PETER KUHN
TRIO – THE OTHER SHORE
It seems
like it's been many years since we last heard from reedman Peter Kuhn – but the
sharpness of this set hardly marks the passage of time, as Kuhn's every bit as
vibrant as he was a force on the avant scene of the late 70s and early 80s! As
before, Kuhn handles a lot of b-flat and bass clarinet – but he also blows a
bit of tenor and alto too – shaping sounds in very open territory, in a trio
with Kyle Motl on bass and Nathan Hubbard on drums, in a mix of freedom and
spirituality that almost recalls the New York loft jazz mode of decades back.
Titles include "Not Two", "Unstrung Heroes", "Is Love
Enough", "Beginning Anew", and "No Coming No Going". ~
Dusty Groove
JAZZTRONIK –
KEYSTONE
Beautiful
sounds from Jazztronik – a set that reminds us why we first fell in love with
his music so many years ago! The album mixes wonderful keyboard lines and
warmly soulful vocals – the former from the man himself, Ryo Nozaki – the
latter from guests who include Valerie Etienne, Eliana, Love, Kaori Takeda, and
Sumire – singers whose presence is interspersed with instrumental tracks that
further the lyrical vision of Nozaki's music! Nozaki's really upped his vision
here – and not only works in strings on some of the more soaring numbers, but
also creates these gentler, poetic passages at mellower moments – all blended
together at a level that makes this the most sophisticated Jazztronik set we've
ever heard. Titles include "Now", "DGA", "Lost
Melody", "Parade", "Warp", "The City
Beyond", "Peach Boy", and "A New Phase Of Life". ~ Dusty Groove
ELZA SOARES –
WOMAN AT THE END OF THE WORLD (A MULHER DO FIM DO MUNDO)
A stunning
new set from the legendary Elza Soares – the samba singer who gave us some
wonderful music in the 70s, but who hits a completely different sound here! The
set really focuses around Soares' amazing vocals – which are often sometimes
out there completely on her own – but the instrumentation is unusually contemporary,
and uses bits of electronics, fuzzy guitar, and some especially great basslines
to create these very different soundscapes for her vocal performance! The shift
is a bit like those late-life projects that Gil Scott-Heron did – such as his
I'm New Here album – although with a different vibe, given Soares' background
in Brazilian music. Titles include "Coracao Do Mar",
"Comigo", "Danca", "O Canal", "Solto",
"Pra Fuder", and "Luz Vermelha". ~ Dusty Groove
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