NEW RELEASES: DORIVAL CAYMMI - THE ESSENTIAL CAYMMI; CAROLINA EYCK / CHRISTIPHER TARNOW - IMPROVISATIONS FOR THEREMIN AND PIANO; JOHN ZORN – THE LAST JUDGEMENT

DORIVAL CAYMMI - THE ESSENTIAL CAYMMI

A tremendous tribute to 100 years of Dorival Caymmi – the legendary Brazilian singer/songwriter who helped pave the way for bossa nova, Tropicalia, and so many other sounds to come! Unlike the beautiful 90th birthday album for Caymmi, in which he was still alive and able to participate – this set features other artists, including key family members, coming together in rich reworkings of his best compositions – done in a sophisticated blend of older Brazilian modes that's similar to some of the best Biscoito Fino projects in recent years. Mario Adnet put the album together with Dori Caymmi – and the set features performances by Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Chico Buarque, Nana Caymmi, and Danilo Caymmi – as well as Adnet and Dori – on titles that include "O Que E Que A Baiana Tem", "Saudade Da Bahia", "Sargaco Nar", "Dora", "Vatapa", "Nem Eu", "Samba Da Minha Terra", "A Vizinha Do Lado", and "Cancao Da Partida".   Dusty Groove

CAROLINA EYCK / CHRISTIPHER TARNOW - IMPROVISATIONS FOR THEREMIN AND PIANO

Really beautiful sounds – and a record that's far more haunting than you might expect! The record's not just piano notes alongside sci fi sound effects – and instead has this really subtle use of theremin, so that the instrument almost comes across more like a cello, or acoustic bass – with these wonderfully rich tones that are used in a very organic way next to the piano. There's an extremely thoughtful approach to the whole record, never a sense of gimmick – and overall, the record really brings the theremin strongly into legitimate instrumental territory. Titles include "Deep In The Earth", "Quiet Snowfall", "Earth & Sky", "10,000 Bells", "Somber Waking Up", and "A Whale In Love". ~ Dusty Groove

JOHN ZORN – THE LAST JUDGEMENT

Heady heady work from John Zorn – part of his Moonchild series of projects, and done with the same great group as the album In Sacred Blood! Like that set, there's a weird blend of jazz and spiritual modes going on here – a sound that's more forward-moving than some of Zorn's more meditative projects in recent years, but still filled with a soaringly mystic sensibility – one that comes through especially strong in the organ lines from John Medeski, who's light years beyond (or behind, in an ancient sort of style) his famous work with MMW! Mike Patton delivers some vocal passages at points – either singing in some ancient spiritual mode, or speaking with a whisper-like sensibility – but the core of the album seems hinged on the instrumentation, and Medeski is even more set free than before – alongside bass from Trevor Dunn and drums from Joey Baron. Zorn composed and produced – and titles include "Incant", "Sleepy Hollow", "Tria Prima", "Trinity", "Resurrection", and "Le Tombeau De Jacques De Molay". ~ Dusty Groove