Howard ALDEN & Ken PEPLOWSKI - Live At Centre Concord / Encore!: CD  Arbors ∫ Howard Alden g; Ken Peplowski ts, cl ∫ Did I Remember? / Who Knows / After All / I See Your Face Before Me / Tempus Fugit / The Things We Did Last Summer /  Lucky To Be Me / a.o. ∫ reviews - DownBeat 06.08 **** ∫ recording

Lotte ANKER / Sylvie COURVOISIER / Ikue MORI - Alien Huddle: rec 2008  CD  Intakt ∫ Lotte Anker sax; Sylvie Couroisier p; Ikue Mori eltr ∫ reviews - Label: Lotte Anker legt mit dieser Trio CD ihr Debut auf Intakt Records vor. Die Saxophonistin aus Kopenhagen hat einen Jazz-Background. Während ihres Musikstudiums an der Kopenhagener Universität kam sie in Kontakt mit Musikern wie Bob Brookmeyer und David Murray. Sie spielte mit den skandinavischen MusikerInnen Marilyn Mazur und Pierre Dørge und tritt im Trio mit Mazur und Marilyn Crispell auf. Unüberhörbar ist der Einfluss des New Yorker Musikers Tim Berne, mit dem Lotte Anker in mehreren Besetzungen, u.a. auch zusammen mit Sylvie Courvoisier arbeitet.

Carla BLEY Band - Appearing Nightly: rec 2006  CD  ECM ∫ Earl Gardner / Lew Soloff / Giampaolo Casati / Florian Esch trp, Beppe Calamosca / Gary Valente / Gigi Grata / Richard Henry trb, Roger Jannotta ss/as/fl, Wolfgang Puschnig as/fl, Andy Sheppard ts, Christophe Panzani ts, Julien Arguelles bars, Carla Bley p, Karen Mantler org, Steve Swallow b, Billy Drummond dr ∫ reviews - DRS2 Jazz aktuell 09.09.08 Empfehlung Beat Blaser / Radio Magazin 09.08 Empfehlung Beat Blaser ***** / Label: Carla Bley zündete ihre professionelle Karriere Mitte der 50er Jahre als Barpianistin und Zigarettengirl in Night– und Jazzclubs. Diese Eindrücke und ein Auftrag aus Sardinien, Musik zum Thema Essen zu schreiben, inspirierten ihr neues Big Band Album. Die guten (?) alten Zeiten werden musikalisch heraufbeschworen und mit viel Understatement zum Swingen gebracht. Der begnadeten Komponistin und Arrangeuse gelingt das Kunststück, innerhalb weniger Takte Referenzen an sechs Songs ‚Salt Peanuts‘, You‘re the Cream in My Coffee‘, ‚Watermelon Man‘, ‚Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries‘, ‚Hey Pete, Let‘s Eat More Meat‘ und ‚Tea for Two‘ zu packen. Die gewohnt brillante Band bringt die verschmitzt unterhaltende Musik mit augenzwinkernder Brillanz zu Gehör. ‚Appearing Nightly‘ wurde im Juli 2006 live im Pariser Club New Morning eingespielt.  ∫ recording  

Geof BRADFIELD - Urban Nomad: rec 2007  CD  Origin Records ∫ Geof Bradfield ts, ss; Ron Perrillo p; George Fludas dr; Clark Sommers b ∫ reviews - Audiophile Auditio, Jan P. Dennis:  “Geof Bradfield with Urban Nomad vaults to the upper echelons of current jazzmen. This is an artist and disc not to be missed.” ∫ recording

Elmar BRASS - G. Yorck: rec 2008  CD  Laika ∫ Elmar Brass p; Markus Schieferdecker b; Déjan Terzic dr; Oliver Groenewald tp ∫ Yesterdays / Stella By Starlight / The Nearness Of You / Soul Eyes / & Originals by E. Brass ∫ reviews - DRS2 Jazz aktuell 19.08.08, Empfehlung Jodok Hess

CONFERENCE CALL - Poetry In Motion: rec  2008  CD  clean feed ∫ Gebhard Ullmann reeds; George Schuller dr; Joe Fonda b; Michael Jefry Stevens p

Mark DRESSER / Ed HARKINS / Steven SCHICK - House Of Mirrors: rec  2008  CD  clean feed ∫ Ed Harkins tp; Mark Dresser b; Steven Schick perc ∫ reviews - label: Being Mark Dresser, the most "classical" of jazz/improvised music bassists today, it is no wonder we find him in the company of two of the most accomplished improvisers coming from the new and classical contemporary fields, Ed Harkins with the trumpet family (piccolo, reed, 2-bell, slide and modular) and Steven Schick on everything percussive, from skins to Chinese temple bells and gongs. But House of Mirrors project isn't similar to the interpretations of Iannis Xenakis, Roger Reynolds or John Luther Adams which the last two musicians are famed for. It was born from Harkins' and Dresser's investigations of complex rhythm, pitch and timbre, enriched by the contribution of Schick in terms of sound and texture. In the end, this is a proposal emerging from the frontier between what we call "jazz" and the experimental lab of the academic music world, combining in defiant and playful ways, under a solid concept, written open scores and structured improvisation. And if you think that the double bass has a limited range when compared to the varied palette of timbres of the trumpeter and the percussionist, think again: in the hands of Mark Dresser the bass is permanently reinvented. He's known for finding unusual ways to amplify his instrument. Here he uses a "surrealist" (not our term: you find it in the technical sheet of the CD) pick-up system designed by Kent McLagan, and sometimes he even prepares the giant fiddle very much like John Cage prepared the piano. In one instrument you have several. The magnification of sounds from the bass and the mutation of the other instruments will cause you to relate to them in surprising ways. The collaborators themselves said in an interview with music critic Bill Shoemaker, that in some passages of this recording they have difficulties recognizing who plays what. That says it all-the difference of roles assumed by the performers of this trio in relation to both conventional jazz and contemporary music is really something else, and undoubtedly superb. ∫ recording

John ELLIS & Double-Wide - Dance Like There's No Tomorrow: rec 2007  CD  Hyena Records ∫ John Ellis ts, ss, bcl; Gary Versace org, acc; Matt Perrine sousaphone; Jason Marsalis dr ∫ reviews - DownBeat 06.08 **** / Label: It's been said that music is the universal language. With that in mind, the New York City-based saxophonist John Ellis was inspired to write an album based around the universal reaction to that language--dancing. His fourth recording as a leader, 'Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow', is a joyous affair, harnessing music's power to light a better way in the face of uncertain times. Here, Ellis debuts a band he calls Double Wide, featuring Matt Perrine on tuba, Gary Versace on organ and Jason Marsalis on drums. The album draws its spirit from the South where Ellis was raised, and in particular, his former stomping ground, New Orleans. There’s the gospel-inflected “All Up In The Aisles” that brings the congregation to their feet, the gypsy images conjured by “Three-Legged Tango In Jackson Square” and the Crescent City’s commitment to celebrating life evoked by the title track. Ellis’ proclivity for pastoral, inward-looking melodies is also well-represented on compositions like “Tattoed Teen Waltzes with Grandma” and “Dream and Mosh.” Ellis surmises the heart of this landmark recording: “During Hurricane Katrina and in its aftermath, there were bars on Bourbon Street that never closed. And, of course, it wasn't ‘too soon’ to celebrate Mardi Gras the following February. New Orleans has always known how to live for the day, and how to dance like there's no tomorrow.” ∫ sound

FLAGSTAFF JAZZ - Comes Alive: rec 2008 self-released ∫ Angèle OEHRLI-Thijs voc; Andy KLEIN voc; Jürg FREUDIGER b, el-b, voc ∫ Band ∫ sounds [1] | [2] | [3]  

Jacob FRED Jazz Odyssey - Lil' Tae Rides Again: rec 2007  CD  Hyena Records ∫ Brian Haas kb, melodica; Reed Mathis b, efts; Josh Raymer dr; Tae Meyulks g - Band ∫ reviews - DownBeat 06.08 **** / Label: Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey re-emerges with their most ambitious, idiosyncratic and mind-expanding album yet—Lil Tae Rides Again. The fearless, eternally exploring trio from Tulsa, Oklahoma appeared for only a handful of tour dates and summer festivals in 2007. Rumors swirled among fans regarding the reasons for such scarcity. JFJO’s intent, however, was never in question. They simply went underground to create music on their own terms, in their own universe, on their own timetable. The trio enlisted eccentric electronic music futurist Tae Meyulks to produce. He shared in the trio’s vision to record an album awash in sprawling soundscapes, minimalist melodies and subliminal themes. Lil Tae Rides Again achieves its intent, an Eno-esque masterwork that offers a sustaining aura of psychedelic splendor. As on previous efforts, JFJO define themselves as a mercurial musical force in a constant state of re-imagining their creative horizons. The beauty in JFJO’s self-definition is that they are utterly un-definable. Lil Tae Rides Again, but better still, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey rides again. ∫ recording ∫ sound

FREE FROM FUNKY FREQS - Urban Mythology Vol 1: CD  Thirsty Ear ∫ Vernon Reid g; Jamaladeen Tacuma b; Calvin Weston dr ∫ reviews - label: Get ready for the fr q-y power trio from the future, melding the talents of Vernon Reid on guitar, Jamaaladeen Tacuma on bass and G. Calvin Weston on drums. This extraordinary meeting of the minds and souls break new ground in the definition of the timeless trio sound using the best elements of improvisation, modern DSP, and good old-fashioned funk. Groups are often touted as having "natural chemistry", but few if any would attempt a recording like this putting those often used words to the test. Despite their long personal association, Reid, Tacuma and Weston had never before played together.

GANELIN Trio Priority - Live In Lugano 2006: rec 2006  CD  NotTwo Records PL ∫ Vyacheslav Ganelin p, synth, perc; Petras Vysniauskas ss; Klaus Kugel dr, perc ∫ reviews - AllAboutJazz, August 2007 / JazzReview, June, 2008 ∫ Band ∫ sounds

Giovanni GUIDI Quartet - The House Behind This One: rec 2008  CD  CAM Jazz ∫ Giovanni Guidi p; Dan Kunzelman ts; Stefano Senni b; Joao Lobo dr ∫ reviews - Label: “The House Behind This One” is the second album by Giovanni Guidi for CAM Jazz, after “Indian Summer”, the CD that brought to light the qualities of this young pianist from Umbria and that prompted a victory on the “Top Jazz 2007” list by monthly magazine Music Jazz, in the category dedicated to new talent. So Guidi is already more than a promise and his new recording work proves it entirely: at his side are some musicians that assisted his first recording for CAM Jazz, the American saxophonist Dan Kinzelman (who recorded “Goodbye Castle” also with CAM Jazz) and the Portuguese drummer João Lobo, while the bassist changed from Francesco Ponticelli to Stefano Senni. “The change of even one element in a group can lead you in different musical directions”, says Giovanni Guidi, “The new album is more played than the first: we tried to recreate in the studio an atmosphere that is as concert-like as possible. I believe more energy can be generated as a result. Born in Foligno in 1985, Giovanni Guidi initially gravitated toward drums, then the piano, and later, with the guidance of Ramberto Ciammarughi, toward jazz. After having studied with Danilo Rea and Rita Marcotulli, among others, he participated in seminars at the Umbria Jazz and Siena Jazz festivals. In July 2004 his sodality with Enrico Rava began, with whom he recorded a CD live from the Casa del Jazz in Rome, for inclusion in a CD series by L’Espresso. In these first years of professional activity, Giovanni Guidi has also been known as member of other groups and, at present, plays in the Mauro Negri quartet, the Lello Pareti quartet, as well as in Gianluca Petrella’s Cosmic Band.

Roy HARGROVE - Earfood: rec 2007  CD  EmArCy ∫ Roy Hargrove tp, flh; Justin Robinson as, fl; Gerald Clayton p; Danton Boller b; Montez Coleman dr  ∫ reviews - DownBeat 09.08 *** ... a nice but not exceptional effort / DRS2 Jazz aktuell 24.06.08, Jodok Hess / JazzZeitung 05.08 ****

Roy HAYNES - A Life In Time: rec 1949-2006  3 CDs, 1 DVD  Dreyfus Jazz ∫ Roy Haynes dr; div. Besetzungen; Details siehe "Sounds" ∫ reviews - Jazz'N'More 06.08 **** Jürg Solothurnmann / DRS2 Jazz aktuell 01.04.08, Empfehlung Jodok Hess ∫ sounds

HEKIAT, Feat. Houry Dora APARTIAN - Armenian Stories: rec 2008  CD  TCB Home Page ∫ Houry Dora APARTIA voc; Alex HENDRIKSEN sax; Oliver FRIEDLI p; Fernando Fontanilles b; Michi Stulz dr, perc ∫ Label: Die Gruppe 'Hekiat' beschäftigt sich eingehend mit traditioneller Armenischer Musik, deren rohem Sound und den verschiedenen Stimmungen und Athmosphären - es war überaus interessant, das musikalische Material aus Armenien mit Jazz zui kombinieren, ohne zu wisssen, was daraus entstehen wird - eine schöne musikalische Reise mit heutigen Mitteln durch eine in der Welt nicht sehr bekannte Voilksmusik

Conrad HERWIG - The Latin Side Of Wayne Shorter: rec 2007  CD  HalfNote ∫ Conrad Herwig tb; Brian Lynch tp; Eddie Palmieri, Luis Perdomo p; Ronnie Cuber bs; Ruben Rogers b;  Robby Ameen dr; Pedro Martinez cga ∫  Ping Pong / Tom Thumb / El Gaucho / Night Dreamer / This Is For Albert / Adam's Apple / Masqualero / Footprints ∫ reviews - DownBeat 09.08 ****°

Nicole HERZOG Septet - Time Will Tell: rec 2008  CD  TCB Home Page ∫ Nicole HERZOG voc; Adrian Mears tb, arr; Johannes Alter tp, flh; Patrick BIANCO as; Till GRÜNEWALD ts; Philip Henzi p, rhodes; Björn Baumgartner b; Dominik Deuber dr ∫ One Note Samba / The Man I Love / Afro Blue / Agua De Beber / a.o.

Tobias HOFFMANN - Fallschirme: rec 2007  CD  Jazzhaus Musik ∫ Tobias Hoffmann el-b, effects; Matthias Nowak b; Ralf Gessler dr, prec ∫ Ida Lupino / Smile / + Originals by Genc ∫ reviews -  DRS2 Jazz aktuell 19.08.08, Empfehlung Jodok Hess / Label: Die "Fallschirme", um den Kölner Gitarristen Tobias Hoffmann (Jahrgang `82), erweisen sich auf ihrem Debutalbum "Tobias Hoffmann`s Fallschirme" (Empfehlung Jodok HessM 164) als musikalisch risikofreudige Grenzgänger zwischen den Bereichen Modern Jazz, Alternativ Rock und Neuer Improvisierter Musik. Die Kompositionen von Tobias Hoffmann sind komplex und eingängig zu gleich, schön und doch in gewisser Weise roh, irgendwo angesiedelt zwischen Song, Thema und simpeler Spielanweisung. Als Vorbilder dienen Miles Davis, Sonic Youth, Bill Frisell, Colsplay, The Beatles. Das Trio entwürft eine Musik, die klingt wie der Soundtrack zu einem ersten Fallschirmsprung: Aufregung, Abheben, lärmende Motoren, Absprung, Rasendes Fallen, Angst, Wird sich der Schirm öffnen? Schweben, Landung, Heimweg. ∫ sounds

Javon JACKSON - Once Upon A Melody: rec 2008  CD  Palmetto  ∫ Javon Jackson ts; Eric Reed p; Corcoran Holt b; Bill Drummond dr ∫ One By One / Paradox / The In Crowd / Inner Glimpse / Will You Still Be Mine / My One And Only Love

Giya KANCHELI - Little Imber: rec 2008  CD  ECM ∫ Nederlands Kamerkoor; Raschèr Saxophone Quartet /  Klaas Stok: conductor / Mamuka Gaganidze: voice / Zaza Miminoshvili: guitar / Matrix Ensemble / Rustavi Choir ∫ Label: Two choral works by the great Georgian composer Giya Kancheli. “Little Imber” is a “site-specific” work, profoundly melancholic yet with a hint or irony, directly inspired by the English village of the same name, a ghost-town since it was evacuated and turned over to the US army for military manoeuvres in 1943. The piece is coupled here with “Amao Omi” (“senseless war”) whose phonetic text adds up to moving sound tapestry, underpinned by the subtle and supp le playing of the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet ∫ recording

KELLER's 10 - Keller's <10>: rec 2007  CD  Unit Records ∫ Reto ANNELER as ss fl, Rafael SCHILT ts bcl, Matthias Tschopp bs bcl, Matthias SPILLMANN tp flh, Claudio Bergamin tp flh, Michael Flury tb, Fabian Beck b-tb, Andreas Meili p fender, Peter Gossweiler b, Marius Peyer dr perc, Beat KELLER comp cond g ∫ Originals by Beat Keller ∫ Kommentar Label: Debut-CD von Keller's <10> ... vertonte  Essenz des bisherigen Bandschaffens ...  das Ensemble des jungen Schweizer Komponisten vereint zehn der interessantesten Jazzmusiker der jüngeren Generation der Schweizer Szene ... Im Zentrum des Repertoires stehen die eigenständigen und engagierten Kompositionen von Beat Keller, die aus Elementen des Jazz, der zeitgenössischen E-Musik und Popularmusik zusammengesetzt sind: auskomponierte Strukturen, Improvisation – auch dirigiert im Kollektiv, Grooves und vieles mehr ... hier spielen Jazzmusiker nicht immer zwingend Jazz ... <10> ist, wie es die Hornmaschine auf der Hülle der Debut-CD darstellt, ein feinzahniges Getriebe, welches aber auch über die nötigen Kraftreserven verfügt und diese bei Bedarf einsetzt ... muss man gehört haben. Einzigartig. ∫ recording ∫ sounds

Guy KLUCEVSEK - Song Of Remembrance: rec 2007  CD  Tzadik ∫ Guy Klucevsek acc; Theo Bleckmann voc; Edmund Niemann, Nurit Tilles p; a.o. ∫ reviews - JazzThing 05.08, Reinhard Köchl: Die Revolution beginnt bei Musikern wie Guy Klucevsek. Ihr Streben gilt allein der Architektur des Klangs, sie gestalten lieber das Gesamte, als eine Plattform für sich zu errichten. Vorbei die Zeit der Egomanen, der zirzensischen Selbstdarsteller "Fallen Shadows" vereint jüdische Melancholie mit europäischer Klassik und der Erinnerung an Astor Piazzolla ... im imaginären Spaziergang mit Gyorgy Ligeti lässt er sein Akkordeon nach allen Regeln der Kunst atmen, bramarbassieren, scherzen oder klagen... grosse Kunst, leider ohne allzu grosse Perspektive

Adam KOLKER - Flag Day: rec 2008  DVD  Sunnyside ∫ Adam Kolker ts; Joe Lovano ts; John Abercrombie g; John Hebert b; Paul Motian dr ∫ reviews - DownBeat 07.08 ****°

Adam LANE / Lou GRASSI / Mark WHITECAGE - Drunk Butterfly: rec  2008  CD  clean feed ∫ Adam Lane b; Lou Grassi dr; Mark Whitecage as ∫ reviews - label: In addition to being a superb bassist, Adam Lane is a composer with superior skills. Drummer Lou Grassi and saxophonist Mark Whitecage are better known as improvisers, but as it turns out they have wicked composer chops too. "Drunk Butterfly" draw on the scores from all the three members of this trio. There's improvisation here – astonishing improvisation – but listen to these moving structures, buildings morphing like clouds in the sky. There is a democratic division of authorship in the band and of, shall we call it, "performership" as well. This is not simply the gathering of a soloist with a rhythm section. The trio demonstrates a rare quality of collective thought. And, curiously enough considering the free jazz creds of the musicians, be-bop flavors every track (in fact, the first piece is titled "The Last of the Beboppers) and the music swings like crazy. You can dance to it.

Ingrid LAUBROCK - Sleepthief: rec 2008  CD  Intakt ∫ Ingrid Laubrock sax; Liam Nobble p; Tom Rainey dr ∫ reviews - Label: In den letzten Jahren hat sich Ingrid Laubrock mehr und mehr ins Rampenlicht der aktuellen Musikszene gespielt mit einem Jazz, der auf kühne Weise modern ist und doch fest in der Tradition steht. Die Musik ihres Trios Sleepthief ist aus dem Augenblick heraus erfunden, doch scheint das Formbewußtsein von Komponisten hier die freien Improvisationen zu leiten. Im Münsterland in einer musikalischen Familie aufgewachsen, machte sich Ingrid Laubrock gleich nach dem Schulabschluss nach Berlin und nach London davon. Sie blieb in London. Ein Lehrbuch von David Liebman brachte Laubrock in die USA, wo sie eine Meisterklasse beim Miles-Davis-Saxofonisten absolvierte. Die Polystilistik des Jazz der 1990er Jahre prägte Laubrocks musikalisches Weltbild. «Man muss aufnahmebereit sein, alle Sen- soren auf Empfang schalten, um Partikel davon in abstrahierter Form beim Improvisieren wieder auszuspucken,» sagt Laubrock. Mit ihrem Trio Sleepthief folgt sie dieser Maxime. Ein ausführliches Portrait veröffentlichte die britische Jazzzeitung «Jazzwise» in der September Ausgabe ∫ recording

LAUT & LUISE - Open That Door: rec 2008 | self-released  CD  ∫ Araxi KARNUSIAN sax; Rahel THIERSTEIN p ∫ reviews - Der Bund, 12.04.07, Tom Gsteiger: Die Türöffnerinnen - Was lange währt, wird endlich gut: Vor sieben Jahren riefen Araxi Karnusian und Rahel Thierstein das Duo laut & luise ins Leben, nun liegt der erste Silberling vor. Der Österreicher Ernst Jandl (1925 bis 2000) war ein experimentierfreudiger Buchstabenjongleur – in seinem Werk paaren sich heiliger Ernst und kalauerhafter Klamauk auf einzigartige Weise. Einer seiner Gedichtbände trägt den wunderbaren Titel «laut & luise». Araxi Karnusian und Rahel Thierstein haben sich diesen Titel für ihr Duo ausgeborgt – dies bedeutet nun allerdings nicht, dass es sich bei der Musik der Bernerinnen um eine Hommage an Jandl handelt. Karnusian und Thierstein jandln nicht, sie jazzen (Jandl besass allerdings ein ausgeprägtes Faible für den Jazz, wie seine Zusammenarbeit mit Exponenten des Vienna Art Orchestra zeigte). Die Saxofonistin Karnusian, die gelegentlich zur Altklarinette greift, und Rahel Thierstein, die die Tasten von Klavier und Fender-Rhodes bedient, bilden seit sieben Jahren ein Duo – doch erst jetzt liegt mit «Open that Door» der erste Silberling vor, der durch Gastauftritte der expressiven Sängerin Joy Frempong, des sonoren Bassisten Patrice Moret und des brasilianischen Pandeiro-Virtuosen Antonio Carlos DaSilva sozusagen vergoldet wird. Nicht überzüchtet  Während allenthalben Schnellschüsse produziert werden, haben laut & luise ihre Musik reifen lassen. Das Resultat: unaufgeregter, lyrischer, intimer Jazz mit einer hohen Melodie-Dosis und einem sehr warmen, nicht selten melancholischen Grundklang. Das Repertoire stammt zu 100% aus den Federn von Karnusian, die ihr kompositorisches Know-how bereits als Leiterin des aussergewöhnlichen Crossover-Ensembles Strange Sounds – Beautiful Musik unter Beweis gestellt hat, und Thierstein, wobei Erstere ein Faible für Suiten-artige Formen hat und Letztere häufiger das Groove-Herz pochen lässt. Karnusian und Thierstein spielen sich weder die Finger wund, noch riskieren sie in ihren Improvisationen Kopf und Kragen: Sie öffnen Türen in Gegenwelten, in denen die Gesetze des Höher-Schneller-Lauter-Wettbewerbs vorübergehend ausser Kraft gesetzt sind. Hier sind zwei Musikerinnen zu einem gleichermassen kompakten und transparenten Klangkörper zusammengewachsen, was für die emotionale Ausdruckskraft eindeutig wichtiger ist als technokratische Brillanz. Diese Musik ist nicht überzüchtet, sie wächst organisch. Und bei jedem Konzert kommen ein paar neue, überraschende Blüten hinzu. ∫ => Querverweis: Araxi Karnusian/Strange Sound, Beautiful Music "Interrupted" | Francesca Keller "Beyond" (mit A. Karnusian) ∫ recording ∫ sounds [1] | [2]

Markus LAUTERBURG - Mumur: rec  2008  CD  Altri Suoni ∫ Adi Pflugshaupt ss; Dave Gisler g; Martin Birnstiel vcl; Urban Lienert b; Markus LAUTERBURG dr ∫ reviews -  DRS2 Jazz aktuell 12.08.08, Empfehlung Beat Blaser / Label: Der Berner Markus Lauterburg studierte u.a. bei Pierre Favre an der Jazzschule Luzern. Alle Stücke stammen aus der Feder des Leaders. Rockige Loops werden gegen offene Zonen gesetzt, Distortion Sounds der Gitarre verbinden sich mit klassischen Cello Melodien. ∫ recording

Don LI - A Portrait Of Edith Piaf: rec 2008  CD  Tonus ∫ Don Li cl, bcl, p, b, dr, perc, prg ∫ Kommentar: The most recent composition by Don Li is a fascinating collage of lyrics, music and rhythm, based on interviews given by Edith Piaf. The work was commissioned by Berne Theater for the ballet “La Sincerité”, choreographed by Franticek Klossner. “Artistic sincerity is immediately sensed by the soul – even without any kind of educational background or socio-cultural awareness… Piaf sang for the soul of the world and thus became the embodiment of artistic sincerity. The current composition of Don Li which incorporates Edith Piaf’s voice was created 44 years after her death. It doesn’t feature the mighty voice of Piaf singing as we believe we know it from her chansons; in Don Li’s composition we encounter the fragile Piaf looking for answers in interviews with her voice oscillating between scrutiny and conviction. With regard to the ballet production "La Sincérité" by the dancing ensemble of the Stadttheater Bern I searched the Edith Piaf archives for speech fragments which were suitable for an adaptation in form and content. Don Li has proven one thing with his composition: Piaf sings! ... even when she talks! Piaf’s words with their characteristic rhythm and tune are the musical foundation of this work. Meticulously translated into the language of music, Piaf’s words make her the creator and soloist of a never-before-heard composition of interview poetry. She would have called this composer from Bern in the middle of the night: "Don, I want you to compose another song for me right now... I want more of this!" - Franticek Klossner
Don LI -15 Squared: rec 2008  CD  Tonus ∫ Don Li cl, bcl, p; Ania Losinger xala, Mich Gerber b; Mats Eser mba; Norbert Pfammatter dr; Gwendolyin Masin vio; a.o. ∫ Kommentar: “Commissioned by the video artist Franticèk Klossner, I wrote this composition in the summer of 2004. He wanted to expand his documentation “Ortung/Localisation”, which traces the genesis of the new parliament square in Bern, with my music. Due to scheduling reasons, we had to work on images and music simultaneously and thus it was necessary to find a flexible model for coordinating both. To this end, we agreed upon uniform, unobtrusively rhythmical
image-sequences spanning 5, 10, 15 or 30 seconds which I then used as the structural basis for my composition. So as to be able to respond to the various moods contained within the film (the editing process still lay ahead), I wrote 80 combinable sequences each measuring 45 seconds in length. These sequences in 15/8 time, at a tempo marking of 60 to the crotchet, moved synchronously with the images. Thus I had the freedom that enabled me to be able to arrange the music in accordance to the stipulated mood of the film at any one time. The demonstratively structured system of this composition did not only have practical or technical grounds for being. Combined with the dark, ever-changing instrumentalisation and the driving force of harmonical movement, I wanted to allude to such elements as growth and change. However, I simultaneously wanted to achieve a distance to the images that showed man’s efforts and achievements. Last but not least -  in view of  the history of an old square in front of the Parliament buildings of a wealthy country – I wanted to give a critical observation of the events in musical form. The arrangement of this CD consists of 5 parts, which, because of their orchestration, differ from each other. They contain a continuous densification and integrate sounds of the construction works, which I took over from the video material.” - Don Li

Pete MALINVERNI - Invisible Cities: rec 2007 CD  Reservoir ∫ Pete Malinverni p; Tim Hagans tp; Rich Perry ts; Ugonna Okegwo b; Tom Melito dr ∫ I Love Paris / Chicago / Lonely Town / There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York / & Originals by Pete Malinverni ∫ reviews -  DownBeat 06.08 **** / DRS2 Jazz aktuell 24.06.08, Empfehlung Jodok Hess ∫ recording

Monika MAUCH / Nigel NORTH - Musical Banquet: rec 2008  CD  ECM ∫ Monika Mauch soprano; Nigel North lute ∫ Label: Music for voice and lute, from the songbook compiled by Robert Dowland (1591-1641), son of the great English lutenist-composer. Selections include music by John Dowland, Guillaume Tessier, Daniel Batchelar, Giulio Caccini, Pierre Guédron and more. Crystal clear delivery of the songs by Monika Mauch, last heard on ECM with the Hilliard Ensemble on “Morimur” and peerless lute-playing from early music expert Nigel North who makes his ECM debut here, and also contributes liner notes ∫ recording     

MAUGER - The Beautiful Enabler: rec  2008  CD  clean feed ∫ Gerry Hemingway dr; Mark Dresser b; Rudresh Mahanthappa as ∫ reviews - label: On this album, overcoming this ostensibly difficult task seems easy and natural, and this fact alone speaks volumes to the approach and outlook of this trio. In his liner notes, Dresser writes about “musical chemistry”, a notion that cannot simply be desired but perhaps can only arise under uniquely extraordinary circumstances. There is no recipe for this sense of gathering as its occurrence transcends skill and creativity and journeys into the realms of fraternity and humanity. It’s no wonder that the artists thought it was necessary to give this group a name of its own: Mauger is more than the combination of these three human beings; it's an entity in itself.

John McLAUGHLIN - Floating Point: rec 2007 CD  Abstract Logix ∫  John McLauglin g, g-synth; Ranjit Barot dr; Anant Sivamani perc; Shashank and Navee Kumar bamboo fl; Louis Banks kb; Niladri Kumar el-sitar; U Rajesh el-mandolin; Debashish Bhattacharya hindustani slide g; Shankar Mahadevan voc; Hadrien Féraud b; Georege Brooks sax ∫ reviews - DownBeat 09.08 *****

John McNEIL / Bill McHENRY - Rediscovery: rec 2008 CD  Sunnyside ∫ John McNeil tp; Bill McHenry ts; Joe Martin b; Jochen Rueckert dr ∫ reviews - DownBeat 09.08 ****

Adrian MEARS New Orleans Hardbop - Birdseye View: rec 2008  TCB Home Page ∫ Adrian Mears tb; Domenic LANDOLF ts, bcl; Peter Madsen p; Stephan KURMANN b; Mario Gonzi dr ∫ Riding East / Today's The Day / Children at Play / The Poor Man / Joe'wsFantasy / Momentum / Human Dignity / Extensions / Riding east Announcement

Sabine MEYER / Trio Di CLARONE / Michael RIESSLER / Pierre CHARIAL - Paris Mecanique: CD  Marsyas Music ∫ Sabine Meyer (cl), Wolfgang Meyer (cl), Reiner Wehrle (cl), Michael Riessler (cl), Pierre Charial (barrel organ) ∫ Works by Satie, Poulenc, Milhaud, Leroy Anderson, Daniel Goyone, Scott Joplin, Ennio Morricone∫ reviews - Label: Clarinet player Sabine Meyer is regarded as one of the most outstanding soloists of our time. Since her debut at the age of 16, she has performed with more than 150 professional orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony, London Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Tokyo NHK Symphony and Melbourne Symphony. Her repertoire as a soloist covers the pre-classical, the classical and the avantgarde. Several composers - among them Jean Francaix, Edison Denisov, Harald Genzmer, Toshio Hosokawa - have dedicated new compositions to her. Also a committed player of chamber music, Sabine Meyer founded her own Trio di Clarone back in 1983 (together with her brother Wolfgang and her husband Reiner) to explore unknown realms between baroque and jazz. "Paris Mécanique" is the trio's second cooperation with Michael Riessler, the renowned clarinet player and frequent prize-winner. At home in contemporary composition as well as improvised music, Riessler has worked with a wide variety of artists like John Cage, Steve Reich, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Arditti Quartet, Ensemble Modern, Sarah Vaughan, David Byrne and Carla Bley. Riessler has composed for theater, radio, films, records and festivals. He has been guest professor at music academies in Austria, France, Germany, Canada and the Netherlands. For "Paris Mécanique" he teamed up with Pierre Charial, the world's leading exponent of classical barrel organ and responsible for the "mechanical" part of this project. Charial has played works by such as Händel, Haydn and Mozart as well as contemporary compositions written especially for him by György Ligeti, Luciano Berio, Iannis Xenakis and others. "Paris Mécanique" presents some of the most charming and unique small works from early 20th century in new arrangements done especially for Sabine Meyer, her clarinet playing colleagues and Charial's mechanical 156-pipe monster. Most of these compositions date from "les années folles", the "crazy years" of Paris, when classical composers discovered the music-hall, when exotism and early jazz were en vogue and "ballets russes" and "groupe des six" urged excitement. Some interesting new pieces, written mainly by Michael Riessler and obviously inspired by the moods and motifs of historical crazy Paris, have been added to the program. Listening to "Paris Mécanique" is a wonderful way of enjoying Trio di Clarone's artistic stature in an unusual and amazing context that is both classically based and totally entertaining.

Bob MINTZER Bigband - Swing Out: rec 2008  CD  Manchester Craftmens Guild Jazz ∫ Bob Mintzer (ts),  Bob Malach (ts), Scott Wendholt (tp), Jim Rotondi (tp), David Taylor (btb), Phil Markowitz (p), Jay Anderson (b), John Riley (dr), a.o. ∫ reviews - label: Broadening the musical scope of the Bob Mintzer Big Band is Swing Out, the latest of several recordings with MCG Jazz.  This album further explores big band tradition, contemporary classical music and Latin rhythms, combined with conversational big band writing and small band sensibility.  The CD includes six original compositions by Mintzer, including “Swing Out,” the cult favorite “Swang-a-lang,” and the moving tune “Freedom Song” about individual freedom to create art, beauty and jazz. Other tunes on the album arranged by Mintzer include Arlen/Mercer’s “My Shining Hour,” and a unique, decomposition treatment of “Someday My Prince Will Come.” “‘Swing out’ is a jazz term used to suggest making the music really swing…with honesty, conviction, and positive energy to make the music feel good,” says Mintzer. “Swing out also implies that one take some chances, write and play things that are outside the norm or not necessarily within the confines of a particular musical category.  This recording attempts to make the music swing and simultaneously take it to some different places.  It’s a great honor to work with a band of musicians who are so adept at playing with such a great sense of swing while having the knowledge and courage to ‘take it out.’”

Gabriele MIRABASSI - Canto Di Ebano: rec 2007  CD  Egea Music  ∫ Gabriele Mirabassi cl; Peo Alfonsi g; Salvatore Maiore b; Alfred Kramer dr, perc ∫ Gabriele Mirabassi:  "I have always firmly believed that the greatest of the many privileges that being a musician gives you is the opportunity to be able to shape your life with your own hands. However, it had never occurred to me that the instrument that allows a musician to do this is in turn the product of other hands, hands that are just as competent and just as thrilled and that are responsible to a great extent for what is basically the secret heart of music and the work of a musician: the transformation of the raw material, the pieces of wood or metal, into sound thatis impalpably sensual, tangibly volatile, close to the human voice and magical.
This music is dedicated to ebony, that incredible wood, hard as a stone, which neither burns nor floats as its peers normally do. But this music is also above all anaffectionate way of saying thanks to all the hands that together with my own allow the wood to carry out its "wizardry". When I saw the black planks of wood that had just arrived from Africa in the workshop of F. Illi Patricola, when I saw how, together with their grandchildren, they season it and work it in a process that lasts almost fifteen years and consists of moments of enthusiasm andcursing, scientific study and the craftman's pragmatism, emotion and effort, I understood how closely our respective professions resemble each other in their essence, and once again I received the confirmation that when we manage to do something that makes us really proud, we never do it truly on our own." 

Maria MULDAUR - Yes, We Can!: rec 2008  CD  Telarc Blues ∫ Maria Muldaur, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, Odetta, Jane Fonda voc; David Torkanowsky kb; Shane Theriot g; Hutch Hutchinson el-b; Tony Bruanagel dr; a.o. ∫ reviews - Label: Maria Muldaur, a veteran of the Greenwich Village folk heyday in the early 1960s, has spent the last four and a half decades weaving her folk, blues, roots and pop influences into a unique sound that speaks to matters of love, romance and other themes that are as universal as they are personal. And like so many others, she is concerned about the increasingly precarious nature of the human condition on every front: socially, economically, politically, environmentally and spiritually.
This veteran balladeer takes a stand on these issues on her new Telarc release, Yes We Can!, set for release on August 22, 2008. The album showcases the work of some of the most socially conscious songwriters of the past half-century: Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, Allen Toussaint, Earl King and Garth Brooks, to name a few.
 Throughout the album’s thirteen tracks, a host of well known progressive voices help Muldaur shed the light and sharpen the focus on the precarious state of the world and its future. Included on the high-profile guest list are Joan Baez, Jane Fonda, Odetta, Phoebe Snow and several others. Also on hand is The Women’s Voices for Peace Choir. “Most of these women have boldly and tirelessly been lifting their voices for peace, non-violence and social justice their whole lives, and their commitment to these causes has been deeply inspiring to me over the years,” says Muldaur. “What is on my heart and mind is the sad, deplorable condition of our planet today,” she explains. “War, global climate change, massive debt and economic crisis, increasing food shortages, nuclear proliferation, genocide, and my ever-growing frustration with our leaders. If things in this world continue the way they are, there soon won’t be any people to make romance and babies, and no life-sustaining place to do so either.” ∫ genre: Americana / Blues / Pop

NAILS - Satie's Fraktion: rec 2008  CD  TCB Home Page ∫ Daniel BASCHNAGEL tp, flh; Daniel Frei ts, ss; Egon Rietmann bs; Curdin Janett acc ∫ compositions: Eric Satie, Curdin Janett, Daniel Baschnagel, Kurt Weill, a.o.

Ted NASH - The Mancini Project: rec 2008 CD  Palmetto ∫ Ted Nash ts, as, ss, afl, piccolo; Frank Kimbrough p; Rufus Reid b; Matt Wilson dr ∫ Originals ∫ reviews - label: This project is a departure from Ted's usual approach to conceiving a record.  Being a composer, his recordings often feature his own material.  THE MANCINI PROJECT celebrates the diversity of this great composer. Henry Mancini's love of jazz was apparent by the approach he took when composing for film and TV.  He moved away from the heavy symphonic treatments that had been used by composers for a time by employing jazz motifs and using smaller ensembles. He was also known for his use of unorthodox instrumentation and his "cool jazz" sound. 

ODDJOB - Sumo: rec 2008  CD  ACT ∫ Goran Kafjes tp, co, glockenspiel; Per Johansson sax, fl, cl; Daniel Karlsson p, org, vib; Peter Forss b; Janne Robertson dr, perc ∫ reviews - The Oddjob Quintet is a prime example of why Scandinavian musicians play such a prominent role in the latest happenings in jazz. It’s not just about technique and virtuosity; rather its unconditional concentration on a unique sound and the impact of melody. In Scandinavia, ear training is more important than it is elsewhere. At the same time Scandinavian musicians consequently have an unrivalled openness for styles and genres. No wonder, then, that Oddjob also became involved in the recent resurgence of the jazz-rock of the 70’s; yet . Rare-Groove and Psychedelic fans will get their money’s worth.

Jeremy PELT - MAXJAZZ Horn Series; November: rec 2008  CD  MaxJazz ∫ Jeremy Pelt tp, flh, effects; J D. Allen ts; Danny Grissett p; Dwayne Burno b; Gerald Cleaver dr; Jeff Haynes perc ∫ reviews - DownBeat 09.08 **** ∫ recording ∫ sounds

Marc PERRENOUD Trio - Logo: rec 2008  CD  Neuklang ∫ Marc PERRENOUD p; Cyril Regamey dr; Marco MÜLLER b ∫ Solar / Blue In Green / Alone Together / You And The Night And The Music / + Originals by Marc Perrenoud ∫ sounds

Enrico RAVA - Italian Ballads: rec 2007  CD  Venus/Egea Music  ∫ Enrico Rava tp; Richard Galliano acc; Domenico Caliri g; Roberto Cecchotto g; Giovanni Meier b; U.T. Ghandi dr, perc; Barbara Casini voc ∫ reviews - Vertrieb: Praised for his warm, burnished tone, Rava exemplifies Italian jazz. His free jazz leanings notwithstanding, Rava has always been a melodic and lyrical player.The blues, swing, and free improvisation are in his music, but so are Italian folk songs, popular melodies, and operatic arias. Italian Ballads is a wonderful album that combines elements of jazz with traditional Italian music. The work is heavily influenced by the traditional Italian songs, operas, and also music from Fellini's movies. The selection includes Nino Rota film themes ("Juliet of the Spirits"),Neapolitan canzone ("Torna a Surriento"), and arias ("Un Bel Di, Vedremo"). It is not a traditional jazz album by any means, but rather a mix of styles into a unique album that combines the melodic traditions of Italian music with themusicianship and creativity of Americanjazz. He even incorporates traditional Italian instruments by using an accordion on the album played by Richard Galliano, who does an amazing job.

George ROBERT Jazztet; Special Guest Randy BRECKER - Remember The Sound: rec 2008  CD  TCB Home Page ∫ Geroge Robert as; Robert Bonisolo ts; Matthieu Michel tp, flh; René Mosele tb; Mathieu Schneider fl; Laurent Wolf ss, ts, bs; Vinz VONLANTHEN g; Emil Spanyi p, kb; Jean-Pierre Schaller el-b; Marcel Papaux dr; Randy Brecker tp ∫ music composed & arranged by Jim McNeely

Rafik SCHAMI / Günter "Baby" SOMMER - Abbara: rec 2008  CD  Intakt ∫ Rafik Schami Rezitation; Günter 'Baby' Sommer dr, perc ∫ reviews - Label: Energetisch berührendes Zusammentreffen zweier Meister der Erzählkunst. Der deutsch-syrische Schriftsteller Rafik Schami trägt eine Auswahl seiner schönsten Texte vor, der Jazzschlagzeuger Günter Baby Sommer ergänzt mit Trommeln und Pauken und führt mit klingenden Hölzern und Gongs die Texte weiter. Es sind unterhaltsame Zwiegespräche, die über die Grenzen von Kulturen hinausgehen und Poesie und Musik vereinen. Wort, Klang und Rhythmus erweitern Raum und Zeit. Von Rafik Schami sind zuletzt erschienen «Damaskus im Herzen» sowie «Die dunkle Seite der Liebe» (Hanser). Günter Baby Sommer veröffentlichte mit dem Zentralquartett «11 Songs - Aus teutschen Landen» sowie im Duo mit dem amerikanischen Trompeter Wadada Leo Smith.

George SCHULLER's Circle Wide - Like Before, Somewhat After: CD  Playscape ∫ George Schuller dr, perc;  Donny McCaslin afl, ss, ts; Brad Shepik g; Tom Beckham vib; Dave Ambrosio b; Jamey Haddad perc ∫ Filles De Kilimanmjaro / & Originals ∫ reviews - DownBeat 06.08 ****∫ recording ∫ sounds [1] [2]

Trygve SEIM / Frode HALTLI - Yeraz: rec 2008  CD  ECM ∫ Trygve Seim comp, ts, ss; Frode Haltli acc ∫ Kommentar: Der Saxofonist Trygve Seim und der Akkordeonist Frode Haltli gehören beide zu den zentralen Figuren der reichhaltigen jungen Musikszene Norwegens. Sie haben bereits verschiedentlich zusammen gespielt, etwa auf Seims 2001 mit dem ‚Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik‘ ausgezeichneten Debüt ‚Sangam‘. Beide Musiker verfügen ebenso selbstverständlich über eine breite stilistische Palette wie über eine ganz individuelle Spielweise. Ihre Musik ist eine Reise durch verschiedene Musikgenres von Folk über Jazz und zeitgenössische Komposition bis zu Bob Marley, Tom Waits und Gurdjieff. Wunderbar wie hier Rohrblätter und Metallzungen gemeinsam atmend in Schwingung versetzen werden.

Wadada Leo SMITH - Tabligh: rec 2005  CD  Cuneiform ∫ Wadada Leo Smith tp; Vijay Iyrer p; John Lindberg b; Shannon Jackson dr ∫ reviews - DownBeat 09.08 ****° ∫ recording ∫ sounds [1] | [2]

Bobo STENSON Trio - Cantando: rec 2007  CD  ECM ∫ Bobo Stenson p; Anders Jormin b; Jon Fält perc ∫ reviews - Anselm Cybinski: „singend“, heißt das neue Album des Bobo Stenson Trios, das erstmals mit dem quirligen jungen Schlagzeuger Jan Fält zu hören ist. Drei völlig eigenständige Individuen treffen sich bei Stenson zum Austausch unter Gleichen. Welche Themen auch immer sie anschneiden – Alban Bergs frühe Liebesode, ein Orgelstück des Tschechen Petr Eben, Ornette Coleman oder Don Cherry – stets strömen die Gedanken so frei wie klar, formuliert in einem völlig homogenen Idiom. Interessant, dass ihr breiter Bildungshorizont die drei immer wieder in klassische Gefilde trägt. Ein Konzept wird daraus indes nicht: „Wir hören alle viel Musik, und wenn wir etwas mögen, dann spielen wir es einfach“, sagt Stenson, wie immer die Gelassenheit in Person. / Label: Der schwedische Pianist Bobo Stenson und sein langjähriger Basspartner Anders Jormin präsentieren sich in Konzerten schon seit einiger Zeit mit dem jungen Drummer Jon Fält. Mit seinem quirlig-wendigen Spiel bringt er eine ganz neue Dynamik in das Interplay des Trios: Immer noch bleibt genügend Raum für die wunderbar offene, von Jazz, Klassik und Folklore inspirierte Spielweise; im Kleinen aber sprudelt ein unermüdlicher Impulsgeber, der zu überraschenden Wendungen inspiriert. Die Setlist ist auch auf dem mittlerweile fünften Album des Stenson Trios von ausgesuchter Finesse und reicht von Ornette Coleman und Don Cherry über Astor Piazzolla und Silvio Rodriguez bis zu Alban Berg und Petr Eben. Dieser wei