Musica is something of a surprise summertime special release, following on from the recent Westbound EP by accomplished multi-instrumentalist and producer Alexander IV, otherwise known as Joris Feiertag. This latest sobriquet has allowed the Dutch beatmaker to move away from his more club focused offerings, to explore his hip hop, soul and jazz roots. The track is a Brasilian flavoured bossa nova beauty that starts sweetly and easily with mellow guitars and drums joined by enchanting South American vocals reminiscent of Astrud Gilberto, Joyce or the much missed Gal Costa. Breezy keys join the soothing mix, giving Musica the feel of an Ipanema classic, before things are turned up a notch, with a heavier samba sensation in the piece’s dying moments. Alexander IV’s music fuses organic and electronic elements with ease, which isn’t surprising given the artist’s experience not only as a consummate dance music maker, but also as drummer of choice for Dutch superstars Kraak & Smaak. Add to that an extended family of gifted musicians, and you’ve got something brand new yet retro; uncomplicated yet masterful.
German nu jazz stalwarts Micatone return to Sonar Kollektiv after a six year hiatus with the ethereal and emotionally charged coming-of-age piece, Where Do You Belong? The core duo of the band, Boris Meinhold on guitar and synths and Lisa Bassenge on vocals, have been making music for the label for over two decades, with five studio albums and numerous singles to date. Where Do You Belong? was inspired by singer Lisa’s now nineteen year old daughter at a time when she was trying to find her place in the world. Lisa explains that the “song (is) about the in-between state humans find themselves in when they grow up. A phase where life seems full of possibilities, shiny and brand new but at the same time scary and somehow overwhelming.” The track was produced during COVID lockdown with Boris using field recordings, guitars, an old organ bass pedal and choir that give the track that celestial feel. Lisa wrote the melodies and lyrics over the top and asked vocalists Lilian Bennett-Schaar, Johanna Maisel and Josephine Pritz to sing the choral parts. Label head honcho, Oliver Glage, then had the idea of Stefan Leisering, of Jazzanova, providing the programmed drums, and the track was complete. An elegant, touching and yet somewhat intangible new offering, and the first of a little series of pieces out on the label in 2023.
I'm reminded of Bartok's Mikrokosmos; his series of six volumes for tackling technical piano techniques he thought were missing from educational material for teaching "modern piano works" but in this case, it would be for drums and piano. And it's not that this album I'm sharing with you sounds like etudes, but they have a cohesiveness and "point" to each piece, even though there is quite a bit of free improvisation (note: this is not a free jazz record). Sometimes I also hear Erik Satie high on a pot of coffee. You decide. 'What We Are' is the flower that came out of the years-long collaboration between Zack Clarke (from Texas, now NYC) and Alex Louloudis (originally from Greece). The two met in New York City, became friends, and started collaborating in a variety of musical situations. Countless sessions, exploring the freer side of the Jazz idiom, gigs, and Louloudis' graduation recital from the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music are some of the occasions that tighten their musical and personal connection. As may be apparent from listening to the album, both Clarke and Louloudis find their aesthetic preferences closer to the free jazz approaches. At the same time, one can understand that the two are heavily rooted into the jazz tradition as well as other important traditions that come from different places in the world. High on their list of influences, both in the composition and improvisation fronts, the two have Ornette Coleman and his innovation of the harmolodic approach.
Izy are back with a new single: ‘Close The Door’, a slinky piece of minimalist analog neo-soul, their first new piece of music since 2021’s Irene album.Led by the heartfelt and sensual vocals of bassist Warrigo Tyrrell aka Waari, the song is an ode to cutting off the noise of the outside world and tuning in with yourself. Closing the door to past relationships and habits and shifting from old actions to new, opening a path to new growth, rooted in what is real and personal - home and family. Warrigo’s voice is supported by his own perfectly executed electric bass playing, sitting right in the pocket with drummer Maru Nitor-Zammataro and the sublime, understated guitar comping of Ryotaro Noshiro. The trio’s connection is near-psychic, and testament to the fact they’ve been playing together since they were teens. The entire rhythm track is a single improvisation captured on tape at the Hopestreet Recordings HQ which the band then worked back into creating vocal melodies and parts as a group. In Warrigo’s words: “We all came together in the vocal booth to find suited melodies, collectively building on each other’s ideas and eventually developing a storyline.” This song is a recommended listen for fans of anything from D’angelo to Curtis Mayfield, with a rhythmic feel and vocal performance informed by contemporary neo-soul but the analog textures speaking to older soul and jazz influences. Close The Door is the beginning of a new cycle of music from Izy with more singles due later in 2023 and an album scheduled for 2024.
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