soprano saxophone / flute, Julius Gawlik – tenor saxophone / clarinet, Frank Delle – tenor saxophone / flute / clarinet, Luigi Grasso – baritone saxophone / bass clarinet, Florian Weber – piano / Rhodes, Patricia Brennan – vibraphone / marimba / glockenspiel / crotales / timpani, Matt Moran – vibraphone / marimba / glockenspiel / tapan, Sandra Hempel – guitar, Ingmar Heller – bass, John Hollenbeck- drums / timpani, Marcio Doctor – percussion.
Percussionist John Hollenbeck (Anna Webber, The Claudia Quintet) was invited by venerable German radio big band NDR to compose and perform as set of pieces with a percussion emphasis. The concept came from the NDR percussionist Marcio Doctor who joins with Hollenbeck and guest vibraphonists Patricia Brennan and Matt Moran to make up a percussion quartet that colors all the works.
Reviews: Downbeat, Jazz Sketches
Day Dream Trio – Duke & Strays Live (CornerStoreJazz, released 11/08/2024). Steve Rudolf – piano, Drew Gress – bass, Phil Haynes – drums.
This is an exceptional piano trio release, recorded live and focussed on the music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn from a very modern perspective. While these three players drift to the outside in much of their work and they bring fresh ears to these major works, this recording is very accessible. The oft-recorded bassist Drew Gress is also on Randy Ingram’s excellent disc previewed below. Highly recommended.
Reviews: Jazz Views, Making A Scene, AllAboutJazz
Adrian Cunningham – It’s About Time (Arbors Jazz, released 11/08/2024). Wycliffe Gordon – trombone, Adrian Cunningham – tenor saxophone / clarinet / flute / electric clarinet / piano, David Kikoski – piano, Yasushi Nakamura – bass, Clarence Penn – drums.
Jazz on the smooth side from Australian multi-instrumentalist Adrian Cunningham with a collection of first call New York players – David Kikoski (Something Else!, Gerald Cannon, Wayne Escoffery, Alex Sipiagin) on piano, Yasushi Nakamura (Christian Sands, Pete Zimmer, Emmet Cohen, Vincent Herring) on bass and Clarence Penn (Behind The Voice, previewed 06/10/2023) on drums.
Max Johnson – I’ll See You Again (Adhyropa Records, released 11/01/2024). Neta Raanan – tenor saxophone, Max Johnson – bass, Eliza Salem – drumset.
I’ve seen Max Johnson (Henry Grimes, Vinny Golia) referred to as a “provocateur bassist” and many of his “outside” projects justify this moniker that I suspect he wears proudly. This new trio release is a markedly more “inside” project. Tenor saxophonist Neta Raanan (Unforeseen Blossom, previewed 08/19/2024) has a gorgeous sound and plays lyrically. At about 40 minutes, this leaves you wanting more.
Blue Lou Marini and Bluband – Out of the Blue (Hip Pickles Music, released 10/28/2024). Bob Millikan, Brian Preschi, Glenn Drewes, John Bailey, Chris Rogers, Bud Burridge, Max Darche – trumpets, Sara Jacobin, Keith O’Quinn, Birch Johnson, Mark Patterson, Mike Boscarino, Nick Grinder – trombones, David Taylor – bass trombone, Lawrence Feldman, Andrew Gould, Eddie Salkin – alto saxophones, Sam Dillon, Matt Hong – tenor saxophones, Dave Riekenburg – baritone saxophone, Lou Marini – tenor saxophone / soprano saxophone / alto flute, Tom Jennings – piano, David Spinoza, Nir Feldman, Robert Morris – guitar, Zev Katz, Tom Barney – bass, Buddy Williams – drums.
Saxophonist Blu Lou Marini is one of the original members of The Blues Brothers Band, having gotten the gig while playing in the SNL Band. There is nothing particularly subtle about the driving approach to big band music exemplified by this double CD, much of which would fit comfortably as film music. Marini is a capable player and has assembled a swinging band of pros.
Ben Goldberg – Todd Sickafoose – Scott Amendola – Here To There (Secret Hatch Records, released 10/25/2024). Ben Goldberg – clarinet, Todd Sickafoose – acoustic bass, Scott Amendola – drums, electronics.
Such an interesting trio – clarinetist Ben Goldberg and bassist Todd Sickafoose have a long history together including many projects with Allison Miller. Scott Amendola appears on numerous Nels Cline ventures. But I am unaware of the three them having recorded as a unit. Their structure for this challenging but wonderful release is compositions based on the bridges (the “B” section in an AABA song form) from Monk tunes. And they kill it. Highly recommended for the adventurous.
Randy Ingram – Aries Dance (Sounderscore, released 10/18/2024). Randy Ingram – piano, Drew Gress – bass, Billy Hart – drums.
Pianist Randy Ingram’s latest features an awesome trio of Drew Gress on bass and Billy Hart on drums. It’s a quiet affair with lots of space for everyone to excel and be heard. One of the best piano trio records this year. Recommended
Review: Making A Scene
Tholllem – Infinate-Sum Game(ESP-Disc, released 10/18/2024). Thollem McDonas – solo piano.
Pianist Thollem describes his playing as “genre-bending, code-switching, omni-idiomatic, and intersectional” and I hear jazz, classical and free playing throughout (but not the punk that lives in his resume.). With plucking, strumming and percussive techniques, this one keeps you guessing.
Review: Making A Scene
Avishai Cohen – Ashes To Gold (ECM, released 10/11/2024). Avishai Cohen – trumpet / flugelhorn / flute, Yonathan Avishai – piano, Barak Mori – bass, Ziv Ravitz – drums.
Born of the horrific events of October 7, 2023 in Israel, the latest from trumpeter Avishai Cohen’s quartet is a personal reflection on tragedy and grief. The result, lyrical and gentle but not without anguish, is mostly focussed on a five-part suite, but also includes a portion of a Ravel piano concerto and a final piece by Cohen’s teenage daughter. As always, Cohen’s trumpet playing is rich and compelling and this time he adds his flute playing to the mix with beautiful results. His long time collaborator Yonathan Avishai is perfect for the part, as usual.
Reviews: The Arts Fuse, Jazz Views, The Big Takeover, Jazz Sensibilities, Making A Scene
Frank London and The Elders – Spirit Stronger Than Blood (ESP-Disc, released 06/07/2024). Frank London – trumpet, Marilyn Lerner – piano, Hilliard Greene – bass, Newman Taylor Baker – drums.
Trumpeter Frank London is best known for his work with The Klezmatics, Hasidic New Wave and the Klezmer Brass Allstars, but this time out he moves effectively into a spiritual jazz mode, bringing to mind Alice Coltrane and Pharaoh Sanders, among others. He explains this turn as a response to his diagnosis with a rare and fatal blood cancer and dedicates the record to musicians who have passed from blood diseases and cancer – Lester Bowie, Ron Miles and others. The result is a beautiful and touching release full of introspection and thoughtful reflection. This one brought me to hit repeat – well-composed, well played, tender and expansive. One of the most accessible ESP-Disc records ever. Highly recommended.
Review: Jazz Trail, The Big Takeover, Making A Scene, The Whole Note
Alex Kautz – Where We Begin (Sunnyside Records, released 07/05/2024). John Ellis – clarinet / tenor saxophone, Helio Alves – piano / Fender Rhodes, Chico Pinheiro – guitar, Joe Martin – bass, Alex Kautz – drums, Magos Herrera.
Brazilian-born, Mexico-raised, New York drummer Alex Kautz seeks to merge these disparate influences on his new release that also features fellow Brazilians pianist Helio Alves (Paul Carlon, Yuko Ito, Diego Figured) and guitarist Chico Pinheiro (Kurt telling, Sammy Figueroa) plus Mexican singer Magos Herrera (Aire, previewed 09/11/2023) on two standout selections.
Review: AllAboutJazz
Pureum Jin – The Real Blue Live In Barcelona (Swit Records, released 01/10/2020). Pureum Jin – alto saxophone, Ignasi Terrazzo – piano, Horacio Fumero – bass, Esteve Pi – drums.
To celebrate the triumphant return of alto saxophonist Pureum Jin to Charlottesville (with the UVa Jazz Ensemble), I dug into her discography and have added this release that followed her wonderful 2019 The Real Blue. Recorded live with Ignasi Terrazzo’s piano trio in Barcelona, the set predates her studio release and contains earlier versions of two of her compositions plus a third that was not included in the studio set. It’s hard not to hear the young Phil Woods in her phrasing. I hope to see another studio set soon to complement these excellent releases. Highly recommended.
I hope that something here tickles your eardrums.
Russell Perry, Jazz at 100 Now!
If your music isn’t changing your life, you’ve simply picked the wrong songs. – Ted Gioia
