Thursday, March 17, 2016

NEW MUSIC: RENE MARIE - SOUND OF RED; OMER AVITAL - ABUTBUL MUSIC; MAKAYA MCCRAVEN – IN THE MOMENT

RENE MARIE – SOUND OF RED

Rene´Marie's sensational 'Sound Of Red' finds the singer at the top of her already sizzling game and breaking new ground with her first album of entirely self-penned originals. After landing a Best Jazz Vocal Album GRAMMY nomination with her last release, Marie shoots for the stars again with 'Sound Of Red' as she literally writes a new chapter in jazz for her ultra-sexy, wise, provocative and daredevil self. Her brilliance as a writer who draws equally on jazz, folk, R&B and country prove an easy match to her widely-acclaimed brilliance as a performer. These richly personal songs explore the sweetest, saddest, brightest and darkest corners of human existence. Marie is joined on the project by musical guests that include saxophonist Sherman Irby, trumpeter Etienne Charles and guitarist Romero Lubambo. Includes: If You Were Mine; Go Home; Lost; Stronger Than You Think; Certaldo; Colorado River Song; This is (Not) a Protest Song; Many years Ago; Joy Of Jazz; and Blessings.

OMER AVITAL – ABUTBUL MUSIC

That big, woody bass of Omer Avital pictured on the cover has plenty to do with the sound of this record – a rich, soulful grounding that really sets the tone – while tenorists Asaf Yuria and Alexander Levin take off in these beautifully well-blown lines! As with most of Avital's recent records, this one's a gem from the very first note – beautifully expressive, but in a nicely understated way – with a strong batch of original tunes penned by Omer, who we love as much for his writing as we do for his work on bass! The rest of the group includes Yonathan Avishai on piano and Ofri Nehemya on drums – and Yuria also plays a bit of soprano sax too. Titles include "Muhammad's Market", "Three Four", "Bed Stuy", "Bass Hijaz", and "Ramat Gan". ~ Dusty Groove

MAKAYA MCCRAVEN – IN THE MOMENT

A totally unique record from drummer Makaya McCraven – and a great one too! The set's built around improvised performances recorded over the period of a year – with some of Chicago's best underground jazz talents, including Matt Ulery on bass, Marquis Hill on trumpet, Jeff Parker on guitar, Justefan on vibes, Desean Jones on tenor, Tony Barba on tenor and electronics, and Josh Abrams on bass – and the performances are then edited down into these shorter, focused tracks that are really wonderful! The music is still quite live in its approach at most moments – and often given a very rhythmic pulse in the way it's put together, but never in any sort of hokey or heavy-handed remix way. The basslines are wonderful – full, round, and very modal – and titles include "The Jaunt", "Time Travel", "The Encore", "The Drop", "Finances", "Just Stay Right There", and "Three Fifths A Man". Expanded 2CD edition – with a record's worth of additional material, the E & F sides of the project – titles that include "Next Step", "Trading Bars", "50 Thousand Miles", "The Master", "The Dimmer", "She Knows", and "Standing On Shoulders". ~ Dusty Groove


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