London Jazz Festival 2008

London Jazz Festival 2008, in association with BBC Radio 3, took city of London between November 14 - 23.

London Jazz Festival 2008.org.uk

London Jazz Festival 2008 on BBC Radio3

It was featured by big name artists from Herbie Hancock, Chris Potter, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Chucho Valdes, Bill Frisell, Courtney Pine, to new and experimental artists such as Bugge Wesseltoft, Robert Glasper, and Peter Brotzmann. In addition, there are straight Jazz with new approach from Matthew Herbert Big Band, Roy Hargrove, and The Fice Corners Quintet.

Gianluca Petrella Cosmic Band

Nicola Conte's collaborator Gianluca Petrella and his Cosmic Band


I would like to write more about Schema Records and associating artists.

Nicola Conte "Rituals", Schema 2008

Nicola Conte is one of the main figures in Nu-Jazz scene since 90s. Even before Nu-Jazz term began to appear in the media, Italian producer / composer / DJ Nicola Conte was taking his bossa-nova style Jazz in to the floor.

This is his latest album "Rituals", from Schema in 2008. 4 years since his release "Other Directions" on Blue Note Records, this is his signature bossa-nova, latin-Jazz influenced sounds, but with more refined manner. Each track is a song, with vocals, rather than grooves or "dance track". With guests artists like Greg Osby, Teppo Makynen of The Five Corners Quintet, Jose James, and regulars like Pietro Lussu, Gianluca Petrella, and Fabrizio Bosso, he assembles and leads the collectives of musicians, without the use of laptop, drum machine, or turntables. It is nice to see the artists still playing live music. There is a great cover of Duke Ellington's "Caravan". There is also a EP from Schema which has 2 tracks from the album in different versions.

Nicola Conte Official Site
Nicola Conte on Myspace

Schema Records Official Site
Schema Records on Myspace
Schema Records on YouTube

Like Leaves In The Wind


Track Listing:
1. Karma Flower (4:03)
2. The Nubian Queens (6:20)
3. Like Leaves In The Wind (4:51)
4. Love In (4:52)
5. Awakening feat. Jose James (5:51)
6. Paper Clouds (4:08)
7. I See All Shades Of You (5:51)
8. Macedonia (7:06)
9. Song For The Seasons (3:33)
10. Red Sun (4:43)
11. Black Is The Graceful Veil (5:00)
12. Caravan (5:38)
13. Rituals (7:35)

Personnel:
Michael Pinto - Vibes, Percussions
Pierpaolo Bisogno - Vibes, Percussions
Dario Deidda - Bass
Pietro Ciancaglini - Bass
Lorenzo Tucci - Drums
Teppo Makynen - Drums
Daniele Scannapieco - Flute, Tenor Sax
Sandro Deidda - Flute, Tenor Sax
Diane Peters - Harp
Lyrics By [Words] - José James* (tracks: 5) , Nicola Conte (tracks: 1 to 4, 6, 7, 9 to 11)
Music By - Dusko Gojkovich* (tracks: 8) , Nicola Conte (tracks: 1 to 7, 9 to 11, 13) , Sandro Deidda (tracks: 9)
Pietro Lussu - Piano
Edizioni Ishtar - Producer
Nicola Conte - Producer, Guitar
Gaetano Partipilo - Alto Sax
Greg Osby - Alto Sax
Gianluca Petrella - Trombone
Mario Corvini - Trombone
Fabrizio Bosso - Trumpet
Giovanni Amato - Trumpet
Till Bronner - Trumpet
Alice Ricciardi - Vocals (tracks: 7, 9)
Chiara Civello - Vocals (tracks: 1, 6)
José James - Vocals (tracks: 2, 3, 5)
Kim Sanders - Vocals (tracks: 1, 4, 10, 11)
Philipp Weiss - Vocals (tracks: 4, 12)

Cosmic Village "Cosmic Village", For Life Records 2000

Cosmic Village was the project by Hajime Yoshizawa, Shuya Okino (Kyoto Jazz Massive), Masato Nakamura (Sleep Walker), and Yasushi Kurobane to create future-Jazz mixing with various styles of music including fusion, drum n bass, breakbeats, rock and later to be called "broken beats".

This is their 3rd and the first original album "Cosmic Village", released by For Life in 2000.Mixing with Kurobane's rock guitar sound with Jazz taste of Yoshizawa and Nakamura, Cosmic Village created hybrid sounds that had become genre-less and timeless. It is difficult to describe the album with one category, and it is reasonable to believe that many producers and artists have taken the same footstep to produce similar crossover sounds with collaborative efforts as seen in this project.

They are now gone to solo or group, but Cosmic Village is still alive, and continues evolving.

Track list:
1. Translucent (0:43)
2. The Mirage (4:21)
3. You Can See The Light (5:27)
4. Gravity (4:23)
5. Violets (3:25)
6. Full Load (4:48)
7. Starseed (5:44)
8. Mid-Day-Moon (5:21)
9. Perfect Emotion (4:49)
10. Astral Circulation (6:21)
11. Spiral I (6:05)
12. Biophonics (6:09)
13. Earthrise (3:56)

Download

Hajime Yoshizawa "Japan", Village Again 2008

Hajime Yoshizawa is the Jazz pianist / keyboardist from Japan. He has been the forerunner in Japanese club Jazz scene, and the one of the most sought keyboardist in nu-Jazz scene by contributing his electric touch with many groups and producers, including Kyoto Jazz Massive, and Jazzanova. He is also a member of Jazz quartet Sleep Walker, more straight forward hard bop group.

Hajime Yoshizawa on Myspace
Hajime Yoshizawa (sorry, Japanese only)
Hajime Yoshizawa blog (sorry, Japanese only)

This is Yoshizawa's solo album "Japan", his first solo material since 2005 from "Music From The Edge Of The Universe". The album is live Jazz, and features guests like Japanese legend Kosuke Mine (sorry, the site is in Japanese) and Navasha Daya of Fertile Ground on vocal. This is his expression to the roots of Jazz, with mix of spiritual modal Jazz, Afro-latin rhythm and vocals. There is an EP release for US and Europe. Cannot wait for the full album release. The essential Japan Jazz album.
Track List:
1. Open Door
2. Time feat Navasha Daya
3. Yoake-Dawn
4. Home feat Shanti
5. Aska
6. Eastern Step
7. Celebration feat Navasha Daya
8. Satellite Dancer
9. Rain
0. May
11. The Seeds Of Spring feat Akiko
12. Bristlecone Pine feat Navasha Daya
13. The Color Of Peace

Sleep Walker playing at Batofar in Paris, 2008

There is his new album coming out this December. The report coming very very soon!

Greased Lightbox - Update available (v0.18)

→←+-↻

Loading image

Click anywhere to cancel

Image unavailable

Nicola Conte "Sketches of Samba", Schema 2008

The last of Nicola Conte triplet is "Sketches of Samba" from Schema in 2008. This is nice 10 inch vinyl EP with small group playing bossa-style Jazz. The 1st track "Groovy Samba" is cover from Cannonball Adderley's 1962 release "Bossa Nova" (on Riverside) featuring Sergio Mendez. The 2nd track "Solo" is a tribute to Brazilian multi-instrumentalist J.T. Meirelles of Meirelles E S Os Copa 5, in which the tune appeared on 1965 album "O Novo Som" (featuring Eumir Deodato on piano). Five Corner's Quintet's Timo Lassy and Teppo Makynen join as guests on track 2. The other 2 tracks are different version from Conte's album "Rituals". I am quite impressed with young trumpeter Fabrizio Bosso with fierce and energetic sound.

Nicola Conte and his group playing at Casa del Jazz on April 17, 2008


Download

Personnel:
Fabrizio Bosso - Trumpet
Daniele Scannapieco - Tenor Sax
Pietro Lussu - Piano
Nicola Conte - Guitar, Producer, Composer
Pietro Ciancaglini - Double Bass
Lorenzo Tucci - Drums

Timo Lassy - Flute (Track 2) from The Five Corners Quintet
Sandro Deidda - Tenor Sax (Track 2)
Teppo Makynen - Drums (Track 2)
The Five Corners Quintet
The Five Corners Quintet on Myspace
Timo Lassy
Timo Lassy on Myspace

Jose' James - Vocals (Track 3)
Sandro Deidda Flute, Tenor Sax (Track 3)
Giovanni Amato - Trumpet (Track 3)
Mario Corvini - Trombone (Track 3)
Pierpalo Bisogno - Vibes, Bongos (Track 3)
Sandro Deidda - Arrangement (Track 3)
Jose James
Jose James on Myspace

Gaetano Partipilo - Flute (Track 4)
Kim Sanders - Vocals (Track 4)
Pierpaolo Bisogno - Vibraphone, Congas (Track 4)
Kim Sanders
Kim Sanders on Myspace

Tracklist:
1. Groovy Samba
2. Solo
3. The Nubien Queen feat. Jose James (Samba Version)
4. Paper Clouds feat. Kim Sanders (Uptempo Version)

More about J.T. Meirelles, nice blog post from Jazz Station

Nicola Conte presents "Viagem", Far Out Recordings 2008

This year's another release from Nicola Conte is the compilation "Nicola Conte Presents Viagem" from Far Out Recordings, 2008. When you hear the first track, and if you are nu-jazz heads, you will go like "ahhhh".

"Nicola Conte Presents Viagem" on Far Out Recording
Fae Our Recording on Myspace

Download

Tracklist:
1. Tenório Jr. - Nebuloso
2. Trio Maraya - Canto De Ossanha
3. Hector Costita Sexteto - Tokio
4. Wanda Sá - Vivo Sonhando
5. Ana Lúcia - Balanço Do Mar
6. Zimbo Trio - Zimbo Samba
7. Djalma Dias & Sambossa 5 - Cidade Vazia
8. Octeto De Cesar Camargo Mariano - Samblues
9. Yvette - Preconceito
10. Bossa Jazz Trio - Vamos Embora Uau
11. Sansa Trio - Samba Em Blue
12. Edgard & Os Tais - Bambe-Lo
13. Claudia & Brazilian Octopus - Gosto De Ser Como Sou
14. Som 3 - Margarida B
15. Tenório Jr. - Samadhi

Ornette Coleman "Crisis", Impulse! 1969

10 years early, by releasing "The Shape Of Jazz To Come", Ornette Coleman made his mark in Jazz community. He continued to record consistent music with great talents. This is Ornette Coleman "Crisis", released by Impluse! in 1969. This was his 2nd album released from Impluse!, after releasing moderate records for Blue Note in mid 60s. This is surprising, but there is no CD reissue for this album. Someone must have forgotten about the album. This is so easy to classify as his all-star line-up, with Haden on bass and Cherry on trumpet. There are a few bits and pieces that people talk about his then 12-years old son playing drums. You could always compare with Billy Higgins or Ed Blackwell as his main drummers, or others such as Elvin Jones or Sunny Murray.But on this album, because it is such a good recording, the band plays in such fiery, intense and provocative music. He is still active in NYC as of today, still trying to express "the sound".

Burning Bill of Rights on the cover? Man! This cannot be happening.

This was recorded live at concert in New York University, NYC, March 22, 1969.

Personnel:
Charlie Haden - Bass
Dewey Redman - Clarinet, Tenor Sax
Ornette Denardo Coleman - Drums
Don Cherry - Flute, Trumpet
Ornette Coleman - Alto Sax, Violin

Side A:
Broken Shadows
Comme It Faut

Side B:
Song For Che
Space Jungle
Trouble In The East

Novi Singers "Rien Ne Va Plus", Muza 1973

Groovy and funky vocal album from NOVI Singers. This is Novi Singers "Rien Ne Va Plus", released by Muza in 1973. Novi Singers was Polish Jazz vocal group formed in 1964, with Bernard Kawka, Waldemar Parzyński, Janusz Mych, Ewa Wanat, but released only a few albums. NOVI stands for New Original Vocal Instruments. Their original recordings are hard to find, but there is a great compilation by Jazzanova and Daniel West.

Novi Singers: Vocal Jazz From Poland 1965-1975 on JCR

I really like side B. Big band style arrangement with electric rhythm section. Change of pace, styles, harmony. Somehow, the last track is the "Introduction". Should it be the first track?

Personnel:
Vocals and Arrangement - Bernard Kawka, Janusz Mych, Tomasz Ochalski, Waldemar Parzyński

Wojciech Bruślik - Bass
Paweł Jarzębski - Bass
Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski - Conductor
Janusz Stefański - Drums
Marek Blizinski - Guitar
Wlodzimierz Nahorny - Piano
Zbigniew Namyslowski - Alto Sax
Janusz Muniak - Alto Sax, Tenor Sax
Waldemar Krupiński - Baritone Sax
Tomasz Szukalski - Tenor Sax
Stanisław Cieślak - Trombone
Stanisław Mizeracki - Trumpet
Tomasz Stanko - Trumpet
Zbigniew Seifert - Violin

Side A:
1. Oh Woman
2. The Look Of Love
3. My Own Revolution
4. The Fool On The Hill
5. Second Sight

Side B:
1. Blue Moon
2. Like A Dream In The Sky
3. Rien Ne Va Plus
4. Canto Triste
5. Introduction

Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland "Volcano", Polydor 1968

If I have a chance to choose which big band I could see in my lifetime, The Clarke-Boland Big Band would be my ultimate choice. This is The Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band "Volcano", released in 1969 by Polydor. Also known as "Live at Ronnie's 1" because this was recorded live At Ronnie Scott's Club, London on February 28th 1969.

To my opinion, they are the greatest Jazz big band in the history and of all I have heard. Hard bop slammer, with sharp-edged horn sections and lively modal and moving sound. They had been together for 12 years throughout 60s, mainly working and recording in Europe for labels such as MPS. Even though some members changed, they kept their sounds tight and explosive, with arrrangement by Boland made the sound swing, sophisticated, and modern. Not to forget, there were many notable sidemen like Benny Bailey, Idrees Sulieman, Dusko Gojkovic, Billy Mitchell, and Sahib Shihab.

There is a French documentary called "Faces" that introduces CBBB.


Personnel:
Ron Mathewson - Bass
Kenny Clare - Drums
Kenny Clarke - Leader, Drums
Francy Boland - Leader, Piano, Arranger
Chris Whent - Producer
Gigi Campi - Producer
Derek Humble - Alto Sax
Sahib Shihab - Soprano Sax, Baritone Sax
Johnny Griffin - Tenor Sax
Ronnie Scott - Tenor Sax
Tony Coe - Tenor Sax, Clarinet
Ake Persson, Erik Van Lier, Nat Peck - Trombone
Benny Bailey, Dusko Goykovich, Idrees Sulieman, Tony Fisher - Trumpet

Side A:
1. Box
2. Griff's Groove

Side B:
1. Volcano
2. Love Which TO No Loved One Permits Excuse For Loving
3. Now Hear My Mearnin'
4. And Thence We Issued Out Again To See The Stars

The Clarke-Boland Big Band Discography