Katarsis4 - Live At The Underground Water Reservoir (NoBusiness Records, 2021)

This interesting and unusual album was recorded live in September of 2019 in an underground water reservoir in Vilnius, Lithuania. The band consists of Arminas Bizys on alto and baritone saxophone, Algirdas Janonis on alto saxophone and hornpipe, Danielius Pancerovas on baritone and alto saxophones and Kazimieras Jušinskas on soprano, alto saxophones. The group presents two lengthy improvisations that meld together into a single performance that flows though their horns and the reverberation of the reservoir, beginning with a frosty and cold sensation which sees the instruments gradually building in from silence as if they were quietly emerging from the water of the reservoir itself. The music develops slowly, creeping up on you, juxtaposed with grinding industrial sounds, and surprising snaps of loud noises, sounding almost like gunshots. Sounding at times like a soundtrack for a dystopian film, the musicians are building an ominous and atmospheric musical edifice through great patience. Part Two of the performance takes things even further, stretching time and space as the sounds of their instruments are transformed by the reflection and refraction of their playing within the special atmosphere of the reservoir. Playing together, they scale heights of volume and intensity and then drop back down, using the dynamic rise of creating surprisingly raw and emotional sounds in the open space, followed by fall of the music into near silence push their sound forward, This was a courageous and well played album, with the group aware of the surroundings, which expand their possibilities and using extended and advanced techniques on their instruments to create a unique sound world all their own. Live At The Underground Water Reservoir - NoBusness Records

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Archie Shepp - Blase And Yasmina Revisited (ezz-thetics, 2021)

1969 marked a fascinating year in music as some of the most talented African-American avant-garde jazz musicians took leave of the racism and political divisiveness of their home country to move to Paris, where performing and recording opportunities were more plentiful, and they were treated in a more respectful manner. Saxophonist Archie Shepp was one of these expatriates, taking a break from his Impulse Records contract to record several albums for European labels, two of which are represented on this compilation. His 1969 BYG/Actuel album Blase is presented in full and it is a fascinating project. Vocalist Jeanne Lee is particularly brilliant, showing incredible range, moving from smoldering soul of the title track to the gospel of “There is a Balm in Gildead” and the gentle swing of Duke Ellington’s “Sophisticated Lady.” Shepp is generous in his arrangements, including the harmonica player known only as Chicago Beau and offering him quite a bit of space on “My Angel” and “Blase.” Beau adds a rootsy sounds and deepens the overall texture of the music, as other players flit in and out of individual tracks, Dave Burrell adding touches of piano, and Lester Bowie adding trumpet and flugelhorn. The final track on Blase is the scalding "Touareg" where Shepp meets Malachai Favors from the Art Ensemble of Chicago on bass and veteran drummer Philly Joe Jones on drums. The music is fast and powerful, as Shepp doubles down on his tenor saxophone playing pushing the tempo forward. Philly Joe may have been rooted in swing and bop, but he was game for anything, and he locks in with the two younger men for an excellent performance. The final track on this compilation is a very exciting twenty minute blowout entitled "Yasmina" where Shepp leads an excellent nine piece band on tenor saxophone and urgent voice, really pushing the envelope. Recruiting members of the Art Ensemble of Chicago like Roscoe Mitchell on powerful and stoic bass saxophone, Lester Bowie on trumpet, along side the masterful Sunny Murray on drums making for a potent and viscerally exciting modern jazz performance. This was a well done compilation, presenting some of Archie Shepp's best work for BYG/Actuel, remastered in such a way that it brings out the nuances of the music and the personalities of the players that performed it, the CD also includes a well written essay from Bill Shoemaker that puts the music into historical context. Blase And Yasmina Revisited - Squidco

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Steve Swell - The Center Will Hold (Not Two Records, 2021)

This is a very exciting and well articulated modern jazz band, with an interesting range of instruments that allows for a rich and varied palette of sound. The group is made up of the leader and composer of the tracks, Steve Swell on trombone, Jason Kao Hwang on violin, viola and electronics, Ariel Bart on harmonica, Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello and electronics, Robert Boston on piano and organ and featured musician, Andrew Cyrille on drums and percussion. With a couple of the members doubling on electronics, the music has a wide ranging and continuously developing atmosphere, where the proceedings certainly are anchored in jazz and free jazz but willing to go anywhere their electro-acoustic improvisations took them. The entire group as a whole is excellent, but I was particularly impressed with the harmonica player, Ariel Bart. I am used to hard hitting Chicago blues harp playing, and often find jazz harmonica playing limpid and uninspired. Bart on the other hand is surprising throughout the recording, whether in support or soloing, with strong technique and deep imagination. But really, the whole recording works like a charm from Swell’s blustery trombone leads to Lonberg-Holm’s always unpredictable cello and jolts of electronic work. Holding it all together is the legendary drummer Andrew Cyrille, playing in his unique loose and multi rhythmic style that supports and encourages the music from beginning to end. The Center Will Hold - amazon.com

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Ethan Iverson - Bud Powell In The 21st Century (Sunnyside Records, 2021)

Pianist and composer Bud Powell was a leading member of bebop revolution which shook jazz from in mid 1940's and beyond. Ethan Iverson developed an appreciation of his material through CD re-issues on Blue Note and Verve, and has written extensively about Powell on his website Do the Math. For his first attempt at arranging for big band, Iverson received a commission from the 2019 Umbria Jazz Festival to present his Powell Tribute Project for the core quintet of Ingrid Jensen on trumpet, Dayna Stephens on tenor saxophone, Ben Street on bass and Lewis Nash on drums, aided and abetted by the Umbria Jazz Orchestra. The band and large horn section are well integrated and comfortable with the material as evidenced with "Celia," which swings nicely with a keen set of solos for trumpet, and tenor saxophone and "Tempus Fugit" which is hot with swirling cascades of piano and steaming trumpet combined with boiling bass and drums push it all forward. The theme of "Bouncin’ With Bud" struts proudly into the fray with a fine medium up-tempo arrangement, focused on the wonderful melody. Stephens' tenor saxophone and Jensen's trumpet embellish upon the theme quite nicely. "Wail" is a short and sweet performance, with a fast and tight arrangement, and a deft saxophone solo over strong piano, along side bass and drums accompaniment. After a skillful and quick trumpet solo, Iverson plays well over elastic bass and drums. Between many of the Powell compositions there are interweaved "Five Simple Spells, Parts 1-5," short brass arrangements and interludes that are well written and arranged. The fluidity of the ensemble playing on "Dance of the Infidels" works well to create an accessible mid tempo piece, anchored by graceful piano. The well known classic "Fifty Second Street Theme" is played with great energy and a witty arrangement. There is a generous saxophone solo present, with trumpet taking off soon after as rock solid bass underpins it all. Fast and exciting piano trio section comes to the fore, rippling with a fast light touch. The French horn of Umbria Jazz Orchestra member Giovanni Hoffer is simply extraordinary on "I’ll keep Loving You," playing a beautiful solo that unfolds from an unaccompanied  opening into a larger arrangement, unfolding like a rare and precious flower. This album worked quite well, Powell's music can be tricky, but Iverson's deep knowledge and respect for the compositions ensures that the arrangements are logical and open for solo space. The musicians in the band take advantage of this, playing very well and adding color and depth to the music, as does the high quality orchestra. Bud Powell In The 21st Century - amazon.com

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Cecil Taylor and Tony Oxley - Being Astral and All Registers / Power Of Two (Discus Music, 2020)

The legendary pianist Cecil Taylor’s studio output started to wane as the new millennium dawned. However, his concert schedule remained active, especially in the duo context with the veteran British drummer Tony Oxley. This album was recorded at the the Ulrichsberg Jazz Festival in Austria in 2002, with two lengthy duo improvisations that are very compelling. The first track, the half hour long “Being Astral and All Registers”  is an explosive and enlightening piece of work. Playing with great speed and alacrity, Taylor is all over the keyboard, building waves of complex sound. His music may be fast and free, but it remains logical, and regardless how complex the music becomes, Oxley is with him every step of the way. He meets Taylor’s idiosyncratic and original way of playing with his own, completing the pianist’s strong percussive technique with an open minded sensibility which makes them ideal partners. The second and final track, “Power of Two” takes the music in a different direction with the musicians using shifts in tone and dynamics to guide the sound into unexpected places. Taylor had long been a patron and participant in other art forms such as poetry and dance, and the progress of the music on this track bares the influence of this, as the music opens up with a sense of breath and flows gracefully to it's conclusion. This was a very enjoyable concert that was played with grace and vigor. Sound quality is excellent and you can hear in detail the intricate level of cooperation between Taylor and Oxley. Being Astral & All Registers: Power Of Two - amazon.com

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Theo Bleckmann and The Westerlies - This Land (Westerlies Music, 2021)

This is an inspired pairing between the unique vocal stylist Theo Bleckmann and the brass quartet The Westerlies which consists of Riley Mulherkar and Chloe Rowlands on trumpet and Andy Clausen and Willem de Koch on trombone. The tones and wide variety of complex sounds that the group can make instrumentally combined with the lyrical interpretations, breath and tone control of Bleckmann are fascinating to listen to. They present original compositions along with performances of music drawn from all facets of the musical spectrum, whether looking to the past struggles of the poor and organized labor on "Tear the Fascists Down" and "Look for the Union Label" anthems that gain power from the brass and have new import and value as the country struggles with a new political beginning. Spirituals are another key to the recordings success, with Bleckmann's voice soaring through the medley "In the Sweet By and By / The Preacher and the Slave" augmented by the complex brass arrangements of the band creating complex webs of sound that move the music forward, just like "Wade in the Water," another spiritual recording that allows the vocalist and the group to rise to the occasion and create a powerful and accessible recording. "Das Bitten der Kinder (Recitation)" and "Das Bitten der Kinder" move deeper into the area of art song, and this works in Bleckmann's favor, since his is originally from Germany and is able to speak and sing beautifully in this language, creating another aspect for which the music can evolve. This recording to work quite well, both Bleckmann and The Westerlies are no strangers to making courageous music that defies genre and leaves room for personal expression, leading to a successful recording. This Land - Bandcamp

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Mary Halvorson's Code Girl - Artlessly Falling (Firehouse 12 Records, 2020)

This is the second album from guitarist, composer and lyricist Mary Halvorson's Code Girl project, with the band consisting of Amirtha Kidambi on vocals, Maria Grand on tenor saxophone and vocals, Adam O'Farrill and trumpet, Michael Formanek on bass, Tomas Fujiwara on drums and percussion and special guest legendary Robert Wyatt providing vocals for three tracks. The band is very well integrated and has a sound all their own, one that can move from gentle floating rhythms to all out free jazz meets post rock blowouts, their possibilities seem unlimited. "The Lemon Trees" introduces the album, with music that ebbs and flows and the added strength of having Robert Wyatt singing Halvorson's lyrics. She's long acknowledged being a big fan of his and he brings that sense of pathos and longing to the music which suits the lyrics that has been written for this performance. Female vocals stretch out on "Last-Minute Smears" with words and vocal sounds, and nicely articulated pair of saxophone and trumpet solos follow along creating a dream like landscape. Wyatt returns on "Walls And Roses" before making way to strong, wild guitar playing with scouring drums which break out exciting manner. "Muzzling Unwashed" is a lengthy and admirable performance, featuring a nice subtle guitar trio opening, with Kidambi and Grand singing lighter and beautifully nimble fashion. The vocals are then followed by brass breaking through, presenting a stout trumpet solo. Beautiful guitar chords and trumpet are present in "Bigger Flames" leading to Wyatt's final vocal feature, sounding utterly unique as his floating voice making this music move beyond jazz into a further and deeper artistic realm. Quieter female vocals are key to "Mexican War Streets (Pittsburgh") creating vocal sounds that lead into a storming electric guitar, bass and drums improvisation, where the electronics used really push the envelope and result in an epiphany regarding music that can be created in this format. This was a fascinating album, it shows that the Code Girl project is in a state of constant evolution and change and that Mary Halvorson is fearless in both working with her idols like Robert Wyatt, but also creating challenging and boundary pushing music for her peers. Artlessly Falling - amazon.com

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