New Jazz Releases – 12/09/2024
By Russell Perry
Hayoung Lyou
With a look at her first two releases, we are being introduced to pianist Hayoung Lyou, first in a quintet (with Jasper Dütz) and now a trio. A pair of live recordings, one by Jason Palmer and the other by the collective The Fury, feature one of my favs – Mark Turner. Cliff Korman has a lovely bossa nova inspired record out, Brian Charette joins with Corey Weeds to celebrate Brother Jack McDuff and Richmond’s Charles Owens has a new trio.
Hayoung Lyou – The Myth of Katabasis (Endectomorph Records, released 11/15/2024). Hayoung Lyou – piano, Thomas Morgan – bass, Steven Crammer – drums.
In her sophomore outing, Korean-born, New York-based pianist Hayoung Lyou brings a world of influences from classical to swing, ragtime, and blues to this diverse set of nine originals. Her trio is blessed with bassist Thomas Morgan (Ethan Iverson, Charles Lloyd, Dan Weiss) whose sensitive collaboration made Bill Frisell’s recent performance in Charlottesville a real treat. Highly Recommended.
Hayoung Lyou – Metamorphosis (Self Produced, released 05/01/2020). Jasper Dütz – alto saxophone / clarinet / bass clarinet, Jacob Shulman – tenor saxophone, Hayoung Lyou – piano, Simón Willson – bass, Dayeon Seok – drums, Wonmi Jung – voice.
Having been introduced to pianist / composer Hayoung Lyou from her second release (above), we wrote the artist and she sent a copy of her debut from 2020 – a tough year to become a recording artist. Fortuitously, multi-reedest and Chartlottesville favorite Jasper Dütz (Ever After, previewed 06/17/2024) is a dominant voice on the record, including characteristically fine work on the bass clarinet. Lyou composed all the tracks and a fine lot they are. Recommended.
Friso Van Wijck – Friso Van Wijck’s Candy Container (TryTone Records, 12/14/2024). Jasper van Damme – alto saxophone / flute, Joao Driessen – tenor saxophone / flute / ewi, Jorn ten Hoopen – guitar, Frank Jonas – guitar, Bas Kloosterman – bass, Friso van Wijck – drums /gongs / bells.
Dutch drummer / percussionist Friso Van Wijck tears down all the boundaries with his new recording featuring a two reeds – two guitars – bass – drums sextet. Jazz is just one of many influences for this fierce music.
Review: Jazz Journal
Charles Owens – The Music Tells Us (Self Produced, released 12/06/2024). Charles Owens-ts/p, Cameron Ralston – bass, Kofi Shepsu – drums.
Richmond-based tenor saxophonist Charles Owens is back with a new trio outing and a new Richmond-based trio – bassist Cameron Ralston (Mingus Awareness Project, Fight The Big Bull, Old New Things) and drummer Kofi Shepsu (Triogram, previewed 09/25/2023). And for the first time, Owens comps on piano behind the soloing of his bandmates and adds a rubato piano intro to A Flower is a Lovesome Thing, but his soloing on tenor continues to be the real highlight.
Daniele Esposito – Per Altri Motivi (Hypnote Records, releases 12/06/2024. Daniele Esposito – solo bass.
Italian bassist Daniele Esposito has released his first solo recording of original compositions.
Out Of / Into – Motion I (Blue Note Records, releases 12/06/2024). Immanuel Wilkins – alto saxophone, Gerald Clayton – piano, Joel Ross – vibraphone / marimba, Matt Brewer – bass, Kendrick Scott – drums.
Out of / Into is an all-star ensemble of heavyweight players from the Blue Note roster (and once known as The Blue Note quintet.) The program is all originals from the band, predominantly from pianist Gerald Clayton (Wayne Escoffery, Ben Wendel, Viocente Archer, Bill Frisell). Much of the proceedings are colored by the prominent work of altoist Immanuel Wilkins (Blues Blood, previewed 10/14/2024) and vibraphonist Joel Ross (Nublues, previewed 02/12/2024).
Review: AllAboutJazz
Sivan Arbel – Oneness (Adhyâropa Records, releases 12/06/2024). Nick Hetko – piano / keyboards, Sam Weber – bass, Evan Hyde – drums, Sivan Arbel – voice with Jay Gandhi – bansuri flute, Trip Dudley – percussion, Aubrey Johnson – voice, Daniel Fresco – voice.
Isrtael-born, New York-based vocalist brings an elastic vocal performance to a set of eight originals and one cover of Tears for Fears.
Review: Paris Move, Jazz Sensibilites
The Fury – Live In Brooklyn (Giant Step Arts, releases 12/06/2024). Mark Turner – tenor saxophone, Lage Lund – guitar, Matt Brewer – bass, Tyshawn Sorey – drums.
A couple of generations of the best players in modern jazz are represented in this very accomplished quartet of Mark Turner on tenor, Lage Lund on guitar, Matt Brewer (see Out Of / Into, above) on bass and Tyshawn Sorey on drums. Turner, Lund and Brewer all contribute compositions for this live set that points to the potential for a studio set that might more fully explore the promise of the ensemble. There have been four new recordings from Mark Turner in the past few weeks (John Escreet, M.T.B. Jason Palmer below) after some lean years and this is good news.
Review: Papatamus Redux
Jason Palmer – The Cross Over: Live in Brooklyn (Giant Step Arts, releases 12/06/2024). Jason Palmer – trumpet, Mark Turner – tenor saxophone, Larry Grenadier – bass, Marcus Gilmore – drums.
With tracks ranging from 11:23 – 21:16, trumpeter Jason Palmer’s new live recording sprawls over 2 CDs. Palmer, who has recently graced releases from Allison Miller (Rivers In Our Veins, previewed 10/23/2023) and Gregory Groover, Jr. (The Negro Spiritual Songbook, previewed 03/20/2023), has a special affinity for the tenor playing of Mark Turner (Live At The Village Vanguard, previewed 08/21/2024 & Return From The Stars, previewed 01/30/2023). They play beautifully together in the presence of a first-class stripped-down rhythm section of Larry Grenadier (M.T.B, Charles Lloyd, Mark Turner) on bass and Marcus Gilmore (Patrician Brennan, Gregory Groover, Jr., Chris Potter) on drums. I’d be in interested to hear a more succinct studio recording from this ensemble.
Review: Marlbank, Papatamus Redux
Cliff Korman – Urban Tracks (Self Produced, released 12/06/2024). Cliff Norman – piano, Harvie S – bass, Raphael Barata – drums.
Rio-based, New York pianist Cliff Korman continues to invest the jazz cannon with a bossa nova sensibility. It’s a familiar repertoire (Shorter, Golson, Hammerstein / Kern, Bonfa) plus a couple of tunes from lesser known Brazilian composer Radamés Gnattali. Not a bossa nova record per se, but a gorgeous piano trio outing. Highly recommended.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Making A Scene, Scope Magazine
Natsuki Tamura – Satoko Fujii – Ramon Lopez – Yama Kawa Umi (Not Two Records, release 12/06/2024). Natsuki Tamura – trumpet, Satoko Fujii – piano, Ramon Lopez – drums.
The trio of Natsuki Tamura on trumpet, Satoko Fujii on piano, and Ramon Lopez on drums has an established track record of producing exciting and surprising music from the outside edge of jazz and this release is the latest in a distinguished discography.
Brian Charette – You Don’t Know Jack! (Cellar Music, released 12/06/2024). Cory Weeds – tenor saxophone, Brian Charette – Hammond B3 organ, Dave Sikula – guitar, John Lee – drums.
Once a major Hammond B3 player in the jazz world, Brother Jack McDuff has slipped out of favor and didn’t even get a mention in the final Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (Morton and Cook, 2008). Cellar Music chief (and hard bop tenor player) Cory Weeds and B3-maven Brian Charrete are set on turning that tide with this tribute to McDuff and his classic quartet( Red Holloway – tenor, Brother Jack McDuff – B3, George Benson – guitar, Joe Dukes – drums). For aficionados of the classic B3 sound (Jazz Messenger take note), you’ll get a healthy dose of greasy, groovy and gritty. What more could you want? Recommended.
Review: Papatamus Redux
Doug MacDonald – Live at Rancho Mirage Library (Self Produced, released 10/01/2024). Doug MacDonald – guitar, Larry Holloway – bass, Tim Pleasant – drums, Big Black – djembe.
Southern California bopping guitarist Doug MacDonald (Sextet Session, previewed 03/11/2024) has stripped back to a guitar trio plus percussion for his latest set of 10 covers.
Review: Jazz Weekly, Jazz Guitar Today
Luke Sellick and Andrew Renfroe – Aberdeen Blues (Self Produced, released 04/05/2024). Andrew Renfroe – guitar , Luke Sellick – bass.
The established guitar and bass duo of Andrew Renfroe and Luke Sellick are back with another intimate look at blues and pop standards with a jazzy feel.
Review: Jazz Weekly
And from the archives:
M.T.B – Consenting Adults (Criss Cross, released 02/08/2000). Mark Turner – tenor saxophone, Brad Mehldau – piano, Peter Bernstein – guitar, Larry Grenadier – bass, Leon Parker – drums.
Last week, we welcomed the 2024 recording by M.T.B. (Solid Jackson, previewed 12/02/2024) after a thirty year layoff. Criss Cross Records was kind enough to send us a copy of the original 1994 recording by the group, which was not released until 2000. With four tunes by band members and five covers, the release captures five players on their way to the pantheon of great players. Looking back, all the chops were in place thirty years ago and the promise of these young players (all under 30 at the time) is now being realized.
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
