April was a great month for new record releases. However, at the end of the month, we found ourselves at a loss for words to describe and categorize our finds. Words have their purpose, too – they help provide context and, when used thoughtfully, help us understand the music. It’s a struggle, though – writing about music is not easy, and words are a clumsy way to describe and analyze ineffable and elusive music. Unfortunately, a lot of writing about music falls into cliches (and I’m surely guilty of those), with the same tired phrases used over and over. So I’ll try to be brief and let the music do most of the talking.
TNB Pick!
Ben Wendel – All One
(released April 21, 2023)
Ben Wendel – Tenor and Soprano Saxophone, Bassoon, EFX, Hand Percussion
Cécile McLorin Salvant – Vocals
Terence Blanchard – Trumpet
Bill Frisell – Electric and Acoustic Guitar, EFX
Elena Pinderhughes – Flute and Alto Flute
José James – Vocals
Tigran Hamasyan – Piano
Steve and Beth Wood – Hand percussion
In two standout tracks from All One, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Ben Wendel makes old songs (“Tenderly” and “I Loves You Porgy”) sound new. The rest of the performances, where Wendel uses multiple layers of overdubs, are thrilling too. Recorded during the pandemic, Wendell created a concept and framework in isolation and then reached out to collaborators to create a “message of togetherness, friendship and unity.” A message to celebrate! The living room “pandemic album” becomes fascinating and eloquent with All One.
Ken Vandermark and Hamid Drake – Eternal River
(released April 7, 2023)
Ken Vandermark – tenor saxophone
Hamid Drake – drums
Vandermark and Drake are the perfect musicians to channel the untamed wildness of Don Cherry’s music. Vandermark’s sax is all texture and grit; Drake’s drums are dynamic and commanding. The live sound is excellent, too – you feel like you’re in the room during this October 2021 performance.
Gerald Cleaver, Brandon Lopez, Hprizm – In The Wilderness
(released March 17, 2023)
Hprizm – Electronics
Brandon Lopez – Bass
Gerald Cleaver – Drums
For those who missed the sound of drums on Signs and Griots, Cleaver makes In The Wilderness a drum clinic – his technique centers and propels these compositions. In The Wilderness is also a hip-hop soundtrack sans rappers, maybe a gateway drug from hip-hop to jazz or vice versa.
Matt Mitchell – Oblong Aplomb
(released April 14, 2023)
Oblong (tracks 1-12):
Matt Mitchell – piano, compositions
Kate Gentile – drums, percussion
Aplomb (tracks 13-24):
Matt Mitchell – piano, compositions
Ches Smith – drums, gongs, percussion, vibraphone, glockenspiel, tam-tam, timpani
We discussed this album with this month’s profile of drummer Kate Gentile. The piano/drum interplay is fascinating, and the intricate compositions and playing are addictive. Also, don’t sleep on disc two with Ches Smith on percussion – he brings the energy of his ride cymbal and quiet introspection with his glockenspiel.
Alexander Hawkins Trio with Neil Charles and Stephen Davis – Carnival Celestial
(released April 21, 2023)
Alexander Hawkins – Piano, Synthesiser, Sampler, Percussion
Neil Charles – Double bass, Percussion
Stephen Davis – Drums, Percussion
The Bandcamp page for this album says that Hawkins “celebrates the connection of freedom and structure.” It finds a great balance – the tunes have just enough melody but still leave space for the energy and spontaneity of improvisation. Interestingly, the album is totally of the moment and yet seems drawn from classics of the avant-garde. Two examples – “Fuga, the fast one” sounds like the best tribute to Andrew Hill I’ve heard in a long time, and the deep bass at the center of “Rupture” could be right from Eric Dolphy’s Out To Lunch. Good influences!
Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru – Jerusalem
(released April 14, 2023)
The first new issue of music from Emahoy since the fabled Éthiopiques Volume 21 of 17 years ago. The Bandcamp page says another release is planned, which is welcome with Emahoy’s recent death at 99 years old. The world cannot have enough of her transporting music. See our recent post from December, celebrating her life and music.
Wadada Leo Smith and Orange Wave Electric – Fire Illuminations
(released March 31, 2023)
Wadada Leo Smith – Trumpet
Nels Cline – guitar
Brandon Ross – guitar
Lamar Smith – guitar
Bill Laswell – bass
Melvin Gibbs – bass
Hardedge – electronics
Mauro Refosco – percussion
Pheeroan akLaff – drums
Miles Davis’ electric music is more influential than ever (see this month’s Strange Brew below for one example). However, Wadada Leo Smith is the OG of channeling electric Miles, and it’s great to have this new album – he shows everybody how this electric/acoustic hybrid is supposed to sound. The album notes say, “the album [was recorded] in a series of sessions and configurations, compiling the final product through extensive post-production.” That sounds like you’d have a disorganized final product, but the album is far from it. Instead, it is well organized, charismatic, and has great features for the all-star band. Smith writes and plays like a painter, an analogy that is not lost on him. He says in the album notes, “orange is such a vitalizing color, it relates to the vitality of electricity that I’m working with in this ensemble.” Listen and hear the colors – also, orange is the best color!
Ingrid Laubrock – The Last Quiet Place
(released March 31, 2023)
Ingrid Laubrock – tenor and soprano saxophones
Mazz Swift – violin
Tomeka Reid – cello
Brandon Seabrook – guitar
Michael Formanek – double bass
Tom Rainey – drums
The opening notes from the strings immediately signal the album’s emphasis on unpretentious beauty, and the mysterious cover art matches the slippery and spare music. The writing and arrangements are the star here, at an intersection between structure and open expression, where both the tunes and the playing shine.
Dave King Trucking Company – old TV
(released April 7, 2023)
Erik Fratzke – electric guitar
Dave King – drums and piano
Chris Morrissey – acoustic bass
Chris Speed – tenor saxophone
Brandon Wozniak – tenor saxophone
It’s always exciting to have a new release from Dave King Trucking Company, whose music is super fun (and maybe underrated). King is always hiding a trick up his sleeve, and I guarantee there will be a point when you are surprised or delighted. Also, the duel tenor sax front line of Chris Speed and Brandon Wozniak always impresses. Make sure you go back and listen to Adopted Highway and Surrounded By The Night.
London Brew – London Brew
(released March 31, 2023)
We’ll be writing about this disc and the London Jazz scene in May, so we’ll save the analysis until then – suffice to say that the spirit of Miles’ Bitches Brew (and In A Silent Way) loom large, but London Brew is not just an exercise in crate digging, but music for here and now.
Steve Swell’s Fire Into Music – For Jemeel – Fire From The Road
(released April 7, 2023)
Steve Swell – trombone
Jemeel Moondoc – alto saxophone
William Parker – double bass
Hamid Drake – drums
A massive release – 3 CDs of live performances from 2004 and 2005. The musicians get to stretch out, and most of the tunes are 20 to 55 minutes long. Swell’s trombone is extroverted, and Moondoc’s alto has so much presence. For me, deep listening to the legendary Parker/Drake rhythm section will keep me coming back to this release – Parker’s tone, both playing pizzicato and arco, is impressive, and when Drake gets into high gear, it’s spellbinding. This release earns the use of “fire” in the title.
Ivo Perelman, Dave Burrell, Bobby Kapp – Trichotomy
(released March 31, 2023)
Ivo Perelman – tenor sax
Dave Burrell – piano
Bobby Kapp – drums
An ideal entry point into Perelman’s lavishly imposing discography, Burrell lights up this session with his staccato rhythms, bell-like overtones, and kernels of melody spread out under the din. The great pianist makes any session he’s on special, and Perelman responds with energy and, eventually, his own lyricism. This album has intrigued me to listen to more Perelman, and April’s two other Perelman releases, Artificial Intelligence and Live in Carrboro, also sound great.
Archival/Reissues:
Abdul Wadud – By Myself
(Reissue released April 30, 2023, by Gotta Groove Records)
Abdul Wadud – Cello
At long last, here is the reissue of one of music’s most elusive holy grails! There really is nothing we can say that we didn’t say here and here. This release is an event, and we thank The New York Times for publishing Hank Shteamer’s essay, where he calls the album a “landmark of self-determination.” Make sure you get your copy, which is available either on LP or streaming at Bandcamp.
Sun Ra & Arkestra – Hendersonia: Sun Ra Performs Fletcher Henderson
(released April 11, 2023)
All keyboards by Sun Ra
Arkestra personnel varies
A collection of live performances between 1976 and 1991 are a glorious throwback to the big band music of Sun Ra’s former boss, Fletcher Henderson. Ra’s performances of traditional jazz were always legendary and would captivate audiences when played on the heels of a long set of unrepentant free jazz. (I’m told) the joy was palpable live, and the infectious results came through on this uplifting disc. Join the party!