text:
Musician's Playlist
UK Venues
TAKE FIVE is a series of 'interviews' where all participants take the same five questions.
Take Five 16-30
Take Five 1-15
FIONA ROSS - Take Five No: 58
Can you tell us about your new album?
Yes! It's called 'Fierce and Non-Compliant' and features some wonderful special guests. Snow Owl, Adam Cooper, Kim Cypher, Marco Piccioni and Maxine Gordon has written the sleeve notes. You get a bit of everything under the heading of Jazz I think – so there's some old school Jazz tracks, some Latin Jazz, bit of neo soul inflected Jazz and something a little funky. I have had an incredible time working on it. I recorded the songs with Snow Owl in a castle in Vienna, which was crazy! And I have to say singing with Adam Cooper, was a real treat. We used to sneak out of classes at school together, break into rehearsal rooms and sing duets and we haven't sung together since then. It was quite surreal to do that again after so any years. So much fun. I have been so honoured to have so many amazing people involved in this album. When I initially decided to call it 'Fierce and Non-Compliant' it was only because I thought the title was, well, cool, but then it became an exploration of what fierce and non-compliant is, on many different levels. The album has turned into a really emotional journey for me – challenging, exhausting and wonderful.
What other projects are you currently involved in?
Well, I am also a journalist so I have some interviews and articles coming up soon with some amazing people, so I'm excited about that. I am very passionate about helping to promote artists with the platforms I have and much prefer this to promoting my own music. I am also a patron for a mental health organisation – Insomniac Club - and due to my album, I haven't spent much time on that, so I need to put some work into that too.
Click on the album cover to read our review
What are you currently listening to and what was the last CD or download you bought?
Well, when I'm working on an album, I don't listen to any other music at all, so it's wonderful to start exploring again. Gavin Greenway. His new album was introduced to me by Snow Owl and it is wonderful!
What is your all time favourite album and why?
I'm really sorry, but I couldn't possibly name a favourite – there's too many! Not even sure I could give you 10….. Michel Camilo's self titled first album, will always be close to my heart. When I first heard him, I was completely and utterly hooked, he is a huge inspiration to me. Pretty much any Billie Holiday, Ella, Dee Dee Bridgewater (and all the normal Jazz legends, Miles, Oscar, Dexter etc), Stevie Wonder, Prince, Hiromi, Earth Wind and Fire, Aretha, Al Jarreau…..Love Esperanza Spalding, Rickie Lee Jones…..ooh love Michael Macdonald……sorry, I could go on….. I just can't pick one artist, let alone one album!
Who has caught your attention recently that we should be listening out for?
I love finding new music! I am so fortunate that as a journalist, I am sent so much new music – it's wonderful. Camille Thurman is an amazing young artist doing some wonderful things that stands out for me at the moment. Making a big name for herself – I highly recommend!
GRAHAM J - Take Five No: 57
"Cry" is a snapshot of songs that I perform at my shows and also the music of artists that influence my songwriting. I decided to have some fun with this record and include some lighter music to balance out the heavier, darker emotional ballads that I'm known for. There are four live tracks on the album. They were recorded at a late night session in Ocean House in County Cork. I'd just finished another recording project and was practicing with Pawel Grudzien, my MD, for a show we were doing at Pizza Express in Holborn. We decided to include them as they were raw and honest readings.
I'm currently working on a couple of different shows. One will be based on music from the Weimar Period and the other will be songs written by gay composes that were traditionally sung by women. I'll be performing these projects in Germany and the UK respectively. I'm also preparing for a tour in the USA where I've been invited to sit in with the Saxophonist Daniel Bennett in NYC and jazz Diva Carmela Rappazzo in NOLA. I'm being very blessed with a lot of love from the community. The support that established artists give to new ones is amazing. I've begun work on a new recording project. I'm currently writing new material that I'm hoping to record in the future. I write a lot of songs. Some of them even make it to my shows.
I'm currently listening to a mixture of different things. "Ella Fitzgerald, Twelve Nights in Hollywood" is on heavy rotation. As Is Jeri Southern's "You Better Go Now". I'm ashamed to say that Jeri is a new discovery for me. I was watching a movie and her haunting voice came on. I had to find out who she was. I'm also listening to a lot of Joni Mitchell and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Mary's "Songs From The Movies" moves me in a way that Joni's "Both Sides Now" does. I'm fascinated by the tonalities used in the orchestra. I'd love to write an orchestral album. There's just something about the sound of strings, the energy of an orchestra and the wonderful richness you can paint with.
The last album I downloaded was Flo McSweeney's "Picture in a Frame" she's an amazing artist and friend. She's one of Ireland's best singers. There are some beautiful tracks on it.
Well it's really hard to choose. There are so many. I'm going to be self-indulgent and choose two. Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" is very dear to me. I put it on regularly and I am always blown away by its emotional depth. I'm a huge Curtis Stigers fan. My second choice is his "Hooray For Love". I've seen him many times but he was promoting this the first time I saw him live. He's just effortlessly cool.
Who has caught your attention recently that we should be listening out for? Isn't that obvious? You should all be listening out for me. Lol! Seriously though there are so many great performers these days. I'm very blessed to work with Dave Redmond and Kevin Brady. They form part of the Kevin Brady Trio. Dave plays Bass for me and Kevin is often on Drums. They're both amazing players. They're releasing a new album. I've been privileged to hear them play on many occasions. They've some really intricate and clever tunes.
FRANCOIS BOURASSA - Take Five No: 56
A mix of contemporary and modern jazz, I tried to work in unusual structures but within the classic jazz quartet setup.
Number 9 reflects my 9 albums of my own compositions - I really liked the interaction with this group and I tried to bring a lot of different moods in the music, contract; contrast is important in my conception, and I think this album reflects that goal.
I'm very proud of the other members of the band for their contribution, and implication and love of the music.
A Bill Evans tribute with other musicians, and a more unusual projects with 2 pianos and percussion, and other collaborations with Québec musicians. I also work a French singer/songwriter Jeanne Rochette in La Chanson Française.
I don't download - I buy CDs. What I'm listening to now is Fresh from Sly and the Family Stone. The most recent purchase is Rothko Chapel from Morton Feldman.
Lester Young and Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker the Dial recordings, Monk the Complete Blue Note recordings, the Amazing Bud Powell, Sonny Rollins at the Village Vanguard, Coltrane the Atlantic and Impulse recordings, Bill Evans the Riverside recordings, Grant Green with Sonny Clark, Wes Montgomery Incredible Guitar, Mingus the Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, Ornette Coleman This is Our Music, Wayne Shorter Speak no Evil, Miles Davis Nefertiti, Albert Ayler Spiritual Unity, Eric Dolphy Out to Lunch, Paul Bley Open to Love, Chick Corea Now he Sings Now he Subs, Keith Jarrett My Song, Kenny Wheeler Gnu High, Brad Mehldau Art of the Trio, Craig Taborn Avenging Angel, Duke Ellington Far East Suite, Herbie Nichols the Complete Blue Note Recordings, Cecil Taylor Unit Structures.
Who has caught you attention recently that we should be listening out for?
Who has recently caught my attention is Christian Wallumrod
BURAK BEDIKYAN - Take Five No: 55
"New Beginning" is the latest recording I've made after my permanent move from Istanbul to NYC more than a year ago. Being my fourth album but the first "Trio" one on SteepleChase Records, it's the natural documentation of a musical conversation and spontaneity as a result of an unprepared "blind date". Being a longtime admirer of both Jay Anderson and Adam Nussbaum, I've met them for the very first in the studio on the same day of our recording date. I've brought four originals from which we've only recorded three; "No Complaints", "Ayça" and "Magic Carpet". We've also played a 3/4 rendition of the Victor Young classic "Stella by Starlight" featuring Jay as the main soloist. The remaining eight tracks of the album have been purely improvised based on either standard or free forms without any prior negotiations. Thanks to the mastery and experience of my bandmates, we've easily made a connection on a nearly telepathic level. I'm feeling that this is the most flowing and swinging session we've captured in the studio so far. It also has a special meaning for me as a more individual musical expression and a milestone in our life.
My fifth album is also ready to be released in new year. We've recorded that one before I've left Turkey, almost two years ago with my regular Istanbul Trio featuring my longtime friends and collaborators drummer Can Kozlu and bassist Matthew Hall. Called the session "Istanbul Junction" as we also had the wonderful saxophonist Gabor Bolla on few tracks as a guest artist. I am grateful and humbly proud of these last two albums I've tried to put all of my heart and soul.
Meanwhile I co-lead the "We Three" Trio with respected drummer/composer Tim Horner with the participation of Peter Slavov or Harvie S and lead my own quartet featuring the veteran saxophone master Jed Levy playing an all original repertoire. Recently, I am also honored to be a part of Peter Leitch's New Life Orchestra.
Finally let's not forget the European "Hybrid 4tet" I co-lead with saxophonist/composer Andy Middleton.
Currently I spend most of my time listening to classical music and some mainstream jazz or be-bop. The integral works of Antoine Reicha, Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms are under my radar as well as Bud Powell's "At Golden Circle" series.
The last Classical CD I bought is "Prokofiev Piano Sonatas" by Matti Raekallio and the last Jazz CD I bought is "Easy to Remember" by Stephen Riley.
Fortunately I don't have a single answer to this question since I listen to lots of different genres, styles and artists. But in term of jazz or contemporary improvised music, anything from Keith Jarrett's, Herbie Hancock's, Aydın Esen's, Geri Allen's, Bill Carrothers' or Kevin Hays' discography would be definitely on top of a long list.
For more than a year now, I rediscovered the classical piano virtuoso David Ezra Okonsar from my native country who is also a prolific and highly capable contemporary composer. His artistic work and diligence became one of my main sources of inspiration lately.
HELENA KAY - Take Five No: 54
I recorded with my trio (featuring Ferg Ireland on double bass and David Ingamells on drums) in February 2018. The album is called Moon Palace and was released on 7th December, 2018 on Ubuntu Music. The music on the album is mostly originals, with one standard, Hoagy Carmichaels Stardust and a Charlie Parker solo transcription on 'Kim'. The album was funded by the Peter Whittingham Jazz Award, which I won in 2017. The album title is stolen from the Paul Auster novel 'Moon Palace'. He's my favourite author; I love all of the books I've read by him, and I thought this title would lend itself to some interesting album artwork, which it did! Tallulah Pomeroy did a fantastic job with the illustration.
I am a member of Calum Gourlay's Big Band, although I've been in New York for the past 3 months so I missed a few gigs, and Issie Barratt's Interchange Dectet, Calum Gourlay Quartet, and Paul Towndrow's Keywork Orchestra.
Click on the image to read our review
I've been listening to Cecile McLorin Salvant's latest album 'The Window'.
Difficult question! Possibly Sonny Rollins Trio Live at the Vanguard. I love Sonny and I love saxophone trio, and I also love the rawness of live albums. Joe Henderson's State of the Tenor is great too.
Joel Ross is an amazing young musician based in New York. I'm also totally in love with Tony Malaby, a New York based saxophonist. His sound is incredible. Melissa Aldana is one of my favourites. I could go on and on... UK musicians check out Calum Gourlay, Sam Braysher, Nick Costley-White (he recently released his debut album on Ubuntu as well).
EVELYN LAURIE - Take Five No: 53
I've been a singer as long as I can remember and love all sorts of music but it wasn't until around 13 years ago that I went to my first vocal jazz workshop and got hooked!
I started gigging around the west of Scotland and attended loads more workshops, working with some great musicians and mentors as I developed my 'chops'. I also started writing down some of the songs that were in my head although not being musically trained, I have always relied on help with getting the notes on paper.
I reckon I first thought of doing an album about 6 years ago so it has taken me while to get here! My proposed set list has changed many times over that time but all the songs on it mean something special to me. "Lullaby of Birdland" was the first song I sang at a workshop; I'm a huge Chet Baker fan so "I fall in love too easily" has been in my repertoire for a long time and "Who knows where the time goes" is dedicated to a dear friend who, sadly, died far too young.
Regarding my own songs, "In the Dark" was inspired by an old TV theme tune (can you tell what it is?); "Fly away" is based on a song in Carmina Burana (I do have eclectic tastes!). Konrad Wisniezski's playing is quite electric on these. "I love your smile" was written for my husband.
"Close your eyes" is such a great song to do in latin style and I love all Tom Gordon's percussion on it. I like singing just with a bass player and "I'm a fool to want you" is such a great torch song, written by Frank Sinatra about his doomed love affair with Ava Gardner. (And how great is Mario Caribe on the bass?)
Everyone loves "Wichita Lineman"! Since I'm half Campbell on my mother's side I always say Glen Campbell was a relative! And Frank Bolam does such a beautiful solo on this.
While I do love ballads and torch songs, I like to do some cheeky songs too and "I love the way you're breaking my heart" is great - while telling a sad story. The solos on this one make me think of Laurel and Hardy!
I was lucky to work with the players and production team that I did and Euan Stevenson not only played wonderfully on piano throughout but helped with arrangements and overall musical direction.
This is my first album so I'm focusing on getting as much exposure as I can for it and am currently looking to get some launch gigs organised.
Next year, I hope to spend some more time writing songs and might record again.
As I don't play an instrument myself, I'm keen to find collaborators who might be interested in working together to write, record or perform. Get in touch...
I do have eclectic tastes: last CD I bought was Becca Stevens' "Queen Mab". A very talented singer songwriter (who also works with that wunderkind of jazz, Jacob Collier, who I have seen a couple of times and am amazed by.)
The first album that popped into my head was "Solid Air" by John Martyn. I used to listen to this as a student (many years ago!) and it still sounds fresh and what I would consider jazz.
I think what I love is his inventiveness in playing and how he uses his voice as an instrument. I think he was a bit of a devil but has the soul of an angel and his lyrics are so poetic.
I also love Danny Thomson's bass playing on this and I think that's what has given me a lifelong love of the double bass!
There are a number of great young jazz musicians coming out of Scotland just now, including:
Luca Manning - wonderful, soulful singer
Fergus McCreadie - amazing pianist and composer
Georgia Cecile - lovely singer/songwriter
GABRIELLE DUCOMBLE - Take Five No:52
Can you tell us about your new album and upcoming tour?
Across the Bridge is my 3rd album released on MGP Records. These recent years have been a very exciting journey into songwriting that resulted in recording this studio-album of 12 originals songs. This album represents crossing the bridge from interpreter and arranger of Jazz standards and French chansons to composer and author.
Although the musical roots of this album take place in jazz & chansons, the musical landscape varies further with influences from tango, Latin rhythm, folk, even meditative music. The stories and words reflect on theme around nature, art, travels, social justice and ideology.
I have been very fortunate to meet and work with wonderful lyricists on some of the songs, the opening track Forest Boy a tender folk ballad with lyrics from Tamsin Collison, reminding us to recover the playful imagination of our childlike creativity.
Like a Bridge across your heart, a nuevo tango tune where I hear the sounds of Piaf and Piazzolla joined together, it is like a statement of passion and turmoil.
Whether it is about housing or the displacement of refugees, the subject of losing or finding a home is never far from the media headlines and so I wrote Where is Home. Being a lover of nature, I couldn't help but write a song that reminds us that the battle to preserve the planet is happening now..The time is now.
To bring the music into the visual theme of the album artwork, the Claude Monet's painting "The Japanese Bridge" represents the delicate beauty of water lilies and their layers of colours and dimensions inspiring for reflections and dreams.
The musicians playing on this record are my long standing friends and collaborators, I feel so lucky to have met them and always enjoy to develop the sound of this band together year after year. With Swiss guitarist virtuoso Nicolas Meier, Richard Jones on violin Nick Kacal on bass and Saleem Raman on drums, we will embark on our 4th Uk Tour. There are also two special guests who joined us on the recording being Bill Mudge on piano and Fausto Beccalossi (Al Di Meola) on accordion.
Many artists have inspired me all along my career and for this album I would say Edith Piaf, Astor Piazzolla, Carlos Jobim, Michel Legrand, Hermetto Pascoal, Claude Nougaro, Melody Gardot, Miraba Ceiba have especially influenced me in the harmonies, style and tones I chose to explore while presenting subjects that
are close to my heart. I believe music heals the soul and I hope this album transports the listener from passion to serenity and gives a sense of peace and joy.
The tour will take us on 15 dates around the country in Arts Centers and Jazz Clubs, from Cornwall to Birmingham with the Album Launch happening on Sunday 23rd at Pizza Express Jazz Club Holborn.
I run two other projects at the moment, the Music of Michel Legrand which I play with Belgian musicians featuring Nicola Andrioli on piano and the Claude Nougaro Songbook with John Bailey on piano, Ben Hazleton on bass and Fergus Gerrand on percussion.
I also have started from last year a parallel project of meditative and yoga music in which I sing in Sanskrit and Gurmukhi and play the kamale ngoni, which is a West African stringed instrument similar to the kora with a deep, haunting sound.
Recently I have been enjoying listening to Portico Quartet and Ibrahim Maalouf.
An album I have been going back to very often is the album with Richard Galliano and Sylvain Luc called 'La vie en Rose', it is a collection of French classics played with delicacy, beautiful arrangements, rich harmonies, a truly beautiful album. Another one that represents a pivoting point in my career was 'Dear Ella' from Dee Dee Bridgewater, also 'Mare Nostrum' stays one of my all time favourite, a beautiful ECM trio album.
Jazzango with album Sole di Notte, this is an Italian band I really love who tastefully bring together jazz and tango. I feel very grateful that Fausto Beccalossi from Jazzango plays on one of the tracks on the new album.
16th Oct: Watermill Jazz Club (& Emiliano Caroseli on drums)
17th Oct: Swansea Jazzland
18th Oct: Span Arts, Narbeth
19th Oct: Birmingham Symphony Hall Foyer
1st Nov: Ashcroft Arts Centre
2nd Nov: Calstock Arts Centre
3rd Nov: Creative Innovative Centre, Taunton
4th Nov: Colchester Arts Centre
16th Nov: St Paul's, Cambridge
17th Nov: St George's, Bristol
18th Nov: The Stables, Milton Keynes
GARY ALESBROOK - Take Five No: 51
This is my debut jazz album and i wanted something that was accessible to people as well as being a platform for me to play the kind of music i liked. I'm driven by the idea of swing and groove, taking inspiration from some of my favourite players old and new, Chet Baker, Till Bronner, Clark Terry. I also love soundtracks so this seemed like an obvious debut for me. I've chosen 8 songs from film and was lucky enough to feature 3 incredible vocalists on my album. Elliott Cole, Phil King and Thomas Meighan. Some people may recognise Tom as the vocalist from Kasabian. He heard that i was doing the album and really wanted to sing "Pure Imagination." Of course, i said yes. It reminded me of Van Morrison and Elvis Costello wanting to record with Chet at Ronnie Scotts. My Rhythm section consists of my favourite players. George Cooper, Will Harris and Scott Hammond. We recorded over a weekend last year at the University Of Bristol. It was really relaxed but we ran out of time so the last track "If I Only Had A Brain" had to be recorded in one take as everyone else was packing down! I'm very proud of this album and i can't wait to get started on album number 2!
I am a session musician so i have many different projects to keep me busy. I have just finished a tour of Italy with Kasabian and now rehearsing for Pete Josef, a west country artist featuring heavily on Gilles Peterson's playlist. I am recording for a movie next week, I have some jazz gigs booked to push my album and I am looking forward to playing jazz festivals next year.
As i write this i am listening to "Chet Baker with 50 Italian Strings."
My all time favourite album is "Voodoo, D'Angelo." This is where i really learned about the "pocket." As i said before, for me, it's all about swing and groove. I'm not so interested in harmonic acrobatics as I am hearing something that really swings. This album was a game changer for me.
I've been digging Christian Scott, I like his vibe.
For more information visit GaryAlesbrook.com
JANNE MARK - Take Five No: 50
My latest album Pilgrim with Arve Henriksen (NO) was released on ACT in February 2018. Everything has happened so fast! Last year in May 2017 we recorded the main part of the album in Nilento Studio in Gøteborg in Sweden and I did the vocal overdubs in Millfactory Studio in Copenhagen, as well as a few lap steel recordings. I write hymns, sing in Danish and released my two earlier Danish singer-songwriter albums on small Danish independent labels in 2004 & 2009, and my first hymn album in 2013. So when I took the chance and emailed two songs from the Pilgrim recordings to Siggi Loch on ACT, I was not at all expecting him to answer me back that he would like to hear the complete album. After a short correspondence he came to Copenhagen to meet me in August 2017.
It was musically and personally a turning point to have the opportunity to record in the studio with Arve Henriksen. It was a very intense and focused experience and the peacefulness and honesty that the music of Pilgrim represents emerged from these rewarding hours in Nilento Studio. The music on the album is artistically in its expression and the singing is performed as a soloist, but the DNA of the songs is that they are written for people to sing along to. The melody structures have to be of a certain metric and rhythmic pattern that fits the singing voice and encourages people to join in. This comes out of my daily basis job as a singer and musical developer in Brorsons Church in Copenhagen. Over time I've developed my music playing with the same band for many years, leading a congregation in song with a music style that is both jazz, Nordic folk, song-writing and Scandinavian traditional hymn and storytelling. Pilgrim represents what I've been trying to do for years at my work - writing for people who are unfamiliar with the church as well as for those who know it well, trying to bridge the gap between church and everyday life through music and unity in song.
I'm very thankful for the participation from all musicians, engineers, producers and ACT in creating Pilgrim.
To make the music accessible for use in congregations, choirs and for musicians, Pilgrim is also available as a songbook with piano arrangements and chords and with choir arrangements for 2-3 voices.
On September 20th, I will present Pilgrim at the Sounds of Denmark Festival, which takes place between 20th-23th September at Pizza Express Jazz Club (Dean Street) in London and in Germany we'll have concerts in Cologne and Hamburg and in Bergen, Norway. During winter and early spring 2019 we'll be at Vetrarjazz Festival at the Faroe Islands, Vinterjazz Festival in Copenhagen with additional concerts in Germany, Norway and around Denmark.
At the moment I'm involved with the new edition of the Danish Folk Highschool songbook. A huge part of our Danish music culture and heritage is expressed in this book that contains about 600 songs. The Danish Folk Highschools were founded by the great Danish theologian and hymn writer N.F.S. Grundtvig.
I'm in the early stages of finding inspiration to write music for the next album. I'm following the path of meditative simplicity and hope to be able to record with the Norwegian fiddle player Nils Økland.
I'm currently listening to the music of Danish ECM artist Jakob Bro, The Danish String Quartet and the new album Lysning by Nils Økland Band, as well as the record Places of Worship by Arve Henriksen and music by the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. The last music I bought was Joni Mitchell's Blue and Hejira, both on vinyl along with Fairytales by Radka Toneff. The last CD I bought was the album Rimur by Trio Medieval.
What is your all-time favourite album and why?
This is impossible to answer but a big influence is Joni Mitchell as a songwriter, lyricist and singer - especially her melodies and harmonizing, which have always been a great source of inspiration. Mitchell's 1976 album Hejira due to her collaboration with Jaco Pastorius is a favourite. Keith Jarretts' Belonging and Peter Gabriels' So and Us.
The new album Ravensburg by Mathias Eick, Arve Henriksens Towards Language and The Nature of Connections, Ane Brun, Solveig Slettahjell and Sufjan Stevens.
Janne Mark is performing as part of the Sounds Of Denmark concerts to be held at the Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho between 20th and 23rd September 2018.
For more information and tickets visit https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/sounds-of-denmark
ELINA DUNI - Take Five No: 49
On this, my first entirely solo album, Partir, I accompany myself on piano, guitar and percussion, interpreting songs from very diverse sources - from folk songs and French chansons to singer-songwriter ballads. For example, traditional music from Albania, Kosovo, Armenia, Macedonia, Switzerland and Arab-Andalusia as well as Jacques Brel's "Je ne sais pas", Alain Oulman's "Meu Amor", Domenico Modugno's "Amara Terra Mia", or my own "Let Us Dive In" and more. There are 12 songs altogether, sung in nine languages: Albanian, German, French, English, Italian, Portuguese, Armenian, Yiddish and Arabic. These minimalistic arrangements hold a common thread of longing that runs through the record, bringing together songs of love, loss and leaving as well as finding the courage to seek new beginnings.
I have a duo Songs of Love and Exile with London guitarist Rob Luft, a quintet Aksham featuring Swiss pianist Marc Perrenoud and French trumpetist David Encho and a duo Tribute to Billie Holiday with Swiss pianist Jean-Paul Brodbeck.
Kit Downes made a great record for ECM earlier this year called Obsidian which you should definitely all check out and I'm also a huge fan of Oumou Sangare, the Malian singer whose unique combination of Wassoulou traditional music with Western instruments is so inspiring and uplifting. I love her debut album from 1991, simply titled Oumou.
Click on the album cover to rad our review
I have a couple of albums that spring to mind, for example John Coltrane's Ballads that he made for Impulse in the early 1960s, Bill Frisell's record East/West, which is a great live recording from 2005 that he made for Nonesuch. Finally, I would like to make a special mention of the Sidsel Endersen & Bugge Wesseltoft duo album Out Here: In There. The reason I find this recording particulary inspiring is due to the incredible musical connection these two share and also the melange of styles and textures that are covered on this disc.
Rob Luft, the young British guitarist who released his first album Riser last year on Edition Records is well worth investigating, not least because we will be playing together in duo many times in the UK and further afield over the coming months!
UK Appearances
Friday 29 July – Elina Duni with guitarist Ron Luft, St Ann's Church, MANCHESTER Jazz Festival
Sunday 29 July – Elina Duni with guitarist Ron Luft, Pizza Express Jazz Club, LONDON
Friday 16 November - Cadogan Hall (double bill with Tord Gustavsen Trio)
Sunday 18 November - Clapham Omnibus Theatre
NIK BÄRTSCH - Take Five No: 48
The new album AWASE is a post-stylistic trip. Listen to it and tell me what style this is. Of course it is still Ritual Groove Music but this is less a style than more an attitude and a musical strategy: You find these ways of combining grooves, patterns, modular ways of playing but also this kind of urban flair of merging influences in all sorts of music, from Stravinsky's Rite of Spring to David Byrne's and Brian Eno's My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. These are for me Ritual Groove Music too. It is not an invention by me, it's just a way how to hear and to look at music and music production. It has a lot to do with a certain ritualistic and tribal energy but also with a way of combining rhythms, patterns, and groove phenomena, groove as a collective ownership as composer Heiner Goebbels once said. So Awase as title describes this phenomena of moving together faster than you can think and to change like this the micro-balances in the piece. In the album-trailer video by ECM you can see this natural process of bringing the live energy into the studio: https://youtu.be/CoayGjBdBF0
I am on writing a book about techniques of merging energies of music making and Aikido as strategies of peaceful communication, fruitful cooperation and embodiment of the universal spirit of togetherness. The book will be very practical with a lot of exercises and ideas for your individual training and the training in groups.
I am listening to a lot of young upcoming bands who are in the process of establishing their ideas and musical views, for example to the Swiss bands by Colin Vallon (also on ECM) or Kali, Hely and Ikarus. These bands have a strong sense for "organism play" and for the natural relation of composition, interpretation and improvisation. We all can learn a lot from their new views on how to create an own band sound.
There is no all time favourite album but an all-time favourite piece: Stravinsky's Rite Of Spring. It's all there: Groove, Sound, Dramaturgy, surprise, balance of basic ancient energy and eternal modernity, future perspective for the music development in general. My favourite recording of it is the one by Claudio Abbado with the London Symphony Orchestra for DG of 1987.
The US band Bent Knee. They are an amazing band and I did their first show in Switzerland in my club EXIL in Zurich and recently we had them for a project for my APPLES&OLIVES festival in Zurich. These guys are really outstanding and a true creative band with very strong individual players and an own musical voice.
Sunday 1 July – Love Supreme (https://lovesupremefestival.com/lineup/artists/nik-bartsch#gK68YgYfOZ7TA7c8.97)
Friday 9 November – Turner Sims, Southampton (https://www.turnersims.co.uk/events/nik-bartschs-ronin/)
Monday 19 November – Ronnie Scott's, EFG London Jazz Festival
ALINA BZHEZHINSKA - Take Five No: 47
I am very excited about my new album Inspiration. It will be released in June 2018 through Ubuntu Music and our music will be available on CD, vinyl and digital download. The album is very personal and was created with lots of love, trust and beautiful energy. I chose to work with musicians who share my fascination with music of Alice and John Coltrane and who help me to opened a new world of possibility to showcase the harp in a very unique way - award winning saxophonist Tony Kofi, double bassist and composer Larry Bartley and virtuoso drummer Joel Prime.
In Inspiration, I set myself on a mission to tell Alice and John Coltranes' story in my own words, through my own interpretation of their music and my compositions. My favourite piece on the album is "Journey in Satchidananda" by Alice Coltrane. I discovered this music a long time ago and it took me on my own personal journey that I'm still experiencing and would encourage everyone to explore its beauty and depth. I also love John Coltrane's 'After The Rain'. It strikes me by its beauty and the sound of the rain and a storm can be imitated on the harp so naturally.
Inspiration features four of my own compositions. They root deeply in music from my childhood – "Lemky" but also reflect on my experience of losing and finding love - "Winter Moods", being a good friend - "Annoying Semitones" and hoping for the best to come - "Spero". Whatever I compose or arrange I try to be truthful and remember what Alice Coltrane said - "In music,… when you express your heart, it has to come from you".
We start promoting our album in June with launching it at the Vortex and will take it to Glasgow Jazz Festival, Ilkley Jazz Festival, Elgar Rooms at Albert Hall, London Jazz Festival and many jazz clubs around the country. It is very rewarding to see people loving the harp in jazz and I am sure that soon this diverse and powerful instrument will be totally accepted in jazz world.
What other projects are you currently involved in?I am incredibly fortunate to be involved in several innovative projects: for the last couple of years I have been working with a jazz award winning singer /songwriter Niki King with whom we are promoting our new project "Power of Two". It's a beautiful and very intimate show of love songs of Duke Ellington, Nina Simone and Jacque Brel.
I am looking forward to my new collaboration with London based singer Giorgia Mancio, presenting music of legendary Abbey Lincoln in Pizza Express in October.
I am planning a new show celebrating the 50th anniversary of Dorothy Ashby's innovative album "Afro – Harping" that will feature Gareth Lockrane on flute. I also continue giving international recitals as a solo harpist that include classical and contemporary music as well as my own compositions.
Click on the album cover to read our review.
I listen to J.S.Bach The Well-Tempered Clavier when I need to gather my thoughts together, Joe Henderson and Stevie Wonder to feel energised, Kamaal Williams and Sampha to chill out and I am not afraid to admit I even downloaded Beyonce "Run The World (Girls)" to get my morning exercises some boost!
But the last album I've got is Jazz Contrasts by Kenny Dorham featuring Sonny Rollins on saxophone and Betty Glamann on harp that was a great discovery for me.
I think it's Journey in Satchidananda by Alice Coltrane. Coltrane is a true role model whose art was an example of endless potential and creative possibilities and whose life journey was dedicated to finding the meaning of human existence and universal consciousness. This album changed my life - it pointed me in new directions and took me to a journey that I am enjoying very much.
I just heard a pre-mastered version of Tony Kofi and Organisation new album "Point Blank" that will be released in September 2018. I think it's a really great work – full of energy, fun and fabulous rhythms. Definitely recommend buying it for your next party!
JEAN TOUSSAINT - Take Five No: 46
The new CD is entitled Jean Toussaint Allstar 6tet Brother Raymond and is dedicated to the memory of my eldest brother who passed away in 2015. The record is recorded with a band I put together to explore my Jazz Messengers roots and as a tribute to mark 25 years of the passing of my Mentor the legendary Art Blakey. That band went under the name Roots & Herbs The Blakey Project, the Roots & Herbs part of our name was borrowed from a Jazz Messengers record from the sixties. We had several successful UK tours playing all the major jazz festivals. Our repertoire was strictly Jazz Messengers classics like Moanin', Blues March, The Summit, Along Came Betty, Look At The Birdie, Ping Pong, This Is For Albert, Crisis and many others.
In addition to the CDs we sold at the gigs about 50% of the audience who bought CDs always ask to also purchase the music we had just played. I had never thought about recording the classics as the originals are so rich and vibrant that whatever we did, no matter how good, could never compare. Having had so many requests for the music we were playing, I thought to myself, why not compose an entire album of new compositions using the Jazz Messengers as a guide but also drawing on all my years of experience since my tenure as a Jazz Messenger and also exploring current socio political moods.
The opening track is entitled 'Amabo' and dedicated to president Obama. I chose an African groove for this piece to emphasise his African heritage and also as a Fuck You to the racist birtherism movement that existed in far right US politics. Another song that I think touches on the current political mood is 'Major Changes'. This song was written right after, in my opinion and that of countless others, the disastrous Brexit vote. It is based, harmonically, on major chords and with this song I'm saying, that despite Brexit and all the negative that Trump and his policies, or lack there of, brings to the world we can still make a positive sound and live in hope that good will out weigh the bad.
All of the other compositions are tributes to various people in my life and great musicians that I admire and, directly or indirectly, have learnt from. There's 'Doc' written for my cousin Kerwin Doctrove, Letters to Milena written for my partner Milena Tosic, 'Brother Raymond' the title track, 'Interlude for Idris' written for the great New Orleans drummer Idris Muhammad, 'Interlude for Eddie' written for the great saxophonist/pianist/composer Eddie Harris, 'Interlude for Kirk' written for the great Detroit pianist Kirk Lightsey, 'Mingus Fingus' a tribute to the legendary bassist/composer Charles Mingus and Wonder Where for the great Stevie Wonder.
The Allstars 6tet: Trumpeter/composer/bandleader Byron Wallen has been at the top of his field for the past 20 years and continues to dominate, trombonist/composer/bandleader Dennis Rollins likewise has dominated his field for the past 25years, Pianist/composer/bandleader Jason Rebello is one of the finest in the world, Drummer/producer/composer/bandleader Troy Miller is also a force to be reckoned with, the phenomenal master of rhythm Drummer Mark Mondesir, the bass supremo from the British Royal family of jazz Alec Dankworth, Drummer/composer/bandleader (of Emperical) Shaney Forbes, Pianist/composer/bandleader (of Graviton) Andrew McCormack, Venezuelan master Congalero Williams Cumberbatche Perez, and then there are the Young Lions of the new generation of British jazz musician Pianist/composer/bandleader Ashley Henry, Bassist/composer/bandleader Daniel Casimir, Trombonist/composer/bandleader Tom Dunnett, Trumpeter/composer/bandleader Mark Kavuma, Saxophonist/composer/bandleader Tom Harrison.
The Tour: After the album launch, which takes place at Ronnie Scott's on the 4th of June 2018, we will embark on an extensive UK tour from September to December 2018 where we will visit 25 – 30 destinations. Details of the tour will be posted on www.jeantoussaint.com, www.facebook.com/jeantoussaint, www.turacomusic.com over the summer of 2018.
In addition to the Allstar 6tet I'm also leading a 5tet called The Young Lions which is also a part of the Blakey Project. The song Wonder Where on Brother Raymond is by The Young Lions with special guests Tom Harrison on Alto Saxophone and Troy Miller on Drums. The other members consist of Pianist Ashley Henry, Bassist Daniel Casimir and Trumpeter Mark Kavuma. I plan to take this band into the studio to record some original material in the near future. As part of my upcoming autumn tour I will be forming a special 5tet featuring the phenomenal Midlands trumpeter Birmingham's own Percy Pursglove on several gigs.
My 4tet JT4 is on the down for now but still in existence and we still do the odd gig here and there. A version of this band with the great Irish drummer Stephen Keogh works occasionally at clubs and festivals in Spain where I spend a lot of time. I will also perform with JT4 at the Parisian jazz club Duc Des Lombards on the 9th and 10th of November 2018.
The phenomenal saxophonist/composer/poet Soweto Kinch sent me a copy of his current double CD entitled Nonagram and I've been listening to it nonstop for several weeks. The last CDs I bought was as part of my research into the music of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers entitled Live in Lausanne 1960 Part 1 & 2. This is the classic Jazz Messengers line-up on the famous 1960 European tour that spawned the Live at Olympia Paris Box set. Lee Morgan – Trumpet, Wayne Shorter – Tenor Sax, Bobby Timmons – Piano, Jymie Merritt – Bass and of course the great Art Blakey bringing it all to life.
That is your favourite album and why?
This has got to be one of the most difficult questions to answer and any serious jazz musician or listener will tell you that they have several choices as rounding it down to 1 must be virtually impossible. Personally for me jazz is subjective so I could find a record or artist to accompany any situation mood or feeling that would be a perfect match for that particular situation at that particular time. The only way that I can find to answer this is to give you my top 5 as that is the only way to get close to an answer.
I. John Coltrane Quartet - The complete 1961 Village Vanguard Live recordings; In my opinion this is the highest level of small ensemble performance and is yet to be matched on any level even though it's been 57 years since it was recorded.
2. Miles Davis - Kind of Blue because it changed the course of jazz with it's innovations and number 1 would not exist without it.
3. Billy Holiday - Lady In Satin. Lady Day is my absolute favourite vocalist ever and I really appreciate how she re-composes every song that she sings and for me has the most distinctive voice in the history of music.
4. Charlie Parker - Cherokee 1943; Bird at 23/24 how can one so young be so astounding?
5. Colman Hawkins - Body And Soul 1939 for me this record started the modern jazz ball rolling and it hasn't stopped since.
In the UK Shabaka Hutchings, Andrew McCormack, Ashley Henry, Daniel Casimir. Sam Eagles, Tom Harrison, Ben Brown, Camilla George, Nubya Garcia In the US Marcus Strickland, Walter Smith, Jure Pukl, Christian Scott and numerous others both here and in the States.
RAPH CLARKSON - Take Five No: 45
This album represents the various threads in my life coming together at a very particular moment in time - for many years I had wanted to fully express myself creatively, but I hadn't worked out exactly how to do it, who to do it with, what the music should sound like…
Much like the themes explored in the centre of the album, it was the 'Kind Folk', the people around me - loved ones, friends, family, musicians, guides, mentors - that helped me to answer those questions. It's no coincidence that the Dissolute Society is a large-ish ensemble (there are 12 musicians on the album), full of people that I love, respect and am passionate about making music with.
The musical heritage of the album stems from my immersion into jazz and contemporary music when I began studying at York University - the legendary John Taylor was on the staff, complementing a really strong jazz department. Myself, Phil Merriman and Simon Roth (both on the album), amongst others, played together happily and often, and exploring the rich catalogue of music written by John, Kenny Wheeler and their contemporaries. Their music, and John's guidance, kindness and generosity as a mentor, have been enormous influences on me (it is hard to state how significant!), hence my arrangements of their music standing at the heart of this album - Kenny's sublime 'Kind Folk', I think my favourite ever tune, and John's 'Soldiering On', also the title of the album, which is itself jointly dedicated to John and my mother.
My mother, her rich musical life (she was a baroque violinist heavily involved in the early music revival), her influence and love, and her tragic death when I was 15, represent the other fundamental inspiration behind this album - that of my own family history and cultural heritage (which includes the german jewish diaspora), and with the loss of my mum, the many painful emotions that one can experience as life goes on.
This is what is explored in the first part of the album; following that, the healing, love and support of the 'Kind Folk' around me; and towards the close of the album, an exploration of 'Soldiering On' and 'Find[ing] The Way Through' difficult moments in life, often the echoes and ripples of earlier pain, before looking towards the future with a sense of hope and joy.
This story, or narrative, is told through words and music - words, written by me, and performed with sparklingly creative and passionate delivery by Fini Bearman on vocals (as well as guest appearances by Norwegian vocalist Mia Marlen Berg, and rapper and spoken word artist Joshua Idehen) - and a variety of musical approaches, reflecting my eclectic musical interests.
I wanted to put together an ensemble that could reflect this diversity and shift between different genres and styles, and as mentioned above, comprise a group of people that I am close to and love. And so there are three string players, including my dad Gustav Clarkson on viola and partner Zosia Jagodzinska on cello, as well as Naomi Burrell on violin, also an early music specialist like my mother; two brass players, myself and Laura Jurd on trumpet, whose playing I love and for me beautifully touches on all the musical landscapes that I'm interested in and that I present on the album, from avant-garde improv, to contemporary jazz, to folk and groove-based funk; good friend and stunning improviser Mike Soper adds his trumpet playing to the gospel-infused final track in a joyous solo-trade with Laura.
Huw Warren joins my York University alumni Phil and Simon to pay tribute to John Taylor with his own unique brand of soulful, melodic, folk-infused piano improvising.
So the album is a deeply personal one that tells my story, but that I hope also resonates with people; it also celebrates some wonderful musicians from our British musical past, and showcases a unique set of creative performers, all who add their distinctive and passionate voices to The Dissolute Society.
I'm lucky to play in quite an eclectic mix of bands!
I've been a member of jazz-punk quintet WorldService Project for almost ten years, and we're releasing our fourth album Serve this summer, and will be touring it across the U.K. and abroad - this record was produced by Liran Donin, who was the inspirational guide and producer for the Dissolute Society record.
I'm also a member of The Dualers, a south-london based Ska and Reggae band, which tours up and down the country - it's a huge amount of fun to be in a horn section and improvise on this incredibly joyous music!
I've also been involved in a project called 'This is Kalba', run by Dissolute Society recording engineer and producer Sonny Johns - this, a Ghana-U.K. collaborative album that he's put together, which I wrote horn arrangements for, which feature myself, Laura Jurd and Mark Lockheart. That will be coming out this year, and will help to raise money to build schools in North Ghana.
My interest in music from the African diaspora extends down to South Africa, and I've recently put together a project under the guidance of S.A. pianist, Dudu Pukwana and Hugh Masakela collaborator Adam Glasser. It's called Equal Spirits, and as well as performing the music I wrote to celebrate the S.A.-U.K. british jazz connection at The Vortex in London, I took the material out to South Africa earlier this year, collaborating with S.A. musicians in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. I hope to invite some of the musicians I met there to the U.K. at some point in the future.
I also run a free improvising brass ensemble, Speckles Brass, which is collaborating with Keith Tippett in June 2018; I'm continuing to work on a range exciting community and education projects, including co-leading work for Spitalfields Music, creating songs alongside children with communication needs, and also working with the Mid Wales Music Trust on a creative children's project focussed on Macbeth; and later this year I will be working on a commission for the Sinfonia Viva orchestra, setting the words of John Donne to music.
I tend to get quite obsessed with one album or artist for a long period of time, before moving on!
In recent times I can't get enough of Tigran Hamasyan's ensemble music - I listen often to the Red Hail, Shadow Theatre and Mockroot albums.
I'm also really enjoying listening to music from the late, great South African jazz giants, in particular Bheki Mseleku (there's a wonderful album called Home at Last, the last one he made under his own name before he died) - I absolutely love the tune Monwabisi.
And the last download I bought was a classic Dudu Pukwana track, from the Ubagile EP, called 'Tete and Barbs in My Mind' - passionate, fiery sparking and bubbling improv overlaid with a wistful, heartfelt South African melody.
Very tough question, of course!
I'm going to have to go for Kenny Wheeler's Music for Small and Large Ensembles… I can listen to this over and over and over and still be deeply moved by these stunningly crafted melodies, rich and distinctive harmony and of course the amazing collection of British jazz legends brought together to form the ensemble. I was lucky to be introduced to a lot of this music by John Taylor who plays on the album - we were able to explore a lot of this music alongside him, with his insight and musicianship, and it's also deeply connected to my experience of growing into adulthood and realising the possibilities and power of music. Somebody once described Kenny Wheeler's music as being 'beautifully melodic but with always an undercurrent of sadness bubbling away underneath'… I think that combination of joy and pain, passionately expressed, is something that i respond to every time I hear it.
I do have to mention another album though - one of the first that really got me into jazz, given to me when I was about 11 - The Atomic Mr Basie by the Count Basie Orchestra. A masterclass in joyous jazz writing, full of swagger and class and fire.
A very talented and uniquely creative young musician, violinist and composer Theo May. I saw him at Cafe Oto with his large ensemble (rhythm section, strings and woodwinds), and then free improvising with Keith Tippett and Julie Tippetts. He is fearless, eccentric, distinctive, passionate and full of interesting musical ideas… definitely one to watch.
MARTIN SPEAKE - Take Five No: 44
Can you tell us about your new album and upcoming tour?
In 1990 I met Ethan Iverson at Banff Centre for The Arts in Canada where we studied for a month with Steve Coleman, Rufus Reid, Kevin Eubanks, Stanley Cowell, Kenny Wheeler and many others. This began our musical relationship and we kept in touch for a while as Ethan moved to New York and eventually became the musical director/pianist with Mark Morris Dance Company. Since then he has toured with world with the critically acclaimed trio The Bad Plus and recently has recorded with Ron Carter and Lee Konitz amongst others.
I lost touch after Banff and we both pursued our separate paths in music. I decided to contact Ethan after a ten year gap and we began playing together again and in 2002 performed as a duo in the UK and Scotland and released the cd My Ideal (Basho Records), a ballad album of standards.
Now 15 years later we have recorded a quartet album of my compositions (and my arrangements of a standard, Dancing In The Dark and Charlie's Wig by Charlie Parker) to be released on Ubuntu Records.This band also features bassist Fred Thomas and drummer James Maddren. This material will be featured on the tour. I have dates from 20th April until May 4th in the UK with this band. Martin France, also an old collaborator of mine is doing the first and last date instead of James.
Trio with Mike Outram and Jeff Williams that sometimes is a quartet joined by Fred Thomas. The trio has been in existentence for many years now and I love the intimacy and rapport we have and also how spontaneous it is when we play, so the tunes are always interpreted differently each time.
Duo with pianist Alex Maguire.
Mafarowi my Indian/Arabic/Turkish influenced band, with Rob Luft, Faith Brackenbury and Will Glaser.
Duo with violinist, violist, vocalist Faith Brackenbury.
Thelonious with Hans Koller, Calum Gourlay and James Maddren. There will be an album release later this year with that band and special guest US guitarist Steve Cardenas playing Thelonious Monk's music.
Phelan Burgoyne's trio with Rob Luft.
Fred Thomas's Polyphonic Jazz band which uses the techniques of Bach in a jazz context.
John Ashton Thomas piece for my trio and choir - 7 Blake Songs. To be performed at GSMD on the 12th July.
Pat Thomas has just suggested a band with Dudley Phillips and Mark Mondesir. We are at the Vortex on May 17th.
Lots of very nice teaching at Trinity Laban, Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Royal Academy of Music.
Seeing patients In my other life as a nutritional therapist.
My listening changes all the time. I have music on from when I wake up and also when I am driving. In the car is Warne Marsh A Ballad Album and some Lee Konitz albums including Figure and Spirit. Hans Koller has suggested we transform our band Thelonious into Lennie-Bird (a tune by Tristano) to play the music of Lennie Tristano and his students Warne Marsh and Lee Konitz and others. Nice idea! Hence I am now listening to that music again.
Also recently it was Unity by Larry Young, as my partner Alyson (also a saxophone player) reminded me how great this album is.
I heard the tune This Is New on the Chick Corea album Tones For Joan's Bones and downloaded Trilogy, a more recent trio album by Chick that has this tune on as I have the urge to learn it.
Suddenly I am into the tune Spring Is Here as the seasons are changing and I have never learnt this tune so I am now. Listening to versions by Larry Goldings, Stan Getz, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Charlie Haden/Kenny Barron, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Hampton Hawes. On learning a new song I listen to many versions and then decide on the harmony I want to use and the approach.
What a difficult question! There are so many albums that I return to that seem to be universal and defy category/genre such as A Love Supreme and Kind Of Blue.
Complete live at Birdland Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Fats Navarro, May 17 1950 is stunning. These players were rarely recorded all together and I believe they are the highest exponents of the music that is known as bebop but of course that word does not do the music justice. They are on fire on this date and obviously inspired by each other.
Anything by Paul Motian or Charlie Haden or preferably together!
I do always return to Paul Motian's trio with Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano and particularly like You Took The Words Right Out Of My Heart.
Charlie Parker with Strings. The melody statements are so profound and the paraphrasing of them. I still think he is my favourite jazz musician.
I love Jo Stafford singing American Folk songs with strings.
L Subramaniam Le Violin De L'Inde Du Sud - South Indian music. He improvises with a tiny amount of material but the development over an hour is stunning
Keith Jarrett Facing You and Starbright from this is an all time favourite track. A kind of contemporary approach to stride piano! This was his first solo album on ECM and is very focused with shortish structured pieces.
Everybody I play with! Mike Outram and Jeff Williams are my favourite musicians anywhere so I feel very lucky playing with them whenever I can.
For more information and a gig near you visit www.martinspeake.com/classes
FRASER SMITH - Take Five No: 43
Can you tell us about your new album?
Sure! Fraser & the Alibis, (album of the same name as the band) is the culmination of the last ten years of us four musicians playing music and hanging out together. We met at music college in Wales in the mid noughties, and all moved to London around the same time as each other, roughly 8 years ago. This project is our main outlet for playing the hard swinging bebop/ hardbop and funky boogaloo music that we love. Stylistically we're influenced by the jazz masters, playing original tunes firmly rooted in the sounds of the past. This isn't a 'contemporary' project, but rather an attempt to express ourselves through the language of the greats that lived mostly last century, whilst also channelling some of that feel-good joy that crowds came to early bebop gigs to soak up.
Another massive factor for the tracks on the album is our audience. Most of our residencies and long running gigs have been in slightly dingy, late night, inner-London bars off the beaten tourist track, playing to lively audiences until the early hours. The original tunes we play are tried and tested on these crowds, with our main aim being to get people up dancing and digging the music, whilst still keeping it jazz. We've had some wild gigs in the last couple of years!
So coming back to the question ... this album is an attempt to capture some of the live atmosphere of our gigs rather than an isolated piece of studio work. We also recorded at Studiowz, a great vintage style studio in the middle of Wales, that made it easy to add that retro edge to the production.
I play with 'Art-Pop' group Alaskalaska, dep in Alex Mendham's 1920/30's Orchestra and have recently recorded an album with some good jazz-friends from the London scene (which will be coming out as soon as we can finance it.) I've been doing a lot of shows where the band do live renditions of classic pop albums at the Jazz Cafe ... that's been great fun! Also I'm teaming up with Scottish pianist Fraser Urqhart to do a Dexter Gordon show, that'll be happening in Scotland in July and then in London shortly after!
I'm obsessed with 'Miles Davis Live at Birdland 1951' at the moment. Its unbelievable!! Blakey is on drums, and he has the most funky, swingin' feel. There are three tenor players, including a young Sonny Rollins and for me it is the peak of Bebop. The language is fully developed and is so internalised and established that they're pushing it forward, whilst grooving hard. It sounds like they're having so much fun, whilst playing at the highest level! I just transcribed all of the arrangements to try and play with a band, just because its such exciting music.
I can't decide! It'd have to be either:
Chet Baker Sings
Bon Iver, For Emma Forever Ago
or a 'Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra' Compilation I had when I was in my teens. Lost it though! So i can get the tracks from various places but not in that particular, perfect order.
There is so much amazing music happening at the moment in London! I've seen a lot of great gigs at the Ronnie's late show recently, probably too many to mention one. Otherwise, I saw Colin Stetson last time he was in town, that was pretty unbelievable. Never seen anything like it!
CARL BARTLETT JR. - Take Five No: 42
Sure. PROMISE! is my sophomore Jazz album. The Official CD Release Party was on December 14, 2017 at the renowned Jazz at Kitano (NYC), to a Sold Out audience, and featured my ensemble, The Carl Bartlett, Jr. Quintet. The album features eight of my newest, original modern compositions, in varying moods, tempos, time signatures, and key signatures. The exceptional cast of musicians who perform on the album is as follows: Marcus McLaurine (bass), Yoichi Uzeki (piano), Sylvia Cuenca (drums), Charles Bartlett (my Uncle & Special Guest on trumpet), and myself, Carl Bartlett, Jr. (alto saxophone). My ensemble is now touring the East Coast of the USA, with shows in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Florida, and more, sharing the music from the new album, "PROMISE!", with Fans. I chose the title "PROMISE!", for my new album, as a continuation of my debut album, named "Hopeful". The title reflects the promise, and progression of how I think, play, and really how I'd like to inspire listeners and expose them to wonderful emotions (maybe even feelings that they might not know exist). The spelling of PROMISE! in all capital letters with an exclamation point is to reinforce the positivity of the word with relation to what I'd love the listeners to experience upon listening to the music, and to emphasize showing promise on my life's journey!
Along with leading my ensemble, I work with several other bands (Jazz, and other genres) in the tri-state area. I've also, in recent weeks, recorded with other artists on their new projects (one album is Gospel Jazz, and the other is R&B).
Currently (as almost always was the case), how I move through life, and how life affects me dictates what my heart and my ears are attracted to. I love listening to Sonny Stitt, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Michael Brecker, and several other world class musicians, on all instruments. However, I find that by looking deep within myself, and trying to elicit my personal life story (in a musical sense, through a saxophone) yields great rewards, and is a very cathartic process.
The last CD that I bought was "Sonny Stitt - Autumn in New York". I bought it a few weeks ago at Jazz Record Center, in Manhattan, NYC. The CD is a gem, and so is Jazz Record Center!
I do not have a favorite album of all time. However, an album that has a very special place in my heart is Dream Suite/New York, by the band Dreams (in that band were Randy and Michael Brecker). On Christmas Day of Wednesday, December 25, 1996 (when I was fourteen years old), my Uncle Charles brought this album by for me, and I heard Michael Brecker play sax for the first time. I was blown away, beyond words. The very next day I picked up my alto saxophone and thus started my relentless Jazz quest. I'll always remember how this moment shaped what I would do with the rest of my life, as it became apparent on December 25, 1996 that Jazz was for me. So, thank you Uncle Charles Bartlett, and thank you Michael Brecker.
David Bryant (pianist), Josh Evans (trumpet), Sam Dillon (saxophone), Stuart Mack (trumpet), Armando Vergara (trombone).
GREG CORDEZ - Take Five No: 41
This is the second album I've recorded as leader/composer. It was recorded in Brooklyn and features Steve Cardenas, Allison Miller, Kirk Knuffke, Michael Blake, with Ben Allison on board as producer. Special mention to Aaron Nevezie at Bunker Studios also. I turned up with a bunch of parts and went into a studio with some of my favourite improvising musicians and gave it all I had.
My other significant project is a band called Sefrial, playing with a bunch of good friends and excellent Bristol based musicians. This band shares an appreciation of the music of John Zorn, Marc Ribot, Tim Berne et al. I get to indulge in my love of Mark Sandman and Kim Gordon's bass playing.
I still freelance and get to play with a number of excellent local and visiting jazz musicians, and still do the occasional bout of session work (when/if the phone rings for that). Also getting another project together exploring the music and aesthetic of Ornette Coleman and Andrew Hill. Hoping that influence can make its way legitimately into my future writing.
The most recent bought is the excellent new Bad Plus album, with Orrin Evans in place. Reid Anderson and Dave King remain a huge influence on both my writing and approach to playing music, and I'm so pleased to hear the results of the new line-up. Previous to that, the Craig Taborn 'Daylight Ghosts', which I adore.
I'm also loving the wonderful new-ish Frisell 'Small Town' album, and have been going back to Yo Lo Tengo, Todd Sickafoose, Sufjan Stevens, Laura Veirs, Richmond Fontaine, Jim Black, Chris Lightcap, Nels Cline. Drew Gress. Also, been hitting the Paul Motion catalogue pretty hard too. When I'm writing music, it helps me to listen to whatever I fancy and let my subconscious try figure it all out.
My answer is probably rooted in nostalgia as much as influence, but the 'Good Morning Spider' album by the sadly departed Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse) remains my number one for about twenty years now. As far as number two, take a pick from Bad Plus 'Never Stop', Bill Evans Vanguard recordings, Mingus Ah Um, Andrew Hill 'Point of Departure', Coltrane 'Crescent'.
Snowpoet, Huw V Williams, Ollie Brice (London)
Get The Blessing, Nick Malcolm, Dhakla, The Evil Usses, Eyebrow, Paul Bradley, (Bristol)
Dave King Trucking Company. Craig Taborn. Chris Lightcap. Kris Davis. (NYC)
TONY TIXIER - Take Five No: 40
This is my lastest project " Life of Sensitive Creatures" I wrote the album like a tale, an ode to all sensitive beings on this planet. Each songs is a step forward compassion and love but also tend to question us on our fears, denial and confusing emotions. This song book is the first time I show up in Trio with truly my two favorite musicians with whom I have been playing since I moved to NYC 5 years ago.
It's also the first time I produced an album with a total freedom regarding the choice of the studio, the choice of the engineers and all the logistic around, I am really proud with what we came out.
I am currently playing with Seamus Blake new quartet, we just recorded an album last week with his band. Also in touch with Wallace Roney to join his band next season. I also joined a new project with Ben Van Gelder, Tom Berkmann and Mathias Ruppnig called Scopes, we will be recording an album next year.
I am listening to Hank Jones a lot lately, and especially "Tiptoe Tapdance" incredible solo recording by Hank in 1978.
The last CD I bought is a beautiful album, Small Town (ECM) by Bill Frisell and Thomas Morgan.
What is your all time faviurite album and why?
I will pick 3:
The Mourning of a Star by Keith Jarrett is probably one of my favorite album for the incredible magic created by Keith, Charlie Haden and Paul Motian. They are flying together in some magical places and the trio truly create music together and it's fills with love and spirit. hard to describe with words.
Also the live recording of Miles Davis quintet in 1964 at the Philharmonic Hall, Lincoln Center in NYC titled My Funny Valentine. I love it, you can feel the crowd yelling at some point, the quintet plays some very classic standards and bring us all together in a truly spiritual experience. I love how Herbie Hancock plays with Miles and how the tunes are built without ever feeling a transition between the themes and the solos. Everything seems improvised even the melodies of the songs.
And also Dialogo by Aydin Esen who comes from another planet! This is one of my all time favorite musician and this album is for me one of the most incredible he created. His music is beyond what most people could imagine, he is truly one of the kind and every single stuff he plays is breathtaking.
Kim Kalesti, Yael Watchman, Joel Ross, Harmen Fraanje, are among the artists I have been checking out recently.
LAURA PERRUDIN - Take Five No: 39
My new album is called Poisons & Antidotes. It is a suite of songs I composed, wrote, arranged, recorded and produced with sounds from my electric harp and my voice exclusively. It also sounds like a whole orchestra but everything is actually coming from the same source, with lots of electronic treatments and effects. That gives a very special sound to the whole album. It is difficult to describe it easthetically because of the many influences coloring it : probably a kind of pop somewhere between trip hop, jazz, nu-soul, experimental folk, hip-hop, electronica and 20th century impressionism.
I am working on an 'electronic-only' EP for years and I hope I'll be able to finish it next year. I also play a completely acoustic solo repertoire pretty often. Then, I am in several bands, including a trio with french double bass player Michel Benita and italian percussionist Michele Rabbia, a duo with a very interesting young guitar player called Thibault Florent.. among others. Next year I will create the music of a contemporary dance piece with a company called Pilot Fishes and work as a producer on the new album by french-irish musician Yann Cleary.
The last record I bought was Let them eat chaos by Kate Tempest
It is to hard to answer to this question with « the one » and only. All I can do is talking about an album I have been listening to again and again, entirely, for probably 15 years : Dummy by Portishead. Its deep, rich sound and dark mood has been very important in the way I build my ears.
Sampa the great with the record 'The great mixtape'. I discovered it two weeks ago and played it so many times on the internet since... need to buy it now !
JOY ELLIS - Take Five No: 38
I'm really excited about it! It's the first full jazz album I've created which is all my own material.
The title track, Life On Land, was the first tune I wrote on the album but probably one of the last to finish. It began life when Adam (my now-husband) and I were jamming in his basement in Pittsburgh one cold, snowy January about seven years ago. He'd just acquired a Rhodes for about 200 bucks and needless to say I was delighted to jam on it and as we were playing we came up with the main groove for that tune.
To me, the lyrics of Joni Mitchell are really inspiring – I love the way she uses language and the poetry of her lines – and this is something I tried to emulate when I began writing. I have tried writing in a number of different ways – lyrics first or music first. I think the most effective songs lyrically were the ones that began life as poetry, such as 'Ellington Said' and 'The City'. They story feels very cohesive. My favourite tracks musically however are probably 'The Jazzman' and 'Life On Land'. It's nice to have a couple of purely instrumental tracks on the album to add a varying focus and change the overarching contour of the album as a whole.
The album features myself on piano, Rhodes and voice, Rob Luft on guitar, Henrik Jensen on double bass and Adam Osmianski on drums. Binker Golding and James Copus also appear on a couple of tracks on saxophone and flugelhorn respectively.
I'm incredibly pleased with the overall sound of the album – it feels like there's a storyline throughout and all the musicians sound fantastic. The album was recorded at Eastcote Studios in North West London and the whole experience was incredibly positive and enjoyable. It was so relaxing - we managed to crank out 11 tracks in two days.
My husband Adam is really into Brazilian music and so by proxy I have listened to loads of it and been able to discover some beautiful new sounds. We play together in his group Samba Azul which consists of percussion, guitar, cavaquinho, and voice. It's such joyous music to play – I'm basically smiling from the beginning to the end of every gig!
Lately, I've been re-listening to a lot of Bebop, particularly Cannonball Adderley's record with Milt Jackson – loving the vibraphone! Alongside that, I love Esperanza Spalding and was recently checking out a kind of MTV video she did on her website called Radio Music Society. I've discovered some great music from Ted Gioia's top 100 and I particularly like Fabiano Do Nascimento's album Dança Dos Tempos – it's great driving music.
I'm sure for most musicians that's an impossible question to answer. It really depends on my mood. Lots of albums have special meaning related to different eras and experiences I've had in my life.
Currently, my top 5 are probably Highway Rider by Brad Mehldau, Friday Night in San Francisco with Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco De Lucía, the Joni Letters by Herbie Hancock, Íntimo by Hamilton De Holanda and Waltz for Debby by Bill Evans. However, this changes all the time as I discover new music and re-discover old music – I love it!
The London Jazz scene is really vibrant and exciting at the moment. I've recently been to a whole bunch of album launches including Ollie Howell, Femi Tomowo, Dan Casimir, Ant Law and Rob Luft. For classic-old-school-with-an-original-twist, the new Leo Richardson album is burning. Earlier this year I saw Ben Brown's project Waaju at Foyles which feature original compositions influenced by music from Mali. I'm looking forward to the release of Bahla's new record featuring Tal Janes' who is also a member of Waaju. Tal and I got to play together through the Brighter Sounds Artistic Directors series with ESKA back in May which an amazing experience. I'm really looking forward to ESKA's new record coming out at RichMix in January 2018.
For more information about Joy's music check out: www.joyellismusic.com
DAN MESSORE - Take Five No: 37
It features Gareth Lockrane (flutes), Calum Gourlay (bass) and Tim Giles (drums)
I wrote the material around the guys. We had been touring together and I was slipping in the newer material as we went to get it played in. I wanted, with this line up, to put a bit of light and hope into the new sound. The second album was intentionally darker and more effected and Martin France and Tim were just incredible for that. I was really excited to compose towards the acoustic sound of this line up as a response to that. In my mind this record is kind of between the first and second albums. Theses players are all such monsters and have such great tone, so I really just wanted to explore that and the chemistry we'd built touring the previous record. I tend to have a narrative behind most of the compositions, which informs my choices. But, it's been great to get the experience and incredible input from the other players also.
I've been squirrelling away several recordings recently. I've just finished mixing a album which has 4 part female voice harmony and full band plus horns behind it. It's kind of a Zappa/Hermeto thing. The band is called 'Los Pulpos Del Diablo'. I've got no idea how I'm gonna get it out yet. But it's been a blast to make.
Just finished tracking a new trio with Dan Moore (organ/synths) and Matt Brown (drums). This band ' Alaias' is organ trio. The writing is inspired by my favourite surf movies from the 60s up to present edits. I'm really happy with how it's sounding and the boys are incredible to play with, very inspiring to write for and play with.
I've also been super excited to work on a song writing project with my wife Joanna. It's called "Sky Barkers" and we will be releasing a EP on Cambrian Records in spring 2018. http://cambrianrecords.com/artists
Michelson Morley - Jake McMurchie's group with an album out on Babel called Strange Courage. I believe we are due to record a second quiet soon. https://michelsonmorley.com/
Duski - Bass player Aidan Thorne's group with a record out on Cambrian Records. http://duskimusic.co.uk
Little Arrow - Alt. Folk band led by mu oldest and dearest friend William Hughes. http://www.littlearrow.co.uk/
Render - This is a new project with pianist George Cooper. We have arranged various movie cues for piano and guitar quartet. This has been a really great vibe and I hope we do more with it soon.
I've got another Indigo Kid record tracked waiting to be mixed, same line up as this last one.
I run 3 residencies which keep my toes in more straight ahead jazz. I tend to do these as organ trio. They are Druidstone in Pembrokeshire (last Thursday of the month), Porters in Cardiff (last Friday of the month) and Canteen in Bristol (every 2 months)
Also, I'm in Soho Theatre all Dec playing in a really cool show called 'Sinners Club'. It's got cool music and is a good crew to work with.
I've gone all guitar mad again recently. I was crazy about piano trios for a while there. I'm listening a lot to Julian Lage, Blake Mills, John Scofield and Bill Frisell. Outside of jazz, I'm listening loads of old surf movie soundtracks. That's been the by product of researching for writing for "Alaias".
I'm gonna say Olias Of Sunhillow by Jon Anderson. It caught me off guard and I never recovered from its magic. I was gifted a really great vinyl collection from a older friend when I was 18. It had all the fusion era miles, love supreme and lots of great albums spanning genre from 1969-74 era. It's shaped me considerably. My jazz/folk/rock leanings come strongly from that collection. Olias of Sunhillow was one of the first concept style albums that totally opened doors in my minds ear.
Honestly, I'm probably not the best person to ask about the up and coming in any scene. The way I live these days is pretty out of touch. My wife and I live either in a caravan in west wales, around Europe in our camper or over in Costa Rica with some old friends I have there from when I was living there. That said, two of my best mates are doing really well in London right now, and they are some of the most musical dudes your likely to hear. So, check out anything that Joe Webb (piano/organ) and Gethin Jones (drums) are involved in. Outside of London I've been loving the Bristol guys recently. Recently I've had a lot of good juju with Dan Moore and Matt Brown. Having gigged a lot at the residences I run and just recording this new album which I'm really happy with.
For more info on Dan Messore and Indigo Kid visit: http://www.danmessore.com/indigo-kid/
SAMUEL EAGLES - Take Five No: 36
My new album is called 'Ask, Seek, Knock'. I have put together a new set up for this named, 'SPIRIT'. The band consists of some cutting edge UK musicians who I have known for many years including my brother, Duncan Eagles, Ralph Wyld, Sam Leak, Max Luthert and Dave Hamblett. The album also features the legend, Jean Toussaint. I created this album because I reached a point in life where I felt no purpose in what I was doing, just playing music for music sake and not benefiting anyone or anything. Leading up to and during this project I have been exploring spiritual aspects of life and really trying to grow in wisdom, morality, and spirituality. I really feel like I have cracked the surface of creating something for a higher purpose/order. I hope to take this further.
I am currently involved in Philip Clouts's project. We recorded an album last year called 'Umoya'. This band is great, it's all original music composed by Philip and are heavily influenced by world music. A lot of groove, Latin, Afro Beat and straight ahead! We are about to embark on a UK tour in October/ November which I'm looking forward to. I also play in German-born guitarists band 'Gero Schipmann UK Sextet'. This is another great band, we perform Gero's original music which is contemporary Jazz with a lot of different influences. We are planning to go into the studio in the near future. I also perform in the afro beat band 'Emeka Presents - KALAKUTA'. This band is a lot of fun, we play Fela tune's and also we are working on Emeka's own compositions. This is great because Emeka used to be in Fela's band when he was younger. I also play in a Scar band called 'Maroon Town', they have so much energy and vibe, we playing at BoomTown Festival recently. I also have a residency at a club in Guildford with The Jack Noke Quartet. This is great as we play mainly Jazz standards.
I have recently started listening to Stormzy. Grime and Hip Hop is something I would like to check out more and I feel Stormzy is interesting as he also has a spiritual aspect to his music. I listen to a lot of Logan Richardson, I loved his album SHIFT and I am looking very much toward his upcoming release 'Blues People'. I haven't bought an album for a while, the last one I bought was Christian Scotts Diaspora which is kool, however I am always checking people out on YouTube. Braxton Cook is another young up and coming musician from New York which I like, he has a Jazz Hip Hop/RnB thing going on which I'm into. I also love Kirk Franklin, Bethel, some Hillsong music.
There are so many amazing albums, I'm not sure if I could pin it down to one all time favourite, hmm... One album which sticks out is 'Blue Train' by John Coltrane. I love this, every solo is spot on, all the compositions are engaging and there is not one moment where I get bored.
Logan Richardson for sure although he has been around for a few years but recently he has taken off due to his album SHIFT. I really think he has a unique voice on the saxophone and as an overall artist. I feel he is leading the way currently for alto saxophone.
For more information visit samueleagles.co.uk
ROBERT MITCHELL - Take Five No: 35
Photograph by Carl Hyde
My new album is A Vigil For Justice. A Justice For Peace (DOF001). It is my 9th and features the great: Tom Mason (Bass), Laurie Lowe (Drums), Thami Hlabangana (Narrator) and HKB Finn (Narrator). It is produced by ECM recording artist Miles Bould and was recorded in 2015/16. It contains original music and poetry inspired by dissatisfaction with the political process, several types of inequality, Migration, unexploited potential and more. It will be released on 15 Sept and will be in vinyl and digital formats only (on the Depth Of Field label). The poetry on the album is also part of a first collection coming out later this year in print, digital and audiobook formats. We had a wonderful time recording at Spencer Cozens great studio on his beautiful Steinway. I think creative music has a duty to comment on past and present events fanning the flames of division in whatever form it takes. It has a rich history of doing so and in such presently fractious times - empathetic inclusive constructive positivity in every creative sphere must be the priority.
I am hugely enjoying playing with my new trio Epiphany 3 (with Tom Mason and Saleem Raman) and with: the brilliant Julien Lourau Groove Retrievers, legends Courtney Pine and Omar, new free/radical poetry group Staggerlee Wonders, Orphy Robinson's All Star Bobby Hutcherson Project, fantastic cellist Shirley Smart, great young saxophonist Tom Harrison, soon with Stephane Payen and next year in duo again with the great Jason Rebello. More in the pipeline but - tba!
Black Focus (Yussef Kamal), Damn (Kendrick Lamar), Love In Beats (Omar), Visions Ep (Akala), Chineke Orchestra's debut album (Dvorjak, Sibelius). No cds bought in a while - only vinyl or very reluctantly download !
That is impossible to answer ... but I would put several done by Cecil Taylor, Keith Jarret, Prince, Steve Coleman, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Wayne Shorter, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Bheki Msleku, Django Bates, Pat Metheny and Gerri Allen in that life changing list. Picking one from the list - Rapsodia by Gonzalo Rubalcaba - this rewired my consciousness concerning possibilities on the piano. He has his own sound and a discipline and audacity the equal of any of the great pianists in music. It contains a group whose empathy was first rate - and a compositional approach that most definitely adds a new chapter to the great modern family tree of globally important Cuban music. I have/have had the huge pleasure of playing with two of the musicians on that album - Felipe Cabrera (who is the bass player in Julien Lourau's new group mentioned above) and Julio Barretto (playing in Steve Coleman's Council Of Balance - who I played with in the late 90s).
Laura Perrudin - who is a fantastic young French vocalist and harp player - who is making her UK debut in the London Jazz Fest in November.
For more information visit www.robertmitchellmusic.com & www.depthoffield.info
PETER JONES - Take Five No: 34
Photograph courtesy of David Jacobson
Can you tell us about your new album and launch concert?
Under the Setting Sun is my third album but the first to be commercially distributed. It's also the first to consist entirely of original compositions. The tunes took me and my writing partner Trevor Lever about 10 months to write. We have evolved an odd but effective working method over many years. And having started out trying to sound like late-period Steely Dan, their style is now embedded in our musical DNA. Audiences might hear some echoes of them in songs like 'Every Day I Hear More Bad News' and 'Reunion'.
I wanted a laid-back 2am vibe to the album as a whole. And that meant… vibes! So I booked Anthony Kerr for the session – he's been playing with Georgie Fame for the last 25 years, doing that r&b/jazz/blues material that Georgie is the peerless master of. I'd been to hear Anthony give a talk about himself and his instrument, and was knocked out by the subtlety and beauty of his jazz playing. Flute was another must-have instrument for this project, so I booked Vasilis Xenopoulos. Vas is the first to admit that the tenor is his primary instrument, but on my first album One Way Ticket To Palookaville he did such a fantastic flute job on my latin version of 'Nature Boy' that I had to book him again.
The little core of musicians that I work with whenever possible includes pianist Neil Angilley and drummer Davide Giovannini. They are both outrageously gifted players and they've been very supportive of me ever since I first met them at the Archduke at Waterloo about five years ago. I then booked them to record some demo tunes. Vas was also on that session, and he was the one who urged me to turn the recordings into an album. That's how One Way Ticket To Palookaville came about. Neil and Davide also played on my second album Utopia.
The fifth member of the line-up for the new release is Andy Hamill. I went to interview him for a book I've been writing about the late jazz vocalist Mark Murphy – Andy was Mark's UK bass player for many years. We got on really well, and I booked him for a couple of gigs. He's got a gentle style that works perfectly for the 2am vibe, and he also plays the chromatic harmonica, so I've got him soloing on that on a couple of tracks.
For the launch gig (Saturday 26 August, Café Posk, Hammersmith) Roger Beaujolais is depping for Anthony, who was already committed for that date, and Davide Mantovani is on bass for Andy. Roger is a living legend, and Davide is becoming one – plus, he plays in a trio with the other Davide and Neil, so they will lock together seamlessly.
What other projects are you currently involved in?
I've already mentioned the book – that comes out next April. I've also got a band – the Mü Orchestra – dedicated to playing jazz improvisations on Steely Dan and Donald Fagen tunes. We start with a couple of selections from Can't Buy a Thrill and end with some tunes from The Nightfly, so we go in chronological order from 1972 to 1982. The Mü Orchestra's membership is somewhat fluid, but usually includes Matt Telfer on tenor and Nick Cooper on piano.
I listen to loads of new releases because I'm also a jazz writer, and I review quite a lot of albums and gigs. One recent album that I particularly like is Damon Brown's Green River Stories, recorded in South Korea where Damon now lives – very melodic, and such a hip, sophisticated sound. He has a great singing voice, too. Carmen Lundy's new one Code Noir is brilliant, as is Charenee Wade's recent album of songs by Gil Scott Heron – it's called Offering, and its overall sound and mood was a big influence on Under the Setting Sun.
Nothing surprising or original, I'm afraid. It's a dead heat between Kind of Blue and Steely Dan's Aja.
All of the above, plus some of the new generation of young British talent. I would include two guitarists: Rob Luft, the most original player I've heard since the late Allan Holdsworth, and Alex Munk, whose band Flying Machines is a joy to listen to. There's also a group of extremely gifted young musicians who all graduated from the Royal Academy around the same time, including alto player Matthew Herd, double bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado (who played on my second album Utopia) and drummer Scott Chapman. Another even younger generation is on its way up, most of them still in their teens – trumpeter Patrick Wilson, tenor player Josh Fernandes and the dazzling multi-instrumentalist Jordan Hadfield.
For more information about the album launch visit Cafe Posk and Peter's website.
TOM SYSON - Take Five No: 33
My debut album 'Green' is made up of compositions inspired by many aspects of my life. The title track 'Green' for example, is inspired by a tree-hugged road leading to my home village, and is meant to relate to that feeling of coming home. All of my compositions are written specifically for the musicians involved, and are heavily based around improvisation.
The line up for the record is:
Tom Syson (myself) - Trumpet; Vittorio Mura - Tenor Sax; Ben Lee - Guitar; David Ferris - Piano; Pete Hutchison - Double Bass; Jonathan Silk - Drums
The majority of the ensemble I met at the Birmingham Conservatoire, other than Pete who I met at NYJO. Vittorio also went to Birmingham, but I actually went to school with him. We have played together for years and our collective sound is really strong. I really enjoy playing with these guys, they are all really good friends of mine, which is really crucial to our overall sound as a group. Featuring on a track on the record is phenomenal vocalist Lauren Kinsella. She was excellent to work with and I felt privileged that she was involved in the project. I also felt very lucky that Percy Pursglove was producing the record, he is a long term mentor of mine and he really helped with the creative process.
A couple of projects that I feel very passionate about, other than my sextet, are my duo with Berlin based award winning British pianist Mark Pringle, and The Birmingham Jazz Orchestra. The former, my duo with Mark, was toured around the UK in February, and we are set to record our first record as a duo at the Berlin Conservatory in September. The latter, the Birmingham Jazz Orchestra was formed a few years ago by Sean Gibbs, and I play lead trumpet in the ensemble. We have released two records to date, featuring exciting young composers Sean Gibbs and Jacky Naylor, with us currently working with incredible tenor saxophonist and composer Trish Clowes.
The last CD I bought was Cookin' by Miles Davis. It is a record I have listened to now and again over the years but I didn't have a hard copy. It is a really interesting record, with some obviously phenomenal playing, and listening to it is an educational experience. All 4 of those records (Cookin', Relaxin', Steamin' and Workin') are very much worth a listen.
My favourite album of all time is Ambrose Akinmusire's 'When the Hear Emerges Glistening'. I debated saying Miles Davis' 'Kind of Blue', but for me it has to be Ambrose's second album due to how I feel whenever I listen to it. I am drawn to musicians who play with emotion, and Ambrose is very much one of those. As soon as I hear his solo trumpet intro on the first track of the record I get goosebumps. His sound, phrasing and individualistic approach to playing the trumpet never fails to amaze me, and he is a big influence on my career. The sound of the record, with the combination of the musicians involved and the compositions, really opened my eyes.
Someone who has caught my eye is tenor saxophonist Tom Barford. He is set to record his debut record on Edition Records after winning the Kenny Wheeler Prize at the Royal Academy of music, and he is definitely one to watch. He plays very lyrically and has a great sound, he reminds me of Mark Turner!
For more information visit www.tomsyson.com
TARA MINTON - Take Five No: 32
The new album "The Tides of Love" is a collection of 10 original tunes that loosely documents my first 5 years in London. I'm and Aussie originally from Melbourne. Moving to big bad London certainly felt at times like I was a tiny row boat struggling to stay afloat in a massive ocean! The album is centred around harp and voice and features the talents of Ed Babar, Tom Early, Phil Merriman, Filippo Dall'Asta, Duncan Menzies, Lilia Iontcheva, Tim Boniface and Graham Foote. I'm quite excited about the release at 606 on the 13th of July. We are presenting the album in it's purest form: harp, voice, double bass (Ed Babar) and drums (Tom Early). We'll also be presenting some new compositions and of course, playing our arrangements of some favourite standards.
Aside from my original trio, I play for "Harp Bazaar", a Gypsy swing quartet that I run with Filippo Dall'Asta (guitar) and Duncan Menzies (violin.) This project is a lot of fun! We're just recorded our second EP and are touring Italy in a couple of weeks. We're writing some great tunes together as well as playing all the jazz manouche and swing classics. You can check us out here: https://www.harpbazaarmusic.com
I also play regularly for The Ashtead Jazz Club, which is run by my drummer, Tom Early. He puts on brilliant evenings of jazz and has had some really big names down to the club. The club's 5th birthday is on the 19th of June and I will be playing there with my trio and Phil Merriman on the 21st.
Lastly, I run the London Jazz Harpers Association with Brenda Dor-Groot and Zanna Evans. We host regular jazz harp jams and promote a culture of improvisation and collaboration within the harp community.
What are you currently listening to and what was the last CD or download you bought?
Right this moment, mixes from a live session I recorded yesterday with my trio. My most recent download was "Duos. Duets and Duels" by Paul Kimber and Phil Merriman. The musicianship on that album and the stripped bare arrangements for bass and piano are stunning. I'm also listening to Tim Boniface "Alive Together". I did vocals for his arrangement of "Singin in the Rain" and I've been trying to nail it on harp. It's much harder than it sounds! Also on high rotation: Billy Childs "Map to the Treasure", Park Stickney "All Harp Globe Live" and Joni Mitchell - everything!
It has to be "Blue" by Joni Mitchell. There are a lot of close seconds, but this album is a masterpiece. The songwriting is utterly breathtaking. She proves that a good song doesn't need all the bells and whistles of production to speak to the soul. She's a master of her craft. I'm also a big fan of her phrasing and unconventional use of form. I come back to Joni time and time again, and every listen takes me deeper. There is always more to discover.
Ok! Here's my list of favourites right now:
Phil Merriman - the man is a genius. His album "Emergence" is perfect. It's a modern day "A love Supreme", though he'd be embarrassed for me to say that.
Pete Lee is releasing a new album called "The Velvet Rage." It's inspired by the novel of the same name and is really special.
Alice Zawadski - her album "Lela" with Dan Whieldon is something else. I'm super particular about my tastes in female vocalists. Ella Fitzgerald is my Queen, Lisa Fischer is a Goddess, Esperanza Spalding is incredible, Dianne Reeves is all class - but Alice! She brings something really exciting to jazz - using her voice as an instrument and drawing you into the story.
Lastly, Harp Bazaar. If you get a chance to come down to a live gig, it's always raucous good fun and insane musicianship! I'm lucky to be surrounded by some inspiringly gifted people.
Album release: Friday 14 July 2017
Launch gig on Thursday 13 July 2017 at the 606 Club, London
KEVIN FITZSIMMONS - Take Five No: 31
My new album, Working Day & Night was recorded live at Pizza Express Jazz Club last year. It's a mix of originals – one of which is another collaboration from my writing partnership with saxophonist Derek Nash – some new jazz arrangements of pop/soul classics and of course some much cherished standards. The album will be performed in its entirety at our launch gig on 18th June at Pizza Express Jazz Club. Though there will be, I'm sure, a slightly different take on each of these songs – it is jazz after all! We will also have some brand new jazz reworkings (one from George Michael and one from Luther Vandross) to keep us on our toes. As the CD launch gig audience will be the first to hear these (just the very thought brings me out in a nail biting mood). I have always set out to entertain an audience as well as present great music. After all they have given up their time and money to come and see us. So I feel we owe them the very best performance we can.
Some of the current stock of jazz clubs/venues like a themed show, i.e. album from specific periods in jazz recording history. So more recently I've presented a look at jazz in the 'Swinging '60s' and also albums recorded by Cannonball Adderley with male vocalists (there's an interesting piece I wrote about this project here : http://www.londonjazznews.com/2016/03/preview-kevin-fitzsimons-bright-lights.html). Although I do tend to look for new material rather than straight recreations. Such as our own take on songs from a different genre set to our own style, plus of course newly written material. I enjoy this kind of thing as it gives something new to the jazz audience who have more often than not heard many takes on the classic type of jazz albums. So I guess this would be my ideal project rather than the themed, but then it does depend on the jazz club and their audience.
Funny, but I'm currently listening to my previous CD, 'Show Me The Way', a studio album I recorded in 2013. Maybe because I've a new CD out and so subconsciously I'm comparing the two. It's a CD that worked well, with a good helping of originals plus our new jazz take on some pop/soul classics – and not forgetting the standards. It's similar in form to the new CD, but I guess as a band that's our style. I don't often download music as I prefer receiving the actual CD, though I often need to download songs for my band's other job of providing live music at corporate event/wedding sector for private clients and stuff like that. As we often get special requests from clients to play a favourite song of theirs that as a band we haven't done before. Currently I don't get a great deal of time to devote to acquiring new music for my own personal collection. I think the last CD I actually bought was a while back, Gregory Porter's Liquid Spirit.
This answer surprises even me in that it's not a jazz recording, but one from Frank Sinatra's Capitol years: Songs For Swinging Lovers. I could play this album from morning til night fall and still never tire. There's a magic about those recordings from the 1950s that hasn't been captured since. That whole idea of recording the band and vocalist in the same room all in one take, like a live recording in fact! It feels real, not over produced. I'm sure there are many jazz musicians who would have a similar view about recordings made on the Blue Note label by many jazz heavyweights around the same time period.
If I was asked what are my top three vocal albums? I would also include Rachelle Ferrell's First Instrument: for me she is one of the most gifted vocalists I've ever heard, a master class. And Mark Murphy's The Latin Porter: ditto, this is a live album by the then 68-year-old Mark Murphy back in 2000, showing he was still on top form.
Who has caught your attention recently?
To be fair, I've been spinning in my own little universe lately (sad I know, Ha!) so I haven't had much time to pay attention to what's been going on out there in the wider world. But I'm sure there's been some great stuff going down that I've been too busy to notice. In fact, I've not had chance to actually attend any live gigs as an audience member since last November, when I saw Kurt Elling at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. I guess the last time an artist on the jazz scene really caught my ear was when I came across the American jazz singer/bassist Esperanza Spalding. That was the last time I thought 'wow, that's good'.
For any Jazz Views readers who would like to find out more about me and my band, head to my website – www.Jazzwurx.co.uk – to find the usual publicity and press reviews, videos, social media links and of course my contact page for Jazz Views readers to get in touch.
ECM celebrates 50 years of music production with the Touchstones series of re-issues

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl