MATANA
ROBERTS - COIN COIN CHAPTER THREE RIVER RUN THEE
Maybe
the most dense, most complex work we've heard from Matana Roberts to date – a
unusual effort that blends together her own instrumental passages with sound
samples recorded during a wintertime ramble through the states of Mississippi,
Tennessee, and Louisiana! Roberts moves away from her previous group efforts,
to hit even more experimental sounds here – which include her own alto
saxophone lines, plus work on a Korg Monotron, an early 1900s upright piano,
and even a bit of vocalizations too – all taken at a level that's way beyond
jazz, and which has elements of found sound mixing with processed instrumental
passages, and even some odd snippets of classic American songs. The effort
comes off sounding as if an avant jazz album were recorded with an older 4AD
aesthetic – with all the dense sonic structures that might imply – and the
whole thing's definitely one more reason to keep your eyes focused on Roberts'
genius in years to come! ~ Dusty Groove
BILLY
BANG / WILLIAM PARKER - MEDICINE BUDDHA
Wonderful
work from two players who've just gotten better and better over the decades –
both musicians who've made a huge impression from the late 70s onward, but who
also continue to grow and refine their ideas as the years go on! This set features
beautiful duets recorded at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York, in 2009 – with
Bang on violin and thumb piano, and William Parker on bass, plus a bit of
shakuhashi and dousn gouni as well. Both players handle strings at a level
that's far different than most of their contemporaries or influences – and have
this sublimely spiritual style that's often a bit exotic too – but never in the
sort of easier ways of Bang's Vietnam-related projects. Instead there's a very
freely creative spirit as both players come together – finding a unique voice
that's extremely moving, and never too heavy-handed – a huge reminder of why we
love them both so much. Titles include "Bronx Aborigines",
"Eternal Planet", "Buddha's Joy", "Medicine
Buddha", and "Sky Song". ~
Dusty Groove
JON
DAVIS – MOVING RIGHT ALONG
A great
little album from pianist Jon Davis – a player who's got this way of cascading
out notes with effortless ease – almost at a level that's thinking a few steps
forward of the bass and drums in the trio, but never with a style that loses
its groove at all! We love the way that new ideas continue to leap forward from
Davis' piano – especially on the album's original tracks, which have this way
of blocking sound and color together that's extremely tuneful, but in a very
personal, unique sort of style. Bass is by Yasushi Nakamura and drums are by
Shinnosuke Takahashi – but it's clear that Davis really directs the sound, with
leaps and steps that are sometimes subtle, sometimes bold – and always pretty
darn fresh! Titles include "Dania", "Just In Case",
"Pensive Puff", "Moving Right Along", "Moment's
Notice", and "Under The Stairway". ~ Dusty Groove
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