As Christmas happily approaches, the Ezra Collective has released a rather cool EP of instrumental Christmas tunes in their own inimitable style. Happy Advent to you all.
Jazz
Various Artists – Easy Tempo Experience Vol.1 – Cinematic Jazz
If this available track by Piero Umiliani is any indication, then Easy Tempo will soon release a scorching new compilation!
Various Artists – Moochin’ About: Minnie The Moocher At The Morgue
What a shame that I didn’t find this release three weeks ago, as it would have been perfect party music for the Halloween party I attended! Artists on this creepy album include Bobby “Boris” Pickett, Bo Diddley, Spike Jones, Billie Holiday, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong, and, of course, Cab Calloway Continue Reading
Sarathy Korwar – There Is Beauty, There Already
What a sublime work this is! I’m new to the work of Sarathy Korwar, a US-born, India-raised bandleader and master percussionist. This percussive gem is his latest work. From Sarathy’s Bandcamp site: “Playing as a 40-minute suite of hypnotic and transcendent drum improvisations, the album beats through a repetitive, circular Continue Reading
Baeshi Bang 배씨방 – Baeshi Bang
From their Bandcamp site: “Baeshi Bang is a French quintet presenting an original and modern instrumental interpretation of songs by Bae Ho, famous Korean singer from the sixties.” Bae Ho was a stylish South Korean crooner who sang with so much power that he would nearly rip out his vocal Continue Reading
Mukta – Indian Sitar & World Jazz
A new band for me, Muktar is from France, and their Bandcamp site introduces them this way: “French bassist Simon Mary and his band have performed on stages around the world. Generous and modern shamans, talented alchemists, Mukta occupy more than ever a special place on the chessboard of new world Continue Reading
Dan Krimm – Second Wind
Many years ago, I had the pleasure of reviewing fretless bassist and fellow Californian Dan Krimm’s album on my old blog, A Miscellany of Tasteful Music. Recently, Dan informed me that he has a new album coming out, and it’s one of the most elegant and relaxing listens I’ve had in a long Continue Reading
The Necks – Disquiet
The Necks, perhaps my favorite improvisational music trio, have a new release. From the Northern Spy Records Bandcamp site: “Meticulously recorded and sculpted, the four extended pieces on Disquiet see Tony Buck, Chris Abrahams, and Lloyd Swanton pushing at the outer edges of their collective intuition, building and unraveling hypnotic Continue Reading
Saagara – 3 The Shackleton Versions
From Waclaw Zimpel’s Bandcamp site: “Saagara’s album 3 made itself right at home in the tak:til universe as soon as it was released to considerable acclaim last October, quickly becoming as much of a touchstone for the label’s Fourth World aesthetic as Jon Hassell, 75 Dollar Bill and Širom. A Continue Reading
Mulatu Astatke – Mulatu Plays Mulatu
Today is a joyful day because I finally get to listen to an album I’ve been eagerly anticipating for months. The Ethiopian musical genius Mulatu Astatke has released a new album featuring 11 tracks, showcasing the distinctive instrumentation that defines his unique sound. From his Bandcamp site: “Mulatu Plays Mulatu realises Continue Reading