New Music Releases: Pat Metheny, Olivier Le Goas & Reciprocity, Avishai Cohen

Pat Metheny - From This Place

'From This Place' is one of the records I have been waiting to make my whole life', Metheny says. 'It is a kind of musical culmination, reflecting a wide range of expressions that have interested me over the years, scaled across a large canvas, presented in a way that offers the kind of opportunities for communication that can only be earned with a group of musicians who have spent hundreds of nights together on the bandstand'. The record features ten compositions by Metheny, who is joined by his long-time drummer, Antonio Sanchez, Malaysian/Australian bassist Linda May Han and British pianist Gwilym Simcock as well as the Hollywood Studio Symphony conducted by Joel McNeely.

Olivier Le Goas & Reciprocity - On Ramp Of Heaven Dreams

A skilled drummer with a strong command of polyrhythms and complex meters, Olivier Le Goas is also an accomplished composer with a gift for pleasing harmonies and memorable melodies. The veteran French bandleader showcased his abundant gifts on 2016's acclaimed album Reciprocity, which was hailed in a 4-1/2 star Downbeat review for its "appealing sound that has one foot in chamber-like formalism while also exploring heightened realms of improvisation". Le Goas' follow-up, his sixth as a leader, stakes out similarly agreeable and dynamic musical territory; the kind that was favourably compared to the Pat Metheny Unity Group on his last outing. Returning from Reciprocity is rising star American guitarist Nir Felder, whose warm tone and fluid lines are a key component here alongside John Escreet's cascading piano work, Larry Grenadier's resounding bass lines and Le Goas' irrepressible presence behind the kit.

Avishai Cohen - Big Vicious

Charismatic trumpeter Avishai Cohen launched his homegrown band Big Vicious six years ago, after relocating from the US to his native Israel, rounding up friends to shape the music from the ground up. Guitarist Uzi Ramirez, bassist Jonathan Albalak and drummer Aviv Cohen write much of the material together with Avishai. Ziv Ravitz, from Avishai's acoustic quartet, was recruited as second drummer a year ago. We're all coming from jazz, but some of us left it earlier, Avishai says, summing up the stylistic reach of his cohorts. Everyone's bringing in their backgrounds, and that becomes part of the sound of the band. Textures from electronica, ambient music and psychedelia are part of the blend, so too grooves and beats from rock, pop, trip-hop and more. A wide-open approach to cover versions from Massive Attack to Beethoven - is also integral to the Vicious vision. Recorded in Studios La Buissonne in the South of France in August 2019 and produced by Manfred Eicher, Big Vicious’s debut album is issued as the band gears up for extensive international touring, including Love Supreme in July. Personnel: Avishai Cohen (trumpet, electronics), Uzi Ramirez Feinerman (guitar), Jonathan Albalak (bass), Aviv Cohen (drums), Ziv Ravitz (drums, electronics).