Nicole Conte - Cosmic Forest: The Spiritual Sounds of MPS
“Cosmic Forest” takes us on a spiritual journey through the
musical universe of Musik Produktion Schwarzwald (Black Forest Music
Production), the most important German jazz label of the 1960’s and 70’s. There are still little-known gems to discover within the MPS
catalogue. Curated by Nicola Conte, Cosmic Forest is a compilation that
highlights some of the most compelling “spiritual jazz” recordings from 1965 to
1975. Conte, a world-renowned Italian musician and producer, as
well as a passionate DJ and record collector, is a connoisseur of European jazz
with an astounding ability to dig a little deeper when it comes to arranging
such a compilation. In this case, he concentrated on the spiritual highpoints
of the MPS catalogue, highlighting both well-known and obscure musical
treasures, while connecting disparate pieces through a personal common thread.
The choice of individual titles and the flowing character of their arrangement
lend the album a quality of timelessness, while showcasing the breadth of the
entire “cosmic jazz collection” within the MPS archives.
Sachal Vasandani – Shadow Train
GSI Records presents Shadow Train, the latest release from
vocalist Sachal Vasandani. With equal parts virility and empathy, Vasandani
provides a unique take on the album's collection of classic standards, which
include Abbey Lincoln's "Throw It Away" and Bill Evans' "Very
Early." Never stifled by tradition, Eric Harland (drums), Taylor Eigsti
(piano), Nir Felder (guitar), Dayna Stephens (sax), and Reuben Rogers (bass),
focus their collective energy to highlight the themes of Shadow Train with an
open spirit. Vasandani and the ensemble weave romance and nuance throughout the
record, simultaneously seducing and enlightening listeners. To be released on
September 28th, Shadow Train is a showcase of phenomenal musicianship not to be
missed. Sachal Vasandani is recognized for his singular voice with a tone and
unique phrasing that mark him as one of the most compelling voices on the scene
today. He has previously released four records as a leader, Eyes Wide Open (2007),
We Move (2009), Hi-Fi (2011), and Slow Motion Miracles (2015). Vasandani has
played around the world in many of the leading jazz venues, both with his own
group and performing alongside jazz heavyweights including Wynton Marsalis,
Bobby McFerrin, Milton Nascimento, Michael Feinstein, and many others. His
original writing and singing on Gerald Clayton's Life Forum was nominated for a
Grammy in 2013.
UNIFONY - UNIFONY: The Audiophile Spontaneity of Kindred
Spirits Turns Fleeting Moments into Sweeping Cinematic Tracks
They would walk into the studio and coax a moment, a sound
from the instruments. No through-composed scores, no plans, just the
interaction of kindred spirits and vibrating metal and wood, wire and skin. This
is the basic premise of UNIFONY. Improv-based, timbre-inspired, the
collaborative project harnesses European indie songwriter and film composer
Minco Eggersman and audiophile engineer and musical ingenue Theodoor Borger’s
unique chemistry to conjure a soundscape for good, wildly talented music
friends. The first album of the project (to be released Oct. 12, 2018) features
the sometimes breathy, sometimes crystalline trumpet of ECM artist Mathias
Eick, and the stellar mixing and mastering skills of Phil Brown (Led Zeppelin,
Bowie, Talk Talk) and Bob Ludwig (Hendrix, McCartney, Queen, Daft Punk). The
results are lush, enigmatic, touching the imagination and emotions without ever
revealing the full story. They are ambient and cinematic, yet ultimately simple
at their hearts, drawing inspiration from everything from post-rock like Talk
Talk and contemporary classical compositions. Though the tracks are grounded in
small moments of inspiration, they achieve well-developed form and bright
sheen, thanks to friendship and technical prowess of the project’s
contributors.
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