Monday, August 28, 2023

New Music Releases: Som Imaginário, Matteo Mancuso, Jaimie Branch & Oiro Pena

Som Imaginário - Banda Da Capital

Som Imaginário's previously unreleased 1976 album Banda Da Capital is out now. The Brazilian prog maestros are most well known as backing band to the great Milton Nascimento and played with the MPB titan on many of his greatest albums, including Clube Da Esquina, Milton Nascimento (1970), Milagre Dos Peixes and Maria Maria/Ultimo Trem. They also recorded 3 groundbreaking studio albums of their own. But one piece of their history has remained obscured for the past almost half-century. Until today... Banda Da Capital features Wagner Tiso, Fredera, Nivaldo Ornelas, Paulinho Braga and Jamil Joanes and was recorded direct from the sound desk at Som Imaginario's show celebrating Nature Day in Brasilia in 1976. The CD and digital release of Banda Da Capital feature two bonus tracks from a separate concert at Museu de Arte Moderna, in Rio de Janeiro, on October 6th 1975. These are another arrangement of “Armina” and Toninho Horta’s stunning performance of his composition “Manuel o Audaz”, which he would later record with Pat Metheny and Lo Borges.

Matteo Mancuso - The Journey

Guitar virtuoso Matteo Mancuso will released his debut album, 'The Journey', on July 21st via The Players Club/Mascot Label Group. Mancuso hails from Sicily, nestled in the Mediterranean Sea to the South of Italy. The island has always had a rich cultural heritage, from poets, writers, philosophers, and architects to painters and musicians. Born in 1996 and raised just outside the capital Palermo, the pedigree runs deep in the veins of those from the region.At 12, Matteo took his first steps onto the stage at a local jazz festival. Since then, his acquaintance with live performances has seen him blossom and develop through various line-ups and collaborations with the finest local musicians, including a duo with his father, where they explore the complexities of Django Reinhart's repertoire and contemporary jazz classics. As a multi-faceted player, either classical or electric, what is astounding is his one-of-a-kind technique and use of his fingers instead of regular picking.

Jaimie Branch - Fly Or Die Fly Or Die Fly Or Die (World War)

One of the last recordings ever made by the genius trumpeter Jaimie Branch – and a set that shows the bold new direction she was going in, right before she left our planet all too soon! The music here leaps forward from any of Branch's earlier recordings – with harder rhythms, more focus in the driving quality of the music, and even some lyrical passages that are quite stunning – vocals that add a lot to the music, and which could have had Jaimie finding an audience in a world far past just jazz! The core group is incredible – the drums of Chad Taylor have never been so powerful, urged on by the bass work of Jason Ajemian – and folded beautifully with the cello, voice, marimba, and keyboards of Lester St Louis. Branch herself also plays keyboards and percussion – and Daniel Villareal guests on some additional percussion too – and the whole thing comes together with an incredible sense of energy and vision, at a level that has us missing Jaimie's presence on the planet even more than before. Titles include "Aurora Rising", "Take Over The World", "Baba Louie", "Burning Grey", "The Mountain", and "Borealis Dancing". ~ Dusty Groove

Oiro Pena - Puna

The coolest record so far from this hip Finnish combo – one who seem to get deeper and more spiritual with each new release, and really knocking it out of the park with the combination of elements on this set! All the instrumentation is standard from the outside – but the way they come together is really magical, very personal, and completely inspirational – a blend of the drums of leader Antti Vauhkonen with the flute and saxes of Johannes Sarjasto, bass of Philip Holm, piano of Staffan Wolf Sodergard, and occasional vocals of female singer Marikukka Kiviharju. Titles include "Joo Tai", "Kunika Kukaan", "Calamity Caravan", "Kaiju Kaiju", and "Joona's Abs". ~ Dusty Groove


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