Bassist Skúli Sverrisson has been a favorite of mine for well over 20 years. In this reissue, he teams with tenor saxophonist Óskar Guðjónsson in a quiet, minimal, yet somehow lush release of interplay between the two masters. From the release’s Bandcamp site: “After Silence (Eftir þögn) was recorded in Continue Reading
Contemporary Jazz
Seba Ramirez – Untied
From the Urban Waves Bandcamp site: “Seba Ramirez’s “Untied EP” invites you to explore a world of sound, emotion, and creativity. From intricate melodies to rhythmic grooves, this collection of tracks weaves a captivating narrative. Joined in the studio by talented musicians, Pablo Selnik (flute), Eddie Mejía (guitar), Alex Reviriego Continue Reading
Reverso – Shooting Star – Étoile Filante
Avant-jazz trombonist Ryan Keberle collaborates with fellow New Yorkers Frank Woeste (piano) and Vincent Courtois (cello) on an exploration of new jazz influenced partially by the legendary Lili Boulanger, a favorite of my great-grandmother’s. From Ryan’s Bandcamp site: “The music of this album is inspired in various ways by the Continue Reading
Javi Cánovas – Twelve Improvisations For Piano Solo
Twelve Improvisations For Piano Solo is a solo piano album by Spanish pianist Javi Cánovas from 2016. It’s an elegant listening experience comfortably sitting on a corner where contemporary classical, jazz and new age congregate.
Samo Salamon, Arild Andersen & Ra Kalam Bob Moses – Pure and Simple
This is some fine jazz improv. The trio of a friend to this blog, guitarist Samo Salamon, working alongside bassist and ECM Records legend Arild Andersen and Ra Kalam Bob Moses, and this group have an incredible way of flowing with each other’s vibes. Samo, of course, absolutely shreds on Continue Reading
Various Artists – Haute Culture: A Rough Guide To Russian Contemporary Jazz Music
Dave Summer penned an article on the state of Russian jazz today, and one of the featured releases was a compilation of artists featured on the Rainy Days record label. This is a great way to explore these innovators, including saxophonists Azat Bayazitov and Andrew Krasilnikov, bassist Makar Novikov, drummer Continue Reading
James Lindsay – Torus
April 23, 2021 is a bit of a long way from today, but waiting three and a half weeks for what is a very impressive album is a small price to pay. James Lindsay is a Scottish folk musician who absolutely transcends the genre. Having had the pleasure of hearing Continue Reading
David Darling – Prayer For Compassion
Cellist David Darling passed away on January 8, leaving an incredible body of work for ECM Records and other labels. Any of his ECM albums is a worthy listen, but I choose this one not only for the music, but the hopeful title which stands in stark contrast to the Continue Reading