For my friends in the West, today is Good Friday, and I wish you a wonderful, blessed and prosperous Paschal celebration. I send you a gift in the form of the ensemble DÜNYA offering Christian and Islamic chants in celebration of Holy Weekend and Easter.
United States
Kalia Vandever – We Fell In Turn
Kalia Vandever is a New York- based trombonist whose playing is about as elegant as anything I’ve heard in a while. From her Bandcamp site: “We Fell In Turn is the solo debut from Brooklyn-based trombonist, composer, and quartet leader Kalia Vandever. Vandever, who plays with Harry Styles and Continue Reading
William Ryan Fritch – Heavy EP
One of the great composers I have had the pleasure of reviewing is William Ryan Fritch. This EP is his latest, and these notes come from his latest EP via his Bandcamp site: “‘Heavy’, from composer William Ryan Fritch is a bombastic and ever-moving work that draws equally from the Continue Reading
Phil Tomsett & Aaron Martin – At Sea
We have had the pleasure of reviewing the work on cellist Aaron Martin in the past, but it’s nice to see a new release with him collaborating on a project with accordeonist Phil Tomsett which, ironically, began in London. From the release’s Bandcamp site: “At Sea grew out of my Continue Reading
Cinnamon Soulettes – I’ll Show You How
This is some beautiful soul from the Pacific Northwest. The Cinnamon Soulettes were, apparently, from Seattle and recorded this private single sometime during the 1970s, but according to the Bandcamp site, “Unfortunately, most information the estate had was lost in a flood and none of the collectors and music historians Continue Reading
Karolina Ossowska & Jeff Gburek – Ariadne’s Thread
I’m used to expecting amazing things from composer and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Gburek, and certainly so when he pairs with violinist Karolina Ossowska, but this is a shockingly good album even with such expectations. The album has four compositions which are about as gentle and pleasing as anything I’ve heard in Continue Reading
Bana Haffar – Genera – Live at AB Salon, Brussels
Touch Records has introduced so many experimental recording composers to the world in its 40 years of existence that it’s hard to keep up with them. This latest release by Saudi-American composer Bana Haffar immediately spins a web for you to get tied into her shimmering compositions. Found sounds and Continue Reading
Extremophiles – First Batch
Extremophiles are a duo made up of Jeff Gburek on synthesizer, percussion, effects, devices and John Palumbo on electro-acoustic drums, percussion, and more electronics. I have to say this release blew me away, as it reminded be of a cross between the crunchy post-punk/Rock-In-Opposition vibe of This Heat’s early work Continue Reading
Hakki Obadia – Master Musician Plays Middle East Classics: Iraqi-American Violinist & Composer, 1958-72
Hakki Obadia was a New York-based violinist of Iraqi Jewish extraction. The ever-wonderful Canary Records presents a 25-track collection of wonderfully remastered tracks Obadia did for various labels. The music is a reminder of what Baghdad must have been like a century ago.
Various Artists – One Part Dog, Nine Parts Cat ~ The Beginnings of Burt Bacharach
Legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach passed away yesterday at the age of 94, leaving behind countless pop hits covered by singers both major and minor. British label Moochin’ About have collected a 146-track compilation covering his earlier material, and it features artists like Dick Van Dyke, Cliff Richard, and perhaps his Continue Reading