Friday, May 08, 2020

New Music Releases: David Clayton-Thomas, Nick Walters, Torbjorn Zetterberg & Den Stora Fragen

David Clayton-Thomas – Say Somethin’

David Clayton-Thomas began his amazing journey with his 1968 debut album with Blood Sweat & Tears that sold 10 million copies worldwide. The self-titled record topped the Billboard album chart for seven weeks, and charted for a staggering 109 weeks. It won an unprecedented five Grammy awards, including Album of The Year. He hasn’t slowed down since then and developed into one of the most recognizable voices in music, to date selling over 40 million records. In 1996 he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and in 2007 his jazz/rock composition “Spinning Wheel” was enshrined in the Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame. In 2010 David received his star on Canada’s Walk Of Fame.


Nick Walters - Active Imagination

We really loved Nick Walters the last time around, and on this set the trumpeter seems to be even more visionary than before – really going for this expansive approach to his music, and serving things up with a vibe that maybe makes him one of the most spiritual leaders on the contemporary London scene! The tracks here are all originals, and work together perfectly as a whole album – with Nick setting things up strongly with his own trumpet at the start, then folding in these beautiful contributions from Ed Cawthorne on flute and soprano sax, Jeff Guntren on tenor, Rebecca Nash on piano, Nim Sadot on bass, Max Hallett on drums, and Joseph Deenmamoode on percussion. Some tunes have a modal rhythm, but others get a bit more complex, although still with a similar organic pulse – and titles include "So Long Chef", "Gordian Knot (parts 1 & 2)", "Dansoman Last Stop", and "Ahimsa".  © ~ Dusty Groove


Torbjorn Zetterberg & Den Stora Fragen - Are You Happy

Torbjorn Zetterberg has always been a hell of a bassist – but in recent years, he really seems to be exploding as a greater jazz visionary – working with a group like this in a range of explosive new ideas we never would have expected just a few years ago! The music is often incredibly dense – Zetterberg's bass in the lineup, but also part of a rich array of sounds from Susana Santos Silva on trumpet, Mats Aleklint on trombone, Jonas Kullhammar on tenor and alto, Alberto Pinto on clarinet and baritone, Jon Falt on drums, Alexander Zethson on Hammond and Fender Rhodes, and Lars Skoglund on drums – mostly players that have worked together often over the years, and who beautifully interpret the stunning arrangements and compositions by Zetterberg. There's definitely plenty of outside moments on the record, but as with much Moserobie material, things also swing at times too – a balance between freedom and structure that matches the balance between group and individual on the album. Titles include "Drommusik", "Meningen Med Vad", "Oraklet I Finnaker", "Plingplongpiano", and "Nytt Hopp Over Atlanten". ~ Dusty Groove

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