Record Reviews

BAGLAND ~ CIRKEL JAEGER COMMUNITY MUSIC 030 (Barcode: 5707471059821) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the third album by the Danish quintet BaglandFind albums by this artist led by trumpeter / composer Jakob SorensenFind albums by this artist with guitarist Alex JonssonFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Mathias JaegerFind albums by this artist, bassist Frederik SakhamFind albums by this artist and drummer Frej LesnerFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions (one repeated twice as the intro and outro), seven of which were composed by Sorensen and one each by Jaeger and Sakham. The music is a type of spacey Nordic melodic Jazz, based on beautiful melodic lines and executed with a rather minimalistic approach, which leaves a lot of breathing space and creates a very atmospheric ambience, somewhat resembling the work of Polish Jazz Master Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist. The music, in spite of its seemingly modest exterior, is in fact very diverse and offers a wide palette of melodies, harmonies and sounds, which are wonderfully coherent and emotionally effective. The album has a natural flow taking the listener from one tune to another as if time has stopped. Sorensen has an excellent tone and his solo parts are all brilliantly executed, but all the rest of the quintet members also offer superb level of musicianship and unique instrumental abilities, especially so Jonsson on guitar, who plays some amazing and highly unusual guitar parts, as well as Jaeger, who is able to play romantic piano parts and spice the music with synthesized sounds. The rhythm section is also excellent, providing a solid and steady pulse which enables the soloist to express their parts with amicable support. Overall this is a fascinating album from start to end, often surprising and always fresh, proving that the young Scandinavian / European Jazz scene is moving forward constantly. Highly recommended to connoisseurs of modern European Jazz, and of course trumpet buffs, which should have a field day with this album!

Updated: 09/06/2019Posted: 09/06/2019

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BAGLAND ~ STATES OF BEING JAEGER COMMUNITY MUSIC 068 (Barcode: 5707471084144) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 - 2022 Released: 2022 This is the fourth album by Danish Jazz quintet BaglandFind albums by this artist, led by trumpeter / composer Jakob SorensenFind albums by this artist, which also includes guitarist Alex JonssonFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Mathias JaegerFind albums by this artist, bassist Frederik SakhamFind albums by this artist and drummer Frej LesnerFind albums by this artist. Cellist Josefine OpsahlFind albums by this artist and violinist Anna JalvingFind albums by this artist appear as guests. The album presents ten original compositions, four by Lesner, three by Jaeger and one each by Sakham, Jonsson and Sorensen. The music continues the almost ambient Nordic Jazz character of its predecessor, but adds synthesizer and strings, which significantly changes its sound character. The minimalistic approach to clear melodies and spare instrumental parts remains intact, and is still highly effective, placing Bagland apart from most other Scandinavian contemporary ensembles. Offering all the members to contribute their compositions also paid out big time, as the album’s coherence, diversity and flow was greatly improved on this album, making it not only more listenable, but simply graceful and elegant. The individual performances are all as perfect as one might expect from these well trained and already quite experienced musicians. Bagland is definitely more about ensemble performance than soloing, which of course does not mean that everybody gets enough space herein to show their chops. Overall, this is a wonderful album, full of graceful music and excellent performances, which proudly represents the Scandinavian Jazz tradition and innovation, which these young musicians dare to introduce, refusing to simply repeat the past achievements. It might take a while for Jazz listeners less acquainted with that specific European Jazz flavor, but for those patient ones the reward will be forthcoming. It is great to see the band moving forward and a true pleasure to hear this wonderful music!

Updated: 19/07/2022Posted: 19/07/2022

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URI GINCEL ~ FREE UNIT 4402 (Barcode: 7640114794025) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2013 This is the debut album by Israeli (resident in Berlin) Jazz pianist / composer Uri GincelFind albums by this artist and his trio, which also includes Danish bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist and German drummer Moritz BaumgartnerFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight compositions, one of which is an original by Gincel, two are by John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, one is a standard, one is a folk tune, one is a classical tune, one is by the Israeli bassist / composer Eyal GanorFind albums by this artist and finally the last one is credited to all the trio members. The album presents a classic Jazz piano trio, playing pretty diverse musical themes, which are all transformed into the mainstream Jazz milieu. Of course Gincel demonstrates excellent technique and sensitivity, but this recording does not show his ability to break away from the Jazz tradition and take a step beyond. With Coltrane´s music aboard the listener expects much more freedom, especially when conditioned by the album´s title, which is not truly present herein. Even the album´s title track, which is the most "free" piece of music on the album, sounds still very conventional to Free Jazz connoisseurs. On the other hand as a mainstream piano trio album, this is quite an excellent effort. The rhythm section is absolutely superb, with Lang being among the finest European bassist these days. Baumgartner also performs very well, supporting the piano with just the right amount of rhythmic seasoning. The music is beautifully recorded (in one of Poland´s best recording studios) with beautiful sonic ambience, which will make piano trio fans extremely happy. Considering the fact that this is a debut recording, it is definitely quite an achievement and shows a lot of potential, which will be hopefully fully realized in the future. In the meantime this is definitely a very pleasant listening experience.

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TAMARA OBROVAC ~ ULIKA REVIVAL UNIT 4529 (Barcode: 7640114795299) ~ CROATIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the ninth album by the Croatian vocalist / songwriter Tamara ObrovacFind albums by this artist. Recorded with her quartet, which includes Croatian pianist Matija DedicFind albums by this artist, Slovenian bassist Ziga GolobFind albums by this artist and Croatian drummer Krunoslav LevacicFind albums by this artist, the album presents twelve songs composed by Obrovac, who also wrote the lyrics to most of the songs. Two of the songs are wordless vocalese. As the title suggests, the album presents re-visited versions of songs Obrovac recorded on her second album "UlikaFind albums with this title" from 1998. The album was beautifully recorded at the Artesuono Studio in Udine (Italy) and engineered by Stefano AmerioFind albums by this artist. This album is obviously more Jazz oriented than many of the other albums by Obrovac, which are much more Jazz-World Fusion oriented. Nevertheless her Istrian roots, both musically and as reflected by the local Istrian dialects she uses, are very strongly present here as well. The piano trio accompaniment tips the balance towards Jazz, and yet there is a plentitude of ethnic elements present. The resulting album is a great adventure featuring an orgy of rhythms and emotions elegantly wrapped up and arranged to fit into a Jazz oriented idiom, with brilliant performances by the vocalist and the instrumentalists all the way through. Obrovac fells completely at ease singing lyrics and wordless vocalese and in both cases her sensuous voice is able to express a wide range of emotions. The instrumental work by all three players is first class, with the piano obviously supplying most of the melodic and harmonic support, but which also features superb contributions by the rhythm section. In today´s world, which produces mostly repetitive derivative music, such originality, as the one displayed here, is even more outstanding. The album is fascinating from start to finish and the often minimalistic accompaniments are masterpieces of subdued excellence. Overall this is an excellent and very original vocal Jazz album, which should make connoisseurs of vocal Jazz very happy, especially in view of the fact that bold statements in that area are extremely rare, even on the European scene. People searching for challenging and highly aesthetic music are invited to take a plunge into the world of Tamara Obrovac, which should be not only very enjoyable but also very educational. Well done!

Updated: 23/05/2017Posted: 23/05/2017

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SCHMOLLING / ARTHURS / KUHNE ~ TICHO UNIT 4551 (Barcode: 7640114795510) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is a brilliant debut album by a trio consisting of German pianist / composer Marc SchmollingFind albums by this artist (a son of Czech poetess Inka MachulkovaFind albums by this artist), female vocalist Almut KuhneFind albums by this artist and British trumpeter Tom ArthursFind albums by this artist. The eight pieces (one composition is repeated twice as the opening and closing track of the album) are based on pre-composed themes, which are then freely improvised upon by the trio members. The unique piano / trumpet / vocals lineup invokes an immediate associative comparison to the legendary British trio AzimuthFind albums by this artist (John TaylorFind albums by this artist, Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist), and some similarities are of course detectable, but this album is much more oriented towards the Free Jazz / Improvised Music openness, whereas Azimuth, as revolutionary and amazing as it was at the time, was overall much more melodic and structured in form. All three individual contributors are first class musicians of course: Schmolling plays delicately and lyrically, Arthurs is simply brilliant with an incredible technique and extraordinary sensitivity, emerging as one of the top British contemporary trumpeters and Kuhne is a sensational surprise, with stunning vocal abilities combining the powers of modern female Jazz vocal Divas, like Julie TippettsFind albums by this artist, Norma Winstone, Jeanne LeeFind albums by this artist, Lauren NewtonFind albums by this artist and others. She is definitely worth watching very carefully in the future. The trio works also perfectly as a unit; Arthurs and Kuhne converse fiercely, exchanging vocal and trumpet phrases like never heard before, while Schmolling keeps the music in control with his guiding chords. The overall ensemble result is simply breathtaking. This is a kind of music that combines the free spirit with the essence of European culture, often based on reserve and intrinsic discipline. Overall this is a excellent piece of music, which holds new surprises with every time it is played, full of wonderful aesthetics and urgency to discover, an example of ambitious creation that works out perfectly and in spite of its intimacy creates a whole universe of sounds and feelings. It is great to see that intelligent music is still being made in our cultural void, which of course keeps those, who are open enough to listen to it, resistant to the brainlessness out there. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 26/04/2016Posted: 26/04/2016

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IZABELLA EFFENBERG ~ CUENTAME UNIT 4559 (Barcode: 7640114795596) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by Polish vibraphonist / composer Izabella EffenbergFind albums by this artist, currently residing in Germany, recorded with an ensemble which includes Israeli (also resident in Germany) vocalist Efrat AlonyFind albums by this artist and German players: harpist Maja TaubeFind albums by this artist, multi-instrumentalist Florian TrubsbachFind albums by this artist, baritone saxophonist Norbert EmmingerFind albums by this artist, bassist Markus SchieferdeckerFind albums by this artist and drummer Jens DuppeFind albums by this artist. The album consists of nine compositions, four of which are her originals, one by Emminger and the remaining ones by German composers like Peter FuldaFind albums by this artist and others. Effenberg, who is the only Polish female vibraphonist, presents here a suite-like cycle of complex compositions, which differ from each other and yet somehow make sense as a continuous whole. Although inevitably Jazz, the music carries a strong contemporary Classical influence and could be easily classified as Chamber Jazz, if such labeling makes any sense at all. It is unquestionably fundamentally European, with the strong aesthetic / sonoric elements of European Jazz overwhelmingly outweighing the American Jazz tradition. There are some World Music elements present as well, albeit mostly quite concealed. The overall atmosphere is fairly unique and wonderfully weird. Of course all the musicians involved are hardcore professionals, so one should expect the perfect execution present herein, but at times the proceedings seem a bit over calculated, screaming for some more spontaneity. But of course these are personal musings and should not influence the overall excellence of the entire work. Effenberg plays some great vibes (pun intended) and I´d love to hear her live, which I hope will happen one day. This is undoubtedly a very ambitious and bold debut, which offers no easy outings and no compromises, neither stylistically not intellectually. This music requires attentive listening and eschews unnecessary pleasantries, as all ambitious music should. Hopefully it will find its admirers among the listeners and serve as an important step in building Effenberg´s future career. Well done Milady!

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IGOR OSYPOV ~ I UNIT 4582 (Barcode: 7640114795824) ~ UKRAINE ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by Ukrainian (resident in Berlin) guitarist / composer Igor OsypovFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with American saxophonist Logan RichardsonFind albums by this artist, Austrian pianist Elias StemesederFind albums by this artist, Danish bassist Martin BuhlFind albums by this artist and alternating drummers: American Jesus VegaFind albums by this artist and Polish Kuba GudzFind albums by this artist. All these musicians, except for Richardson, are students at the Jazz Institute Berlin. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Osypov. The music is typical modern Jazz, basically pretty mainstream, with some unusual rhythmic patterns, but other than that quite straightforward. The melodies are a bit thin and forgettable, but the idea here is to play as many notes as possible by everybody on board, so the improvisation and soloing are at the centre. These are very talented, but also very young players, which becomes immediately apparent. The quintet has some sync / timing problems and everything starts to sound a bit alike after the third tune or so. The guitar sound is a bit to sharp and Pat MethenyFind albums by this artist like, the pianist seems to live in a separate universe and the only thing that sounds truly coherent is the bass. In short parts of this album are really difficult to listen to. Overall this album was perhaps recorded a bit too early, before the music and the quintet matured enough, to be able to achieve the effect they deserve. Better luck next time!

Updated: 27/04/2018Posted:

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GRZEGORZ WLODARCZYK ~ CONFESSIONS UNIT 4626 (Barcode: 7640114796265) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz bassist / composer Grzegorz WlodarczykFind albums by this artist, recorded by an international quintet with saxophonist Maxime BertonFind albums by this artist, pianist Enzo CarnielFind albums by this artist, guitarist Virxilio da SilvaFind albums by this artist and drummer Joao Lopes PereiraFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, four composed by Wlodarczyk, two by da Silva and one by Carniel. The music is typical contemporary European mainstream Jazz, based on melodic themes which serve as vehicles for the improvisations by the quintet members. The melodic / harmonic structures are very solid and coherent, and they emphasize the European Jazz aesthetic, which is somewhat introvert and composition focused, with a tad of melancholy and lyricism. All seven tunes are surprisingly mature and display a level of complexity usually found in works by much more experienced composers. All members of the quintet turn out to be excellent instrumentalists, who are able to develop intelligent solo spots within the ensemble entity, eschewing senseless personal competition. The leader plays several bass solos throughout the album, showing his abilities as a player in addition to his contributions as composer. This album is a typical example of work done by ensembles created by students in the Jazz Universities around Europe, in this case students of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria. The incredible level of achievements by these ensembles is truly astounding in view of the young age of the participants and of course points to the bright future that can be expected from the Jazz idiom in Europe. Overall this is a very impressive debut album, with great tunes and superb performances, which should satisfy Jazz connoisseurs anywhere on this planet. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 17/04/2017Posted: 17/04/2017

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YUMI ITO ~ INTERTWINED UNIT 4685 (Barcode: 7640114796852) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by Polish / Japanese (resident in Switzerland) singer / songwriter Yumi ItoFind albums by this artist, accompanied by a trio comprising of Swiss saxophonist Gabriel DalvitFind albums by this artist and pianist Yves TheilerFind albums by this artist and Russian bassist Yuri GoloubevFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, all of which are classic Jazz standards sung in English. Ito was just twenty-four years old and still a student, when she recorded this album in London, already blessed with an extraordinary vocal ability and unique attitude, as anybody listening to this album can clearly determine. Her approach to the standards is anything but standard, and she takes many risks and liberties, often bordering on Free, amicably supported by the trio. Goloubev supplies an admirably solid bass footing, which holds the music brilliantly together, and sax and piano support Ito following her lead, taking the music away from the source as far as she decides to do. The result, especially in retrospect, is nothing less than sensational. Overall, this is wonderful vocal Jazz album, which presets familiar Jazz standards at times quite close to the original version and also quite far away. Whatever the case may be, it is always superbly performed, both by the singer and the instrumentalists, and in retrospect it presents the early days of one of the most interesting Jazz vocalist to emerge in the last decade. Side Note: I have been looking for a copy of this album helplessly for a decade, until my meeting a few weeks ago in Switzerland with Harald HaerterFind albums by this artist, the founder and original owner of UnitFind albums on this label Records, where he gave me a copy of the album, which closed a big gap in my collection. It appears that I am a stubborn bastard…

Updated: 09/11/2025Posted: 09/11/2025

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IZABELLA EFFENBERG ~ IZA UNIT 4730 (Barcode: 7640114797309) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the second album by Polish (resident in Germany) vibraphonist / composer Izabella EffenbergFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio setting with German pianist Jochen PfisterFind albums by this artist and Polish (also resident in Germany) drummer Pawel CzubatkaFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Agnes LeppFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album presents fifteen original compositions, all by Effenberg. The intimate trio format seems to be a perfect setting for Effenberg to show her skills as a player, while Pfister and Czubatka support her amicably all the way through. They let the vibraphone to pave the way, providing the harmonic and rhythmic support, which is needed to turn the trio into an ensemble. There is a lot of mutual sympathy and understanding, and the rather difficult format seems to pose no serious obstacles to these excellent musicians. But the album is also a great opportunity to encounter the superb compositions, which this album presents. They are wonderfully melodic and lyrical, and ideally suited for the vibraphone, which is a difficult and demanding instrument. These compositions are more mature than those on her debut and Effenberg´s progress as a composer is quite evident. She displays typical European sensitivities and harmonic tendencies, which distant her somewhat from the Jazz mainstream tradition, moving more in the direction of contemporary European Jazz. There is even a tendency to open up and introduce more openness and freedom into the music. This is definitely an impressive follow up to her debut, marking a clear step forward in developing her career, both as an instrumentalist and a composer. Being one of relatively few female vibraphonists, Effenberg definitely starts mo make a mark on the vibraphone scene, which is also completed by her role as an organizer of the Vibraphonissimo Festival in Nuremberg. As usual I´m already looking forward to hear more of her wonderful compositions and her playing in the near future.

Updated: 16/10/2016Posted: 16/10/2016

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YUMI ITO ~ STARDUST CRYSTALS UNIT 4946 (Barcode: 7640114799464) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2020 This is the 3rd album by Polish (Mother) / Japanese (Father) (resident in Switzerland) vocalist / composer / lyricist Yumi ItoFind albums by this artist, recorded with an international eleven piece band, which also includes Polish (resident in Germany) vibraphonist Izabella EffenbergFind albums by this artist and bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original pieces, all composed and arranged by Ito, six of which feature her lyrics (in English) and two are instrumentals. The music is multi-layered and utilizes complex instrumental arrangements, which from the very onset of the album clearly state that this is a serious and extremely elaborate piece of music. The overall sound is strongly influenced by contemporary Chamber Music, featuring a unique lineup of vocals, string and woodwind trios, harp, vibraphone and a bass / drums rhythm section, which only very rarely can be found within the Jazz idiom. Ito brilliantly utilizes the many hidden possibilities of such a large ensemble to beautifully ornament and enhance her vocal parts, keeping the instrumental parts somewhat in the background behind her vocals and yet fully audible for the listener to enjoy their wonderful support. Ito presents an entire spectrum of vocal abilities, which includes recitation, singing lyrics, improvising using vocalese, etc. all tastefully and masterly executed with great respect to the entire framework of her compositions and the vocal tradition, which is truly cross-genre, but always perfectly aesthetically rounded. The instrumental work by the ensemble members is all superb, and although there is relatively little soloing per se, there are multiple mini-solo parts of delicate nature. But more importantly the ensemble work, which is by all means demanding, is perfectly executed, full of mutual respect and fragile interplays, including the rhythm section wonderfully chronometric, but highly imaginative support. Overall this is a superbly composed and executed piece of Artistic music, which is a true joy to listen to, a uniquely genuine and mysterious kaleidoscope of sounds and ideas that is mind-boggling and utterly relaxing at the same time. This is definitely one of the most interesting albums that arrived on my desk in 2020. You certainly made good young Lady! Hats off!

Updated: 08/11/2025Posted: 14/11/2020

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SIMON CHMEL ~ LIGHT ON THE SURFACE UNIT 5095 (Barcode: 7640222860957) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is the debut album by the German, Berlin based drummer / composer Simon ChmelFind albums by this artist and his quartet, which also includes trumpeter Max DillerFind albums by this artist, guitarist Enrico OlivantiFind albums by this artist and bassist Johannes FrickeFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, all original compositions, five by Chmel, two by Diller and one by Olivanti. The music is based on solid melodic themes, which are skillfully performed by these young musicians. Most of the soloing in naturally done by the trumpeter, who has a nice, clear and steady tone, which suits perfectly the quiet, almost romantic material. The guitar supplies the harmonic support and secondary soloing, avoiding the dreaded Fusiony sound and sticking to the Jazz environment, which is commendable. The rhythm section fills the backing with Fricke’s round bass lines and the leader steady time keeping, all exactly on the “as needed” basis, without unnecessary pyrotechnics. The true forte of this album are the compositions, both by the leader and the band members, which are all well-constructed and coherent, and as such are able to keep the listener interested in listening to the music. The fact that all the music is rather low-key and low-tempo is quite hazardous, as listeners are easily bored these days, but personally I truly enjoyed this reflective atmosphere. Overall, this is an excellent debut effort, which offers truly beautiful music in a rather melancholic atmosphere, which is very well performed by the quartet members. Hopefully they will be able to deliver all that and more in their future projects, exploring all the potential, this album promises. Well done!

Updated: 02/09/2024Posted: 02/09/2024

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NICO WEBER KWARTETT ~ ELA UNIT 5130 (Barcode: 7640222861305) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is the debut album by young German Jazz trumpeter / composer Nico WeberFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Maxim BurtsevFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakob JagerFind albums by this artist and drummer Leo EbertFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Florian TrubsbachFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks. The album presents nine tracks, all original compositions by Weber. The music is mostly pretty straightforward mainstream modern Jazz, which keeps the tradition intact and offers solid musicianship. The original compositions are all based on melodic themes, frequently pretty melancholic, which are pleasant, but not really memorable. One of the tunes offers a less constrained formula, but is certainly the exception on the album, rather than the rule. The rhythm section performs well, as expected from today’s well-schooled young musicians, swinging and keeping the music moving forward. The pianist is certainly a very interesting player and I hope to hear more from him in the future. The leader’s trumpet playing is somewhat hesitant at times, but generally is pretty expressive and coherent. Overall, this is a promising debut album, which offers pleasant mainstream Jazz, well played but not exciting enough to turn heads. Perhaps the album was recorded a bit too early, before Weber found his own voice and style, but obviously showing potential for the future.

Updated: 16/04/2024Posted: 16/04/2024

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FABIO GOUVEA ~ DESVIO UNIT 5149 (Barcode: 7640222861497) ~ BRAZIL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2024 This is the 9th album by Brazilian (currently resident in Switzerland) guitarist / composer Fabio GouveaFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with Spanish vibraphonist Jorge RossyFind albums by this artist, French saxophonist Charley RoseFind albums by this artist, Brazilian bassist Thiago AlvesFind albums by this artist and drummer Paulo AlmeidaFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, all original compositions by Gouvea. The music is an absolutely delightful collection of strongly melodic themes, beautifully arranged by the composer and brilliantly performed by the above excellent team. Gouvea has an impressive record as a musician in his native country, among others as a member of bands lead by my beloved Hermeto PascoalFind albums by this artist and others. He is also a prolific recording artist, both as a leader and sideman. Although the music has some delicate Brazilian influences, it is not a Jazz-World Fusion outing per se, but rather a first-rate modern Jazz one, with universal aesthetics. Despite the fact that Gouvea is an excellent guitarist, he leaves the center stage to the two prime soloists, Rossy and Rose, who both do a splendid job with their highly sensitive fluidity and sheer virtuosity. The Brazilian rhythm section adds some of the “tropical” spicing, but as already stated, it is far from being dominating. I am surprised that I never came across any of his recordings earlier on and hope to remedy this ASAP. Overall, this is a brilliant modern Jazz album, with excellent music and first-class performances by seasoned musicians. Delicately seasoned by Brazilian music elements, the music flows gently and elegantly for the duration and is a wonderful example of good taste and individual talent by the leader and his cohorts. Warmly and wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 03/06/2024Posted: 03/06/2024

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NANCY MEIER ~ NANCELOT UNIT 5163 (Barcode: 7640222861633) ~ SWITZERLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is an album by Swiss Jazz flautist / composer Nancy MeierFind albums by this artist, recorded in a highly unusual lineup of a flute quartet (Meier, Eline GrosFind albums by this artist, Camille QuintonFind albums by this artist and Anett KallaiFind albums by this artist) and drummer Tilo WeberFind albums by this artist. The album presents five tracks, all original compositions by Meier. The music is obviously pre-composed and the sound of the flute quartet offers a solid dash of Classical Music associations, however there are also extensive improvisations by the flutists and unexpected rhythmic shifts, sometimes emphasized by the drums, adding another Jazzy aspect to the music, so the Jazz-Classical Fusion idiom is achieved in full. There is a delicate atmosphere of soft wind blowing, which is usually created by the sound of the flute, which creates a subtle, caressing fluidity in the listener’s perception for most of the duration, and which might be somewhat trying to the less patient / attentive listeners. Submission is the recommended attitude, which should offer the most enjoyable reception. The most Avant-Garde fragments (especially the last track) are (for me) the most satisfying. Overall, this is a highly original piece of music, which will surprise even the most experienced listeners. Kudos are due to Meier for creating such unique concept and carrying it through up to the recording and release stages with remarkable consistency. For flute lovers, this is obviously a must, but open-minded listeners looking for advantageous musical experiences, this should also be quite an experience.

Updated: 08/06/2024Posted: 08/06/2024

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