This is pure power if you like brass. The trombone, including the bass trombone, features strongly in this album led by Per Texas Johansson. He has come a long way since his near-minimalist roots in the 1990s. This work is dense, layered, and it swings violently. This album is an Continue Reading
Saxophone
Anthony Braxton – Quartet (Bristol) 1985
One of America’s foremost saxophonists, Anthony Braxton, collaborates with Marilyn Crispell on piano, Mark Dresser on double bass, and Gerry Hemingway on percussion. This music is as free as it gets, but has a slight film-noir soundtrack feel in parts. Impressive.
Lea Bertucci – Hold Music
Rather beautiful for drone, this one. Lea Bertucci is a composer based in New York and on this recording offered by Dinzu Artefacts (fellow Los Angelinos whom I hope are safe), she offers music that is meant to be infinite. From the label’s Bandcamp site: “Hold Music is a pair Continue Reading
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
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.