This page will feature record and concert reviews from our DJs. John Hammel (Mozart To Motörhead) and Jeff From Oxford (The Perfumed Garden) get the ball rolling.

April Edition

Things We’ve Been Listening to Lately

VA - B B. King’s Blues Summit 100 – KTBA Records – Jesus Christos! This is a 32 track deluxe celebration of the best of contemporary electric blues and you will be hard pressed to find a better sampler. The quality of the performance’s should make your hair stand on end. It did mine and I’m bald! Too many stand out performances but two of my favs are Chaka Kahn’s & Eric Clapton’s incendiary take on The Thrill is Gone & Buddy Guy’s blistering Sweet Little Angel, where at the end he exhorts the producers to let that one go, it ain’t gonna get any better.  Every  track on this two-disc set is up to those Olympian standards. Blues legends trade tracks with contemporaneous artists and it’s a baseball fan’s dream. One home run after another. Happy 100 hundredth birthday B.B. – JH

Viktoria Tolstoy & Jacob Karlzon - Who We Are – ACT Music - Viktoria Tolstoy vocals - Jacob Karlzon piano, keyboards, programming/compositions except where noted.

The title track follows the extraordinary opener Satellites, both composed by Jacob Karlzon. Exploring the profound depths of human emotion and interactions, they are exquisitely sung by the great Viktoria Tolstoy. If you don’t this Swedish singer, you should rush to acquaint yourself. She is an interpretive singer who brilliantly balances a pop & jazz ethos with fine phrasing of line and lyric. In reality, there isn’t much in a jazz sense on this album as both artists make the decision to focus on getting the emotional content of the lyrics across and they do so with nuanced use of keyboards, electronics & synths fleshing out the vocals. Some critics felt the album lacked depth as it focused less on the dark and more on the light. Screw that. We need as much light as we can get in these tortured times. Oh, another standout cover on this album is Radiohead’s True Love Waits. - JH

Alice Sara Ott – Johann Johannsson – Piano Works – Deutsche Grammophon – A beautiful album of piano works by the late composer Johann Johannsson who composed not just in the classical idiom but widely for film. His music is alternately haunting and intimate. Most of these pieces on this album are transcriptions from movie music and the mood is eloquently sustained throughout by Alice Sara Ott. Kudos to her for allowing to music to evanesce by itself without inflicting the lister to any egotistic intrusion. Wonderful music on it’s own or meditate along with. - JH

Caleb Wheeler Curtis – Ritual – Chill Tone Records - Caleb Wheeler Curtis – stritch, soprano sax 8, sopranino sax 9, trumpet 9 - Hery Paz – tenor sax, 2,3,4,9, flute 6,7 – Emmanuel Michael – guitar - Orrin Evans – piano 3, 4,5,6 – Vicente Archer – bass – Michael Sarin – drums.

Composer and jazz virtuoso Caleb Wheeler Curtis works with a seasoned line-up of jazz vets who imbue his thoughtfully constructed compositions with aplomb, adding depth & fluidity to the already rich sonic landscape. All of this music makes organic sense and unfolds beautifully. C.W.C. has already proven his bona-fides and further cements his rep as one of the most innovatively creative musicians & composer working in this genre today. - JH

The Outskirts – Orbital – Aerophonic Records - Dave Rempis – alto/tenor saxophone - Ingebrigt Håker Flaten – bass - Frank Rosaly – drums - + Marta Warelis - piano added disc two.

Contemporaneous avant-garde free jazz compositions & improvisations that hearken back to the day (late 60’s/early 70’s Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Albert Ayler et al) but also stretch the limits of today. Two discs recorded at different venues (disc one Teatro Torresino in Padova, Italy: disc two Rataplan in Antwerp, Belgium) showcase the brilliance and interplay of this ensemble’s mind-melding musical abilities in five long compositions by Dave Rempis. Intensity commingles with more drawn out musical musings often within the same piece and the development and exposition will alternately startle and soothe to electrifying effect. – JH

Ratboys – Singing to an Empty Chair – New West Records - Julia Steiner – lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar - Dave Sagan – electric guitar, Pocket Piano - Sean Neumann – bass, synth bass, backing vocals - Marcus Nuccio – drums, tambourine, shaker, synthesizers.

Ratboys' sixth album is a fine amalgamation of their indie/post-punk/rock sound. Clanging guitars, a slight country tinge and engaging vocals wrapped up in a pretty, engaging production by ex- Death Cab For Cutie, Chris Walla. Most of the songs deal with therapy, reconciliation & closure. The songs don’t strive for more than middle of road emotionality and that works pretty much for me. How about you? – JH

Fergus McCreadie – The Shieling – Edition Records - Fergus McCreadie – Piano - David Bowden - Double Bass - Stephen Henderson – Drums.

A brilliant album hybridizing Scottish folk music & jazz. This trio inhales & exhales together almost telepathically. Capturing the temperament of the Scots, (this record was recorded in North Uist, an island in the Outer Hebrides) it assumes both an understated and slightly feral quality at the same time. Delicacy and frivolity dance hand in hand on this album with all the players contributing to the melodic & harmonic lines interchangeably. Sometimes a droning effect is established as a springboard to extrapolate the music (Wayfinder), other times a martial atmosphere is evoked (Climb Through Pinewood), or perhaps wistful yearning, (The Orange Skyline). This is an emotionally charged, yet understated record. - JH

Claire Dickson – Balance – New Amsterdam Records – all songs composed & sung by Claire Dickson – Zoh Amba – tenor sax 1,2 – Lesley Mok – drums 1,2, - Cleek Schrey – violin – 4,5,7 – Lex Korten – piano 1,2,3 – Maya Keren – piano – 4,5,6,7 – Jon Starks – drums – 5,6,7 – Kitba – harp – 4,5.

Berlin based composer/vocalist Claire Dickson utilizes electronics & sampling as the tectonic plates from which her intriguing music springboards. Employing various guest musicians throughout, her music creates soundscapes of alternating currents in which it ofttimes becomes difficult to discern between the electric & the acoustic. The music is mostly ambient & subtle, evoking atmospheres of surreality & ambiguity. The lyrics have a dreamy quality and are highly poetic, evocative & digestible. - JH

Dave Adewumi – The Flame Beneath the Silence – Giant Steps Arts Records – All compositions by Dave Adewumi – Dave Adewumi – trumpet – Joel Ross – vibes – Linda May Han Oh – bass – Marcus Gilmore – drums.

Way out post-bop that is unusual in the sense that it is more ethereal than hard charging. Highly creative compositions and performances by this quartet of fabulous artists. Adewumi is a highly controlled magician on this record, allowing his trumpet playing to peregrinate down alleys of weave and wonder. Don’t think this record is lightweight by any means. He lets his own playing slide and smear and curlicue around when necessary, which is enough to keep the tension quotient high enough to intrigue. What’s even more impressive is that this record was recorded live at Ornithology in Brooklyn, N.Y., and still sound’s studio perfect. – JH

Jacob Alon – In Limerence – Island Records – A gorgeous debut album from Jacob Alon. Most critics are falling over themselves with comparisons to Devendra Banhart, Surjan Stevens, Joanna Newsom et al, so I’ll jump into the pool too. When I first saw the Scottish singer-songwriter on the Graham Nortor show, I immediately felt he was partially channeling Nick Drake. Whether that is conscious or not; I’ll stand by that. Although somewhat understated, his music and lyrics burn with quiet intensity and profound emotionality. His guitar tunings remind me of the eccentricity of Joni Mitchell. His lyrics deal with situational personal issues well wise beyond his years. An extraordinary vocal range that never feels the need to scream or shout. One to watch. – JH

Bill Nelson’s Orchestra Futura – Live at Nelsonica & Clothworkers Hall – Ethersounds Records -  Bill Nelson: electric guitar, melodica, harmonica, percussion programming - Theo Travis: tenor and soprano saxophones, flute, loops
Dave Sturt: fretless bass, samples, loops, percussion programming - Recorded by John Spence live at Nelsonica, Yorkshire (various venues).

Fantabulous music making of the highest order of canorous creativity. This is not to imply that this is pop. It is not. This is atmospherically inventive improvisation bordering on the sublime. If you like your Eno, your King Crimson, Yes, electronica etc., served up in a uniquely extraordinary package, then my friends, I have just the record for you! These musicians are off the charts great. The centerpiece, of course, is the amazing guitar work of Bill Nelson. - JH

Elan Mehler – Renee Said – Newvelle Ten Collection Records - Elan Mehler (piano/compositions except where noted) - Loren Stillman (Alto Sax) - Scott Robinson (Tenor Sax) - Ben Monder Guitar - Tony Scherr Bass - Francisco Mela (Drums on all tracks except 3) - Matt Wilson (Drums on all tracks except 2, 4, 7 and 9) - On 1, 4, 5, 6, 8 Matt Wilson is the Right Channel - Francisco Mela is on the Left Channel.

8 originals from leader Elan Mehler and 2 covers, one from Paul Motian & Frank Kimbrough, pack this new release, one of several celebrating the label’s 10^th anniversary, with euphorically communicative tunes alternated with introspection. It’s an ambitious album that firmly meets its goals of conveying poignancy and depth. There is nothing to add considering the talents involved except to buy it and revel in the gorgeous sound worlds inherent. - JH

Bjorn Meyer – Convergence – ECM Records - Björn Meyer: 6-String Electric Bass – How many people groan when they hear the sentence solo bass record? What could be worse? Solo bagpipe? Well, that said, this is a brilliant record of solo compositions for bass, and when you’re a virtuoso with a heightened sense of form, harmony and melody then this comes as naturally as breathing. And this record breathes beautifully, creating sound sculptures that will stay with you long after the record has finished playing. - JH

Javon Jackson – Jackson Plays Dylan - Solid Jackson/Palmetto Records - Javon Jackson – Tenor Saxophone - Lisa Fischer – Vocalist (4) - Nicole Zuraitis – Vocalist (7) - Jeremy Manasia – Piano, Fender Rhodes - Isaac Levien – Bass, Electric Bass - Ryan Sands – Drums.

Interpretation. Or re-visioning if you will. As opposed to a covers band in which one tries to faithfully reproduce the song or album note for note. That is mimicry and lacks an essential tool of the creative art namely your own essentially characteristic stamp of individuality. Jackson is one creative artist and uses his axe as the voice to imbue the requisite emotionality on these Dylan tunes. Take one example. Hurricane. His tenor fully captures the force & complexity of Rueben “Hurricane” Carter’s personality with distinction and perhaps a bit of menace. All in all, these interpretations are all imbued with wit, lyricism and depth. Where Javon feels the human voice is a needed component, he enlists two of the finest singers working today. The phenomenal Lisa Fischer brings ferociously understated energy to Gotta Serve Somebody and Nicole Zuraiti’s take on Forever Young makes you realize how singing directly from your heart is the simplest and best way to feel and feed a lyric. Another brilliant aspect of this record is how each take segues into the next track seamlessly forming a most perfect union AND underscoring the fact that Dylan is an extraordinary melodist for which he doesn’t receive enough credit. The album begins with a gorgeous tune Jackson wrote as an homage entitled One for Bob Dylan. - JH

Yang Bao – Madlands – PentaTone Classics - Yang Bao, piano & synthesizer, composer - Jeeihn Kim, violin - Licheng Chen, violin - Lindan Burns, viola
Seoyeon Koo, cello - Griffin Seuter, cello - Soren Davick, double bass.

From the opening notes of this beautiful album, you are drawn in, or rather massaged into Yang Bao’s scintillating sound world. He describes his music as his attempt at making sense of his world through sound. It should be noted that Bao’s creative world is part and parcel of his interdisciplinary creativeness, primarily piano, sculpture and art. He also infers that his music & art infuse each other, although to my mind they stand alone equally as well. This is probing music dealing with issues on Bao’s mind; what does it mean to be fully human, what with AI & political & ecological forces tugging at us, and how do we remain connected to the core of our existential humanity. – JH

Phil Hayes – Terra - Corner Store Jazz Records - Phil Hayes – drums/percussion - Ben Monder – guitar/electronics - Peyton Pleninger – tenor sax/bells - Live through-composed improvisation - March 1, 2025 – Natalie Davis-Rooke Recital Hall – Bucknell U. Lewisburg, PA.

This is outré. In the best sense of the word. Unconventional. Forget the other adjectives that help describe the word. Excessive, over the top, shocking. And it’s not even unconventional if you’re a fan of creative, improvised music that dares to take one where one has not gone before. The three musicians displaying their chops and brain power here are busy working overtime to take you to the verge of artistic creativity. Not for the faint of heart but definitely for the bravest of those willing to jump off the artistic cliff fully expecting to fly. - JH

Dave Liebman – Billy Hart – Adam Rudolph – Beingness – Meta Records - Dave Liebman – soprano saxophone, wood flutes - Billy Hart – drum set - Adam Rudolph – handrumset (kongos, djembe, tarija), piano, percussion.

Recorded live at The Stone in NYC, this album is destined to be a template for how to create improvised music in the moment. But first you would have to assemble three masters of the creative process in one place and allow them to do their thing that they do so well. Dave Liebman is still my all-time favorite interviewee. Cogent, sensitive to the topic, focused and articulate with one idea/reply spurring the next adjacent thought to the next and consequently shaping an overarching conceptual paragon of explicative understanding. That is genius and that is how this music unfolds. Liebman weaves extraordinary lines of musical genius over the top of the complex rhythmic foundations provided by jazz drum master Billy Hart & percussionist extraordinaire Adam Rudolph. Melodic, harmonic, dissonant & adventurous textures are laid out, extrapolated and parsed with great care and meaning. This record was born to be and could only have been generated by this conjugation of spirits. This record is an instant classic. - JH

Simon Hanes – Gargantua – Pyroclastic Records - three drum sets (Jon Starks, Matt Bent, Kevin Murray), three electric basses (Anna Abondolo, Jesse Heasly, Trevor Dunn), three trombones (Jen Baker, Jacob Garchik, Colin Babcock), three French horns (Kevin Newton, Noah Fotis, Blair Hamrick) and three soprano voices (Priya Carlberg, Isa Crespo Pardo, Jolee Gordon).

The vocals stand out on this record for their sheer eeriness and spot on intonation, as well as their medieval polyphonic sense in a 21^st century setting & sensibility. This record is a masterpiece of avant-garde genre bending incorporating Renaissance music, noise, jazz and metal. Alternatingly cerebral & head banging, one can find moments to lose yourself in and at other times tunes that are deeply meditative. Dense, textural, playful and rhythmic. Simon Hanes has created a wholly new something out of bits and pieces of whole cloth. The track titles are provocative and daring. i.e., opening track A Series of Waves Tremble in a Sea of Blood. Other titillating titles being The Number of the Beast is 666 and Lucifer/Aureum Chaos. C’mon in, the waters fine. Honest. – JH

Tomeka Reid – Dance Skip Hop – Out of Your Head Records - Tomeka Reid – cello - Jason Roebke - bass, cassette - Mary Halvorson – guitar - Tomas Fujiwara – drums.

Playful, swinging avant-garde music. That’s a combination the world needs more of. With tongues planted firmly in cheeks and feet planted firmly on the ground these five improvisational compositions skitter and tug at your ear strings. Mary Halvorson in particular has never sounded so energized and engaged as she does here, whether sparkling out little microcosms from her fretboard on the opening title track or alternatively showering us with some searing hard rock post-boppish punkish lines on track 3’s Oo Long! Tomeka Reid’s cello grounds us when we need to be grounded and provides a comfort line for her musical comrades to explore the inherent possibilities of these tunes. Her rhythm partners Fujiwara & Roebke know how to complement the proceedings with wit and eclecticism. All the players are given room to shine in this music’s firmament and they do so with the magisterial ease of master musicians. - JH

Loren Stillman – Seer – Newvelle Ten Records - alto and soprano saxophones - Loren Stillman – piano - Craig Taborn - bass - Thomas Morgan.

Loren Stillman communicates with superbly understated energy. Neither a screamer nor chest thumper but rather more instinctive & uncomplicated, and with such super talents as Craig Taborn and Thomas Morgan as his rhythm partners, he is able to convey profound musical insights with calm assurance. Their combined music making results in a wide-open approach with great interaction and interplay. A relatively young arrival on the jazz scene, Stillman has quickly rocketed to the top tier of players. - JH

Jill Scott – To Whom This May Concern – Blues Babe Records – A big comeback from Jill Scott, whom we haven’t heard from since 2015’s Woman. This record fills in the gaps with Jill telling you, in her usual honest manner, exactly what’s on her mind. Her music has always doubled down on whatever’s happening in the zeitgeist moment and this is no different but this time with updated production values and comfortable genre criss-crossing. Relying heavily on the bass line allows her to lay down a seductive foundation in order to better preach about personal matters, sociological issues, racial & gender issues and to do so with strength & style. The guests don’t let her down, instead adding depth to their individual tracks by allowing Jill to dominant as they support and enhance the tunes. Favorite track for me is the soul rap Ode to Nikki, featuring Ab-Soul. But don’t get me wrong, there are no weak tracks and Jill it’s so good to have you back although it sounds like you never left. - JH

Marc-Andre Hamelin – Found Objects – Hyperion Records – Maybe the classical piano album of they year. Hamelin has always been cutting edge but he really outdoes himself this time covering an extraordinary range of composers on this outing. Starting off with Frank Zappa’s Ruth is Sleeping to Salvatore Martirano’s Stuck on Stella to John Oswald’s extraordinary Tip; John Cage’s challenging set The Perilous Night where Hamelin has to play piano, pluck the soundboard, make percussive sounds and more, he just nails it with his heightened sense of daring and technical derring-do. He completes this set with Stefan Wolpe’s 4 Studies on Basic Tone Rows; Yehudi Wyner’s Refrain and completes this tour de force with his own composition Hexensabbat. Whew. I was exhilarated and exhausted at the end of this album. Marc-Andre Hamelin possesses invisible technique, meaning that he is so intuitive that he can fully inhabit the most demanding of music with relative ease and simply concentrate on the emotional sublimity. – JH

Joe Lovano – A Raft the Sky the Wild Sea – Blue Cloud Music - Joe Lovano – tenor sax – Douglas J. Cuomo – composer - Winston-Salem Symphony – Michelle Merrill – conductor.

Expected nothing less than sweet perfection from Joe Lovano on this beautiful meeting of symphonic composition and jazz improvisation. Joe’s playing is brilliant within the context of the atmospherically moody orchestra. The title of the cd is the title of the piece in three movements simply entitled Movements I, II, III. This was a joint commission from the London, Fort Worth and Winston-Salem symphonies and composer Cuomo has produced an introspective piece which is strongly musical & deeply meditative, although the last movement picks up the pace and mood with drama & buoyancy. - JH

Ron Carter & Ricky Dillard – Sweet Sweet Spirit – Motown Gospel Records - Ron Carter – bass - New G (New Generation Chorale) – Ricky Dillard – Choirmaster, arranger, conductor.

88-year old Ron Carter is one joyously amazing bass playing fother mucker! This jazz gospel hybrid has roots strongly entrenched in the African-American community and Mr. Carter provides the anchor for this exuberantly powerful outing of splendid hymnal interpretations. The album is dedicated to Carter’s mother, Mrs. Willie O. Carter, and the love shines through like a burst of sunlight after a softly replenishing rain. The choir is outstanding and the direction by Ricky Dilliard is assured and assertive. All the vocal soloists are simply outstanding. - JH

John Zorn’s Olympiad Vol 4 – Curling – Tzadik  - Rova Saxophone Quartet (1):
Steve Adams / alto saxophone - Jon Raskin / baritone saxophone - Bruce Ackley / soprano saxophone - Larry Ochs / tenor saxophone - The William Winant Percussion Group (2): - Jordan Glenn / percussion - Robert Lopez / percussion
Scott Siler / percussion - William Winant / percussion.

Both of these ensembles have deep pasts with the works of the incredibly prolific (most compositions of an extraordinarily high quality nature) and boy does it show. Snail like intensity, deep focus and Herculean patience on the parts of both players and listeners are de rigueur to appreciate these works. The combined forces do a magnificent job dragging these rarely performed Zorn opuses into our times creating a hypnotically immersive listening experience to all. – JH

Rebecca Trescher - Changing Perspectives – Enja Yellowbird - Rebecca Trescher – clarinet, bass clarinet, composition - Andreas Feith – piano, composition - Phil Donkin – double bass - Tobias Backhaus – drums. Guests - Theresia Philipp – alto saxophone (on track 3,4,6,9,10) - Joachim Lenhardt – tenor saxophone, flute (on track 3,4,6,7,9,10) - Philipp Brämswig – guitar, fx (all, except track 7).

Some have described this outing by Rebecca Trescher as being a bit on the more obscure side of the equation but I find all of her compositions fairly accessible & linear. All the players are capable of finding their own way inside of her works, adding depth & comprehension in building these tunes from the inside out and allowing Trescher’s instrument to delineate the core message. This is a basic jazz quartet with added color supplied by reeds and guitar on a majority of the tracks. Contemplative rather than energizing but enriching nonetheless. - JH

Kris Davis Quartet – John Zorn – Bagatelles Vol 5 – Tzadik Records - Piano - Kris Davis - Drums - Kenny Wollesen - Bass – Drew Gress - Guitar – Mary Halvorson.

Wha this quartet is smoking! Alternating delicately crafted moments against high flowing electricity and vigor, this album is unlike any Bagatelles from John Zorn I’ve heard before. Mary Halvorson is capable of a soft, minimalist approach to music making and then sometimes she comes on with the fervor of an entire punk band. Even when the music is less in yer face, her spikiness stands out. She’s always getting in your space and forcing you to pay her some attention. Kris Davis, for her part, is content to let others take the spotlight, reinforcing the architecture of each piece with superb piano support and wondrous filigree. The rhythm section supports and so much more adding texture to the proceedings in spades. One of the best of the Bagatelles series! – JH

Melissa Aldana – Filin – Blue Note Records - Tenor saxophone – Melissa Aldana - pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba - Peter Washington - bass - Kush Abadey – drums - special guest vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant on two tracks.

The album is entitled Filin (Feeling) and boy does that translation show up in this tender & beautifully understated album. I love understatement and silences in music. Master musicians know how to utilize both to build and break tension and enhance the entire atmosphere of a tune. Atmosphere & tone abound on this record. Aldana’s husky tenor is warmly accented and supported by the rhythm section. Rubalcara is a totally committed empathetic player, as well as Washington’s loving bass accompaniment and drummer Abadey’s subtle brush work. Aldana prefers to take the listener by the hand, leading them down corridors that open into light and wonder, gently insinuating the tunes like ear worms into your consciousness. Special kudos must go to the superb guest singing of Cecile McLorin Salvant who astonishes with her work on No Te Empeñes Más (Don’t Try Anymore) & Las Rosas No Hablan (The Roses Don’t Speak).JH

Kurt Elling & The WDR Big Band – In the Brass Palace – Big Shoulders Records - Kurt Elling – voice – WDR Big Band - Bob Mintzer - saxophone, conductor.

High-powered big band music augmented with one of the best jazz vocalists of the past 30 years. The production, sound & balance are impeccable. The vocals are never lost in the mix. Elling is a man with total control of his voice & technique, most notably his straight tone singing and knowing when to release the vibrato, always utilizing it to his advantage, especially on the wonderfully arranged versions of Joe Jackson’s Steppin’ Out and Wayne Shorter’s Speak No Evil. Bob Mintzer leads the WDR with aplomb and finesse. – JH

Juan Dahmen – Ecos Paralelos – www.juandahmen.bandcamp.com – Electronics & looping. Another strong release by Juan Dahmen. I reviewed two of his promised twelve releases for this year last month and this is March’s offering. This time we’re treated to an expanded universe of ambient sound. Mystical and otherworldly. Dahmen continues to impress me with the breadth of his imagination and creative skills. This reminded me of a long journey in a pod sleep illuminative dream state. - JH

Angine de Poitrine – Vol. II – Spectacles Bonzai Records - Khn de Poitrine – microtonal guitars, bass guitar, loop station, synthesizers, vocals - Klek de Poitrine – drums, vocals - Words usually made up – This is quite simply astonishing music. This Québécois duo have imagined microtonal headbanging music into existence and the world is a better place for it. My friend James Manno turned me on to this and at first I laughed and said to myself “what’ll people think of next” and then I couldn’t get it outta mah head! I’ve watched them on Youtube, dl’d their two releases and have become a voice crying in the wilderness. This music is astronomically energetic and polyrhythmically fascinating and precise. More angina pectoris please. - JH

Meiko Kaji - Otoko Onna Kokoro No Aika (Wewantsounds)
Kaji was one of Japan’s top actresses throughout the ‘70s starring in such cult classics as Lady Snowblood and Stray Cat Rock. During this period she also released a number of albums, typically featuring theme songs from her current movies. Otoko Onna Kokoro No Aika (1974) expands her palette to include more Showa kayōkyoku (pop) and enka,(Japanese blues - the sultry ‘Shinjuki Blues.’) Still, the cinematic arrangements are not far behind. ‘Akashia No Ame Ga Yamu Toki’ and ‘Kasbah No Onna’ begin with Herb Alpert-styled trumpet blasts before settling into romantic ballads fondly recalling early Kiki Dee. There’s a Hawaiian groove to ‘Onna Kokoro No Uta’ with snappy guitar fills accompanied by harpsichord and flute and ‘Ginza No Cho’ adds a funky brass arrangement behind screaming, Mickey Baker-inspired solos. While most songs wield a tears-in-your-sake sentimentality (the title roughly translates as Sad Songs In The Heart Of Men And Women) ‘Uramachi Jinsei’ melds mandolins, clarinets, and Spanish-style guitars into a playful humalong and ‘Ame No Yatai’ skips along on a breezy arrangement before ‘Shiretoko Ryojo’ sends us home with a tear in our eye, yet hope in our hearts. JFO

The Asteroid No.4 - In Praise Of Shadows (Little Cloud)
San Francisco’s psychedelic shoegazers introduce electronic and gothic textures into their discography with their 13th album, named after Jun’ichirō Tanizaki’s exploration of the dichotomy between shadowy interiors and the occasional overwhelming light of modern times. A perfect metaphor for the times we live in, the album bustles with energy from the outset, as I hear vestiges of INXS’s ‘Don’t Change’ if covered by the Psychedelic Furs in earlier digital single ‘Neptune.’ ‘Hieroglyphics’ certainly won’t disappoint Depeche Mode fans, as the band tinker with dance grooves to good effect. While ‘Pitch Black’ echoes it’s titular dark atmospherics, the vibrating guitars and stampeding drums of ‘To The Core’ harken back to vintage A4 - melodic psych with a dreamy undercurrent. ‘Shadowed’ is rougher than we previously experienced (hints of Dandy Warhols and Brian Jonestown Massacre danced around my head), but the spiritual comfort that envelops the listener during the hallucinatory ‘Prayer’ (and its reprise-like followup, ‘Final Waves’) are among recent career highlights. Another stunning achievement. JFO

The Claypool Lennon Delerium - The Great Parrot-Ox & The Golden Egg of Empathy (ATO)
Les Claypool and Sean Ono Lennon’s third album is a conceptual affair about artificial intelligence’s destruction of the human race. Only the Great Parrot Ox and its Golden Egg of Empathy can save us from being turned into paperclips! OK, so they’ve got a sense of humour tempered with a sense of dread. It’s not exactly Tommy, S.F. Sorrow or The Wall, but the key here is the tunes. The admirable, cautionary tale may actually work as an animated feature (its original intention, although Rich Ragsdale’s 24-page comic book will enhance its collectability and up the entertainment value for the time being), but it’s the music that will outlive the parable and if you’re a fan you won’t be disappointed. There’s a touch of prog here, dreamy psychedelia there, Zappa-meets-The Residents insanity, outrageous string-shredding (bass and guitar) solos, and a pervasive sense of fun wrapped in a serious message which a few overwrought theatrical numbers won’t diminish. Our lesson for today: technology: bad, humanity: good. JFO

The Smoking Trees - Year (Bandcamp)
The fifth album from The Smoking Trees (aka Sir Psych) continues his love of 60s psychedelia interspersed with 21st century embellishments that make each track seem like it was actually recorded in 1967, all sequenced to be experienced in a single sitting (and appropriately bookended by ‘Your Year Starts/Ends Here’ with hints of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and celebratory hoopla sneaking into the mix). There’s a playful, vintage atmosphere to the arrangements with toy town tinkling (‘Use It Or Lose It’, ‘The Image Of You’), spacey, echoed vocals (‘Pinwheel’, ‘The Highway’, ‘Vibrate With You’), and red-eyed headnodders (‘Cannabis Van’, ‘Magic Of The Morning’) throughout. With sitars, backward tapes, and sound effects-laden codas linking the tracks to enhance the “single sitting” remit you can almost smell the patchouli oil wafting out of your speakers! Four bonus tracks supplement your trip, so tune in, turn on, and float downstream. JFO

The Bevis Frond - Horrorful Heights (Fire Records; also available as a limited edition 3LP, including Horrorful Offal, a complete album of outtakes and demos)

Nick Saloman has always been generous when it comes to entertaining us with his Bevis Frond releases. Most of the Frond’s back catalogue is graced with double albums (or the occasional triple as is the case here with a bonus disc of Saloman solo demos and full band outtakes, none of which appear on the regular album, making this special edition essential for fans and completists). So settle back for over two hours of vintage Frond head rattling, catchy, chart-worthy pop, and the always insightful lyrics that actually encourage you to think while listening to his carefully constructed tunes. [A lyric sheet is helpfully included.]

'A Mess Of Stress' leaps out of the gate buoyed by a typically barnstorming solo and melancholia  settles the pace down with the western-tinged 'Best Laid Plans' and 'Momma Bear' featuring charming pedal steel solos from Louis Wigget, a first on a Frond album I believe? I like how 'Square House' picks up the pace with a nasty little toe-dip into grungier territory, six-strings a-blazing.

The title track is all sitars and tablas and patches of patchouli reminiscent of Mr. Harrison seeking enlightenment looking within and without his soul. There's a nice medieval melody tossed in for good measure. 'Romany Blue' is another pop charmer featuring one of Saloman's tenderest vocals and 'Silver Insects' has one of those druggy, dreamy Crazy Horse grooves that decorates many of Neil Young's best efforts.JFO

Golden Samphire Band - Dream Is The Driver (Wayside & Woodland)
Junkboy brothers Mik and Rich Hanscomb are joined by vocalist Hannah Lewis on this debut offering from the Sussex trio, named after a local flower. The sea plays an important role in the songs, which follow in the footsteps of other “psychogeographically-informed-psych-folk” acts as Trees, Michael Hedges, Shelleyan Orphan, and Pentangle. Dreamy acoustic sea shanties like ‘Harbour Waves’ will appeal to Renaissance fans, ‘Chalk Space’ has a nice pedal steel swagger, and ‘(We Wunt) Travel Further’ is a travelogue along a seaside stroll set to a minstrelsy backing with flickering flute and Lewis’s impressive vocal stylings. The title track sums up a central theme - “Life is a journey/not a destination/If I wish to change the path/My dream is the driver.” An impressive beginning I’ll return to often. JFO
 

March Edition

Xiu Xiu – Xiu Mutha Fuckin’ Xiu – Vol 1 – Polyvinyl Records - Xiu Xiu: Jamie Stewart – vocals, guitar, drum machine, synthesizers, organ, bass, piano; Angela Seo – vocals, backing vocals, synthesizers, percussion - David Kendrick – drum set. Additional musicians - Tim Berne – alto saxophone - Mary Halvorson – guitar - Tony Malaby – tenor saxophone - Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo – viola, vocals - Ches Smith – drum set - Houda Zakeri – backing vocals.

This is how you do it. Vulgar title aside, this is the way you cover songs. Unless you’re content to throw any vestiges of artistry out with the baby & the dishwater. Brilliant re-creations of songs that light Xiu Xiu’s fire and should ignite a spark in you too. From the opening ominousness of Psycho Killer to the Runaways Cherry Bomb and its visceral menace, this is a superb collection of songs done to perfection. I’m sure many lovers of the original versions will be put off but if left turns and skewered perspectives are your cup of tea, this is the record for you. - JH

Angelika Niescier - Chicago Tapes – Intakt Records - Angelika Niescier: Alto Saxophone -  Jason Adasiewicz: Vibes - Nicole Mitchell: Flute - Mike Reed: Drums - Dave Rempis: Alto & Tenor Saxophone - Luke Stewart: Bass.

The German composer/reed player has something to say and she bolts out of the gate with a ardent piece entitled Rejoice, Disrupt, Resist, her instrumental response to the current fascistic immigration goings on of the current administration, saying it loud with deft defiance. Working with some of the Chicago area’s best musicians, she & her teammates bring energy and fluidity to all of Niescier’s compositions. By turns atmospheric, nuanced, propulsive but most of all compelling new music. - JH

Lucinda Williams – World’s Gone Wrong – Highway 20 Records – Another essential addition to the Williams catalog of great albums. She has always struck me as the ultimate in emotional dichotomy in the sense that she sounds almost blasely world weary and angrily hopeful at the same time. As always Lucinda carries a strong social consciousness on her upraised fist up her sleeve. Speaking of strength, in spite of recent health issues, this record comes across as powerful both vocally and in the tough propulsive music on fine display. Her duet with the astonishingly ageless Mavis Staples So Much Trouble in the World is a standout track. The hard-earned experiential grain in their voices works beautifully together. Vocally there are also fine assists from both Brittany Spencer and Norah Jones. The core band of guitarists Doug Pettibone and Marc Ford, bassist David Sutton, and drummer Brady Blade light  a rocking fire under these songs. - JH

Van Morrison – Somebody Tried to Sell Me a Bridge – Orangefield Records - John Allair (organ/piano), David Hayes (bass), Bobby Ruggerio (drums), Mitch Woods (piano), Anthony Paule (guitar), and drummer Larry Vann.

Van the Man sounds as good as he’s ever been. 80 years old now sounds impossible. This is an impressive outing of mainly blues covers and inspired originals by one of music’s most distinctive voices. The band plays with energy, originality, & imagination, working within the genre and ably complementing the impressive lineup of guest appearances by Taj Majal, Buddy Guy, John Allair & Elvin Bishop. This all sounds like a bunch of like-minded master musicians getting together for a session not to impress but to pay homage to a genre of music they all hold dear. My favorite track is their highly original take on Fats Domino’s Ain’t That a Shame. Terrific new record from Morrison. – JH 

Dobrinka Tabakova - Sun Triptych – ECM Records - Maxim Rysanov - Viola; Dasol Kim – Piano - Roman Mints - Violin, Hurdy Gurdy - Kristina Blaumane – Violoncello - BBC Concert Orchestra - Dobrinka Tabakova – Conductor

What a transcendent recording. A mind-bending genre blending of musical currents incorporating folk, jazz, and of course classical music with a compositional skill & ease that defies imagination. Tabakova’s compositions shimmer & spin out in gorgeous perorations of light and movement. The players, of course, are world class and at the top of their interpretive game. From the opening piece, Whispered Lullaby for viola & piano to the titular Sun Triptych for orchestra and selected soloists, i.e. violin, cello & hurdy gurdy, this extraordinary album of works gleams and entrenches itself into your soul. I have never heard a musical depiction of light in music so aptly portrayed or performed. Grab it! – JH

Ania Karpowicz & Dominik Strycharski – SYRENA RE – FSR Records - Ania Karpowicz – flutes - Dominik Strycharski – blockflutes.

You will have heard nothing like this record. It is as captivating to me as when I first heard microtonal Bulgarian women’s choirs many years ago. Two flautists incorporate looping, not just with their instruments, but with snatches of cantorial singing, popular music and electronic processing in order to take us on an oddly spiritual but fulfilling musical journey. This is playful and rigorously edifying at the same time. – JH

Tiffany Poon – Nature – PentaTone Classics – Hong Kong born NYC based pianist Tiffany Poon delights in this scintillating program of short piano masterpieces reflecting her passion to explore the natural world via musical composition. The album has garnered immense praise for her performances of repertoire as wide ranging as Louis-Claude Daquin’s Pieces de clavecin to Lilli Boulanger’s D’un Jardin Clair from her 3 Morceaux. In between we get to hear exquisite renditions of Ravel, Couperin, Debussy, Rameau, Alkan, Fauré, and Saint-Saens. You might have to stretch your imagination to make the nature connections at times, but you won’t have to work too hard to just sit back and enjoy these delectable piano works as they weave their magic into your head and heart. Tiffany Poon is a major “newish” talent, showcasing her fine sense of balance & articulation. - JH

Jon Irabagon - Dan Oestreicher – Saturday’s Child – Irabbagast Records - Jon Irabagon – bass saxophone – Dan Oestreicher – bass sax/bass flute; Special guest – Mike Pride – drums/percussion on Sugar Rush radio edits.

Warning: DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM IF YOU DON’T LOVE AVANT-GARDE MUSIC. Just when you thought it was safe to go into the water, this extravagant exercise in pushing listening & esthetic boundaries breaks the surface. Fans of Jon Irabagon will no doubt not be surprised. I am a fan but this is not EZ listening by any means. Satisfying on multiple levels but not if you’re looking to tap your toes and swing your hips. Does that sound like a ringing endorsement. Of course not. But I for one am glad these two madmen decided to wreak havoc on my sensibilities. Oh, it does swing a bit on Sugar Rush and its radio edit. - JH

Barbican Quartet – Lux Intus – Berlin Classics - Amarins Wierdsma, violin - Kate Maloney, violin - Christoph Slenczka, viola - Yoanna Prodanova, cello.

Mozart, master of timelessness, clarity and purely reasoned emotion, is fully captured on the Barbican’s wonderful new recording of his Quartet No. 21 in D Major, K. 575. Wonderful delineation and expression throughout. This new cd, the title which means, inner light, is best exemplified by the choice of works in the key of D Major is a sheer & utter delight. The works are given fresh insights whether the shimmering musical world of Sophia Jani’s Postlude, to the energetic intensity of Rebecca Clarke’s Poem for String Quartet and their excerpt of the Nimrod variation from Elgar’s Enigma Variations. A central highlight of the recording is the Barbican’s rendition of Britten’s expansive Quartet in D Major Op. 25, given an exceptionally incisive performance at the hands of these persuasive artists. - JH

Jon Irabagon – Focus Out – Irabbagast Records - Jon Irabagon – alto sax – Matt Mitchell – piano/Fender Rhodes - Chris Lightcap – electric bass – Dan Weiss – drums - With – Koyaki – vocals 3,5 – Dave Ballous – trumpet 3,4 – Miles Okazaki – guitar 3,4 - Donny McCaslin – tenor sax 4 – Mark Shim – tenor sax 4 - All songs by Jon Irabagan except * - Irabagon & Koyaki.

Secret weapons are a delight in a band. Koyaki, born Carl Walker, blends hip-hop and jazz vocalese to fluidly impressive effect, weaving in and out of the disjunct rhythms and sometimes leading them down avenues of improvisation that captivate the senses and delights one aurally. That said, this is a fantastic record by an artist who is under most people’s radar and instead should be celebrated as an incandescent star in the firmament. Jon Irabagon has been leading the pack for a long time now and continues to do so here with finely molded compositions allowing plenty of room for stellar bouts of improvisation. Listen closely and you can hear the history of jazz in this music but w/o any sense of retrogression. The two compositions featuring Koyaki co-compositions, Paper Planes & Indigo Stains, along with the all instrumental Evening Star, are standouts on a standout release. - JH

Brian Landrus – Just When You Think You Know – Palmetto Records - Brian Landrus – baritone/tenor sax/bass clarinet/flute/alto flute/bass flute/compositions; Zaccai Curtis – piano/Rhodes – Dave Stryker – guitars - Lonnie Plaxico – bass – Rudy Royston – drums/percussion - Violet Giu – vocals on Beyond.

Composer & reedist Brian Landrus is quite the chameleon. He’s been out there for a while making music in whichever sub-genre of jazz he wishes and doing so with aplomb & ease. This record is no exception. Gorgeous melodies & rhythmic groove undercut the finely honed harmonic nature of many of these works stirring up the sensibilities w/o holding anyone at arm’s length. Totally accessible tonally nuanced and enticing music. - JH

Maggie Nicols – Immersion – Discus Music - Maggie Nicols: voice - Robert Mitchell: voice, piano - Alya Al Sultani: voice.

The three principals probably would have been burned as witches in medieval times. This is almost scary stuff. Primarily wordless vocalizing in a highly improvisatory manner. If you lean towards adventurism and Yoko Ono at her most extreme doesn’t scare you too easily, then you will find this to be right up your alley albeit w/o any of the shrillness Yoko at her finest has always been capable of. Wide, wide swings of vocal effects keep this one enthralling but don’t put it on at your next party unless it’s way past your bedtime and you need to clear the house. - JH

Cecil Taylor New Unit – Words & Music – The Last Bandstand – FSR Records - Cecil Taylor – piano, spoken words - Harri Sjöström – soprano saxophone, sopranino - Okkyung Lee – cello - Tony Oxley – electronics - Jackson Krall – drums - Recorded: 23 of April 2016 at the Whitney Museum, NY.

Commitment, forcefulness, & always with a clear-eyed vision from the first note to last; these are some of the attributes that defined Cecil Taylor’s life and music. This was his last performance at age 87 and there is no discernible diminution of his formidable powers. One long nearly eighty-minute improvisation with the master both at the keyboard and speaking his own poetry leading his latest and last “Unit” of virtuoso musicians, this is improvisation that doesn’t grate against the sensibilities but instead flows with perfect logic making the journey as enjoyable as the ultimate goal.  A remarkable ending to a sixty-plus long career as one of music’s most original creators. – JH

Taupe – Waxing | Waning - Minority Records - Mike Parr-Burman ― guitar, bass guitar, electronics - Jamie Stockbridge ― alto and baritone saxophones - Alex Palmer ― drum kit, percussion.

Yes, yes, yes. More please. Scottish trio Taupe create a mind numbing, spine-tingling, viscerally charged music that leaves you gasping for air in your armchair! Yowser. The air around my stereo system was hyper-electrically charged for hours after listing to this undefinable music incorporating elements of electronic, “skronk”, jazz, rock & bold experimentalism. Funky, chic, and in yo’ face music making of the highest order. - JH

Eric Bibb – One Mississippi – Repute Records – A masterfully strong new record from Eric Bibb. Rooted in blues but with his gaze steady on the horizon, Bibb here provides insights into social issues and causes w/o a bit of alienation. Clear-eyed thoughtfulness and no hint of self-pity or interest. Just the facts ma’am presented in a manner that lets you, the listener, absorb & address within your own sense(s) of empathy, ethics and morality. The opener One Mississippi is a protest song that leans heavily on the tradition of field hollering without shouting. The strongest song on an album of heavyweight compositions is the strongly incisive & poignant tale of Emmett Till Crossroads Marilyn Monroe. - JH

Courtney Marie Andrews – Valentine – Loose Future Records - Courtney Marie Andrews: Vocals, acoustic/electric guitars, piano, keyboards. Jerry Bernhardt: Producer, bass, twelve-string guitar, keys, backing vocals. Chris Bear (Grizzly Bear): Drums, percussion.

Powerhouse vocals to the fore in this outing of courageously bare Americana folk-pop. A fever dream of introspection balanced with atmospherically nuanced accompaniment. Songs of love and self recognition deliver with intimacy, profound emotion and depth. - JH

SF Collective – Collective Imagery – SFJAZZ Records - Chris Potter – Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Bass Clarinet - Michael Rodriguez – Trumpet, Flugelhorn - David Sanchez – Tenor Saxophone, Congas - Edward Simon – Piano, Electric Piano - Warren Wolf – Vibraphone, Marimba - Kendrick Scott – Drums
Matt Brewer – Bass, Guitar (Track #6) - Cava Menzies – Vocals (Track #4)

Exceptionally strong compositional voices are evident on this newest addition to the SF Jazz Collective’s oeuvre. This record is a collaboration with the de Young Museum, which required each member to compose pieces based on works in the "About Place" exhibition. The concomitant masterly musicianship prevails as always with this grouping and individually each contribution is highly evocative showcasing each composer’s strengths. This is an admirable record with outstanding melodic and harmonic tales of nature, politics, spoken word intervals and terrific texture. – JH

Craig Taborn Tomeka Reid Ches Smith – Dream Archives – ECM Records - Craig Taborn - Piano, Keyboard, Electronics - Tomeka Reid – Violoncello - Ches Smith - Drums, Vibraphone, Percussion, Electronics.

Well it’s all in the title. Dreamscapes rendered with percussion, electronics, keys and one of the most vocal of instruments, the cello. Neato juxtaposition between through composition and improvisatory passages in abundance here. Craig Taborn is part of the “new music” practitioners who challenge the listener with music that is both alluring unpredictable from one moment to the next. Extraordinary explorations of two covers, Paul Motian’s Mumbo Jumbo & Geri Allen’s When Kabuya Dances add to the quiet excitement of this release. – JH

NDR Big Band – Talking to Bela – NDR Big Band Records - NDR Bigband (band), Claus Stötter (soloist, flugel horn, trumpet), Fiete Felsch (soloist, bass flute), Dan Gottshall (soloist, trombone), Florian Weber (soloist, piano), Ingmar Heller (soloist, bass), Peter Bolte (soloist, alto saxophone), Stefan Lottermann (soloist, trombone), Sandra Hempel (soloist, guitar), Percy Pursglove (soloist, trumpet), Klaus Heidenreich (soloist, trombone), Julius Gawlik (soloist, tenor saxophone), Luigi Grasso (soloist, bass saxophone, bass clarinet), Ian Thomas (soloist, drums), Marcio Doctor (soloist, percussion), Ingolf Burkhardt (soloist, flugel horn), Ingo Lahme (soloist, bass trombone), Frank Delle (soloist, tenor saxophone) – Geir Lysne – compositions/arrangements – leader.

78 minutes of sheer unmitigated Bela Bartok transcriptional joy! Geir Lysne has assembled a stellar ensemble of some of the best European soloists and let them rip on his magnificent arrangements of one of the greatest 20^th century classical composers. This meeting of classical, jazz, folk & is both adventurous & eminently satisfying on multiple levels. Ingenious use of the folk music that influenced Bartok and then taking elements of Bartok’s compositions to inform his own newly minted music & arrangements. - JH

Dry Cleaning – Secret Love – Rough Trade Records - Dry Cleaning

Nick Buxton – percussion (1–4, 6, 9–11), backing vocals (1, 2, 6, 11), programmed drums (1, 4, 6–9), synthesiser (1, 4, 9), drums (except 1), keyboards (2, 6, 7), piano (3, 5, 9)  - Tom Dowse – guitar; backing vocals (1, 2, 6, 11), mandolin (4), synthesiser (10) - Lewis Maynard - bass; backing vocals (1, 2, 6, 11) - Florence Shaw - vocals; backing vocals (1, 5, 6, 11), synthesiser (10). Additional musicians - Cate Le Bon – programmed drums (1, 2, 6–10), synthesiser (4, 10, 11) - Euan Hinshelwood – alto saxophone (3) - Jeff Tweedy – guitar (3), Bruce Lamont – tenor saxophone (5) - Stephen Black – bass clarinet (10).

This is the third album for this group led by Florence Shaw. They’re new to me and remind me a bit of the punk & post-punk NYC scene of the seventies in their musical approach. Lots of additional musicians here to spread the joy around, most notably Jeff Tweedy on My Soul/Half Pint & Cate Le Bon’s production efforts adding to the expanded textures beneath Shaw’s speech-singing style. - JH

Morton Feldman – Complete Works for Multiple Pianos – Wergo Records

Jovita Zähl, Philipp Kronbichler, Peter Degenhardt, Rohan De Saram, John McAlpine, Friedrich Jaecker, Sarah Becker, Claudia Boettcher, Nicole Ferrein, Sylvia Koke & Stefanie Kunschke.

Patience. That is a hallmark of Feldman’s music in general, and his piano music in particular. Soft & shimmering textures beg the listener to allow the music to slowly immerse itself into your consciousness for rewards of meditative serenity. This three cd set of duets, trios, piano four hands and music for five pianists & vocalists, is tempered by expert atmospheric musical conjuring. This is music you can allow to seep into your soul OR use as background while working other, quiet, tasks. Doing either will definitely enrich your life. Kudos to the pianistic artists involved and Wergo records for producing this release. - JH

Juan Dahmen – Muss Raus – www.juandahmen.bandcamp.com – Juan Dahmen – drums/percussion/electronics – Recorded live at Estudio Parche, Spain, July 2024 this is mind expanding sound scaping nerve scraping music making of the highest order. If you could imagine yourself boppin’ and hummin’ along to an EP of drum improvisations with electronics and thoroughly enjoying yourself in the process, sorta, kinda wishing it wouldn’t end, then this is the album for you. Great stuff. - JH 

Mattias Svensson – Embrace – Origin Records - Mattias Svensson - bass
Bill Mays – piano - Morten Lund – drums – Recorded in three studio sessions four years ago, and finally released now, you have to wonder why the wait? Gorgeously rendered performances of contemporary jazz trio sounds. Svensson’s swing oriented bass anchors his musical compadres so all can sing the musical lines and accent the harmonic sweetness within this strongly centered outing of sharply defined, enjoyable straight ahead jazziness. If you like to tap your toes while you’re listening or doing chores around the house or motor-vating down the road, then this one’s a killer. - JH

Julia Hulsmann Octet – While I Was Away – ECM Records - Aline Frazão (vocalist) - Héloïse Lefebvre (violin) - Susanne Paul (cello) - Julia Hülsmann (piano) - Eva Kruse (doublebass) - Eva Klesse (drum) - Michael Schiefel (vocalist)
Live Maria Roggen (vocalist).

Genre busting music. The kind I love to revel in. Classical trio with jazz rhythm and a trio of vocalists who bring folk & jazz elements & elegance galore to this intriguing new release under Julia Hulsmann’s name. Employing texts from poets e. e. cummings, Margaret Atwood, & covers of Ani DiFrano & Zelia Fonseca, this record has got it all. Superb playing and interpretations make this a relevantly must listen. – JH

Kate Olson – So It Goes – OA2 Records - Kate Olson - soprano saxophone
Conner Eisenmenger - trombone (except 6) - Tim Carey - electric bass (except 6), electric guitar (4) - Evan Woodle - drums & percussion - Wayne Horvitz - piano (5,6,8) - Geoff Harper - double bass (5,6,8).

The album kicks off in a strong accented be-bop flavor but quickly shifts gears to showcase a band, led by Kate Olson, that is highly capable of generating highly charged music in multiple genres, sometimes all within the same tune. I.E., influences range from off-kilter Dixieland to the aforementioned be-bop to more picturesque sound sculpturing in that hard to define modern jazz composition, in which it is ofttimes difficult to differentiate between classical and jazz. And we the listener are all the better for it. At turns, lyrical, soulful and always accessible music. - JH

Julian Lage – Scenes from Above – Blue Note Records - Julian Lage: Electric Guitar - John Medeski: Hammond B3, Piano - Jorge Roeder: Double Bass - Kenny Wollesen: Drums, Percussion.

Smokey Robinson once coined his music (and released an album of the same name) as a quiet fire. That description is apropos in this case. Terrific interplay among these versatile master musicians in presenting a template on, soul, empathic communication, strength through control and teaching us on how to marry harmony over the top of gorgeous melody. I remember first hearing Julian Lage and immediately realizing that I was in the presence of a giant and he has lived up to that initial impression. Simply one of the most unpretentious guitar geniuses alive. John Medeski outdoes himself by creating superb atmospheric textures over the top of these tunes like an effervescent rain shower breaking the humidity on a summer’s day. Underpinning all is the fabulous rhythm section of Jorge Roeder & Kenny Wollesen, layering everything with laid back but fervent texture & nuance. - JH

Juan Dahmen – Vendra – www.jd.bc.com - Piano, drumset and recording by Juan Dahmen at estudio Parche, Spain, February 2026 – Whoa, two reviews for Juan Dahmen in one month. Well he has promised to deliver one new work a month this year and I for one can’t wait. Another drop of highly creative, imaginatively structured ambient music that absolutely captivates on first listening and reinforces itself upon further aural peregrinations. This is music that takes you on a journey down a different path with every listen. You can pretty much figure out where he’s leading you but of course with all art, it becomes a personal choice in how the individual may respond and react. It’s all there in the music. Love, pain, hope, problems, solutions and then you arrive at your own conclusion. Or just revel in Juan’s. - JH

Joey Hines – Hopeless Fantasy – www.joeyhines.bandcamp.com – Joey Hines is prolific if nothing else. But he is something else. One of the most impressive, new to me, singer/songwriters I’ve encountered over the past few years. Incisive insight, wit, charm and a gift for fecund melody, Hines continues to mature with his songwriting, seemingly in real time, from one song/album to the next. Wonderful musings on the heights and depths of human nature in a multiplicity of slants that keep me shaking my head and whistling his tunes as I buoyantly walk out the door to greet another day with fresh resolve. Joey will uplift you one moment and break your heart the next but never at the expense of cruelty, and always with wealthy dollops of the milk of human kindness along with that friendly smile. - JH

February Edition

Annahstasia – Tether – drink sum wtr Records – An enormously gifted singer/songwriter- Beautiful timbre to the voice and the story goes that various vocal teachers tried to change it ‘cause it was “wrong.” They were wrong. Beautifully emotive with songs of great depth and character to match. Gorgeous acoustic arrangements make this an easy recommendation. A stunning debut – JH

Yunchan Lim – Rachmaninoff Piano Cto No. 3 – Decca Classics - Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra -  Marin Alsop -  Yunchan Lim - Recorded: 2022-06-17

Recording Venue: Bass Performance Hall, Ft. Worth, TX – Sergei Rachmaninoff is generally considered by many critics to be the greatest pianist of all time and his own compositions played up to his superlative technical mastery and rich emotional conceptions. Yunchan Lim spotlights the piece that won him the 2022 Van Cliburn Competition with aplomb & profound musicality. His is a unique new pianistic voice that appears undaunted by this challenging music as he takes total command in the virtuosic finale, daring the orchestra to keep up. He is being compared to the keyboard greats already and the evidence is in the pudding if you will. – JH

Martin Wind – Stars – Newvelle Records - Martin Wind – bass/composer - Kenny Barron – piano - Anat Cohen – clarinet - Matt Wilson – drums

Beautifully crafted swinging tunes from master bassist/composer Martin Wind with strong outings from all the players involved. Anat Cohen takes the lead on most of the tunes but when it comes time to step into the spotlight Kenny Barron, naturally doesn’t fail to utterly delight with his signature light fleet fingered filigrees beautifully constructed solos. Matt Wilson is a great drummer and has been since the onset of his career. A terrific record & you’ll delight in their wondrous cover of "Stars Fell on Alabama" - JH

Wednesday – Bleeds – Dead Oceans Records – Karly Hartzman – lead vocals, guitar - Jake Lenderman – guitar, vocals - Xandy Chelmis – lap steel, pedal steel - Ethan Baechtold – bass guitar, piano - Alan Miller – drums

I love Southern Gothic anything. Books, literature, acting, whatever. Flannery O’Connor & William Faulkner are two of my favorite writers. Drive By Truckers, one of my favorite bands. Add Wednesday to this list. Distinctive vocals by Karly Hartzman combined with a mishmash of grueling & shoegaze contemplation with expert grinding production and playing make this one of the best records released last year. Tales of broken relationships & vulnerability, personal struggles & catharsis. - JH

Ben Rosenblum's Nebula Project – The Longest Way Round - One Trick Dog Records - Ben Rosenblum – piano/accordion/composer - Trumpet/flugelhorn -  Wayne Tucker – soprano/alto/clarinet/bass clarinet/flute - Jasper Dutz -guitar -  Rafael Rosa – bass - Marty Jaffe – drums/percussion - Ben Zweig percussionists - Gustavo Di Dalva – 1,6,7,10 - Brad Dutz -2 – Pianist/accordionist

Rosenblum adds to his growing body of work and significant oeuvre with this beautifully crafted and executed new record. Plangent & exultant melodies compete for your attention and all is infused with jazz & world folk music influences add to the charm and accessibility of this new music. - JH

Benjamin Appl – Lines of Life Schubert & Kurtag – Alpha Classics -

Benjamin Appl (baritone), György Kurtág (piano), James Baillieu (piano 2,4,6,7,14,15,) , Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano 16-19), Csaba Bencze (trombone 8-13), Gergely Lukác (tuba 8-13).

“New” singers come along every generation and there is always someone or something new to marvel at. Benjamin Appl is certainly no exception. His touchstone is possibly the greatest lieder singer of all time Dietrick Fischer-Dieskau, and any comparisons would be apt. Appl enjoys a beautifully resonant vocal instrument with strength, beauty of line and highly nuanced emotional capabilities all brought to full fruition in this fine program. The selections span centuries and juxtapose the melodic fecundity of Schubert with the more starkly rigorous compositions of Gyorgy Kurtag. Not that Kurtag isn’t emotional, it’s simply of a different nature. Whereas Schubert’s lines flow like a swiftly flowing but non-treacherous river, inevitably towards the sea; Kurtag’s melodic meanderings take a more jagged flow to what ultimately proves to be a equally fulfilling ocean of song. Both piano accompanists are accomplished soloists in their own right, and their commitment to the singer and the text underlines this wonderful program and collaboration. - JH

Brandon Seabrook Quartet – Hellbent Daydream - Pyroclastic Records -

Guitar/banjo/composer - Brandon Seabrook – piano/synth - Elias Stemesder – bass - Henry Fraser – violin - Erica Dicker

A new quartet for Brandon featuring the artists above, providing an eclectic sound to capture these more outré compositions, most dealing with the dream fugue-y ability of the human spirit to capture and encapsulate weird and fantastic stories & works of art. This fits the bill and the new members are operating with B. S. on a lightning fast almost subliminal level. This is a blend of styles & musical influences that works again and again on every track, with the emotional content veering away from and colliding into each other in compelling fashion. Sort of like those old looney tunes cartoons where anything went and the most outlandish seemed to make an oddly captivating sense. Great record with some of the best titles on a jazz record in age. Sample, besides the title track:  Existential Danger Infinite Ceiling. - JH

Warren Zevon – Epilogue - Live at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival – Omnivore Records - August 9, 2002 – Zevon’s Final Concert – Gallagher Park -

Warren on guitar, harmonica, and piano - Matt Cartsonis - guitar, dulcimer, fiddle, harmonies and more!

Stripped down acoustical versions of Warren’s last concert with friend & multi-instrumentalist Matt Cartsonis helping out. Zevon was one of the most gifted songwriters of our era & his untimely death robbed friends & fans alike of his discerning wit and sardonic humor. Some have criticized his diminished vocal abilities at times & wavering tuning but for god’s sake he was dealing with his devastating health death sentence. This is an astonishing document, not just for hard core fans, & evidence of the indomitability of the human spirit. Good to have. JH

Ingrid Jensen – Landings – Newvelle Records - Ingrid Jensen – trumpet - Gary Versace (organ), Marvin Sewell (guitar), and Jon Wikan (drums) – George Coleman – tenor sax – Ingrid Jensen is a top-flight trumpeter & composer. Her new album kicks off with Amsterdam After Dark, a George Coleman composition on which the legendary saxophonist guests, trading solos with Jensen, and it’s a scorcher. This album is a new take on organ jazz. Most organ led groups (of which this is not) are trios with guitar & drums, but in this expansive lineup we have Jensen floating and alternately sizzling her solos above the musical fray, adding depth & warmth. There is tasteful use of electronics which serve this music superbly. Superb. That’s an apt word for this outing. – Versace’s organ work is exemplary and this album features excellent textures & playing from Sewell & Wikan. Great covers of Carla Bley’s Ida Lupino & terrific new originals from Jensen, Sewell & Versace. – JH

Brad Mehldau – Ride into the Sun – Nonesuch Records – Brad Mehldau continues to astonish with his incredibly far-reaching taste and expansive musical interests & sensibilities. He expands on the music of the people whom he admires and emulates. This outing its Elliott Smith’s turn to garner exposure in the Mehldau universe. He takes the warmth & intimacy of Smith’s writing and with an orchestral ensemble augmenting a core rotating trio of bass & drums manages to take your breath away with the beauty and depth of these compositions. He adds a few of his own complimentary songs, most notably, Sweet Adeline Fantasy and juxtaposes Smith’s work with two tracks from musicians Smith admired. So, we are graced with covers of Big Star’s Thirteen and Nick Drake’s Sunday. It took me a while to get to this record, and I only wish I had arrived at it sooner. A big beautiful humanistic record of the year for 2025. - JH 

Quinsin Nachoff – Patterns from Nature – Whirlwind Recordings - Quinsin Nachoff – sax – pianist Matt Mitchell, trombonist Ryan Keberle, clarinetist François Houle, percussionist Satoshi Takeishi, bassist Carlo De Rosa. Molinari String Quartet: Olga Ranzenhofer – violin - Antoine Bareil – violin - Frédéric Lambert – viola - Pierre-Alain Bouvrette – cello.

Carazzy man! There are those probing musical minds that seem to easily shed genres & preconceptions. Quinsin Nachoff is one of these composers. Is it jazz? Is it classical? Well, it’s a genre bending new record with a large ensemble and a string quartet that simply defies categorization. The music, basically two large pieces, Patterns from Nature in four parts and Winding Tessellations, a saxophone concerto in three parts. This is ambitious music that succeeds on every level, offering not only depth & complexity but rigorous melodic accessibility. I should add that it is the soundtrack for a film dealing with emergent patterns of flow and fracture. – JH

Geese – Getting Killed – Partisan/Play It Again Sam Records - Max Bassin – drums - Dominic DiGesu – bass - Emily Green – guitar - Cameron Winter – vocals, guitar, keyboards

I believe this is Geese’s third full length and as good as they have always been this is a quantum leap forward. Anchored by the highly distinctive vocals and lyrical songwriting of frontman Cameron Winter these tracks combine punk, indie, art-rock, prog, jazz & the kitchen sink to make a compelling case for this to be the hot “new” band of the moment. They have the talent to make this a long-term affair of musical excellence. The new record explores many of the existential themes of the current societal & political moment. Potential leaders of the pack. - JH

Shawn Lovato – Biotic – Endectomorph Music – Bassist/composer Shawn Lovato - tenor saxophone - Ingrid Laubrock - drums - Henry Mermer

A unique trio outing from composer/bassist Shawn Lovato. Tenor sax, bass & drums. You know this music is going to be challenging and it certainly makes the case for advanced musical sensibilities & attentive listening. Plenty of give & take, push & pull going on in this music and the trio pulls it off admirably. Attentive listening doesn’t mean off-putting or inaccessible as this music is certainly capable of drawing you into Lovato’s singular sound world. His bass playing almost acts as intriguing morse acting as counterpoint to more expansive journeyings on the part of his collaborators.  – JH

The Mountain Goats – Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan – Cadmean Dawn – John Darnielle had a dream. Not that one. A dream about Captain Peter Balkan & others surviving a shipwreck & a fire. Out of that dream came this carefully crafted record exploring themes of sharing, care, struggle through travail & confrontation of fate. In order to make art out of the chaos of his own and his character’s visions, Darnielle employs not just a rock band but strings and other orchestral forces which imbue this music & story with a theatrical richness & emotional depth. There is a plethora of guest musicians, most notably Lin-Manuel Miranda as additional vocalist on a quarter of the album’s tracks. - JH

Cecile McLorin Salvant – Oh Snap – Nonesuch Records – Yawn, yet another genre bending release designed to show off an artists wide ranging influences and ability to synthesize and forge these elements into music new and exciting. Wait! That’s not a good thing, it’s a great thing! Salvant even employs auto-tune & electronics better than just about anyone out there and even sings in a retro style, well just to show she can do that to. Terrific new record showcasing, at times, a lighter more effervescently playful side. - JH

Kronos Quartet – Forgive Us For – Phenotypic Records - David Harrington, violin - Gabriela Díaz, violin - Ayane Kozasa, viola - Paul Wiancko, cello

What a brilliant record. Kronos collaborating with three distinctive composers creating musical stories of injustice, exile, and resilience from Palestine, Iceland, & Ukraine. First up is Rim Banna who sings on a pre-recorded tape to a short, traditional Palestinian folk song Ya Taali’een el-Jabal, a plea for liberation. We next hear from Hildur Guðnadóttir who pens an arrangement of Fólk fær andlit, whose solemnity is imbued with icy fervor, as Kronos is joined by accordionist Jeanne Velonis. An apt imagining for music based on a tale of forced deportation of Albanian families. Finally, we hear from Mariana Sadovska, composer, vocals & harmonium, in her four-part piece, Chernobyl: The Harvest. This piece juxtaposes and takes us on a journey encompassing the destructive devastation & surprising resilience of nature. The four parts are titled The Road, The Harvest, Lamentation & finally Paradise. Some critics have described this record as challengingly listenable. Indeed. Kronos, of course, are up to their usual high standards. – JH

Mayuko Katakura - The Duality of My Soul – Mayuko Katakura Music - Piano - Mayuko Katakura – bass - Takumi Awaya – drums - Noritaka Tanaka – Seven Katakura originals & one cover, Abbey Lincoln’s Being Me. A gently muscular outing from Katakura with fine syncopated dynamism from the trio. Most of the music & playing is on the contemplative side & features fine interplay between the three musicians in both articulation & interpretation. A beautiful workout and not surprising as Katakura has cited McCoy Tyner as a major influence. - JH

Oneohtrix Point Never – Tranquilizer – Warp Records – Daniel Lopatin has been doing this a long time. And he’s good at it. So, when he describes the music (electronic composition, found sounds, etc.) as tranquil, I guess you have to wonder what serene universe he is living in. Not that the music is intensely overdriven, just that’s it powerfully propellant with a core of restless ambiguity. As always, the unexpectedness and shifting sands of sounds are compelling. Kudos to him for his recent Golden Globe win for the Marty Supreme score. - JH

Thomas Ades – Orchestral Suites – London Philharmonic Orchestra Records - London Philharmonic Orchestra – Thomas Ades – conductor/composer

The composer conducting three suites from his own works is an opportunity for further insight into the creative innerworkings of Ades. He is a masterful composer and his orchestrations are filled with excitement and vivacity. The Luxury Suite from his opera Powder Her Face is full of delicious dancing atmospheres and jig-saw rhythmic swerve. The next suite of music Five Spells from his opera The Tempest conjures swirling dynamism and adventurous energy. Finally, Ades presents Inferno Suite from his ballet Dante, and is, as to be expected, a convulsing piece full of drama & playful metrics. A fine recording by the always excellent London Philharmonic, superbly conducted by the composer and offering a peek into his musical imagination. – JH

Thomas Strønen – Time is a Blind Guide - Off Stillness – ECM Records - Thomas Strønen – Drums - Ayumi Tanaka – Piano - Håkon Aase – Violin - Leo Svensson Sander – Violoncello - Ole Morten Vågan - Double Bass – Drummer led ensembles are usually rhythmically complex and this is no exception with the caveat that most of the underpinning pulse is provided by bassist Ole Morten Vågan allowing Strønen’s drumming to create & inspire some uniquely facile phrasing. This is exceptionally contoured music with contrasting sections tweaking the ear as Strønen uses silences and deletions rather than overloading the senses as most would. Not minimalistic by any means but masterful usage of space and time. – JH

Zack Browning – Rock Galaxy – Neuma Records - Zack Browning is a new composer to me but he has been around for a while. We are age contemporary and I’m disappointed in myself for missing him prior to this excellent release. He possesses a singular creative vision that encompasses both rigorous classical music training fused with the palpable energy of rock. This is unique music well worth exploring as Zack Browning himself explores space, rhythm & harmony in visionary ways. The 8 pieces comprising this release are for various configurations from Woodwind Quintet (Jupiter LVB) to solo piano (Upscale Jammer) but all the music on this recording is intriguingly beguiling. JH

Patti Cudd – Cyanotypes – Neuma Records - Patti Cudd - percussion and electronics – Not a new recording, but new to me. This album came out a year or so ago and arrived via an email from a publicist for the Neuman record label. See the review above. Very impressed with what I’ve heard so far from far-reaching expansive minded artists. Patti Cudd is talented performer utilizing percussion and electronics to create energetically charged performances that captivate your senses & imagination. 5 compositions from female composers exploring sonic soundscapes designed to draw you in and carry you along on a high musical tide of creativity. – JH

Michael Jackson – The Gal from Ochi – JackoJazz Records – Smooth pop jazz that can morph into some hard charging bop and free at the drop of a hat from saxophonist Michael Jackson with a plethora of rotating core players sprinkled throughout. Makaya McCraven on drums/percussion; Xavier Breaker on drums; Aaron Koppel on guitar; et al. Cool vibes and other percussion aid in giving this a breezy Caribbean flavor at times and all goes down like a balmy summer day on the sands beside undulating wavelets breaking on a sunny shore. – JH

Alfie Jackson – The Peacocks – JackoJazz Records – Terrific debut album from vocalist (and guitar on one track) with her band of erstwhile young players. Leo Milano – tenor sax - Sam Roberson – guitar – Chase Wilkins – drums – Daniel Ellis Perez – bass – Wayne Williams – vibes.

An accomplished vocalist beyond her years, she imbues these covers with a fine musical sensibility. Daughter of the saxophonist in the review above, he must be a proud papa with this fine outing, and offers his support with a fine solo on the Nina Simone cover Do I Move You? – Jackson scats easily and has a nice tone which I anticipate will fill out with age & experience. The only caveat is she doesn’t seem to inhabit the heart of these songs as well as I’m sure she will in the not too distant future. An outstanding choice of covers underscoring a precocious jazz sensibility Coltrane’s After the Rain, Corea’s 500 Miles High, Cedar Walton’s Ugetsu et al. – JH

Rempis – Adasiewicz – Corsano – Dial Up – Aerophonic Records - Dave Rempis – soprano/alto/tenor/baritone saxophone - Jason Adasiewicz – vibes - Chris Corsano – drums

An intriguing and exhilarating new trio. Reeds, vibes and drums. Nothing could go wrong and it doesn’t. This is a gorgeously creative outing of five improvised pieces recorded in “real” time. The players are all non-plussed, weaving tensile magic out of thin air and releasing arcs of structure and time, form & line, combined with melodious & harmonic patterning sure to delight the engaged listener. Strength, vigor & superlative musicianship make this an astonishing document of hypnotically infused sound worlds. Echoes of Coleman, Coltrane & Sun Ra only in the sense that it is within the same experimentally spacious sensibility.  – JH

Earl Sweatshirt – Live Laugh Love – Warner Brothers Records – Fifth record from Earl Sweatshirt. Hard to believe he burst upon the scene as a prescient teenager and is now married, with two kids and approaching his 32^nd birthday. This is a short recording, less than 25 minutes long, but bursting at the seams with narratives & visions of personal growth; an extension of his own experience(s). Since his early days as part of the Odd Future conglomeration of artists (think Tyler the Creator, et al) he has forged his own singular path with an affinity for dream like word play and imagery. That still stands but now with accreted maturity which lends even more relevance to his observations. Being a parent can do that to you. – JH