Monday, February 09, 2015

NEW RELEASES: DON CHERRY – MODERN ART; SABU MARTINEZ - THE DALECARLIA RECORDINGS 1971-72; SADAO WATANAE - PAMOJA

DON CHERRY – MODERN ART

Some of the most freewheeling music we've heard from Don Cherry in the 70s – a live performance at the Museum Of Modern Art in Stockholm – and one that's done with a very free, open vibe! Part of the work has Cherry in the bolder improvisational space of his Paris years – yet other moments have that great organic mix of jazz and global elements that Don was using on some of his other records, but with an overall approach that's nicely unstructured overall! Cherry himself plays pocket trumpet, wooden flute, conch shell, piano, and dossu n'gouni – and the rest of the lineup includes lots of percussion, two acoustic bassists, guitar, tamboura, and claves – all used in varied ways throughout the set, almost to build up the sound in a loft jazz mode that's inflected with elements from Africa and the Middle East. The whole thing's a very unique musical moment – both for Don Cherry and the Swedish jazz scene – and titles include "Que Faser", "Love Train", "Awareness", "Universal Mother", "Ornettunes", "Marimba Goddess Of Music", "Chenrezig", and "Mahakali". (Limited to 500 copies.)  ~ Dusty Groove

SABU MARTINEZ - THE DALECARLIA RECORDINGS 1971-72

Mindblowing work from the legendary Latin percussionist Sabu Martinez – some extremely heavy sides recorded overseas during his time on the Swedish scene in the 70s, some of which are appearing here for the first time ever! The groove here is amazing, and goes even further past Sabu's famous Afro Temple album – far into territory that's hardly ever been explored this well – mixing Latin rhythms with a range of different funky jazz modes, all of them great! Sabu's congas are amazing – dark, soulful, and filled with power – really driving throughout, in settings that include a full group of young percussionists, a funky big band, and a smaller combo with some killer Hammond. A few tracks are live, one is from a musical play, and the others are from the lost album Aurora Borealis – a very rare indie date. Every bit as great, if not better than, the other Sabu reissues on Mellotronen – with titles that include "The Latin Percussion People", "The Sacrifice", "Oh Min Dara", "Will O The Wisp", "Not So Loud Please", "Cute", and "Puertorican Rice & Beans".  ~ Dusty Groove

SADAO WATANAE - PAMOJA


Later than Sadao Watanabe's classic period, but a great album with some really wonderful moments! The set was recorded live in Tokyo in 1975, and it features Watanabe working with a group that includes Isao Suzuki on bass, Yshiaki Masuo on guitar, and Takehiro Honda on piano. The four tracks are all long, with some of the searching Coltrane-ish playing that Watanabe brought to his earlier Sony albums, but they've also got a fair bit of the warmth he was reaching for during the 70s – combining elements of world jazz styles into a mode that really pushed his work on alto and flute. Titles include "Pamoja", "Vichakani", and "Musitoni".  ~ Dusty Groove


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