NEW RELEASES: MATANA ROBERTS - COIN COIN CHAPTER THREE RIVER RUN THEE; BILLY BANG / WILLIAM PARKER - MEDICINE BUDDHA; JON DAVIS – MOVING RIGHT ALONG

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