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Avant garde jazz, Arab lutes, Indo-jazz fusion, standards and beyond: September 2008
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Posted by: editoron Monday, September 01, 2008 - 09:32 AM |
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By John Stevenson
Lowell Davidson Trio (ESP Disk)
Gravely injured in a lab accident, Davidson died way before his time in 1990 at the age of 49.
A prodigiously gifted pianist, who came highly recommended by Ornette Coleman, this Harvard biochemistry graduate concocts a work of pure avant garde alchemy on this auspicious 1965 outing – his only documented recording. Superbly supported by bassist Gary Peacock and drummer/percussionist Milford Graves, Davidson pummels and probes the outer reaches of the piano with abandon. A rare and welcome reissue.
Asaf Sirkis: The Monk (SAM)
This recording marks the triumphant debut of the Asaf Sirkis Trio, enabling the Israeli-born London-resident drummer to step out of the shadow of compatriot saxophonist Gilad Atzmon’s Orient House Ensemble. Joined by guitarist Tassos Spiliotopoulos and electric bassist Yaron Stavi, ace drummer Sirkis stretches out and unveils his influences: Guitarist Larry Coryell comes to mind in the roiling rhythms of “Stoned Bird”, while Allan Holdsworth’s imprimatur is firmly stamped in the mellow melodicism of “Without A Story”.
That said, Sirkis (who wrote all but one of the CD’s eight tunes) reveals himself as an intelligent and assuredly unconventional composer. Among The Monk’s highlights are the spooky textures of guest musician Gary Husband’s keyboards on “The Dream” and Spiliotopoulos’s delicate dynamics on “The Journey Home”.
Wolfgang Muthspiel 4TET: Earth Mountain (Material Records)
A thinking man’s guitarist, this Austrian’s music is always accessible, coming with probing, logical lines and a willingness to groove and swing. Muthspiel is one of the most accomplished European jazz guitarists of his generation, right up there with the Methenys, the Frisells, the Scofields and the Abercrombies. In his current band he has found a like-minded collaborator in pianist Jean-Paul Brodbeck who follows his every phrase with almost telepathic fervour. Bass and drum siblings Matthias and Andreas Pichler, respectively, provide the perfect rhythmic platform. This quartet has a tight sound veering from hip-hop references on the opening cut “Jackson’s Pocket”, to the catchy and anthemic “Sistah”, and stately ballad, “Steps”.
Garaj Mahal: w00t (Owl Studios)
In Garaj Mahal, funk, rock, soul, and Indian music flow and coalesce. Comprising virtuosos such as German-Liberian electric bass wunderkind Kai Eckhardt, guitarist/sitarist Fareed Haque, drummer Alan Hertz and keyboardist Eric Levy, the group explores a vast array of styles. On “Semos” you will find a heavy funk pulse a la the Headhunters, while “Corner Peace” enforces a sitar-induced air of tranquillity. The band definitely has a sense of humour, as “Ishmael and Isaac” demonstrates, shuffling between klezmer and hard rock.
Rabih Abou-Khalil: Em Portugues (Enja)
Abou-Khalil, one of the world’s top Arabic oud players, is at the height of his creative imagination on this latest Enja release. Em Portugues is the result of Lebanese lutist’s experimentations with fado, Portugal’s very own ‘blues’ music. Rabih Abou-Khalil and band provide an unusual rhythmic cushion for Ricardo Ribeiro, the up-and-coming Lisbon-based fadista. Like Mariza and Goncalo Salgueiro, this 27-year-old fado star is ranked among a ‘new wave’ of fado singers who have brought a youthful energy to the music genre. On the opening track, Como um rio, Ribeiro’s upbeat declamations (the CD’s attractive accompanying booklet provides translations from Portuguese into English, French and German) ebb and flow river-like into the torrents of Abou-Kahlil’s frenzied and deliciously bluesy improvisation.
Marilyn Scott: Every Time We Say Goodbye (Venus)
There’s something about Scott’s raw-edged vocal delivery that works its charms on jazz standards. And her latest Venus recording marks a definite departure from the sometimes over-produced jazz fusion/smooth-jazz formats that characterise her back catalogue. She gets to lay back in the cut, so to speak, and stretch out on ten familiar jazz standards - and hits them all out of the park. Great arrangements by the likes of Russell Ferrante and Mitch Forman add to the delight, especially on Burt Bacharach’s “Do You Know The Way To San Jose?”. Scott is surrounded by a dream team of Cyrus Chestnut on piano, Gerald Cannon on bass, Willie Jones III on drums, Paul Bollenback on guitar and Ken ‘Peps’ Peplowski on clarinet and tenor saxophone.
Marc Rossi Group: Hidden Mandala (Gravity)
Pianist Marc Rossi has found a hip middle way between Indian classical music and modern jazz. Hidden Mandala provides all the proof. A sophisticated outing from the Berklee professor, the CD is chock full of grooves and great hooks, aligning hot new talent (Brazilian drummer Mauricio Zottarelli is one to watch out for!) with older stalwarts such as saxophonist Lance Van Lenten and accomplished Indian vocal/veena artist, Geetha Bennett. Standout tracks include “Voice of 1000 Colors” and “Fatwa in Carbondale”.
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