It seems reasonable to call Devin Grey the apex point between the worlds of avant-prog and Frank Zappa’s weirder, cooler moments. I’m surprised he’s not better known, as he and his band sound so incredibly tight. He’s become someone whose music is worth hunting down. Quite a find, this one!
Fusion
Nikolay Smagliev & Dr.Jazz – Tailagan
I had some dear friends who were members of the Siberian jazz scene many years ago. Names like Roman Stolyar, Sergei Belichenko and others produced music equal-to or better than their contemporaries in Moscow and St. Petersburg for a while. Nikolay Smagliev & Dr.Jazz seem to be keeping in that Continue Reading
Zao – Kawana
Magma alumni Yochk’o Seffer and François “Faton” Cahen recorded under the name Zao, producing an album that is at once progressive, zeuhl, and heavily influenced by Miles-era jazz fusion. Deep and dark, it also features Didier Lockwood on violin, Gérard Prévost and Bill Gagnon on bass, Jean My Truong and Christian Saint Continue Reading
Urbanator feat. Urszula Dudziak – Papaya Dance (Remix Party)
Michał Urbaniak has passed away today at the age of 82. His work covered everything from jazz and fusion to disco-style numbers like this ditty he recorded with scat singer Urszula Dudziak, which became a worldwide hit. Not exactly happy Christmas news, I’m afraid. Farewell, Michał.
Brazilian composer Hermeto Pascoal, known as ‘The Sorcerer’, dies aged 89
In what has turned out to be a difficult week, we have received the news that we have lost another legend. Hermeto Pascoal, who collaborated with many of the greatest Brazilian musicians and even had a stint with Miles Davis’ bands, has passed away at the age of 89, according Continue Reading
Love Unfold The Sun – Explode Yourself
Sometimes, a powerful dose of sound can be invigorating for the ears. Love Unfold The Sun is a band from New Mexico, led by my old friend Mustafa Stefan Dill. His guitar playing reminds me of John McLaughlin playing the oud, infused with the raw energy of Peter Brötzmann at Continue Reading
Luca Calabrese – I Shin Den Shin
MoonJune Records is one of those labels that consistently excels, especially in progressive rock and maybe even more so in jazz fusion. The latest release by Luca Calabrese is from 2024 and has six tracks of the sort of high-quality fusion you would expect from the label, and its focus Continue Reading
Yazz Ahmed – A Paradise In The Hold
It has been a long time since I had a chance to dig into the work of Bahraini/British trumpeter Yazz Ahmed’s works. She has a new album due on January 1, 2025, and judging by the one track available, it will be blending of deep fusion with Middle Eastern musical Continue Reading
Dimitar Dodovski – Liminal
(North) Macedonian composer Dimitar Dodevski offers a shimmering album blending Jon Hassell’s “Fourth World” sound with ambient and jazz fusion. A gentle, relaxing wade into dark waters.
Maâlem Mokhtar Gania & Bill Laswell – Tagnawwit: Holy Black Gnawa Trance
Maâlem Mokhtar Gania & Bill Laswell collaborate on bringing Gnawa music up-to-date in the 21st Century. There have been a good number of Gnawa-related recordings which have come out over the past few decades, but having Laswell’s thundering bass supporting Gania’s instrumentation makes for quite a pairing.