Tuesday, September 09, 2014

NEW RELEASES: HENRY MANCINI – MUSIC FOR PETER GUNN; MARCIN WASILEWSKI TRIO W/JOAKIM MILDER - SPARK OF LIFE; COOLIN’ SYSTEM – REFRIGERATE AFTER OPENING

HENRY MANCINI – MUSIC FOR PETER GUNN

The classic TV detective series Peter Gunn, which ran from 1958 to 1961, is probably best remembered today due to the show's trendsetting score written by Henry Mancini and inspired by the West Coast Cool jazz style. On Music for Peter Gunn, GRAMMY-nominated conductor Steven Richman and the sensational Harmonie Ensemble/New York (joined by ace old-school improvisers Lew Soloff and Lew Tabackin), place their own stamp on Mancini's iconic orchestrations. It follows in the footsteps of Richman's and Harmonie Ensemble's previous bestselling releases Gershwin by Grofe (which landed on the Billboard charts in the top ten) and Ellington/Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suites. ~ Amazon

MARCIN WASILEWSKI TRIO W/JOAKIM MILDER - SPARK OF LIFE

The fourth ECM album for the Wasilewski Trio adds a special guest, the lyrical Swedish saxophonist Joakim Milder, whom the Poles came to know through performances with Tomasz Stankos Litania project. Amongst other affinities, the players share a love of Krzyzstof Komedas music, and Komedas Sleep Safe and Warm theme, written for Polanskis Rosemarys Baby make a reappearance here. As ever, the Wasilewski group balances original material - intensely melodic new tunes by Marcin (including two variations of the beautiful title track) - with a daring range of covers, embracing Herbie Hancock, the Polices Message In A Bottle and Slawomir Kurkiewiczs arrangement of a composition by Grazyna Bacewicz, and reinforces its status as one of the most resourceful groups around. This is the trios second ECM appearance this year, following on from sterling work as Jacob Youngs rhythm section on Forever Young.  Spark of Life was recorded in Lugano in March 2014, and produced by Manfred Eicher. ~ Amazon

COOLIN’ SYSTEM – REFRIGERATE AFTER OPENING

No need to refrigerate this great little set – as room temperature's only going to make the whole thing even funkier over time! The Coolin System are hotter than ever here – not only tighter on the instrumental tip than we remember, but also picking up some much deeper influences from the 60s – including a touch of trumpet inspiration from Blue Mitchell, killer keyboards from Cedar Walton, and a blast of Brazilian funk from Som Tres! These guys use all the best elements to rework a small combo funky sound way past the usual – and the all-instrumental set unfurls some sweet lines on Fender Rhodes, Hammond, trumpet, tenor, and flute – on cuts that include "Beyond Mobius", "Homenagem A Mongo", "Blue Juice", "Soul Village", "Funky Mule", "Soul Thing", and "Jungle Juice". (Includes digital copy.)  ~ Dusty Groove


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