jazz
Track: Sparkle Division – You Go Girl!
An unusual partnership it may be, that of renowned composer and tape loop pioneers William Basinski, and young up and coming studio assistant Preston Wendel, but nevertheless, the pair got together under the moniker Sparkle Division and Basinski hauled out his Saxophone as the pair made an album – To Feel Embraced, which mixes up …
Track: Bill Frisell Trio – We Shall Overcome
Legendary Jazz guitarist Bill Frisell has put together a new trio featuring bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Rudy Royston for a new album Valentine, released on August 14th via Blue Note Records. From it, they’ve released their version of the Civil Rights anthem ‘We shall overcome’. “I’ve been playing the song for years, and I’m …
Track: Warriors of the Dystotheque / Howie B – No Borders
Released this month in aid of the Black Minds Matter Charity is a new collaboration between Warriors of the Dystotheque and Howie B, made remotely under lockdown, and put together remotely. It’s exclusively on Bandcamp for free or a charity donation. Warriors of the Dystotheque are composed of DJ, Producer, Engineers and Musicians: Jonny Mac …
TRACK: Jaga Jazzist’s “Spiral Era” remix is heading for other galaxies
GRADUALLY and cultishly, Norwegian octet Jaga Jazzist have been building probably the most interesting and wide-ranging catalogue in the modern jazz sphere; wholly unafraid of leaping genre fences, taking and tempering and incorporating strands of other musics in the most creative way. Listen to an album such as 2002’s A Livingroom Hush, or 2015’s Starfire, …
Album Review: Maceo Parker – Soul Food – Cooking With Maceo
Fans of Maceo have had a whole 8 years to wait for his latest studio album. Well let me tell you I don’t think they will be disappointed. Soul Food – Cooking with Maceo serves up a nourishing, all you can eat buffet of classics and originals infused with New Orleans Funk. ‘Cross The Track’, …
EP REVIEW: JOCKSTRAP – Wicked City: we’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto
WARP debutantes Jockstrap – the duo Georgia Ellery and Taylor Skye, jazz and electronics students respectively in a previous life – really do screw with the ol’ head, in the nicest possible way. It’s not like you haven’t heard many of the influences they draw on before, perhaps; but it’s the insouciant way they combine …
Album Review: Vibration Black Finger – Can You See What I’m Trying To Say
As a founding member of the likes of Brand New Heavies, Campag Velocet and Heliocentric World, Lascelle ‘Lascelles’ Gordon certainly has pedigree. His new album with his Vibration Black Finger band – ‘Can You See What I’m Trying To Say’ takes inspiration from obscure spiritual jazz collectives of the 70s, working with a huge number …
Track: Jon Hassell – New album/preview track, ‘Fearless’
Pub Quiz question: Name a connection between La Monte Young, Terry Riley’s seminal record ‘In C’, Brian Eno, David Byrne, Bjork, Peter Gabriel, Ry Cooder, David Sylvian, Tears for Fears and Lloyd Cole plus his Commotions? Answer: they have all drawn on the talents of the essential trumpet player, composer and musical adventurer Jon Hassell. …
See: Moses Boyd releases new Video for Stranger than fiction
To think of Moses Boyd as a jazz drummer misses so many beats. Producer, composer, collaborator, shape shifter and innovator, this MOBO award winning musician has been central to the phenomenal ‘nu-jazz’ scene that has exploded out of London town over the last five years. With an influence that spreads far and wide, from his …
Exclusive: Pete Judge records West-Running Brook in session for Backseat Mafia
Just out is the new solo piano album – Piano 2, from Bristol trumpeter, composer, multi-instrumentalist Pete Judge, the sometime member of acclaimed post-jazz outfit Get The Blessing. It’s a follow up to his 2019 Piano album, and both feature these rather beautiful little jazz / neo-classical vignettes or miniatures. One of the stand out …