Record Reviews
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  | BLEY / SHEPPARD / SWALLOW ~ ANDANDO EL TIEMPO
ECM 2487 (Barcode: 602547797117) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016
This is the 3rd album by the trio co-led by American Jazz pianist / composer Carla BleyFind albums by this artist, British Jazz saxophonist Andy SheppardFind albums by this artist and American Jazz bass guitarist Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist. The album presents five tracks, the first three being parts of a suite. All the compositions are by Bley. The music was recorded by the great Stefano AmerioFind albums by this artist and offers a sensational sound quality.
The beautifully melodic music is a superb example of Bley’s unique sense of melody and compositional aesthetics, which is her trademark since 1960 on. When she died in 2023, Bley left a vast body of compositions created in over six decades, many of which remain absolute Jazz classics.
The trio offers a tight, precise and beautifully well balanced music-making tool to present the music, complementing each other for the entire duration and exchanging lead parts in tandem. The entire presentation is minimalist and modest, with not one unnecessary note, offering a melancholic journey, full of beauty and reflection.
The trio would record only one more album together, called “Life Goes On”, which would be Bley’s final recording.
Overall, this is a beautiful, delicate piece of music, which summarizes quite faithfully her entire career, not only as performer and composer, but perhaps more importantly as an instigator and catalyst of styles and directions, far beyond her own career.
| | Updated: 29/12/2024Posted: 29/12/2024 | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | CARLA BLEY ~ APPEARING NIGHTLY
WATT 33 (Barcode: 602517255166) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2006 Released: 2008
The Superwoman of American Jazz, pianist / composer / arranger / bandleader Carla BleyFind albums by this artist is undoubtedly the most significant female figure dominating the scene since the late 1950s (yes it does seem incredible). Her numerous compositions constitute an unparalleled songbook, which has been used not only by herself and her various ensembles and bands, but by almost every Jazz musician the world over. Her work is extremely versatile and covers the many different Jazz subgenres as well as Progressive Rock and others. One has to admit that very few other composers have such an ability to write a seemingly simple tune, which turns into a great and timeless melody like she does, and many love her just for that. This superb albums includes some of her recent compositions, which in their approach, styling and general feel play tribute to the great Big Bands of the early 20th Century, particularly the greatest of them all, the Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist Orchestra. Like Ellington before her, Bley sees in Jazz the contemporary Classical music and she treats it with the same seriousness and zeal. The music is beautifully arranged and breathtakingly performed by a superb collection of musicians, like British saxophonists Andy SheppardFind albums by this artist and Julian ArgüellesFind albums by this artist, Austrian saxophonist Wolfgang PushingFind albums by this artist, American trumpeter Lew SoloffFind albums by this artist, the omnipresent (as far as Bley is concerned) bassist Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist and many other wonderful musicians. The music was recorded live at the legendary Parisian "New Morning" club, and is one of the best live Big Band recordings I´ve ever heard. Overall this is an unbelievable experience, a blessed hour of music of the highest quality, performed gracefully and elegantly and composed by a Genius. What more could one want? An absolute must to anybody with ears, which still work…
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | ANDY SHEPPARD ~ DANCING MAN & WOMAN
PROVOCATEUR 1020 (Barcode: 5038491102021) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1999 Released: 2000
British saxophonist / composer Andy SheppardFind albums by this artist needs no introduction to followers of British Jazz. He earned an impressive reputation since the late 1970s, playing in many famous ensembles both in Britain and abroad, like the ones led by George RussellFind albums by this artist, Gil EvansFind albums by this artist and Carla BleyFind albums by this artist. His extensive discography recorded over the years proves his status as one of Britain’s foremost instrumentalists beyond a shadow of a doubt. Sheppard has a rare talent of combining beautiful melodies and expanded improvisation is a way that makes his music accessible to a relatively large audience on one hand, but remains intellectually challenging on the other. He is also extremely versatile and open-minded, always ready to combine in his music the Jazz tradition with other elements like World Music, electronics and even club culture. In 1998 Sheppard joined the roster of the prestigious British ProvocateurFind albums on this label Records label, and released a series of landmark recordings on that label in the following years. For his debut recording on Provocateur (“Learning To WaveFind albums with this title”), Sheppard formed a quintet which included some of his faithful cohorts from the past, as well as new players: John ParricelliFind albums by this artist – guitar, Steve LodderFind albums by this artist – keyboards, veteran bass player Chris LaurenceFind albums by this artist and percussionist Paul ClarvisFind albums by this artist. On this album, the follow-up release, the quintet is expanded to a septet with the addition of the legendary US electric bass player Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist and young tabla player Kuljit BhamraFind albums by this artist. Sheppard composed all the music, which is mostly low-key and lyrical, beautifully melodic and sometimes even sentimental (in a positive way of course). His soprano saxophone lures the listener like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, being extremely addictive. All together this is a most pleasant journey into the lighter side of Jazz, without any compromise on quality. Recommended to listeners who love a great melody with their Jazz meal.
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  | ANDY SHEPPARD ~ LEARNING TO WAVE
PROVOCATEUR 1016 (Barcode: 5019148619413) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1998 Released: 1998
British saxophonist / composer Andy SheppardFind albums by this artist needs no introduction to followers of British Jazz. He earned an impressive reputation since the late 1970s, playing in many famous ensembles both in Britain and abroad, like the ones led by George RussellFind albums by this artist, Gil EvansFind albums by this artist and Carla BleyFind albums by this artist. His extensive discography recorded over the years proves his status as one of Britain’s foremost instrumentalists beyond a shadow of a doubt. Sheppard has a rare talent of combining beautiful melodies and expanded improvisation is a way that makes his music accessible to a relatively large audience on one hand, but remains intellectually challenging on the other. He is also extremely versatile and open-minded, always ready to combine in his music the Jazz tradition with other elements like World Music, electronics and even club culture. In 1998 Sheppard joined the roster of the prestigious British ProvocateurFind albums on this label Records label, and released a series of landmark recordings on that label in the following years. For this, his debut recording on Provocateur, Sheppard formed a quintet which included some of his faithful cohorts from the past, as well as new players: John ParricelliFind albums by this artist – guitar, Steve LodderFind albums by this artist – keyboards, veteran bass player Chris LaurenceFind albums by this artist and percussionist Paul ClarvisFind albums by this artist. Tabla player Shalda SahaiFind albums by this artist is added on three tracks. Sheppard composed all the music, which is mostly low-key and lyrical, beautifully melodic and sometimes even sentimental (in a positive way of course). His soprano saxophone lures the listener like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, being extremely addictive. All together this is a most pleasant journey into the lighter side of Jazz, without any compromise on quality. Recommended to listeners who love a great melody with their Jazz meal.
| | | CD 1 HDCD Recommend To A Friend |
  | ANDY SHEPPARD ~ NOCTURNAL TOURIST
PROVOCATEUR 1029 (Barcode: 5038491102922) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2001 Released: 2001
British saxophonist / composer Andy SheppardFind albums by this artist takes a bold step into creating a one-man-show concept album, which is a big step away from his usual subject matter as a mainstream Jazz musician. Playing several instruments (saxophones, keyboards, guitar and synthesizers) and accompanied only by French drummer / percussionist Stephane San JuanFind albums by this artist, Sheppard brilliantly employs also an array of studio wizardry, using samples, pre-recorded background sounds, fragments of recorded conversation, lops, etc., all these to create a very interesting collage of sounds, on top of which he improvises. His highly developed sense of melody prevails of course and his improvisations are kept strictly within the melody lines. Nevertheless the overall effect of this music is quite fascinating, as it presents another way to expand the Jazz idiom into new and contemporary vistas. Although some Jazz purists might shrug about this music, let’s make no mistake here – it is still good music, even if unconventional in the traditional Jazz aspect. As a matter of fact this album might serve as a perfect tool to introduce many listeners to Jazz, especially the younger generation. Comparing this music with many lounge and ambient projects created in the last decade, the result will still place this album way above other efforts. I had a lot of fun listening to this and quite a few surprises along the way. Definitely worth checking out!
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  | ANDY SHEPPARD / JOHN PARRICELLI ~ P.S.
PROVOCATEUR 1034 (Barcode: 5038491103424) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2003 Released: 2003
British saxophonist / composer Andy SheppardFind albums by this artist and his partner guitarist / composer John ParricelliFind albums by this artist are both household names on the contemporary British Jazz scene. They have collaborated many times before recording this duo album, which documents perfectly their mutual admiration and respect for each other’s talents. They both contributed equally from their respective songbooks and added one co-composed tune to round things up. The music is very intimate, as appropriate for a duo recording, with mostly lyrical content. The cooperation and interplay is perfect in every sense and the tempi vary from classic Jazz, Latin and even African rhythmic patterns. Parricelli plays both the acoustic and electric guitars and Sheppard plays both the tenor and soprano saxophones, so between the two of them there is certainly enough variety to keep the listener hooked and enchanted. The overall atmosphere is similar to many ECMFind albums on this label recordings, where silence and space are equally important as are the actual sounds played. Enthusiasts of that kind of subdued and restrained emotionality will absolutely love this album. Definitely worth checking out!
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