NEW RELEASES - HRISTO VITCHEV QUARTET, DUSKO GOYKOVICH WITH NATHAN DAVIS & MAL WALDRON, SOFT FOCUS

HRISTO VITCHEV QUARTET - FAMILIAR FIELDS

“Vitchev’s sophisticated and adventurous work is imbued with shimmering harmonies and lyrical improvisations” JazzTimes Magazine. “Vitchev’s multihued compositions are like impressionistic sound painting” JAZZIZ. Hristo Vitchev is an impressionistic modern jazz guitarist and composer from Sofia, Bulgaria. Over the years Vitchev has lead a variety of modern jazz formations, ranging from duets to quintets. On Famliar Fields (his 5th studio recording as a leader), he works alongside Weber Iago (piano); Dan Robbins (bass); and Mike Shannon (drums), to create enduring realms of impressionistic, classical, jazz, experimental, and new age. The music presented in this session clearly displays the multidimensional tonal evolutions of the band and each one of its individual members. The addition of drummer extraordinaire Mike Shannon to the quartet establishes a portal to new sonic landscapes and emotions to be explored in this collection of 9 original pieces by Vitchev. Tracks include Ballad For the Fallen, Wounded By A Poisoned Arrow, The Fifth Season, and Willing To Live. ~ hristovitchev.co

DUSKO GOYKOVICH WITH NATHAN DAVIS & MAL WALDRON - SWINGING  MACEDONIA

A legendary German session from the 60s – and a record that really showcases the unusual criss-crossing of modes that was going on in the European scene at the time! There's a very strong MPS vibe here – as trumpeter Dusko Goykovich leads a swinging sextet that includes Nathan Davis on flute, soprano, and tenor – blowing some tremendously soulful reed lines – plus incredible rhythms from Mal Waldron on piano, Peter Trunk on bass, and Cees See on drums. The record's an attempt to bring traditional Macedonian rhythms into a jazz perspective – but with players like these, it swings in a way any Macedonian album never could – damn soulful, and with a great exotic vibe. Davis is especially great, and plays in a soaring modal vein that's similar to his work on his classic MPS sides, and on the records he cut in America in the early 70s. The album's a beautiful session that often get's overlooked because it blends it with the Enja catalog – but it's really more of a record that belongs in an MPS reissue series, and is a great lost groover that's waiting to be rediscovered by the Dusty Groove crowd. Titles include "Macedonia", "Old Fisherman's Daughter", "Jumbo Uganda", "Bem Basha", "Saga Se karame", and "The Nights Of Skopje". ~ Dusty Groove

SOFT FOCUS - SOFT FOCUS

A compelling collaboration from a very unlikely duo – "minister of audiology" Lary 7, working here with Jimi Tenor and Mia Theodoratus! The sound is definitely informed by Lary's long experience with acoustic instruments – and builds beautifully out of a range of harps, flutes, percussion, bells, marimba, and lots of other amazing exotic elements that shift and change as the record moves on – almost like some old school Moondog record, but with a feel that's more laidback and evocative – and quite meditative all the way through! Tenor's production work really helps give the sound some shape, and still has all the spiritual undercurrents of some of Jimi's own recent records – and titles include "EEG", "Polysomnographic", "Brief Arousal", "Hypersomia", "Synitillating", "Quietus", "Reveil", and "Panique Onirique". ~ Dusty Groove