A fantastic package from trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith – one that's billed as "symphonies" in the title, but which instead features quartet jazz performances throughout – as you've maybe guessed by the name of the group! There's maybe a more compositional structure here than on some of Smith's other recent albums, but there's also plenty of improvisation too – served up by a fantastic group that features Henry Threadgill on alto and flute, John Lindberg on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums – with saxophonist Jonathon Haffner stepping in for Threadgill on one of the four CDs in the package! Each longer piece has a slightly different vibe – and together, the music is a stunning statement of the continuing genius of Leo Smith in recent years – a masterful statement of his importance in jazz, but also a personal message that's filled with urgent intensity. Titles include "Gold Symphony", "Diamond Symphony", "Pearl Symphony", and "Sapphire Symphony". ~ Dusty Groove
Helsinki quartet Alder Ego, led by drummer/composer Joonas Leppänen, returns with their new album "III" on We Jazz Records. A follow up to their successful 2018 We Jazz album, "III" finds Leppänen and his bandmates extracting more depth and punch out of their tenor sax + trumpet + double bass + drums setup, which echoes the greats in the game, such as Ornette Coleman, yet adds a readily identifiable edge to it all. Leppänen's writing is evolving, becoming more and more of a signature of the band and sounding delightfully angular yet easily flowing. On "III", Alder Ego features Leppänen on drums, Jarno Tikka (of OK:KO) on tenor sax, Tomi Nikku (of Bowman Trio) on trumpet and the new addition Nathan Francis on bass.
We loved pianist Isaiah Thompson on his debut, a tribute to the music of Buddy Montgomery – but here, he sounds even more amazing, and very much his own man – bursting forth with a sense of energy and imagination that will no doubt make him one of the key young voices on piano to watch in years to come! Isaiah's got all the command of a classic master on the keys – but also rings out with all these touches and tones that are very much his own – a really special quality that lets you know that you're hearing the piano in the hands of someone who's really out to make something new of familiar modes – even when the tunes on the album are ones you've heard before too. Yet the approach isn't a gimmicky one – flash for its own sake – as Thompson's clearly drawn in plenty, and finds a way to spin it out with his own sense of style – working with core help from Philip Norris on bass and TJ Reddick on drums – on titles that include "Ojos De Rojo", "Hi Fly", "Senor Blues", "Chelsea Bridge", and "Twelve's It". ~ Dusty Groove
“Music for doing things”. That’s the intention Kutiman had for Surface Currents, his forthcoming album of ambient atmospherics and modular experiments. But its beautiful sounds are deeply calming and refreshing, making this a perfect album to do nothing to as well. Composed and recorded at his home in the middle of the Negev Desert, where the solace and tranquility of his surroundings allow him to truly stretch his creativity, Kutiman’s quiet and solitary lifestyle imbues this project with an ethereal yet joyous aura. On the title track, built around a bed of piano arpeggios, Kutiman weaves other-worldly synth flutes, soothing siren sounds and subtle wooden percussion. The quiet addition of birdsong only cements the feeling of sunrise. The low-end synth drones on “Offshore” resonate directly through your body, harmoniously complemented with harp-like keys and deep humming. Finally, the beautiful “Coral Blossom” has the jazziest feel on this collection, as weightless piano motifs interplay with synthetic bass tones.
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