Editor's Choice: June 2023 | The best new jazz albums
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Outstanding new releases from Brandee Younger, Native Dancer, Donny McCaslin, Joe Lovano, Eddie Gripper and more
Artemis
In Real Time
Blue Note
Renee Rosnes (p), Ingrid Jensen (t), Nicole Grover, Alexa Tarantino (saxes, reeds), Noriko Ueda (b) and Allison Miller (d)
'The fate of supergroups always depends on how everyone’s conflicting diaries can be brought into alignment, and if this can be achieved, the future looks bright for an exciting group that promises much...' Stuart Nicholson
Peter Brötzmann / Majid Bekkas / Hamid Drake
Catching Ghosts
ACT
Peter Brötzmann (as, ts, cl), Majid Bekkas (guembri, v) and Hamid Drake (d, perc)
'Long-time Brötzmann associate, Chicagoan drummer Hamid Drake, was present on both previous albums and reprises his role here, latching onto guembri player Majid Bekkas’s deep, rolling vamps and generating endlessly inventive rhythmic variations that burst with enthusiasm and unstoppable joie de vivre...' Daniel Spicer
Eddie Gripper
Home
Ubuntu Music
Eddie Gripper (p), Ursula Harrison (b) and Isaac Zuckerman (d)
'In its maturity of approach and deftness of execution, Home is a significant achievement by any standards...' Peter Jones
Joe Lovano Trio Tapestry
Our Daily Bread
ECM
Joe Lovano (ts, tarogato, perc), Marilyn Crispell (p) and Carmen Castaldi (d, perc)
'Jazz fans need no introduction to Joe Lovano and his partners in Trio Tapestry, but classical listeners who found things harder to love after the 20th century emergence of serialism and 12-tone forms, might get a change of heart from this innovative ensemble, now releasing its third album with Our Daily Bread...' John Fordham
Donny McCaslin
I Want More
Edition
Donny McCaslin (ts, f ), Jason Lindner (syn, ky), Tim Lefebvre (b), Mark Guiliana (d) plus guest strings quartet: Sara Caswell, Joyce Hammann (vn), Lois Martin (vla), Jody Redhage Ferber (clo), Chris Bullock (bass f ) and Jannek Zechner (ky)
'McCaslin’s tenor sax boldly contrasts surging, undulating phrases with soaring, dreamy melody lines and a microtonal post-Ornette otherworldliness, and is boosted rather than diluted by various electronic and studio effects diluted by various electronic and studio effects and treatments...' Andy Robson
Native Dancer
At Pizza Express Live – In London
PX Records
Frida Mariama Touray (v), Sam Crowe (p, kys), Josh Arcoleo (ts), Jonathan Harvey (b) and Dan See (d)
'Named after, and taking their inclusive musical aesthetic cue from, Wayne Shorter’s genre-bending 1975 album, Native Dancer draw from a deep stylistic well which embraces everything from jazz and electronica to neo-soul and prog. This third release (vinyl is due later in the year) on PizzaExpress Live’s new label is bursting with killer hooks, fearless soloing, original songs with structures that take paths less travelled and, at the centre of it all, Frida Mariama Touray’s gloriously rich vocals...' Peter Quinn
David Preston
Purple/Black Volume One
Whirlwind Recordings
David Preston (g, ky), Kit Downes (p, org), Kevin Glasgow (b) and Seb Rochford (d)
'It all kicks off with the irresistible groove of ‘Winston’ driven by long-time pal Glasgow’s earworm bass figure. But even this mini splendour doesn’t forewarn you of the glories of ‘Cassino Dream’. Kicking off with a splendid 1980s electro vibe, it overflows into a gorgeous pay off between Downes’ lyrical piano flourishes and Preston’s joyous guitar flights...' Andy Robson
Jacques Schwarz-Bart
The Harlem Suite
Ropeadope
Jacques Schwarz-Bart (ts), Victor Gould, Sullivan Fortner, Gregory Privat (p), Matt Penman, Reggie Washington (b), Marcus Gilmore, Terri Lyne Carrington, Arnaud Dolmen (d), Stephanie McKay and Malika Tirolien (v)
'The Harlem Suite is stylistically panoramic, in any case, as it sees Schwarz-Bart celebrate the majesty of swing with a blend of appealing themes and attention-grabbing improvisation on smart changes, but as the set unfolds he moves stealthily into soulful grooves and balladry that intriguingly plays with tonality, finding freedom within form...' Kevin Le Gendre
Jaak Sooäär, Ara Yaralyan, Markku Ounaskari
Zula
AVA Muusika
Jaak Sooäär (g), Ara Yaralyan (b) and Markku Ounaskari (d)
'Unhurried, he’s not out to blind you with guitar science, but woo you with melody, space, beguiling harmony and softly spoken rhythm. With just bass and drums accompaniment he is the central exhibit, his technique, time and musical imagination on display with nowhere to hide...' Eddie Myer
Brandee Younger
Brand New Life
Impulse! Records
Brandee Younger (hp), Rashaan Carter (b), Joel Ross (vb), Jeff Parker, Junius Paul, Meshell Ndegeocello (b) Makaya McCraven (d) and 9th Wonder, Pete Rock (prod)
'Following her expansive major-label debut Somewhere Different (also on Impulse!), Brandee Younger directly champions Dorothy Ashby’s compositions on Brand New Life, placing previously unrecorded Ashby compositions alongside some of her own work, effortlessly travelling between past and present in the process...' Hugh Morris
Read the reviews of these albums – and many more – in the June 2023 issue of Jazzwise. Never miss an issue – subscribe today
