BRUSSELS JAZZ ORCHESTRA FEATURING JOE LOVANO - WILD BEAUTY
Following its
triumphant partnership with pianist Kenny Werner (Institute of Higher Learning),
the award-winning Brussels Jazz Orchestra turns its attention to Joe Lovano,
long heralded a towering soloist among tenor saxophonists. Wild Beauty
illuminates the composer side of Lovano's musicianship, featuring a palette of
earthy tunes previously recorded with small groups, but now re-imagined for the
17-piece BJO. Gil Goldstein wrote the evocative arrangements. The album is a
summational work, filled with autobiographical abstractions. It draws its
inspiration from Lovano's generational bloodlines in Italy. "I've
dedicated this project to my mom, Josephine Verzi Lovano," he says. "
She was born and lived her life in Cleveland, but her heart and soul were with
her Sicilian roots and her family. All these tunes are reflections of my life
and experiences." Wild Beauty smolders with a warm glow, as if sculpted
from the fiery ash at the base of Mt Etna (Europe's largest active volcano and
the source of the album's penultimate track, "Miss Etna"). Lovano's
influences can be heard throughout - from Ben Webster to John Coltrane to
Enrico Caruso
GAUDI - IN BETWEEN TIMES
In Between Times is
the new album from the Worldwide dub specialist and it’s a great listen from
start to finish. It includes 12 engaging tracks with a satisfying balance
between vocal tracks and instrumentals that are brought artfully together to
form a sonic journey greater than the sum of its parts. The new album features
a noteworthy collection of artists, many of them pioneers in their respective
musical genres and all of them highly respected in their own right. Opening
track Put your guns down features vocals by Black Uhuru frontman Michael Rose.
Life, features rising reggae star Jahmai and the atmospheric and ethereal
electro-dub adventures of Tamino and the temple of dub, feature one of the
godfathers of psychedelic trance music Raja Ram (from electronic duo Shpongle)
on flute. One of the album's stand-out tracks, I start to pray is a truly
distinguished collaboration between legendary dub producer and vocalist Lee
Scratch Perry and UK electronic pioneers The Orb, with the inimitable Dennis
Dubmaster Bovell adding his characteristically uncompromising bass to the mix -
it's a high risk strategy to put so many virtuoso artists in one song but one
that pays off handsomely in the realization of this deep, elegant and very
dubby track! Other collaborators on the new record include, Hedflux (one of the
UK s hottest breaks producers), dub maestro Twilight Circus, Moroccan artist
Tahar (from the band Momo) & Gaudi s on-stage partner in rhyme, vocalist
and prodigiously talented beatboxer, Danny Ladwa. In Between Times more than
justifies Gaudi's reputation as a musical frontiersman and fearless music
producer (Billboard magazine) in it s complete disregard for musical boundaries
and stylistic separation... It is Gaudi style - the fusion of many genres into
one distinct and characteristic sound. ~ amazon.com
OLI SILK - RAZOR SHARK BRIT
Venturing across
the pond once again with this fourth and latest installment in his series of
solo records is fan fave, keyboardist/producer Oli Silk with 'Razor Sharp Brit'
a freewheeling engaging assemblage of sides full of spunk , vigor and
sophistication presented with his own unique European flair. While Silk's music is always easy
on the ear, it is the fact that he keeps things fresh, progressive and is not
afraid to dance around the edges that gives his music wide appeal and keeps it
from blending into the contemporary jazz landscape. 'Brit' stays with that
formula as the young man with the memorable name, dishes up a menu of memorable
tunes that will beckon you to not just merely nibble but to feast upon. Having established
himself as a first call player /producer in his motherland of England, sharing
the stage with virtually all of the smooth jazz luminaries and hopping the pond
over the last 5 yrs bringing his talents and sharp wit to the American audience
has serve Silk well in helping him establish an active and rabid fan base.
Razor Sharp Brit is sure to keep the movement afloat and momentum building as
he again serves up a feast of fresh and vibrant new flavors. Some of Silk's
closest CJ contemporaries join the fray, with bassist and label mate Julian
Vaughn featured on the lead radio single 'At Your Service' , spins musical webs
with guitarists Paul Brown and Chuck Loeb and brings up and coming sax man Elan
Trotman along for the ride. ~ amazon.com
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