Record Reviews
2 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.
  | PETROS KLAMPANIS ~ CHROMA
MOTEMA 219 (Barcode: 181212002195) ~ GREECE ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion
Recorded: 2015 Released: 2017
This is the third album by Greek (resident in NY) bassist / composer Petros KlampanisFind albums by this artist, recorded with Israeli guitarist Gilad HekselmanFind albums by this artist, Israeli pianist Shai MaestroFind albums by this artist, American drummer John HadfieldFind albums by this artist and Japanese percussionist Keita OgawaFind albums by this artist. The quintet is accompanied by a string octet. The album was recorded live and presents seven compositions, five of which are by Klampanis, one by Hekselman and one by the Greek Jazz pianist / composer Spyros ManesisFind albums by this artist.
The music is beautifully melodic and offers superb string arrangements, which together create an atmosphere of elegance and Classically influenced mood, spiced with the European Jazz stylistics, in spite of the fact that it was created by musicians resident in the US, which apparently did not manage to take away their sensitivities. Lyrical and melancholic, the music moves majestically from one composition to another, keeping the listener engulfed within the magical atmosphere of anticipation.
The personal performances are all top class. Klampanis not only plays the expected bass lines which hold the music together, but explicitly leads the compositions via his bass intros and solos. Hekselman is one of the top guitar players today and his lead parts are always right on the money, with his electric guitar sound adding another dimension to the music, but not dominating it stylistically, which saves this album from moving into the Fusion idiom. Maestro plays mostly in the background but his harmonic parts are exactly what this music needs. Hadfield and Ogawa delicately add the rhythmic layer, carefully staying away from overly disturbing the gentle flow of the music.
Overall this is a wonderful, delicate and intelligent album, which should make many open-minded Jazz and Jazz-Classical Fusion listeners ecstatically happy. Definitely recommended and worth investigating!
| | Updated: 20/02/2018Posted: 20/02/2018 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | JUNE YUN ~ ENLIGHTENMENT - SOLID WAVES
SNMC 0079 (Barcode: 8809800620683) ~ SOUTH KOREA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023
This is the debut album by Korean Jazz vocalist / songwriter June YunFind albums by this artist, recorded in NY with an international team of instrumentalists, including a classic piano trio: Israeli pianist Shai MaestroFind albums by this artist, Japanese bassist Kanoa MendenhallFind albums by this artist and Korean drummer Jongkuk KimFind albums by this artist. Three more guest musicians appear on selected tracks. The album presents nine tracks, all composed by Yun, with lyrics in English and Korean.
The music is quite surprising and far from what one expects from a vocalist at the early stage of her career, who rather than follow a familiar path of singing Jazz standards, choses to perform a highly original, inventive thread, which combines modern Jazz and Avant-Garde vistas of Free Improvisation, mixing vocals and vocalese effectively and ambitiously, and as such presenting a solid aesthetic statement, which is a rare phenomenon on today’s vocal Jazz scene.
Yun is superbly accompanied by the piano trio and the guests, all of which follow her highly spirited delivery and provide an ideal accompaniment to her vocal performances. Maestro is brilliantly amicable for this demanding task, and adds some elegant and inspired soloing, without overshadowing the proceedings. The rhythm section also manages to stand up to the demanding challenge, with amazing bass parts by Mendenhall, one of the few female acoustic bass players with an amazing touch and feel, and spirited drumming by Kim. The guests add additional instrumental layers on selected tracks, played by vibraphone, guitar and saxophone, all perfectly suiting the musical environment.
Overall, this is an excellent debut effort, original and ambitious, aesthetically pleasing and offering music, which immediately engages the listener, and which is something that relatively few albums, especially vocal offerings, are able to do these days. Definitely well done and you can be proud of yourself young Lady, for this achievement!
| | Updated: 21/08/2024Posted: 21/08/2024 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
|
