Like his early hero Miles Davis, Polish trumpeter Tomasz Stanko has a gift for shaping great bands, and this one, formed in the world’s jazz capital, overflows with promise.
The renowned Norwegian guitarist – who has previously contributed to ECM recordings with Nils Petter Molvær, Marilyn Mazur, Arve Henriksen, Andy Sheppard, Arild Andersen and Jon Hassell – with a first ‘leader’ disc for the label, recorded in Kristiansand and Oslo.
*4 Stars* "Taking in bluesy free-bop, exotic Ethio-jazz, and avant-garde abstractions, Grass Roots remains remarkably cohesive, distinguished by its taught and muscular post-hip hop sound, and the group’s highly sensitive use of space."
–Stewart Smith, The List
* 5 Stars *
"Ware says that spirituality is what you are and music is what you do. Because there is a lot of experience in this band their music can be 100 percent intuitive, very refined, and spontaneous. I really felt sad when Ware came to an end with his legendary quartet with Matthew Shipp, William Parker and Guillermo E. Brown. But – my god – he has replaced it with another supergroup."
Nearly. Nearly a song, somewhat familiar. Nearly comfortable, almost fulfilling. The melody stays ever-open, indefinite, and then the song departs, breaks, never arrives. It’s not surrender, it’s a game, open to the listener.
PARQUE is a project of the intermedia artist Ricardo Jacinto, with the instrumental contributions of Nuno Torres, Nuno Morão, João Pinheiro, Dino Récio and André Sier, and “Earworm Versions” the remaining tail of an exhibition and performance-installation presented at Culturgest, Lisbon, in 2008.
Based in Rotterdam, and joining two Portuguese living in that city, Hugo Costa (alto sax) and Gonçalo Almeida (electric bass) to the German drummer Philipp Ernsting, the band Albatre plays a schizoid music which has free jazz and rock (as envisioned by punk and metal) as idiomatic poles. Everything immerged in distortion and with a sometimes heavy, sometimes crazily fast beat.
Rimbaud is a fascinating collection of four stylistically diverse, wildly imaginative, mostly manic pieces by John Zorn, all inspired by the 19th century French Symbolist poet.
"A Vision In Blakelight" is another addition to what's being described as John Zorn's 'mystical' works. It is a curious blend of jazz, classical and meditative esthetics. In this case, the music is inspired by the writings of William Blake. 'When the Morning Stars Sang Together' is a life affirming and relaxed opener.
