SORIBA KOUYATÉ — Bamana (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Soriba Kouyaté was a Senegalese kora player who repeatedly combined traditional sounds with modern influences. He performed with world-famous artists and brought the music of his homeland to the international jazz and world music scene. His virtuoso improvisation and innovative style made him one of the leading kora players of his time. He died in 2020, leaving behind a musical legacy that is still appreciated by many musicians today. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Wassolo    6:22
2    Mobéni -Bara    5:09
3    Mali - Sadio    5:22
4    Kélémagny    5:46
5    Bamana    6:14
6    Sorispain    6:06
7    Diya    5:35
8    All Blues 3:54
Composed By – Miles Davis
9    Kaira    4:52
10    Diarabi    5:21
11    Yéré - Yira    5:17
12    Summertime 4:31
Composed By – George Gershwin
Credits :
Bass – Linley Marthe
Drums, Percussion – Joël Allouche
Flute – Didier Malherbe (tracks: 7, 11)
Kora – Soriba Kouyaté
Piano – François Quillet (tracks: 4, 10)
Saxophone – Didier Malherbe (tracks: 4)
Synthesizer, Electric Guitar, Vocals, Producer, Arranged By – Philippe Gaillot

KARIM ZIAD — Ifrikya (2001) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The Algerian-born drummer, percussionist, composer and gumbri player combines the North African music of his homeland with jazz and world music. After moving to France, he worked with many renowned musicians such as Joe Zawinul, Nguyên Lê and the Orchestre National de Jazz. Ziad is known for his ability to incorporate traditional rhythms from the Maghreb region, such as Gnawa and Rai, into modern jazz compositions. As musical director of the Orchestre National de Barbès, he shaped the Algerian music scene and contributed to the international recognition of North African music. Karim Ziad is an innovative artist who builds cultural bridges between traditional and modern music. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Aît Oumrar 5:15
 – Traditional
Arranged By – Karim Ziad, Abdelkbir Merchane
2    Ya Rijal 4:47
Written-By – Karim Ziad, Nguyên Lê
3    Awra 6:08
– Traditional
Arranged By – Hamid Mestari, Karim Ziad
4    Lebnia 5:52
 – Traditional
Arranged By – Karim Ziad
5    Alouhid 5:52
Written-By – Karim Ziad, Nguyên Lê, Takfarinas
6    Sandiya 4:40
 – Traditional
Arranged By – Karim Ziad, Abdelkbir Merchane
7    Amaliya 3:38
 – Traditional
Arranged By – Karim Ziad
8    Gwarir 4:51
Written-By – Karim Ziad
9    The Joker 5:32
Written-By – Bojan Zulfukarpasic
10    Nesrafet 4:41
Written-By – Karim Ziad
Credits :
Backing Vocals – Gaëlle Hervé, Marielle Hervé
Banjo, Backing Vocals – Abdenour Djemaï
Bass Guitar – Linley Marthe (tracks: 1, 5, 7 to 10), Michel Alibo (tracks: 2, 3, 4)
Design – Peter Krüll
Flute – David Aubel
Flute [Pehl Flute] – Ali Wague
Guitar – Nguyên Lê (tracks: 2, 5)
Lead Vocals – Hamid Mestari (tracks: 3), Karim Ziad (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 7), Abdelkbir Merchane (tracks: 1, 6, 8)
Percussion, Backing Vocals – Khliff Miziallaoua
Piano – Bojan Zulfikarpašić
Producer, Drums, Percussion, Guitar, Backing Vocals – Karim Ziad
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Alain Debiossat
Synthesizer – Jean-Philippe Rykiel (tracks: 3, 5)
Tenor Saxophone – Vincent Mascart

VIJAY IYER TRIO — Historicity (2009) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Vijay Iyer has captured the ears of critics and listeners like only a handful of the most elite jazz pianists since McCoy Tyner, Cecil Taylor, or Misha Mengelberg initially burst onto the scene. There's no other single player who sounds even remotely like him, few who can match his inventive and whimsical sense of play or seriousness, and absolutely nobody who presents the stunning, highly intelligent music he dishes out. With Historicity, he touches on many different levels of acumen, influenced by contemporary alternative rock, Motown, show tunes, pop fusion, the early creative music of the '70s, and ethnic strains. Iyer also revisits two of his older compositions, with the majority of this progressive jazz -- whether "covers" or originals -- done completely in his own scintillating style. Iyer's working/touring band of drummer Marcus Gilmore and bassist Stephan Crump is more than up to the task, with this well-rehearsed music retaining a spontaneous, liquid, chameleonic urgency that consistently staggers the imagination. Iyer's mind-blowing virtuosity on the title track/opener is loaded with mutated repeat phrases that tumble from his brilliant, busy hands. Clearly, he is not like all the others. His love for Andrew Hill is demonstrated during "Smoke Stack," a scattershot, inventive, tangential swinger, while Julius Hemphill's deeply bluesy and tribal "Dogon A.D." is perfectly interpreted in its thorny, craggy, unpredictable rhythmic base, as Crump's bowed bass and Gilmore's juggernaut funk stagger the mixed meters, very faithful to the original.

M.I.A. fans are treated to "Galang" in a hardbound big beat with summarily contrasting bright or dark piano lines, while Stevie Wonder's "Big Brother" sports a tom-tom-fed New Orleans syncopation contrasting Iyer's strident piano. The suggestive, introspective original "Helix" is different for the pianist in a diffuse setting, and he conversely incorporates a circle-the-wagons approach on the romantic Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim evergreen "Somewhere," juxtaposed against a bluesy swing, again atypical. Perhaps the most unusual choice is R&B fusioneer Ronnie Foster's "Mystic Brew," a straight funky version, not at all smooth, but way cool. The recapitulated tracks include "Trident: 2010" in a roiling, nearly boiled motion, while "Segment for Sentiment #2" is magnificently spiritual, again a twist for Iyer's more animated notions. Crump's bass playing and especially his soloing should be something to marvel at for anyone who appreciates finely crafted, artistic jazz musicianship, while Gilmore is amazing in his ability to keep up and push the more complex sounds. Vijay Iyer has mad skills, overwhelmingly and powerfully demonstrated on all of his recordings, but especially this one. He's also maturing at a rapid rate, while at the height of his powers on this incredible effort that sounds like much more than a mere piano-bass-drums mainstream jazz trio. This is an incredible CD, and a strong candidate for best jazz CD of 2009. Michael G. Nastos

... a spectacular redefinition of the classic piano trio. "Tense and consistently surprising." (ZEIT) ACT
Tracklist :
1    Historicity 7:48
Written-By – Vijay Iyer
2    Somewhere 6:57
Written-By – Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim
3    Galang [Trio Riot Version] 2:39
Written-By – Justine Frischmann, Maya Arulpragasam, Ross Orton, Steve Mackey
4    Helix 4:00
Written-By – Vijay Iyer
5    Smoke Stack 8:07
Written-By – Andrew Hill
6    Big Brother 4:48
Written-By – Stevie Wonder
7    Dogon A.D. 9:18
Written-By – Julius Hemphill
8    Mystic Brew [Trixation Version] 4:55
Written-By – Ronnie Foster
9    Trident: 2010 9:05
Written-By – Vijay Iyer
10    Segment For Sentiment #2 4:03
Written-By – Vijay Iyer
Credits :
Artwork [Coverart: Model for Memory, 2008] – Anish Kapoor
Bass – Stephan Crump
Drums – Marcus Gilmore
Piano, Arranged by – Vijay Iyer

RUDRESH MAHANTHAPPA — Samdhi (2011) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

In his liner notes to Samdhi, saxophonist and composer Rudresh Mahanthappa states flat-out that his earliest jazz influences were Grover Washington Jr., David Sanborn, the Brecker Brothers, and the Yellowjackets. What those acts had in common was their direct expression of emotion in melodic forms; their use of electric instruments; and their use of soul, R&B, and funk. Mahanthappa's exploration of jazz eventually expanded to the tradition, from bop to modal to free and post-bop along the way. That said, he's also pointed the way in his journey by adding elements of the Carnatic tradition of South Indian classical music into his playing and compositions. "Samdhi" is a Sanskrit word that translates as "twilight," but its meaning extends to a spiritual context, to the phase that exists between when one age is destroyed and another is born. On this album, Mahanthappa -- who in recent years has also become fascinated with the electronic sounds of dance music as well as hip-hop -- has seamlessly woven together all of his musical interests. This is an electro-acoustic band, whose members include former M-Base guitarist David Gilmore, electric bassist Rich Brown, drummer Damion Reid, and Indian percussionist "Anand" Anantha Krishnan. Mahanthappa plays alto and works loops, sonic processing, and samples via a laptop as well. Samdhi is full of beautifully written tunes, dicey, sophisticated improvisation, and abundant grooves. What's immediately apparent upon listening is how tight and communicative this meld of new jazz, Indian music, and electronic fare really is. While tunes like "Playing with Stones" and "Breakfastlunchanddinnner" get deep into the soulful expression and funkiness of '70s and early-'80s jazz (the latter with a knockout solo by Gilmore), these tunes also have moments when Indian music and its modal spaciousness play a role, too. In "Killer," the swerving, tight-turn head is pure Indian polychromatic invention. And halfway in, Mahanthappa processes his own saxophone solo and doubles it tonally. "Still-Gas" even more effectively marries Indian music to jazz improvisation, even as Gilmore and Brown vamp on forward-looking funk. The ballad "For All the Ladies," with its subdued but rumbling percussion by Krishnan and Reid, is dynamic, melodically rich, and emotionally abundant. Mahanthappa's electric band is completely thrilling throughout Samdhi, playing more as an ensemble than as a soloist's backing group. Ironically, it is their precision that makes this blur of styles a many-colored and textured thing that feels whole and specific as jazz. Fusion? Indeed. But despite the ugly tinge that word has in relation to jazz, it is redefined here because fusion has never sounded like this before.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-

A new dimension in the fusion of electro-acoustic jazz and Indian music from the alto saxophonist of the year 2011 (Downbeat Crtitics Poll). ACT
Tracklist :
1    Parakram #1    2:26
Composed By - Rudresh Mahanthappa
2    Killer    6:16
Composed By - Rudresh Mahanthappa
3    Richard’S Game    2:07
Composed By - Rich Brown
4    Playing With Stones    8:01
Composed By - Rudresh Mahanthappa
5    Rune    3:10
Composed By - David Gilmore
6    Breakfastlunchanddinnner    7:29
Composed By - Rudresh Mahanthappa
7    Parakram #2    5:18
Composed By - Rudresh Mahanthappa
8    Ahhh    8:21
Composed By - Rudresh Mahanthappa
9    Meeting Of The Skins    3:33
Composed By – Anantha Krishnan / Damion Reid
10    Still-Gas    9:00
Composed By - Rudresh Mahanthappa
11    For My Lady    1:56
Composed By - Rudresh Mahanthappa
12    For All The Ladies    7:36
Composed By - Rudresh Mahanthappa
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Liner Notes, Producer – Rudresh Mahanthappa
Cover – Tony Cragg
Drums – Damion Reid
Electric Bass – Rich Brown
Electric Guitar – David Gilmore
Kanjira, Mridangam – "Anand" Anantha Krishnan

NGUYÊN LÊ — Tales from Viêt-nam (1996) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Blending Western fusion jazz with Eastern structures and dissonance, Nguyen Le constructs a compelling pastiche. Perhaps most interesting is Huong Thanh's vocal in Vietnamese. Tim Sheridan

"A captivating symbiosis of ethno-sounds and refreshing jazz dynamics" - (MAX) ACT
Tracklist :
1    The Wind Blew It Away (Qua Câu Gio Bay) 7:30
– Traditional
Arranged By – Nguyên Lê
Arranged By [Assistant] – Dominique Borker
2    The Black Horse (Ly Ngua O) 4:10
– Traditional
Arranged By – Nguyên Lê
3    Don't You Go Away My Friend (Nguoi Oi Nguoi O Dung Vê) 7:26
– Traditional
Arranged By – Nguyên Lê
Arranged By [Assistant] – Dominique Borker
4    Trông Com (The Rice Drum) 4:04
– Traditional
Arranged By – Nguyên Lê
Arranged By [Assistant] – Dominique Borker
5    Hen Ho (Promise Of A Date) 5:24
– Traditional
Arranged By – Nguyên Lê
6    The Banyan Tree Song (1. Ly Cai Da/2. The Pillow (Cai Gôi)/3. The Hill (Trèo Lên Quan Dôc) 8:19
– Traditional
Arranged By – Nguyên Lê
7    Spring Of Life (Hoai Xuân) 3:21
Arranged By – Nguyên Lê
Written-By – Tô Man Châu
8    Ting Ning 3:42
– Traditional
Arranged By – Nguyên Lê
9    Mangustao Pt. 1 4:36
Written-By, Arranged By – Nguyên Lê
Written-By, Arranged By [Assistant] – Dominique Borker
10    Mangustao Pt. 2 5:54
Written-By, Arranged By – Nguyên Lê
Written-By, Arranged By [Assistant] – Dominique Borker
Credits :
Acoustic Bass [Accoustic] – Michel Benita
Drums – Joël Allouche (tracks: 1, 2, 6, 9)
Drums, Percussion – Steve Argüelles (tracks: 2, 3, 4, 10), Trilok Gurtu (tracks: 5, 8)
Lute [Moon Lute] – Thai An (tracks: 3)
Percussion, Marimba, Piano, Keyboards – François Verly
Performer [Sapek Clappers, Dan Bau], Zither [Dan Tranh], Flute [Sao Flute] – Hao Nhien
Producer, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Tracking By [Overdubs], Programmed By – Nguyên Lê
Saxophone, Flute [African], Alto Flute, Bass Flute, Concertina – Simon S. Hansen
Tracking By [Overdubs] – Pierre Bengon-Lours, Stéphane Luginbuhl, Valérie Abrial
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Paolo Fresu
Vocals – Huong Thanh