Though this disc was released in 2014, this long-forgotten soundtrack has the sound of something from the 1980s. Michał Urbaniak is, of course, in fine form here, and it’s good to see he’s releasing a lot of material, both new and archival, on Bandcamp.
Jazz
Cathrine Legardh, Sigurdur Flosason – Stilhed & Storm
Nordic jazz tends to be very warm in my experience. This collection of original tunes by Danish singer Cathrine Legardh and her sparring partner on this album, alto saxophonist Sigurður Flosason, make an album with songs of love, live and even dogs. It’s a mellow listen, something hotter than cool Continue Reading
Leisure Time 閒暇 – Normal Music
Taiwanese band Leisure Time 閒暇 produce a music that sits in that hazy area between real and fake jazz. I think the quote the band used by the legendary Donald Fagen of Steely Dan sums up their sound best: “There was sort of cheap music, tv music, movie music. By Continue Reading
Pray For Your Prey – Pray For Your Prey
At least as I understand it, there is a magnificent label out of Greece, Defkaz, releasing some really fine free jazz and world music. This particular album features one name whose work I’m very familiar with – the Hungarian drummer Balázs Pándi, who is magnificent. After hearing him work with Continue Reading
Christophe Rieger/H.J. Ayala – Mexican Spleen
Longtime friend of the blog Hector Javier Ayala collaborates with saxophonist Christophe Rieger to produce a slow, languid jazz album which has reference points in spaghetti western soundtracks and bossa nova, as well a touch of music from Mexico.
Joe Williams – Can’t Resist You – My Summer Love
This is simply a masterpiece. Joe Williams was one of the most lauded voice in the big band era, and worked with legends like Lionel Hampton and Count Basie. From Nagel Hayer’s Bandcamp site: “Simply one of the greatest Jazz or even Blues vocal albums of all time. Joe Williams Continue Reading
Ayako Shinozaki – Music Now For Harp
Great news, yet again, has been provided to us by our dear friends at Wewantsounds! From their Bandcamp site: “Wewantsounds is delighted to announce the first international reissue of Ayako Shinozaki’s hard to find LP “Music Now For Harp” released in 1974 by Nippon Columbia. The LP was released on Continue Reading
Yuri Vikharev / Juris Āķis / Einārs Raibais – The Lost Latvian TV Studio Sessions 1967
This archival recording is a swinger released from Latvian specialty label Jersika Records. It consists of pianist, jazz journalist and and record collector Yuri Viharev, paired with bassist Juris Āķis and drummer Einārs Raibais. This was the cream of Latvian jazz, and it’s a massive event to see this label Continue Reading
Axel Dörner – Brixia
German trumpeter Axel Dörner recorded this interesting one-track album 13th of March 2022 in Brescia, Italy, mixing electronics with a very ethereal trumpet sound.
Kuba Płużek Quartet – Froots
My first morning in Beijing gets its soundtrack thank to my friend Slava in Kazakhstan, who shared this slightly haunting bit of jazz fusion by polish bandleader Kuba Plużek. The swing on this album is dark but hip, and reminds me of the bands of his countryman, the long-departed Krzysztof Continue Reading