I don’t have time to write a real review, but I have to tell you, “THIS CD IS GREAT! BUY IT! LISTEN TO IT OFTEN!”
Category: Recent Listening
Matt Wilson, Adam Kolker, and Rail
These three discs have been in my changer for a while, but I am just now getting around to writing a little something about them.
In the past, I’ve made no secret of my enthusiasm for Matt Wilson’s music, and his new quartet disc, That’s Gonna Leave A Mark, just kicked that enthusiasm up another notch. The music is swinging and adventurous and fun and socially conscious. It balances inside and outside exceedingly well. Get this CD!
Adam Kolker’s Flag Day features Kolker on tenor sax, John Abercrombie on guitar, John Hébert on bass, and Paul Motian on drums. This disc can seem a bit understated at times, since it doesn’t go for high levels of exuberance, but maintains steady melodic flow and controlled expression. It is soulful in an intellectual way. I know that seems like a contradiction, but it doesn’t have to be.
A friend gave me this self titled CD by a band called Rail. I had never heard of them, but the music is interesting. They call it “heavy duty post jazz.” I might have called it instrumental indie rock played by guys with some jazz in their background. Either way it is pretty interesting. CD Baby has sound samples.
Get In To Go Out – Paul Giallorenzo
I have been listening to Paul Giallorenzo’s Get In To Go Out lately. It is aptly titled. It swings really hard in spots, and has a familiar but slightly off-kilter (in a good way) compositional style that flows from a Monk or Andrew Hill kind of vibe. It is a good disc worth checking out.
Full Disclosure: I know all of the musicians on this disc and count them as friends. It is good music whether I know them or not.
Brass all around
Here are some recent musical acquisitions that I have been digging.
Josh Berman’s Old Idea on Delmark
Josh, Keefe, and Jason are members of the Lucky 7s. Josh’s music occupies a great space that can be both lyrical and frenetic.
Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society Infernal Machines on New Amsterdam Records
This is a vital and captivating large ensemble recording. I’m not sure if calling it big band (or bigband) gives one the right mental starting point to hear this great music.
Dave Douglas Spirit Moves on Greenleaf Music
Brass quartet plus drums. Vincent Chancey’s horn is a nice color in that mix, and Marcus Rojas on tuba and Luis Bonilla on trombone are two of my favorites on their respective instruments.
Note: Both the New Amsterdam and Greenleaf sites rock the very cool instant download when you order the CD vibe.
Rob Mazurek – Lisa Sokolov
These discs deserve reviews, but I don’t really have the time to get to them. They have both been in my player quite a bit lately. Mazurek’s disc is full of great textures. Come to the Lisa Sokolov disc with out jazz singer expectations, and you’ll get to some good music. If you look at the titles of the songs, and expect something similar to what you’ve heard before, you might have a hard time with it. Let it be what it is, and you’ll be treated to a great new experience.
We are MTO
I listened to “We are MTO” twice through today while web geeking. This disc is growing on me. It has a very infectious vibe, and Clark Gayton (trombone) sounds GREAT on it.
Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Indo-Pak Coalition
I’ve been hearing and reading a lot about this lately. I gave it a listen through today and enjoyed it.
Recent Listening – Ethan Iverson – Live at Smalls
“Have You Met Miss Jones?” popped up while I was playing shuffle bingo, and I had to leave shuffle mode and listen to the whole record.
George Russell – Recent Listening
Ok, I am changing the category name to Recent Listening, and here is some of it.
Listened Today – Jim Pepper “Coming and Going”
Maybe I should change this category to “Listened Recently.” Jim Pepper’s “Coming and Going” seems to be out of print. I couldn’t quickly find the album cover online. This is worth seeking out a used copy. Don Cherry, Hamid Drake and others are in the all star cast.