Wednesday, September 19, 2018

New Music Releases: Nicole Conte - Cosmic Forest: The Spiritual Sounds of MPS; Sachal Vasandani – Shadow Train; UNIFONY

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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