Luneta Freedom Jazz Collective – Mga matang pumipikit sa langit

Welcome to 2025!  Our first release is from the brilliant Bulgarian experimental music label Mahorka, and their latest offering is phenomenal.  The Luneta Freedom Jazz Collective are from Manila, Philippines, and this is a strangely elegant release.  My favorite track of the album, Ang itak ng kamalayan – Isang Ritual, Continue Reading

Barre Phillips – Ahoy!

The world of improvisational music lost one of its biggest icons a couple of days ago.  Barre Phillips, a bassist known for his being adaptable to any style, passed away on December 28.  He worked with legends like Jimmy Giuffre, Paul Bley, Archie Shepp, Peter Brötzmann (whom we also lost 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

Hermeto Pascoal – Sinfonia do Alto Ribeira (1985) – Filme Completo

Mid-terms are almost over, so I should be posting again regularly starting Tuesday.  For now, I wanted to send over something to enjoy.  From the East East website: “This film, directed by Ricardo Lua and first released in 1985, exemplifies a non-hierarchical, ecological, and playful approach to music developed by Continue Reading

Skúli Sverrisson & Óskar Guðjónsson – After Silence

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

Mario Rusca (quintet, nonet) – 4th Dimension

Ever since Right Tempo Records has relaunched, their catalog choices have proven to be outstanding.  Can you imagine an 86-year-old musician who has a résumé working with artists like Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan and Stan Getz, among others, release a soul-stirring, funky album of such high quality in 2024?  Absolutely!  Continue Reading