Better late than never. Post new releases for 2020 and stuff you're looking forward to. Category is broad; do what you will with it.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Olatuja's a bassist who's spent time in London and the US. He's had past releases but his new one is really something special. Very cinematic in scope and with an awesome guest list including Laura Mvula, Dianne Reeves, Brandee Younger, Becca Stevens and more.

https://michaelolatuja.bandcamp.com/album/lagos-pepper-soup

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>Olatuja's a bassist who's spent time in London and the US.
>He's had past releases but his new one is really something
>special. Very cinematic in scope and with an awesome guest
>list including Laura Mvula, Dianne Reeves, Brandee Younger,
>Becca Stevens and more.

Nice guest list for sure - can't wait to check this out, thanks!

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band - The Intangible Between

Out May 1st. Evans is one of my favorite pianists working today and the Captain Black Big Band recordings have been really great. It sounds like he went for a very spontaneous approach to recording this one - should be great.

http://dlmediamusic.com/press-releases/orrin-evans-and-the-captain-black-big-band-the-intangible-between-available-may-1-via-smoke-session-records/

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Swinging back through to recommend track 2 on this, "This Little Light of Mine" -- it's the title tune but with flashes of one or two other gospel melodies thrown in. Over the course of the performance they sort of put it together in pieces, then take it apart, then put it together again. This is Evans's big band outfit and they really milk the arrangements here, with a lot of weaving lines in the horns but lots of room for improvisation, too. And by the end there's just this joyfulness that is hard to dismiss. So good.

This record as a whole is really great. Stunning performances from stunning players. Highly recommended!

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Just announced for June 1 via Instagram.

"On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment"

No details yet. His last record, Origami Harvest, wasn't a favorite at first but really got under my skin over time, which might be how I feel about every one of his records actually...

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

>Just announced for June 1 via Instagram.
>
>"On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment"
>
>No details yet. His last record, Origami Harvest, wasn't a
>favorite at first but really got under my skin over time,
>which might be how I feel about every one of his records
>actually...
>
>-thebigfunk
>
>~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Definitely a different view regarding Origami Harvest, having that as a top-tier release in 2018. I haven’t heard anything new yet, but I’m wondering what he will come with this time.

On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lq5fLsTglwxfeJiSazEcm4fAfiIrSJ9tQ

This is absolutely wonderful!!!!

I have heard all of his studio albums as a bandleader - this is his best one so far probably. While it isn't as out there in terms of "non-jazz" influence like his past two albums were (chamber influence, hip-hop influence, etc.), this band is ridiculously talented and the playing is really adventurous. Can't even choose my favorite track right now, because the whole album is great, but I'm really feeling "Yessss", "Tide of Hyacinth", "An interlude (that get' more intense)" and "Roy".

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Mark Lomax, II - The 400 Years Suite
Moses Boyd - Dark Matter
Gil Scott-Heron - We’re New Again (a Reimagining by Makaya McCraven)
Alfa Mist - On My Ones
Shabaka and the Ancestors - We Are Sent Here By History
Jeff Parker - Suite for Max Brown
Kamaal Williams - Live at Dekmantel Festival
Roscoe Mitchell - Distant Radio Transmission
Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad - Jazz is Dead 001
Irreversible Entanglements - Who Sent You?
Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela - Rejoice
Schlippenbach/Narvesen Duo - Liminal Field
Svetlost - Jazz (to the working class)
Sam Gendel - Satin Doll
Chicago Underground Quartet - Good Days
Kim Myhr & Australian Art Orchestra - Vesper

https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/jamaeldean/

IG: amadu_me

"...Whateva, man..." (c) Redman

It's one of favorites of the year so far, too.

The second track - Adawa - is one of the most beautiful things I've heard in recent memory and really reminds me (strangely but not so strangely) of Charles Ives's Concord Sonata. I like that a shadow of that melody recurs again on a later track, too.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Hopefully he’ll drop something full length and stretch the music a bit more. He’s only 20 and should only get better.

Released in April - 3 tracks, 30 minutes.

https://www.stonesthrow.com/store/oblivion/

This guy's only a release and half in and he's already threatening to reorder my current faves list, lol - I am absolutely loving his approach to composition.

I've been reading Ben Okri's The Famished Road - the book has this very roundabout, winding approach to storytelling, where things come and go, events big and small happen and pass, but it's very hard to tell where it is all going, what is significant and what is not -- what the story is, in short. But as it all accumulates, the larger picture takes shape - still not in a definite way, but all the detours and winding start to make a holistic sense - the ambiguity, too, starts to make a certain intuitive sense.

Dean's compositions feel like this - the rising to the surface and then the falling away -- there's just something total about it that is really satisfying.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Aaron Diehl -The Vagabond: Solid piano trio record that could do with some more adventure, but his playing is very pretty.

Jeff Parker - Suite for Max Brown: Good, but honestly a disappointment coming off the back of his last record, The New Breed. I love "After The Rain" and "3 for L". If anyone likes this they should DEFINITELY check out The New Bred.

Makaya McCraven / Gil Scott-Heron - We're New Again: A Reimagining by Makaya McCraven: Fantastic stuff. Gil Scott Heron and McCraven's jazz fits together so well. Tbh I haven't heard all of the original recording and now, no disrespect to Scott-Heron, but this is so beautiful that I'm not sure if I need to.

Shabaka and the Ancestors - We Are Sent Here by History: This guy can't miss lately and this record continues his great run. Awesome jazz strongly influenced by African music/afrobeat. Not many crazy solos, but I didn't care.

Irreversible Entanglements - Who Sent You?: The poet is featured a bit less than before and feels less aggressive, but this is another great album by this free jazz poetry band. The rhythm section in particular is top notch.

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John Carroll Kirby (Conflict, My Garden)

Conflict is a free release and a must listen.
https://www.stonesthrow.com/news/john-carroll-kirby-conflict

My Garden
https://johncarrollkirby.bandcamp.com/album/my-garden

Halfway through My Garden and this is amazing as well. I stumbled across this last night while checking out Jamael Dean.

https://theheliocentrics.bandcamp.com/

Stones Throw could end up being label of the year.

New name to me - south african pianist (which de facto means I'm on board, lol - once Abdullah Ibrahim got into my brain some time ago, I will stop time to hear piano- or horn-forward South African jazz).

After a few listen, really good stuff! "Isithunywa" has a melody and cadence that reminds me of Coltrane's "Naima" but a bit noisier. "Saziwa Nguwe" has that classic Capetown gospel-ish sound (part of what I fell in love with w/Ibrahim - and I should say, gospel sounding to me, not necessarily within the culture itself -- it just reminds me of a certain type of hymn...).

There's some subtle build-up stuff here too - Umlotha opens with a long gradual intro, then shifts into something that puts me in mind of McCoy Tyner's more modal stuff in the early '70s.

Good stuff all around - and worth some listening.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

New single by eclectic jazz collective Uncivilized:

https://music.unciv.org/album/reign-stomp-single

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https://davedouglas.bandcamp.com/album/dizzy-atmosphere

Those that like harp bop with some improvisation, then this record is for you!!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nWunxFXYa0yhbfdhg7rLge-03SZbimg68

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I listened to it a few times, but I will revisit it later in the year. It’s some good records coming out this summer.

https://damuthefudgemunk.bandcamp.com/album/ocean-bridges

https://kamaalwilliams.bandcamp.com/album/wu-hen

i like this guy especially with yussef. i remember he came out bashing tom misch
on instagram, lol. i completely understand now.

https://nightdreamer.bandcamp.com/album/gary-bartz-maisha-night-dreamer-direct-to-disc-sessions

https://hailumergia.bandcamp.com/album/yene-mircha

Limited time availability, proceeds go to Jazz Foundation of America to support folks and institutions right now.

https://esperanzaspaldingfredhersch.bandcamp.com/

Haven't listened yet but may make the rare choice of buying a digital only release to support - besides, can't go wrong with either one of them...


-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

This is a really great listen - Hersch is such a great and varied player, and Spalding's voice and vocal improv really shines here. Don't be fooled - it's an "EP" but each track is minimum 7 minutes, up to 12 - it's closer to about 45 minutes of music (at least).

"Loro" is super hot - might need to go back to Junjo soon, haven't listened to it in a while.

Great set.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

i picked this up because its the same label as Tonbruket, who im super into
this is suuuper duper chilled out jazz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGtyBpFQ5g8

i dont really know anything about it

ACT has been around for a while now - they've had some pretty big names over the years but honestly they're one of those labels you can pick a random name you don't know from the roster and hear something that is quality. Their cover art is almost always like this, too, kind of fuzzy image/impressionistic art over a white background.



-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

>honestly they're one of those
>labels you can pick a random name you don't know from the
>roster and hear something that is quality. Their cover art is
>almost always like this, too, kind of fuzzy
>image/impressionistic art over a white background.

i love the consistent cover art - easy to spot on my music blogs.
Reminds of the BBE producer series a while back.

>Reminds of the BBE producer series a while back.

I wish someone would resurrect that series in some way, the spirit of it at least. The releases were solid, the aesthetic was tight... I can't think of too many series like that for *new* music today that are executed at that level. (Lots for old music/re-releases, though.)

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

https://moormother.bandcamp.com/album/offering-live-at-le-guess-who

https://nsawa-saraca.bandcamp.com/album/another-town

definitely going to pick this one up!

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I know there are some on here that would find this to be a good project. It will probably get lost in the shuffle with what I currently play from this calendar year already.

How exciting is this!?

https://royayers.bandcamp.com/album/roy-ayers-jid002

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Only two more weeks.

A few tracks are out on Spotify - pretty solid so far.

It's one of my favorite records of the year so far (the first one) -- I just wish it had a different name, lol.


-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

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Have only given it one spin so far... I like it, but...

where's Roy?

This P-fork review hits the nail on the head too hard, imo, but still makes a good point and something that was already lurking in my brain since the first album.

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/roy-ayers-adrian-younge-ali-shaheed-roy-ayers-jid-002/

If anything, it feels more like a featuring Roy album than a Roy album. I'm not entirely convinced that's even a bad thing, but it is a bit confusing to me. I'm 100% in favor of producers acting as a prism for an artist's sound, and what comes out the other end may be totally different, refracted in unexpected ways. But ideally you'd still have the artist's feel -- and I'm not getting that here.

But like I said, first listen and overall I liked it, so maybe my mind will shift. It's also got me wanting to go listen to some old Ayers favorites and discover some stuff I haven't heard, too.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

I really enjoyed it. Last night I gave Jazz Is Dead 1 and 2 a listen for the first time and preferred Jazz Is Dead 2. I think both are great, really accessible brief listens.

I think the main thing I feel in terms of criticism is that it's a shame that aside from the Azymuth song, nothing is really stretched out here. There is an emphasis, on groove and repetition, which is great, but at times I wanted some more extended soloing, which could definitely fit in somewhere. But I get it, this music isn't for that.

In regard to the second one, I think the influence of Ayers is apparent, especially in how the vocalists are used, but you are right in that it's never to the point where it could be called an "Ayers record" and instrumentally he could definitely be more present. While he did co-write these tunes, he never seems to be the focus.

Based on what's been recorded so far, I don't think this series will be one to push any boundaries or anything, but it looks like it will be reliable to provide a nice vintage, psychedelic at times, chill 70s influenced aesthetic with groovy instrumentation. The drumming is really good in particular. And that seems to be enough for me to think these albums are a great, fun listen.

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self titled
its good - but this and their last one kinda feel like retreads of Man Made Object - there are some standouts on both of them, but overall albums 3 and 4 just feel like not as good versions of albums 1 and 2

that said, i LOVE their sound, so it will still get a lot of burn from me

but those 3 musicians are so talented (their live show is mesmerizing), i feel like they could push their sound forward more than they are at this point

I did get their Ocean in a Drop EP from last year which was fantastic so really need to get more from them.

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are really classic modern jazz records IMO - def worth a listen

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wong - guitar
batiste - piano
nate smith - drums
sam yahel - organ/keys

This is a really quiet, expansive record -- if RTJ4 fits the time in a certain way right now, this fits the time in the opposite way if that makes any sense ... these feel like spaces intentionally carved out for refuge and contemplation.

Hushed drums, slow and elongated piano and guitar lines. Yahel shows really thoughtful use of the organ as an almost ambient part of the music, so that you often don't notice that it is there in the background until it shifts, and in that shift you recognize that it has been there all along and is almost driving a lot of the sound scene in a way. The cuts themselves are fully developed and full in sound despite the fact that there's a minimalism about them. It actually reminded me of some of the Brian Blade Fellowship records in that way.

I enjoyed it a lot.

edit: another point of reference would be Bill Frisell's quieter records

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Really excited about this release - 'Can You See What I'm Trying to Say'...

https://jazzmanalbums.bandcamp.com/album/can-you-see-what-i-m-trying-to-say

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Maybe on the edge of belonging here in terms of sound. Almost a prog-jazz-hip hop hybrid with a harp at the front and a killer drummer in the back. Reminds me a lot of Hiatus Kaiyote at times but leaning into the instrumentals more. Lots of beat change-ups and musical detours.

Yes, I said harp at the front --- your ears should be like, yes, why aren't there more harps doing their thing out there? let me listen and support on this basis alone!

Vocals are good and fit the sound really well even if the lyrics are a bit cringe at times (for my taste, anyway).

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

>Yes, I said harp at the front --- your ears should be like,
>yes, why aren't there more harps doing their thing out there?
>let me listen and support on this basis alone!

Need more harp?

(Yes I'm responding to myself.)

Note two other jazz-ish or jazz-adjacent releases with prominent harp so far:
Okkyung Lee, Yeo-Neun (cello/harp/bass/piano ensemble)
Only just getting around to a full listen on this one but have been enjoying several tracks over the last month. I was unfamiliar with her but am eager to dive into her prior work which apparently changes in style/approach pretty frequently. Nice incorporation of Korean (folk?) melodies. Really love the title track as well as "Another Story."

Marcus Printup and Riza Printup, Gentle Rain (trumpet and harp,
respectively). Only listened to one song so far (title track) but enjoyed it enough to mark the album for a full listen.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Great recommendation so thanks for the heads up!

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Need to give it a few more spins but I really liked it the first few times around.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Sort of a covid-themed record - mostly original but 3 interpretations, Neil Young's "Don't Let It Bring You Down," Joel's "New York State of Mind" and the standard "Look for the silver lining."

read more in this NPR interview:
https://www.npr.org/2020/06/12/875102958/brad-mehldau-and-his-piano-outline-the-resolve-and-yes-the-anxiety-of-our-moment

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Really looking forward to this, Mary Halvorson is my favorite jazz musician at the moment and I really enjoy this trio, especially their last two records. She has an extremely unique guitar style and it will be interesting to see what she does to Braxton's already quite knotty/complex compositions.

https://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-anthony-braxton-project-2?from=embed

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Really cool album from Foat - UK pianist - whose album has contributions from Moses Boyd and Art Themen.

https://gregfoat.bandcamp.com/album/symphonie-pacifique

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Lots of range on this one, from jazz-funk to purely symphonic compositions.

The cover art does it justice as well.

Bowls
http://twitter.com/Bowls615

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Glorious spiritual jazz set from Strut Records (who are having a great year themselves):

https://idrisackamoor.bandcamp.com/album/shaman

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"I have the scars to prove the clock strikes with her hands." — Saul Williams

"I don't see why people are so scared of music, it ain't gonna bite you." — bnicedh

His name is new to me but liking this a lot so far -- what else has he played on? His playing is on point and the band is great!

Credits for the album for those who are interested:

produced by Jason Moran (!)
piano/Micah Thomas
bass/Daryl Johns
drums/Kweku Sumbry

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

What a beautiful piece and performance. The whole suite is wonderful but I keep coming back to this particular movement.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

https://wejazzrecords.bandcamp.com/album/y-otis-2

Yes, Petter is a good friend of mine but I won't ever recommend wack music!

Such a great companion album to that Koma Saxo project from last year which was insane!

I ended up going through a wormhole of Eldh & Sandsjo collaborations and have also bought their album with Lucia Cadotsch which sounds incredible too!

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Two performances, "UM" and "YANG" -- very different from her EP released last year, Rain Dance, which was more beat-driven, almost a little house-ish at points, and pretty quick and concise.

These are longer ("UM" is 10+ minutes but I think they are meant as a single piece or suite), performed by a septet. Very open, lots of development with some outright noisy sections (no complaints here). Heavy use of a sousaphone, conga, and wild percussion gives it almost a bit of a New Orleans sound at times.

Need to spend more time without but definitely worth a listen.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Haven't listened yet but looking forward to it!

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Missed this a few weeks ago.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Whoaaaaa - live set from early March 2020 @ Blue Note -- only a few tracks in but this is crazy good. First track alone has me planning a purchase. Looks like a few new pieces but mostly stuff from the last few records. Ensemble:

Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah - Trumpet, Adjuah Trumpet, Sirenette, Reverse Flugelhorn, Percussion
Elena Pinderhughes - Flute
Alex Han - Alto Saxophone
Lawrence Fields – Piano, Keyboards
Kris Funn - Bass
Weedie Braimah – Djembe, Congas, Bata, Percussion
Corey Fonville - Drums, SPDSX

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Listening now, and this definitely sounds like a purchase. I've never seen him live, but I always had the impression that his live shows are very different from his studio albums. I mean, his Tiny Desk performance sounded very different from the album versions.

Came in here to post this. This album is crazy, although Christian Scott never lets down when he and his bands perform live.

"Guinnevere" is the shit. Channeling electric Miles and Head Hunters. I've been listening to Head Hunters live shows on YouTube recently, so this album fit right the fuck in.

I don't know Valle well but I really liked this. Definitely worth checking out.

Can't seem to find credits anywhere and https://jazzisdead.co/ has several dead links ... haven't bought physical copies yet of any of the JID releases yet.


-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

https://joyoflivingrecords.bandcamp.com/album/another-token-jazz-hour

Shameless plug. If you like Dilla and you like jazz, this is for you.

Bowls
http://twitter.com/Bowls615

This is a supergroup of top-notch players (all women); they'd been touring before COVID (I almost saw them in January, had tickets but had to bow out...) and this is their first release. Listening now for the first time, too early to give impressions but Cecile can grace any track and it will earn points for me (there's a performance of Stevie's "If It's Magic" here)...

Lineup:
Renee Rosnes - piano/music director
Anat Cohen - clarinet
Melissa Aldana - tenor sax
Ingrid Jensen - trumpet
Noriko Ueda - bass
Allison Miller - drums
Cecile McLorin Savant - vocals

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

https://butcherbrownmusic.bandcamp.com/album/kingbutch

Really eclectic album from Kuroda...

https://takuyakuroda.bandcamp.com/album/fly-moon-die-soon

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It's really good. As in exceeded my expectations good.

I haven't listened to all his stuff but I remember feeling like Rising Son seemed a bit drab and formulaic, predictable.

This whole album was fresh from start to finish, "Moody" burns for days, just lots of surprises here. Really pleased, can't wait to give it more attention.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Surprised I hadn't posted this one earlier - one of my favourites from this year!

https://amarecordsamaedizioni.bandcamp.com/album/ascension

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https://nubyagarcia.bandcamp.com/album/source

I'm on the boards less and less these days, but surprised this wasn't on here. This is her official debut album, and it's fire. Definitely peep the recent tiny desk concert (this bass gives me life tho.):

https://youtu.be/DTIZikaOTDE

I must really not stay up on GAM, because I didn't realize she had this jazz alter ego. I happened to come across this album looking at TIDAL staff recs (which I never really do, I was just bored), and now I'm checking the past Jyoti releases. It's really dope hearing her over acoustic instruments. A few tracks (Bemoanable Lady Geemix dope af, a Mingus cover/remix) she blends acoustics with her usual synthy vibes which work out well too. The off-kilter acoustic jazz goes better with her abstract vocals and call-and-response type voicings imo. Some tracks are just instrumentals, too. Dope project.

Jamael Dean - Ished Tree

Haven't listened yet but Bandcamp notes it's solo piano (!) recorded in July. Can't wait.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

is a really good listen. My standout is Prayers for the Unwarranted Sufferings. Pretty diverse set of songs here.

https://junkmagic.bandcamp.com/album/compass-confusion

Definitely worth checking out. Really solid set of performances, the band seems especially tight. Very groove-oriented, feels like one of the more distinct releases in the JID series so far.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/01/arts/music/tyshawn-sorey-music.html

I didn't see any of these livestreams, I think a few are still up (not sure though, will report back later when I check them out).

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~