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[MoreWatts]

From Glide Magazine: "German/NYC saxophonist Tobias Meinhart's band Berlin People...includes one of the premiere guitarists of this generation, Kurt Rosenwinkel. This group...also includes pianist Ludwig Hornung, bassist Tom Berkmann, and drummer Mathias Ruppnig. ...The compositions are solid,...but the album succeeds on inspired soloing. Any time we hear Rosenwinkel is a joy, and he has a special affinity for working well with saxophonists. He and Meinhart thrive in this setting."

This is Meinhart's ~10th album since ~2009, and the 2nd as Berlin People. The video is from the sessions for the 2019 Berlin People album. Please enjoy.

Tobias Meinhart's Berlin People, Dark Horse, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

From LatinJazzNet: "Throughout Menjunje, Roy McGrath brings everything home in a way that is intensely personal, vivid, unique. No one who loves Puerto Rican music, or exquisite tenor saxophone-playing, will want to miss this.

Musicians – Roy McGrath: tenor saxophone; Constantine Alexander: trumpet; Eduardo Zayaz: piano; Kitt Lyles: contrabass; Efraín Martínez: drums; Victor Junito González: conga, punteador and barril; Javier Quintana-Ocasio: barril, requinto, bongó, quinto and campana; José A. Carrasquillo: cuatro."

Puerto Rican born but Chicago based, this is his ~3rd album since 2014. The video is a nice performance for local TV from 2018. Please enjoy.

Roy McGrath, Menjunje, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[melvinjames]

I've been exploring some of Giovanni Guidi's albums in past couple of days. These 3 today:

 

[MoreWatts]

The tenor sax trio. No place to hide, and here’s a quartet of new albums where there’s no need.

The 1st is led by acoustic bassist Martin Wind, with Peter Weniger on tenor and drummer Jonas Burgwinkel, on Wind’s ~14th album since 1993, Gravity. AllAboutJazz: “This is a return to…. 'alte schule'.…The session yields a collection of sensual sounds, performed in a nonchalant manner by these three friends.” Nonchalant equates to effortless interplay.

Martin Wind Trio, Gravity, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

The 2nd is led by drummer Dave Storey, with James Allsopp on tenor and Conor Chaplin on bass. Circeo is the trio’s 3rd release in 4 years. From JazzViews: “A driving trio that incorporates the best in such small groups along with an approach to composition and improvisation that ensures that both are brought to the fore in a fresh and exciting group sound.”

Dave Storey Trio, Circeo, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

A tenor sax trio led by the saxophonist? What a concept. Mike Allen released a live+studio album, with John Lee on bass and Carl Allen on drums. From AllAboutJazz: “Allen breezes through the program with ease, as do Lee and Allen. There are no lapses, technically or melodically….To a Star brightens the cosmos and beams one heavenward.” This is his 17th album since 1995.

Mike Allen Trio, To A Star, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

The 4th is drummer Kendrick Scott's Corridors, which was recommended upthread, but deserves a reminder. With Walter Scott III on tenor (whose new album, Return To Casual, was recommended upthread here) and Reuben Rogers on bass. AllAboutJazz: "Corridors is the most artistically successful pandemic album yet to be released." The YouTube link includes 3 tunes played live in the studio. Please enjoy a saxxy three-way...

Kendrick Scott, Corridors, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[melvinjames]

A lovely album on this fine morning.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

This is the 4th edition of Twofer Tuesday, where sax duo albums are recommended. Previous upthread posts were: 4 albums of altoists Sadao Watanabe + Charlie Marinaro ; 3 albums of John Coltrane tenor collaborations; 3 albums of tenorists Pete Christlieb + Warne Marsh.

Today's twofers are 2 albums called Tenor Legacy, both from the 1990s.

Tenors Joe Lovano and Joshua Redman did Tenor Legacy in 1993 with pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassist Christian McBride, drummer Lewis Nash and percussionist Don Alias. Allmusic: "Lovano has created a set with a great deal of variety and some surprising moments. The two tenors (who have distinctive sounds) work together fine and some chances are taken. This matchup works well."

Joe Lovano, Tenor Legacy, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

Benny Golson did his Tenor Legacy in 1998, swapping duos with tenors Branford Marsalis (1 track), James Carter (3) and Harold Ashby (4). Allmusic: "With pianist Geoff Keezer, bassist Dwayne Burno, and drummer Joe Farnsworth swinging the tunes, Golson sounds quite inspired by the settings. This is one of his strongest all-round sessions of the 1990s." Please have a totally pleasant Twofer Tuesday.

Benny Golson, Tenor Legacy, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[DarrylG]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[notsodeadlizard]

It's a reference recording of grand piano. Very good to listen when it rains outside.

 

[Wicky]

Variables, Alfa Mist. His latest, another stunning release from the East London maestro

 

[Wicky]

Yussef Days, Black Classical Music. South of the river this time. Full album to be released later this year, something to look forward to

 

[Wicky]

View attachment 284711
It's a reference recording of grand piano. Very good to listen when it rains outside.

Apparently, a baby grand. Sorry to pedantically nerd out on this, but for such an iconic performance/recording I remember running across this snippet from wikipedia which I found fascinating:

"At Jarrett's request, Brandes had selected a Bösendorfer 290 Imperial concert grand piano for the performance. However, there was some confusion by the opera house staff and instead they found another Bösendorfer piano backstage – a much smaller baby grand piano – and, assuming it was the one requested, placed it on the stage.

The piano they had was intended for rehearsals only and was in poor condition and required several hours of tuning and adjustment to make it playable.[15][13] The instrument was tinny and thin in the upper registers and weak in the bass register, and the pedals did not work properly.[13]While Brandes made an attempt and procured another grand piano up to Jarrett's standards to be delivered as an emergency, the piano tuner who had meanwhile arrived to fix the baby grand warned her that transporting a grand piano without the proper equipment at low temperatures in the middle of a rainstorm would irreparably damage the instrument, forcing Brandes to stick to the small one."

 

[MoreWatts]

Straight-ahead jazz with nice energy, from Slovenia. The band 'Emil and the Detectives' released their 3rd album, since 2016, Remote Proximity. AllAboutJazz: "Occasionally wandering off the beaten path can be beneficial and that proves to be the case here. This band are well worth getting acquainted with and they offer a pleasing range of mood and texture with an unhurried openness for solos to unfold.

Musicians -- Rastko Zager: bass; Dejan Pecenko: keyboards; Igor Bezget: guitar; Boris Majcen: trumpet; Zdravko Zimic: saxophone; Joze Zadravec: drums."

Slovenia's Ljubljana Jazz Festival has run since 1960, and saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin (whose latest album, Phoenix, was recommended upthread here) headlines this year. Jazz and cycling Grand Tour winners (Tour de France 2x = Tadej Pogacar; Vuelta a Espana 3x & Giro D'Italia = Primoz Roglic). Neat country.

Emil And The Detectives, Remote Proximity, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

'The Banger Factory' is a group of South London players that recently released their 2nd album, Warriors. JazzJournal "Young British players solo effectively over compositions styled after the 1960s music of John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner and other hard boppers." Hmm, seems way better than "effectively."

TwistedSoulMusic: "Headed up by the horn trio of Mark Kavuma on trumpet, Theo Erskine on tenor sax and Ruben Fox on bass clarinet, the remaining ensemble is comprised of pianist Deschanel Gordon, Conor Chaplin on double bass and Luca Caruso on drums. And true to their word, across the album’s six original compositions, the theme of 'warriors' is explored through some genuinely sensational pieces."

The video is from their 2021 album, and YT has several nice performances available. Please enjoy a bit of Bangin'.

The Banger Factory, Warriors, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]