Editor's Choice: July 2023 | The best new jazz albums
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Outstanding new releases from Cecilia Smith, Mikkel Ploug, Tom Ollendorf, Meshell Ndegeocello, Louis Hayes, Lorenzo De Finti, Avishai Cohen and Laila Biali
Laila Biali
Your Requests
ACT
Laila Biali (v, p), plus various personnel including George Koller (b), Larnell Lewis (d), Kurt Elling, Emilie-Claire Barlow and Caity Gyorgy (v)
'This third album on ACT by the exceptionally talented, Vancouver-born vocalist, pianist, and songwriter Laila Biali, showcases a remarkable collection of classic tunes from the Great American Songbook, thoughtfully selected based on fan requests. The album opens with a coruscating 'Bye Bye Blackbird,' where Biali demonstrates her pianistic and vocal prowess by seamlessly transitioning between a seductive 7/4 groove and a swinging 4/4, accompanied by the imperious rhythm section of Larnell Lewis (Snarky Puppy) and George Koller...' Peter Quinn
Avishai Cohen & Abraham Rodriguez Jr
Iroko
Naïve/Believe
Avishai Cohen (b, v), Abraham Rodriguez Jr (cga, v) and Virginia Alves (v)
'There are pleasant surprises along the way in a few engaging takes on western song: one of them being the James Brown classic ‘It’s a Man’s Man’s World’ with its playful Latin makeover and vocal duet working a treat, as does their take on the title theme to the 1960 movie Exodus, which is highlighted by the appealing sonority of Cohen’s fibrously percussive bass. As intimate and soulful as any of Cohen’s projects...' Selwyn Harris
Lorenzo De Finti
Lullabies From An Unknown Time
Losen Records
Lorenzo De Finti (p) and Fabrizio Bosso (t). Rec. date not stated
'The result is poignant, even soothing, but never twee or slumber-inducing: instead the listener is rewarded with music of real precision, intellectual rigour and emotional heft. You’d have difficulty getting to sleep after listening to this – quite simply, you’ll want to put the album on again...' Kevin Whitlock
Louis Hayes
Exactly Right!
Savant
Louis Hayes (d), Abraham Burton (ts), Steve Nelson (vib), David Hazeltine (p) and Dezron Douglas (b)
'Born in 1937 and still going strong, Hayes was named an NEA Jazz Master this year; this seen by some, including me, as a somewhat belated accolade, given his unswerving commitment to the hard bop style and his many career achievements. All that said, his continuing desire to play is once again evident in this spirited release, the usual hard bop template modified to place Nelson’s vibes front and centre, the voicing with Burton, a Hayes sideman since 1998, pleasingly effective...' Peter Vacher
Meshell Ndegeocello
The Omnichord Real Book
Blue Note Records
Meshell Ndegeocello (v, eb, keys, prog), Josh Johnson (s), Jebin Bruni (keys), Chris Bruce (g), Jake Sherman (b), Joel Ross (v), Burniss Travis 11 (el b), Abe Rounds (d) and Thandiswa Mazwai (v)
'Ndegeocello chooses her words with great care throughout the album, often expressing humility amid emotional enquiry, asking us to ponder ego and excess and think about what it may mean to ‘watch and wait in humble love.’...' Kevin Le Gendre
Tom Ollendorff
Open House
Fresh Sound New Talent
Tom Ollendorff (g), Ben Wendel (ts), Conor Chaplin (b) and Marc Michel (d). Rec. date not stated
'Striking a very accommodating balance between the accessible and the challenging, ambitiously conceived and perfectly realised, this release should do much to help Tom on his inevitable rise to the most politely accommodating sort of world domination...' Eddie Myer
Mikkel Ploug Group ft Mark Turner
Nocturnes
Stunt
Mikkel Ploug (g), Mark Turner (ts), Jeppe Skovbakke (b) and Sean Carpio (d)
'Danish guitarist Mikkel Ploug’s group shows itself to be a model of sensitivity and subtext on this enjoyably wistful set that benefits substantially from the presence of contemporary saxophone colossus Mark Turner. In fact, the pall of mist floating over the dark outline of forestland on the exquisite monochrome sleeve is an entirely appropriate visual nod to the ensemble sound...' Kevin Le Gendre
Cecilia Smith
The Mary Lou Williams Resurgence Project Volume 1
Innova
Cecilia Smith (vib), Cecil Bridgewater (t), Lafayette Harris Jr, Carlton Holmes (p, org), Kenny Davis (b), Ron Savage (d) and Carla Cook (v). Rec. date not stated
'This fabulous album from vibist, composer, arranger and Artistic Director of the Mary Lou Williams Resurgence Project, Cecilia Smith, is the fruit of innumerable hours spent poring over the Mary Lou Williams collection at the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University–Newark, as well as direct access to manuscripts and scores held by Williams' former manager and confidante, Father Peter O'Brien...' Peter Quinn
Read the reviews of these albums – and many more – in the July 2023 issue of Jazzwise. Never miss an issue – subscribe today
