New Music Releases: Chris Standring; Muriel Grossmann; Afrodyssey Orchestra

Chris Standring – Real Life

One of contemporary urban jazz’s most prolific hitmakers since the late 90s with 13 Billboard Top 10 singles and 6 #1s, Chris Standring takes the opportunity on his 13th solo album to acknowledge the sometimes-harsh twists and turns of Real Life. Yet rather than give into circumstances beyond his control, the British born, L.A. based guitarist offers a truly uplifting way forward on this joyful soul-jazz infused retro-flavoured set. Includes: Is There A Doctor In The House?; Out Of The Blue; Whatever She Wants; In Other Words; Shake You Up; What Goes Around; Living The Poetry; Another Train; Tell Me A Bedtime Story; This Mess Is A Place; and Prelude From Bach Cello Suite 1.

Muriel Grossmann - Reverence

Tremendous sounds from Muriel Grossmann – a saxophonist who's fast becoming one of our favorite on the planet! As with Muriel's previous records, there's a strongly spiritual vibe going on here – but there's also a difference, too – as the group's expanded to a quintet, with the addition of the organ of Llorenc Barcelo next to the familiar trio of Radomir Milokovic on guitar, Gina Schwarz on bass, and Uros Stamenkovic on drums! The rhythms of the combo are every bit as wonderful as Muriel's soaring, searching solos – very modal, but also with deeper rootsy currents too – often mixed with sounds from the organ that are unlike anything you'd hear in a more conventional Hammond setting, which further creates this exotic, otherworldly vibe to the whole record. Grossmann blows soprano, alto, and tenor – and all titles are originals, and include "Chase", "Tribu", "Okan Ti Aye", "Morning", "Afrika Mahala", and "Water Bowl". ~ Dusty Groove

Afrodyssey Orchestra - Under The Sun

Great diaspora sounds from Afrodyssey Orchestra – a group who bring so much more to their music than most of their contemporaries – in ways that both tap into their native cultural history in Greece, and really open up some of the deeper jazz currents of their songs! Instrumentation includes the percussion elements you might expect – but we're even more captivated by the work on keyboards and tenor – which really sparkle throughout, and which make the record often feel like some futurist fusion reimagining of Afro Funk inspirations – with a nice lean sound that's more small combo than "orchestra"! Titles include "One For Ry", "Under The Sun", "Sisters & Brothers", "Three Tigers & Three Baby Tigers", "Soil Festivities", and "Mama Africa". ~ Dusty Groove