Jazzwiseの April 2023 の目次

The 2023 edition of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival runs from 26 April to 1 May with a strong lineup of imaginative, leftfield Norwegian artists forming the core of the Parabola Arts Centre (PAC) programme. One that’s certain to provoke a reaction will be phenomenal drummer Paal Nilssen-Love who’s known for his work with altoist Ken Vandermark and The Ex, his solo drum performances and his critically lauded Large Unit band. For Cheltenham, the drummer will unleash Circus (29 April). Formed in lockdown when he could only work with local musicians, Nilssen-Love picked players from the classical, pop, rock, experimental and jazz worlds, then composed music for his seven ‘Circus Performers’ who range across the stage to enact it. These include vocalist Juliana Venter, guitarist Oddrun Lilja Jonsdottir and trumpeter Thomas…

It’s extraordinary to think that this month’s cover stars, Shakti, first formed half a century ago, yet while they created their effervescent virtuosic sound, the global socio-economic backdrop to this was grim. Perhaps that’s the reason they felt inspired to create such life-affirming music as the 1970s energy crisis, the US stock market crash and the Arab-Israeli conflict all foreshadowed the politics of the day. Indeed, as we face a multiplicity of similar crises today, it’s glorious to hear that the spark of joy is well and truly alight within this revitalised incarnation of Shakti. It also makes the prospect of their two UK live dates in June all the more tantalising. There’s another slice of uplifting creativity this month in the form of our free cover-mounted Now Playing Scottish…

Norwich is a city full of historic gems and in a brightly-coloured 17th century building in the Norwich Lanes, you can find Soundclash Records, an independent record store which, for 32 years, has offered a treasure trove of music to people in the city and some distance beyond. Throughout this time, the shop has been owned and run by Paul Mills (pictured above), who started the business when Back’s, another Norwich independent where he worked, closed. Paul’s knowledge of a range of musical styles is legendary, and over the years local specialist DJs and music lovers have relied upon him to unearth music for them. My own internet jazz show Cosmic Jazz, listed by Jazzwise in Airshots, is full of records purchased at Soundclash. Customers have stayed loyal over the…

It is no exaggeration to say that Wayne Shorter, who died peacefully on 2 March 2023 surrounded by his family, changed the sound of jazz. Although one of the music’s great saxophonists, he was also one of its greatest composers – some would argue he was the greatest when measuring the extent of his influence in jazz (that even bled into rock music). Although primarily remembered for his association with Art Blakey and his Jazz Messengers, Miles Davis, Weather Report, and his own quartet (2001-2015), Shorter memorably collaborated with Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, and Carlos Santana, explored a jazz-Brazilian fusion with Milton Nascimento, electro-symphonic sounds and late in his career collaborated with Esperanza Spalding in writing the full-length opera, Iphigenia. Enigmatic and elliptic in conversation, something that was echoed in…

On 22 February 1961, The Connection, ‘a play with Jazz’, opened in London at the Duke of York’s Theatre on St Martin’s Lane. Jack Gelber’s theme of heroin addiction, although timely, was hugely controversial, and the production had already caused an upset 18 months earlier at New York’s Living Theater. The story revolves around a group of jazz musicians and friends sitting around at ‘Leach’s pad’, waiting for Cowboy, the 'Connection' of the title. Lurid expositions linking jazz and drugs always set the blood racing in the veins of the gutter press, yet there was an intellectual dimension to some of the arguments expressed in the play, and so it received serious reviews. The jazz world had its own reasons for disliking the subject. A generation of beboppers, headed by…

Dhafer Youssef Street of Minarets Back Beat Edition BBE01 (CD)★★★★ Dhafer Youssef (oud, v), Herbie Hancock (p), Dave Holland (db), Ambrose Akinmusire (t), Marcus Miller (b), Nguyên Lê (g), Rakesh Chaurasia (f), Adriano Dos Santos Tenori (perc) and Vinnie Colaiuta (d). Rec. 2016, 2020 The tenth album from Tunisian vocalist and oud player Dhafer Youssef harks back to his stunning Electric Sufi, a 2001 work that – aided by classical Indian flute and drumming by Living Colour’s Will Cahoun – explored the possibilities in melding spiritual jazz and ambient electronics with Sufi mysticism. The music of the latter takes several forms (pentatonic Moroccan Gnawa music, devotional Pakistani qawwali singing, the chanted poetry of Tunisia’s Hadhra rituals), much of it rooted in healing-oriented trance, and Youssef has proceeded to fold a…

THE COMPLETE PACKAGE JAZZWISE CLUB Our premium subscription option is best way for those who want to keep up-to-date with the very best in jazz. Combining all our subscriptions into one, our Full Club package is the most comprehensive and cost-effective way to enjoy Jazzwise. ▸ 11 new print and digital issues during the year▸ Access to over 250 classic editions in the searchable digital archive▸ Receive bonus cover mount CDs during the year▸ Access 10,000+ expert reviews in our Reviews Database, with more added every month From £9.53 / a month BEST VALUE THE DIGITAL PACKAGE JAZZWISE DIGITAL CLUB ▸ 11 new digital issues during the year▸ Access to over 250 classic editions in the searchable digital archive▸ Access 10,000+ expert reviews in our NEW Reviews Database, with more…

Fret-King Elise Custom Guitar The Fret-King Elise Custom is the latest upgrade in the Elise range, following on from the John Etheridge signature model which appeared some years ago. An offset double cutaway with a semi-acoustic chambered body, the Custom model comes with a ‘straight pull’ headstock to aid tuning stability and intonation. It is also fitted with two very special ‘Fifty Five’ Trev Wilkinson pickups, which give this instrument tremendous punch and power. Our sample came in sunburst livery, beautifully finished in a gloss lacquer. The carved (and tuned!) flame maple two-piece cap is very striking and in marked contrast to the mahogany back and sides of the instrument. The ‘f’ holes have been streamlined and there is a heavy cream binding to the rims. The set neck with…

Write in to us here at Letters Dept, Jazzwise Magazine, St Jude’s Church, Dulwich Road, London SE24 0PB or email letters@jazzwise.com Jazz education is thriving in Barcelona! I thought the readers of Jazzwise may be interested in a jazz education project which has been active in Barcelona, Spain for over 15 years now. The Founder and Director, Joan Chamorro, has devoted his life to jazz, is a jazz multi-instrumentalist, a gifted music teacher and also travels the world performing and holding ‘Jazz Educational Stages’ for all lovers of jazz, plus music teachers keen to follow the ‘Joan Chamorro Method’, which is based on the importance of listening, imitation and memory and is mostly for teaching children between the ages of eight and 18 to play authentic jazz. The results he…

What to say about one of the most lauded jazz records ever – lauded, but perhaps not so much listened to these days? Thirty-eight-year-old cornettist-bandleader Oliver was one of New Orleans’ finest exports, working prolifically in California and Chicago, where he was joined by 21-year-old 'second cornettist' Louis Armstrong just months before the band’s recording debut on 6 April 1923. The band’s rock-solid tempo – thanks to drummer Baby Dodds, banjoist Bud Scott and pianist Lil Hardin (soon to become Armstrong’s wife) – contrasts brilliantly with the lively but blues-inflected front-line on ‘Dippermouth Blues’, titled for Armstrong’s early nickname. The contrasts, built into less than 150 seconds, include: a harmonised intro by the two cornets; an improvised ensemble for two choruses; a two-chorus solo by clarinettist Johnny Dodds over 'stop-chords'…

David Ake Green Thumb Posi-tone★★★ An experienced pianist-composer and educator, who’s been perhaps most influenced by Keith Jarrett’s European collaborations, leads a quartet featuring Tony Malaby on tenor sax, with a soulfully reflective blend of ingredients. John Bailey Time Bandits Freedom Road Records★★ This veteran trumpeter has an oddly tense sound considering the easy-going flavour of his quartet that includes The Cookers’ illustrious pianist George Cables; they never really hit the gears in a mixed bag of band compositions and standards. Michael Barnes Octet Out from Under Amp Music & Records★★★ Norwegian large ensembles tend to enjoy themselves when performing, their quirky exuberance unshackled by tradition, and this octet led by an Aussie reedsman (who’s also the Bergen Big Band director) is no exception. It’s fuelled by everything from orchestration…

1 In Flight by George Benson (1977) “This album has been my 'go to' for over 30 years and George’s scat on 'The World Is A Ghetto' is a complete masterpiece, especially the outro! Produced by the legendary Tommy LiPuma, the lineup is utterly perfect with Phil Upchurch on rhythm guitar and the amazing Ronnie Foster on Minimoog, making it one of my absolute 'can't live without' recordings. What an incredible vocal range Benson has. A complete natural.” 2 Extensions Of A Man by Donny Hathaway (1973) “I don't think I love any male voice more than I love the sound of Donny Hathaway. He goes straight to my heart. This is his last solo studio album and features the epic 'SomedayWe'll All Be Free' which we all know and love,…

ANDORRA: “CURRENT” On ’Currents’ Andorra continues to develop their modern vintage sound that fuses intricate jazz with deep grooves, cinematic effects, and an exuberant attitude Hotly-tipped Neo-soul group nominated as >On ’Currents’ Andorra continues to develop their modern vintage sound that fuses intricate jazz with deep grooves, cinematic effects, and an exuberant attitude Hotly-tipped Neo-soul group nominated as “most innovative concert experience of the year” in their homeland of Denmark THE NOW SOUND IS ON APRIL RECORDS A PLANE TO CATCH: “MOKO JUMBIE” “Improvised jazz and groove-based funk, born out of a graffiti-smudged artist’s space in old industrial Copenhagen” MORTEN SCHANTZ TRIO: “PASSENGER” Revels in exploring both the familiar and the unexpected, offering a modern jazz extension to the iconic Scandinavian piano trio sound LIS WESSBERG: “YELLOW MAP” Cool-school acoustic…

Big wins for Fergus McCreadie and Georgia Cécile at the Jazz FM Awards, plus a Scottish Album of the Year victory and Mercury Prize nomination for McCreadie’s Forest Floor, have lit the fuse for an explosion of energy north of the border. A new generation of talent has joined the innovative artists who, for years, have been building a distinctive identity for Scottish jazz that is rooted in the genre’s history, Scotland’s own musical traditions and the dynamic rhythms of the world. Presented by Creative Scotland using National Lottery funds, this month’s free CD captures a specific time and place, as Scottish jazz steps into the spotlight and shares its music with audiences everywhere. www.creativescotland.com/scotlands-jazz https://bit.ly/NowPlayingScottishJazz2023 01 ‘Law Hill’ by Fergus McCreadie (Forest Floor, Edition Records) “For a recent album,…

★★★★★ Landmark Recording ★★★★ Excellent ★★★ Good ★★ Average ★ Disappointing Tristan Banks View From Above Ubuntu 0131 (CD, DL) ★★★ Tristan Banks (d), Paul Booth (ts, ss, fl), John Crawford (p) and Davide Mantovani (b). Rec. 2022 For three decades, the British session drummer Tristan Banks has been a first-call sideman for a 'glitterati' across jazz, pop and soul music, while in the past year confirming his deep jazz roots by finding time to creatively manage Brighton’s popular Verdict club. Now Ubuntu Records boss Martin Hummel, an admirer of both Banks' versatility and his jazz soul, has offered him his belated leadership debut, with long-time musical sidekicks including multi-sax virtuoso Paul Booth – an eloquent regular with Steve Winwood, Incognito, and many others. The agenda of View From Above…

★★★★★ Landmark Recording ★★★★ Excellent ★★★ Good ★★ Average ★ Disappointing Basie All Stars Live at Fabrik Vol 1 Jazzline/NDR Kultur D77125 (CD) ★★★★ RECOMMENDED Sweets Edison, Joe Newman (t), Benny Powell (tb), Marshall Royal, Buddy Tate, Billy Mitchell (reeds), Nat Pierce (p), John Heard (b) and Gus Johnson (d). Rec. 5 May 1981 Although Count Basie was still alive in 1981 (he died in 1984) this group of his former sideman, plus the impeccable Nat Pierce on piano, took to the road as a nine-piece that had all the power of the maestro’s big band. Yes, Freddie Green was missing, but this all-star collection of former Basie-ites creates a stunningly effective tribute to their former boss in this Hamburg concert. Whether it’s Billy Mitchell tearing up the opening ‘Bluesbird…

BBC RADIO 2 88-91 FM and DAB Big Band Special (Mon, 11pm), Jamie Cullum show (Tues, 9pm) BBC RADIO 3 90-93 FM and DAB J to Z (Sat 5pm) Afro-French double bassist Sélène Saint Aimé’s inspirations, as well as concert highlights from SF Jazz Collective (1 April) Concert highlights from Grammy Award-winning vocalist Samara Joy, live at London’s Jazz Cafe (8 April) The best in jazz - past, present and future (15 April) Japanese Jazz Special (22 April) The best in jazz - past, present and future (29 April) Jazz Record Requests (Sun, 4pm) Freeness with Corey Mwamba (Sat, Midnight) BBC RADIO 6 MUSIC DAB Gilles Peterson, Sat 3pm JAZZ FM DAB, Sky, Alexa, smartphone, tablet and online at jazzfm.com (Mon – Fri) 6am-6.30am Business Breakfast, 6.30am-10am Jazz FM Breakfast…