Friday, December 05, 2014

NEW RELEASES: TONY ALLEN – FILM OF LIFE; SPIKE WILNER – LIVE AT SMALLS; JIM HARBECK QUARTET WITH WALTER SMITH III – VARIATIONS IN BLUE

TONY ALLEN – FILM OF LIFE

Maybe the best album we've heard from Tony Allen in years – a really compelling set that still holds onto all the elements we love in his music, but which also introduces all these great other bits as well! The sound's never unfocused or confused – and instead, it kind of allows Allen to leap off in even more expressive styles – still grounded in rhythms that run back to his roots – but filled with creative instrumentation from an array of guests, and some spacey, electric touches that recall the fire in Tony's music when he first sprang back on the scene about a decade ago! Allen adds a few pointed lyrics at points – furthering the "life" presented in the title and great cover image – and titles include "Go Back", "Ire Omo", "Ewa", "Afro Kungfu Beat", "Moving On", "Boat Journey", and "African Man".  ~ Dusty Groove

SPIKE WILNER – LIVE AT SMALLS

Beautiful work from pianist Spike Wilner – an artist we already respect for his tireless work running the Live At Smalls series – and one that we've grown to love even more for the fresh new sound of this wonderful record! Spike's always had a way of linking styles and generations with his piano – sometimes very traditional, sometimes very personal – yet here, he finds this really wonderful groove that's somewhere in between, but very unique as well – a trio format that has the guitar of Yotam Silberstein and bass of Paul Gill often dancing alongside his own lines on piano – so that all three instruments resonate out strongly in the melody, and find new ways to spiral out together! The approach is very individual, and especially well-tuned to the wide range of material here – which includes Wilner compositions, and some other surprising choices. Titles include "Blues For The Common Man", "Pathetique", "Variations On A Popular Theme #1", "Magnetic Rag", and "Hopscotch".  ~ Dusty Groove

JIM HARBECK QUARTET WITH WALTER SMITH III – VARIATIONS IN BLUE


Twin tenors, used in a really wonderful way – one in the left channel, one in the right – trading back and forth with a soulfully sublime sound! Both Jan Harbeck and Walter Smith III have individually distinct sounds, and both players find a way to resonate strongly together, while occupying a separate space on the record – both from the perspective of their individual channels, and their differing sensibilities! The overall approach is nicely laidback and mellow – like a great late nite tenor album of years back, times two – and the well-crafted rhythms are from Henrik Gunde on piano, Anders Holm on drums, and Eske Norrelykke on some especially great bass. Titles include "Salvation", "May Each Day", "Third Time To Tango", "Nordic Echoes", and "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin".  ~ Dusty Groove

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