Here we have the versatile
and beautiful trumpeter Aya Takasawa's Debut Album. It is New Orleans recording
with a luxurious membered quintet. Held at America's largest jazz festival, 47-year
history Heritage & New Orleans Jazz Festival in 2016. Aya Takasawa appeared
with her own band, and this is a recording taken from the festival’s star
players. Based on the New Orleans tunes, the selection focused on the roots of
each song, including the original songs of Aya Takasawa. There's no disputing,
it is brilliant album showcasing an up-and-coming spectacular performer.
Essential to all lovers of trumpet enhanced jazz music.
King Records, KICJ-760, 2017 Recording 20th & 21st
April, 2016 at Music Shed Studio, New Orleans
Musicians: Aya Takazawa - Trumpet,
Arranger Nami Kano - Alto Saxophone
(#1,2,4,6) Wessell Anderson - Alto
Saxophone (#3,5,7-9) Jesse McBride - Piano Kengo Nakamura - Bass Jason Marsalis - Drums,
Vibraphone (#1)
Tracks: 1. Bubudy -Crescent City
Connection {Aya Takazawa} (4:57) 2. St. Louis Blues {William
Christopher Handy} (6:56) 3. My Poinciana {Aya
Takazawa} (6:06) 4. FLD [Falling Down] {Aya
Takazawa} (5:23) 5. When It's Sleepy Time Down
South {Clarence Muse, Otis Rene, Leon Rene} (4:58) 6. Drizzlin' {Aya Takazawa}
(6:19) 7. Mr. Clean {Weldon Irvine}
(4:37) 8. Chicken Tails {Aya
Takazawa} (5:44) 9. Herlin Homey Riley
{Wessell Anderson} (6:00)
Total Time: 51:03
Credits: Producer - Aya Takazawa Recording Engineer - Ben
Lorio Mixing & Mastering -
Takaaki Konno
Dutch saxophonist De Graaf
was looking to make this album a sort of sequel to a previous session in which
he had been invited to play with musicians from Mali in West Africa. He found
it inspiring but he had to fit into their musical concept. In Fo4r Winds he has
created a more personal concept album, using all his own compositions except
for one, and making them the basis for improvisations which honor the various
cultures of the members of his world music/jazz band. I was immediately
attracted to the inclusion in the band of both steel pans and the sophisticated
African harp known as the kora. Also, percussionist Burhoe plays some mean
tablas on several of the tracks, lending an East Indian flavor to the music.
Both kora virtuoso Diabaté and bassist Diallo are from Mali. Some attempted
mixes of world music and jazz fall rather flat because it sounds like the two
approaches to the music are just trying to fit in without stepping on each
other’s musical toes. Not so De Graaf’s group - most of the tracks sound like
completely integrated musical ideas that don’t cry out India / Caribbean /
Africa and so on as you hear the various ethnic instruments featured. And
there’s no lack of good tunes along with the catchy rhythms that make you want
to get up and dance. This is a mostly instrumental album; the vocals are
minimal. The clarity of the hi-res stereo puts you up close to the band and
digging the unexpected instrumental sounds. The kora is especially
well-represented; I don’t believe I had appreciated before what a rich and
unique sound Mali’s national instrument has! ~ spiritofturtle.com.
Turtle Records, TRSA0012 [SACD],
2002 Recorded 12th-16th November,
2001 at The Doopsgezinde Kerk, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Musicians: Dick De Graaf - Tenor & Soprano Saxes Ty Burhoe - Percussion Mamadou Diabaté - Kora Moussa Diallo - Bass Guitar,
Vocals Russell ‘Konkie’ Halmeyer -
Steelpans Inga Juuso - Vocals
Tracks: 1. Green Fountain {Dick De
Graaf} (5:36) 2. Maninda {Dick De Graaf} (3:50) 3. Obstinato {Dick De Graaf} (5:30) 4. Fo4r Winds {Dick De Graaf} (8:14) 5. Carifusion {Dick De Graaf}
(5:22) 6. Inner Paradise {Dick De
Graaf} (6:18) 7. Siesta {Dick De Graaf}
(7:06) 8. Summer Breeze {Moussa
Diallo} (9:33)
Total Time: 51:34
Credits: Producer - Dick Kuijs Co-producer, Balance &
Mastering Engineer - Harry van Dalen Balance Engineer, Editing -
Bert Van Der Wolf, Fir Suidema Balance & Mastering
Engineer - Fir Suidema Design & Photography -
Rob Becker [Beeldverhaal] Amsterdam Liner Notes - Dick De Graaf
Denon Records, DC-8546, 1989 Recorded 7th December, 1978
at Sound Ideas Studio, New York City
Musicians: Archie Shepp - Alto Saxophone Jaki Byard - Piano Cecil McBee - Bass Roy Haynes - Drums
Tracks: 1. Donna Lee {Charlie Parker}
(6:37) 2. Relaxin' At Camarillo
{Charlie Parker} (7:18) 3. Now's The Time {Charlie
Parker} (7:49) 4. Lady Bird {Tadd Dameron}
(7:51) 5. Flamingo {Ed Anderson, Ted
Grouya} (12:30)
Total Time: 42:07
Very good album by Archie
Shepp Atypical album where
Archie Shepp plays only the alto, well supported by pianist Jackie Byard, Cecil
McBee on bass and Roy Haynes on drums. It is a quality recording, as always
with the Japanese label Denon, although a little short (42 min) which includes
3 tunes by Charlie Parker, (notably a beautiful version of "Relaxin' at
Camarillo" as well as "Now's the time"), a tune by Tadd Dameron
("Lady bird") and above all a real little gem: an admirable version
of "Flamingo" by Ed Anderson of more than 12 min which is worth, on
its own, the acquisition of this rare and expensive album... ~ L. Pierre, 4.0 Stars, Amazon.com.
[Translated From French]
Isao Suzuki, the
international star bassist who gave us Blow Up! and Blue City is joined by
another star player of the TBM label, the soulful pianist Tsuyoshi Yamamoto. A
great album. This was released on the Japanese Three Blind Mice label. This one
has actually been reissued recently, but I imagine that in some parts of the
world it might be tough to find as anything but an expensive import. However,
if you really like it I urge you to buy it. The session features Isao Suzuki on
bass and cello, Donald Bailey on drums and Tsuyoshi Yamamoto on rhodes and
piano. The sound is mostly jazzy with a hint of funkiness on Manha De Carnaval,
which is also my favorite track on the album (the rhodes sound especially
lovely on that one). ~ by Celo.
Three Blind Mice, TBM-2563, 1976 Three Blind Mice, TBM-XR-0063, 1997 Recorded 20th February, 1976 at
AOI Studio, Tokyo, Japan
Musicians: Isao Suzuki - Bass, Cello Tsuyoshi Yamamoto - Piano,
Electric Piano [Rhodes] Donald Bailey - Drums
Tracks: A1. Manha de Carnaval {Luiz Bonfá} (11:11) A2. Angel Eyes {Matt Dennis,
Earl Brent} (8:11) B1. Who Can I Turn To {Leslie
Bricusse, Anthony Newly} (8:12) B2. In A Sentimental Mood
{Duke Ellington} (5:44) B3. Blues {Tsuyoshi Yamamoto}
(5:55)
Total Time: 39:16
Credits: Producer - Takeshi Fujii Recording Engineer -
Yoshihiko Kannari Art Director - Ben Nishizawa Liner Notes - Terry Isono
Isao Suzuki is the grand
master of jazz in Japan. He is a bassist, multi-instrumentalist, composer,
arranger, producer, and bandleader. He was born on January 3, 1933 in Tokyo.
The first meeting
between Lew and Tomoko took place in 2007, during the pianist's first visit to
Buenos Aires. "She came with the idea of recording a CD, which ended up
being called Tomoko Ohno in Buenos Aires: Jazz Meets Tango. We did it with saxophonist
Andrés Boiarsky and bandoneonist Matías González. In 2011 we recorded a duo
album, which also included works by Astor," says [Ricardo] Lew. The
guitarist, with a remarkable career that includes collaborations with Gato
Barbieri, Rubén Rada, Buddy De Franco, Luciano Pavarotti and Piazzolla himself,
as well as having been a member of La Banda Elástica, is especially
enthusiastic about this new encounter: "Although Tomoko lives in New
Jersey, we are in constant contact, waiting for the moment to play together
again. It is something that we especially enjoy, because there is a very
special chemistry between us. For my part, I have rarely played with a pianist
of such talent and musicality: getting on stage to play with Tomoko is complete
happiness." Piazzolla's music is not the only magnet that attracts Tomoko
to these lands. "Tomoko has a very strong and affectionate bond with Buenos
Aires," says Lew. "She has lots of friends and is very gratified by
food. She is a fan of choripanes and empanadas, which she learned to cook and
which are already part of her regular menu in the United States." from newspaper
La Nación.
[Translated From Spanish]
MDR Records, MDR1462, 2007 Recorded and Mixed March,
2006 in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Tracks: 01. Bandoneon, Guitarra Y
Bajo {Astor Piazzolla} (3:24) 02. J.B. {Tomoko Ohno} (6:06) 03. Make Someone Happy {Jule
Styne} (5:03) 04. Monkey And Pineapple
{Tomoko Ohno} (4:39) 05. Los Paraguas de Buenos Aires {Astor Piazzolla} (5:55) 06. Do You Know What It Means
To Miss New Orleans {Eddie De Lange} (5:11) 07. Maria {Tomoko Ohno}
(5:46) 08. Pollo Picante {Tomoko
Ohno} (5:16) 09. Kame III {Tomoko Ohno}
(3:46) 10. Memphis {Tomoko Ohno}
(5:23)
Total Time: 50:29
Credits: Producer - Ruben Bondoni,
Alberto Grande Engineer - Ricardo Sanz Album Photos - Horacio Sbaraglia Graphic Design - Damián Defant
With his engaging debut as a
leader in Time Never Pauses, Chicago guitarist Hans Luchs offers up an
intriguing batch of well-crafted originals and two delightfully reinterpreted
standards. Luchs brings his trademark sound of polished elegance and
understated, but definite passion to this captivating music. Opening with the
darkly hued "Der Lumenmeister," the band sets an intimate
ambience that permeates the entire disc. Trumpeter Shaun Johnson's lithe,
melodic lines and burnished tones usher in the bubbling and erudite
improvisation of Luchs that emerges out of the simmering ensemble play. Pianist
Stu Mindeman complements Luchs with his crisp resonant and muscular chords that
tumble over the composition’s dense, harmonic structure. Johnson superbly
balances an intelligence and raw emotion with his inventive embellishments on
the thrilling "Green Deluchs." His expressive performance
matches Luchs’ refreshingly creative and fervent solo. Keeping with the
electrifying nature of the tune drummer, George Fludas concludes with
breathtaking and thunderous polyrhythms. Fludas’ hushed brushes and softly crashing
cymbals enhance the spirituality of legendary composer, pianist and bandleader
Duke Ellington’s classic, "Come Sunday." Bassist Clark Sommers
takes center stage with supreme lyricism as his strings reverberate with
evocative yearning. Through the core of the piece, Luchs’ blues-drenched guitar
rolls with inspired ardor and vivid eloquence. Another ballad, "Elizabeth,"
has a warm lilting melody that the group spontaneously transforms into a
spontaneous song of wistful sophistication and vibrant romanticism. Luchs makes
his resonant strings chime and ring as he extemporizes with brilliance and a
deep poetic sense. This charming album showcases Luchs’ writing skills as well
as his superb instrumentalism and band leadership. Although none of the
originals are particularly memorable, they are gracefully alluring. And
together with the high-caliber musicianship, they make for a pleasantly
satisfying listen. Time Never Pauses is a promising freshman effort from
a superlatively talented and imaginative artist who is at the threshold of a
distinguished career. ~ www.chicagojazz.com.
OA2 Records, 22123, 2015 Recorded 21st January, 2015
at Transient Sound Inc, Chicago, Illinois
Musicians: Hans Luchs - Guitar Shaun Johnson - Trumpet Stu Mindeman - Piano Clark Sommers - Bass George Fludas - Drums Juan Pastor - Congas (#1)
Tracks: 01. Das Lumenmeister {Hans Luchs} (6:23) 02. Elizabeth {Hans Luchs} (6:12) 03. Green DeLuchs {Hans
Luchs} (5:25) 04. Come Sunday {Duke
Ellington} (7:00) 05. Tuesday Night Delivery
{Hans Luchs} (5:21) 06. January Spring {Hans
Luchs} (4:44) 07. Hello Janssen {Hans
Luchs} (6:12) 08. Taylor Street Swing {Hans
Luchs} (4:27) 09. Get Out Of Town {Cole
Porter} (5:10) 10. 30 Rue Des Martyrs {Hans
Luchs} (8:29)
Total Time: 59:23
Credits: Producer - Hans Luchs Recording Engineer - Steven
Gillis Mixing Engineer - Brian
Schwab, Chicago Photography - Helmut Luchs Cover Design & layout by
John Bishop
Onofrio Paciulli's second album has a particular
scent, flavor. From the first seconds and the first notes it seems to retrace
the streets of New York. A musical path that the pianist Onofrio Paciulli
called “Epoca”, probably marking the moment in which the hands of his artistic
creativity have reached a considerable maturity. The disc opens with "Believe"
a relaxed, relaxed even eight, with modern but catchy harmonies and a memorable
arrangement of winds that immediately give us proof of the stature of Onofrio
Paciulli who, not only proves to be a pianist with an excellent and very
personal style, but also a capable arranger, with a strong character and very
clear ideas. It also makes use of excellent collaborators such as Rosario
Giuliani who exhibits here a formidable solo on alto sax. "You Go to My
Head", one of the few non-original songs on the album, winks at the
most classic jazz, played with great skill also by Guido Di Leone's guitar who
phrases with his typical melodic and harmonic awareness. With "Birth"
Onofrio Paciulli lets the listener enter a recess of the soul; the music thus
descends into the author's intimate, giving us the possibility to listen to the
notes and the voice of the soul at the same time. "My Happiness"
immediately brings us back to the heart of the big apple, showing off a highly
articulated, effective and captivating theme and a tenacious straight bop
rhythm magnificently supported by Francesco Angiuli on double bass and Daniele
Scasciamacchia on drums. The other special guest, Fabrizio Bosso, unleashes a
stroke of remarkable virtuosity with his trumpet solo, and then staged a very
enjoyable moment of solo exchanges with Rosario Giuliani. "Epoca"
is a ballad that surprises at every corner, crossing the paths of major and
minor harmonies with the creative abilities of the mind and heart. Here another
rhythm that often alternates with the previous one in the album, frescoes the
compositional canvas with skillful soft brushstrokes: Dario Di Lecce on double
bass and Fabio Delle Foglia on drums. A second standard, "You and the
Night and the Music", sees Onofrio Paciulli boldly emerge in giving
character to the solo aspect, intertwining with Guido di Leone's virtuous
impromptuism. A 5/4 Latin is the setting for another beautiful original
composition: "My Love and I", with a very elaborate theme, a
very refined harmonic carpet and an interesting one with Afro reminiscences of
the drummer Giovanni Scasciamacchia. The penultimate piece, “Enjoy”,
original composition in 3/4 that recalls the grace and lightness of a
fairy-tale and relaxed atmosphere, is a very cantabilissimo piece in which to
recline comfortably and let yourself be carried away. The album closes with the
"Old Devil Moon" standard, cleverly introduced by a
rhythmic-harmonic obligate, "Epoca" therefore, marks the
dizzying rise of Onofrio Paciulli in the Olympus of the great pianists as well
as of the original and ingenious composers who can be counted in the Apulian
panorama, through important space-time coordinates: this second album (a new
'era' in fact) of profound stylistic maturation and the breaking of the
overseas boundaries that bring him closer to the greats of American jazz. ~ www.four-edition.com.
Fo(u)r Edition, CD CO417, 2014 Recorded 22nd January &
3rd February, 2014 at Sorriso Studios, Bari, Italy
Musicians: Onofrio Paciulli - Piano, Arranger Fabrizio Bosso - Trumpet (#1,4,7) Rosario Giuliani - Alto Saxophone (#1,4,7) Guido Di Leone - Guitar (#1,2,4-9) Francesco Angiuli - Double
Bass Dario Di Lecce - Double Bass Giovanni Scasciamacchia -
Drums Fabio Delle Foglie - Drums
Tracks: 1. Believe {Onofrio Paciulli}
(6:45) 2. You Go To My Head {J. Fred
Coots, Haven Gillespie} (4:55) 3. Birth {Onofrio Paciulli}
(4:54) 4. My Happiness {Onofrio
Paciulli} (5:57) 5. Epoca {Onofrio Paciulli}
(7:02) 6. You And The Night And The
Music {Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz} (4:58) 7. My Love And I {David
Raksin, Johnny Mercer} (5:42) 8. Enjoy {Onofrio Paciulli}
(6:07) 9. Old Devil Moon {Burton
Lane, E.Y. Harburg} (9:03)
A sublime set of piano and
bass duets from two Japanese jazz masters; pianist Kunihiko Sugano and bassist
Isao Suzuki, originally released in 1980 on the legendary Paddle Records. These
wonderful players set about to create a truly great exploration and
interpretation of some of jazz's fine and enchanting jazz tunes of that era.
The engineers at King Records have produced an excellent reissue of this
masterpiece, the sound quality is so good, that it invites the listener to
reappraise many a time, enjoy!
Paddle Wheel; K28P-6012, 1980 Recorded 28th January, 1980
at King Record Studio #2, Tokyo, Japan
Tracks: 1. Mean To Me {Fred E.
Ahlert, Roy Turk} (5:15) 2. The Midnight Sun Will
Never Set {Cochran, Salvador, Jones} (8:07) 3. Moon River {Henry Mancini,
Johnny Mercer} (5:14) 4. Autumn In New York {Vernon
Duke} (6:59) 5. I'm Getting Sentimental
Over You {Bassman, Washington} (4:46) 6. The Very Thought Of You
{Ray Noble} (3:19) 7. Goodbye {Gordon Jenkins}
(4:10)
