New Music Releases: Fred Van Hove & Peter Brotzmann, Terje Rypdal, Jahari Massamba Unit (Madlib & Karriem Riggins)

Fred Van Hove & Peter Brotzmann | "Front To Front"

Two improvising giants, still very much at the top of their game – and making music that almost has the same intensity as their groundbreaking work from decades back! We've heard often from Peter Brotzmann in recent years, so Fred Van Hove may be the biggest surprise here – as he can really set fire on the piano, at a level that you'd never expect from his image on the cover – matching the robust energy of Brotzmann's continued magnificence on saxes – a fire that never seems to dim at all, and which is really burning strongly here in the company of his old musical partner, in ways that are different than some of his collaborations with younger improvisers. The set was recorded live at the Summer Bummer Festival in 2019 – and titles include "Terms & Conditions", "Nervous Pudding", "Quite A Package", and "Front To Front". ~ Dusty Groove

Terje Rypdal | "Conspiracy"

Mindblowing sounds from guitarist Terje Rypdal – one of the most unique players of the 70s, and still very much at the top of his game all these many years later – even after generations have tried to copy his style! The set is a great reminder that the mixture of Rypdal and ECM is a match made in heaven – as the guitarist has a sound that's full of the kind of atmospherics that the label loves to spin out with its trademark production, but also keeps more than enough of his own identity here – never falling into easy modes or soundscape cliches – and always knowing when to step up front sonically when that seems about to happen. Other players include Stale Storlokken on keyboards, Endre Hareide Hallre on Fender and fretless bass, and Pal Thowsen on percussion and drums – on the titles "Dawn", "By His Lonesome", "Conspiracy", "What Was I Thinking", and "As If The Ghost Was Me". ~ Dusty Groove

Jahari Massamba Unit (Madlib & Karriem Riggins) | "Pardon My French"

A tremendous collaboration between Madlib and drummer Karriem Riggins – both artists who are great enough on their own, but who really hit some new territory in this funky instrumental project! Riggins plays live drums, and Madlib throws in all this other instrumentation that really changes things up – bits of keyboards, flute, trumpet, and a whole heck of a lot more – but not used in ways that are conventional – as they more have that quality of sonically peppering the grooves, as you'd hear in Madlib's other production modes – but with a very different flavor here! There's a huge amount going on – all these little sounds and touches that are great – n titles that include "Les Jardins Esmeraldins", "Etude Montrachet", "Le Feu", "La Closerie", "Hommage A La Vielle Garde", "Merde", and "Deux Fakes Jayers". ~ Dusty Groove