11.3.26

LARRY OCHS — The Fictive Five (2015) Tzadik Spectrum Series – 12 | FLAC (tracks), lossless

 Founding member of the Rova Sax Quartet, Larry Ochs has worked with many of the greatest musicians in Creative Music—Steve Lacy, Fred Frith, Wadada Leo Smith, Terry Riley, George Lewis, John Zorn, Derek Bailey and countless others. His newest ensemble is an update on the classic New York Contemporary Five and features Larry’s Shepp-tinged tenor sax along with some of the best young players out of New York’s Downtown scene. Ochs is particularly excited by both the ensemble sound and the music here, a set of pieces he considers to be among his strongest and most successful blendings of composition and improvisation. Fabulous and soulful, The Fictive Five is a tremendous achievement by this West Coast master of surprise! Tzadik
Tracklist :
1.    Similitude (for Wim Wenders)    24:48
2.    A Marked Refraction    4:23
3.    By Any Other Name (for William Kentridge)    22:36
4.    Translucent (for Kelly Reichardt)    17:38
Credits : 
Ken Filiano - Bass, Effects
Larry Ochs - Tenor And Sopranino Saxophones
Nate Wooley - Trumpet
Harris Eisenstadt - Drums
Pascal Niggenkemper - Bass, Prepared Bass

9.3.26

FRED HERSCH — Thelonious : Fred Hersch Plays Monk (1998) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Pianist Fred Hersch has a very different style than Thelonious Monk did, and on this solo tribute CD, he does not attempt to closely emulate Monk. Hersch does hint at Thelonious in spots on the 13 Monk compositions, but mostly performs in a sparse, melodic and quietly playful manner. His interpretations of such songs as "In Walked Bud," "Ask Me Now," "Let's Cool One" and "Misterioso" (which he calls "Five Views of Misterioso") are tasteful yet full of subtle invention. A pleasing and respectful effort. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.        'Round Midnight    3:44
2.        In Walked Bud    4:48
3.        Crepuscule With Nellie/Reflections    4:51
4.        Think Of One    3:11
5.        Ask Me Now    5:30
6.        Evidence    3:31
7.        Five Views Of Misterioso    7:01
8.        Let's Cool One    4:50
9.        Bemsha Swing    3:16
10.        Light Blue/Pannonica    6:07
11.        I Mean You    4:17
12.        'Round Midnight Reprise    1:40
Credits : 
Piano [Steinway], Producer – Fred Hersch
Written-By – Denzel Best (tracks: 9), Thelonious Monk 

MARCUS ROBERTS — Gershwin for Lovers (1994) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

This trio date (which features pianist Marcus Roberts, bassist Reginald Veal and drummer Herlin Riley) is a bit unusual in that Roberts, although he is heard interpreting vintage George Gershwin songs, gives the tunes fairly modern interpretations. There is no striding or James P. Johnson licks. Instead, the talented pianist transforms such songs as "A Foggy Day," "Our Love Is Here to Stay," "It Ain't Necessarily So" and "But Not for Me" into modern hard bop. A typically excellent effort. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    A Foggy Day    4:52
2.    The Man I Love    5:42
3.    Our Love Is Here To Stay    6:46
4.    Summertime    6:29
5.    Someone To Watch Over Me    2:59
6.    It Ain't Necessarily So    6:01
7.    Nice Work If You Can Get It    4:44
8.    They Can't Take That Away From Me    8:38
9.    How Long Has This Been Going On?    4:20
10.        But Not For Me    6:13
Credits : 
Herlin Riley - Drums
Marcus Roberts - Piano, 
Reginald Veal - Bass  

MICHAL URBANIAK — Urbaniak (1977-2008) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Polish violinist Michal Urbaniak was already well known in Europe, and somewhat famous in America, with five previous overtly commercial efforts for the Columbia and Arista labels. This album for Inner City Records showcases a much more substantive, energetic, and contemporary type of jazz music perfectly suited for the fusion-oriented '70s. With wife Urszula Dudziak singing and Zbigniew Namyslowski playing alto sax in a David Sanborn-type dialect, these three form a hummable, tuneful front line whose symmetry and sonic footprint are hard to resist. Aside from the lead performers, fans of Kenny Kirkland should take note of his presence on this album, one of his earliest works. Kirkland plays brilliantly here on Fender Rhodes electric piano, Polymoog, and miniMoog synthesizers, buoying and supporting the others in bright dimensions and shimmering tones. Though adept at the straight-ahead mainstream style, R&B-oriented jazz-rock fusion is at the equally delightful and danceable core of Urbaniak's music. The band sets the tone with the opener, "Tie Breaker," a track with active, quickly ground strokes featuring Urbaniak on the lyricon opposite Namyslowski's alto and Kirkland's busy keyboards in a tribute to the first and greatest Polish men's tennis professional, Wojtek Fibak. Dudziak, a unique-unto-herself scat singer only rivaled by Flora Purim, raises the bar even higher on "Strife," as Urbaniak's violin solo reaches for heights beyond the stratosphere. The inevitable comparisons to peer Jean-Luc Ponty rate Urbaniak favorably, as creeping bass and marching drums set up his soaring strings during "Mountaineers." Namyslowski composed most of the tracks here, with his impressive piece "Stray Sheep" strong in rhythmic content within the funky beat, but multifaceted, always changing from within, and adding a bit of Polish folk flavoring. On the other side, "Jasmine Lady" is a tiptoed walk through imagery of delicacy. The resonant Fender Rhodes work of Kirkland is ripe for the times, perfectly complementing the bandmembers by matching their dynamics beautifully with every step, never looking back, and always forging ahead. Approaching age 35 at the time of this recording, Urbaniak was no spring chicken, and had firmly established his vision and voicings. So it should come to no one's surprise how focused and concentrated this music is, not to mention that after several decades, it does not sound dated. Kudos to the Inner City label for issuing this fine effort -- highly recommended without reservation -- on CD so that listeners may relish in its exuberant qualities. Michael G. Nastos 
Tracklist:
1. Tie Breaker 7:03
2. Strife 6:13
3. Mountaineers 4:00
4. Weird Creatures 7:03
5. Jasmine Lady 8:22
6. Always Ready 7:08
7. Stray Sheep 5:08
Credits:
Alto Saxophone, Flute – Zbigniew Namysłowski
Bass – Tony Bunn
Drums – Lurenda Featherstone
Piano, Synthesizer – Kenny Kirkland
Violin, Lyricon, Producer – Michal Urbaniak
Voice, Percussion – Urszula Dudziak

BUN-CHING LAM — ... Like Water (1997) Tzadik Composer Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Like Water is a fitting title for a composition that is, overall, very soft and quiet without being inorganically sparse. Bun-Ching Lam kept three Chinese sayings in mind while composing: "Years flow by like water," "Relations between gentlemen are plain like water," and "Love tender like water." Through the exquisite musicianship of the Abel-Steinberg-Winant Trio, Lam slowly unwraps her water emotive vignettes. An overall balance is realized as percussive melodic bursts and dramatic runs provide intermittent release after sections of patience and musical tension, and refocus attention after the more delicate stretches. With this release, Tzadik presents a strong, understated modern composition of mature beauty. Joslyn Layne
Tracklist :
1-7.    I    
8-14.    II    
15.    Vibraphone Solo    2:49
16.    Epilogue    1:06
Credits : 
Composed By, Producer – Bun-Ching Lam
Ensemble – Abel-Steinberg-Winant Trio
Percussion, Producer [Line Producer] – William Winant
Piano –Piano – Julie Steinberg
Viola, Violin – David Abel
Design – Kimsu Theiler

LARRY OCHS — The Fictive Five (2015) Tzadik Spectrum Series – 12 | FLAC (tracks), lossless

 Founding member of the Rova Sax Quartet, Larry Ochs has worked with many of the greatest musicians in Creative Music—Steve Lacy, Fred Frith...