NEW RELEASES - JANE BIRKIN, MIGHTY MIGHTY, CHRISTOPH ERB / KEEFE JACKSON / TOMEKA REID / FRED LONBERG HOLM

MIGHTY MIGHTY - SEE THE LIGHT

A great debut from an ultra-jazzy combo from the Finnish scene – one with the same sort of fire and crackle as the best groups on the Ricky Tick label! The tracks have a blend of 60s hardbop with some later soulful elements – and leader Kari Setala's got a mighty great touch on both piano and keyboards – the former used in these strongly modal ways at points, the latter with even more deft touches on some of the record's more 70s funk-styled selections! Other instrumentation features trumpet, tenor, bass, drums, and percussion – and almost all tracks are originals with a mighty fresh sound. Titles include "Backyard Boogie", "Dark Sun", "Seventh Sign", "Time's Up", "See The Light", and "Simba". ~ Dusty Groove.

CHRISTOPH ERB / KEEFE JACKSON / TOMEKA REID / FRED LONBERG HOLM - DUOPE

A completely cool blend of bass clarinet and cello – served up in a range of sounds that go way beyond the usual stuff from both instruments! Yet given the lineup of talent, the sounds are no surprise – as the record features both Keefe Jackson and Christoph Erb on bass clarinets, and Fred Lonberg Holm and Tomeka Reid on cello – all players who are already known well for their ability to push boundaries! Familiar tones mix wonderfully with bits that are more percussive, or more textural at times – and the doubling of instruments often lets one player handle a more conventional path (although still pretty improvised and avant), while the other shifts into some very abstract territory. Titles include "Junkon", "Tubo", "Pafarko", and "Snuro". ~ Dusty Groove 

JANE BIRKIN - MES IMAGES PRIVEES DE SERGE (2-CD/DVD)

A moving tribute to the late, great Serge Gainsbourg – served up in a mix of film and songs from his famous partner Jane Birkin! The set features a DVD directed by Jane – a 40 minute documentary filled with private images of Serge, laid out in a very loving tribute – and it's packaged with 2CDs' worth of music recorded with Serge in duet, or with lots of Gainsbourg help as both a writer or producer. Includes a rare alternate take of "Jane B" from 1968, plus "Rocking Chair", "Nicotine", "Exercice En Forme De Z", "Yesterday Yes A Day", "Ex Fan Des Sixties", "Di Doo Dah", "La Decadanse", "Baby Lou", "Quoi", "Et Quand Bien Meme", "Raccrochez C'Est Une Horreur", and lots more – including live versions of "Un Chose Entre Autres" and "Ces Petitis Riens" – and the song "La Gadoue" done with Les Negresses Vertes. (DVD is NTSC coded, All Region.)  ~ Dusty Groove