Somersaults – “Numerology of Birdsong” (West Hill Records, 2019)

“Numerology of Birdsong” was recorded by “Sommersaults”. The music of this trio is completely based on experimental jazz, free collective improvisation and various streams of avant-garde jazz. All three musicians are featured figures of international avant-garde jazz scene – it’s Olie Brice (double bass), Tobias Delius (tenor sax, clarinet) and Mark Sanders (drums). Three musicians – three individual styles, driving expressive playing manner, original sound and inventive point of view. These elements are the centre of all three improvisers music. The improvisers are thinking outside the box – that’s why their music is fresh, evocative, full of wild culminations, hot thrills, spontaneous solos and unexpected turns.

A nice combo of tenor saxophone, clarinet, double bass and drums is made here. All the compositions are played in active and dynamic mood. The expression, drive and emotional playing manner are the main elements related to each improviser. Experimental jazz, its innovations and sonoristic experiments, free collective improvisations and roots of 1960’s avant-garde jazz are the main basics of compositions. “Numerology of Birdsong” is a mix of bright, passionate and expressive free improvisations. Surprises, driving turns, terrific growling riffs, flowing passages… – it’s just one little part of huge range of musical language’s elements, which are joined here. Experimental playing techniques and sonoristic experiments connected to some traditional ways of playing form an enchanting, bright and modern instrumental section. Research of strange timbres, special effects, all kinds of ornaments, textures and sounds also are frequently used everywhere. The melody and rhythmic sections are individual – both sections are independent, bright, contrasting and simply impressive. Own character, original sound, impression, spontanity, vividness and energy make a great combo with inventive decisions and masterful virtuosity. Reeds are the keys of the melody line. Tenor saxophone and clarinet by Tobias Delius bring expressive, dynamic and contrasting sound. An improviser has an outstanding playing technique, splendid virtuosity and the will to create something new. He gets on adventurous riffs, dramatic culminations, charming remarkable melodies, terrific perturbations, makes radical or provocative decisions, extract sharp, strange or peculiar timbres and is the author of impressive sonoristic experiments. All that makes an effort to whole sound – remarkable melodies become the main accents of whole melody line, terrific riffs bring energy and drive to the compositions. A melody line is basically formed by Tobias Delius – its luminous and impressive sound is accompagnied by other sections. A great, bright and independent rhythmic section is created. Dynamic double bass line is a fusion of different rhythms and repetitive series. Olie Brice is a great double bass player – his music is a mix of contemporary academical music, free improvisation and the basics of experimental jazz. Subtle pieces, stable bass line, peculiar timbres, minimalistic samples and hypnotysing sound are changed by terrific riffs, expressive vibrant melodies, frantic culminations and flowing passages. The bassist manages to put together contrasting elements in delightful and organic way. That’s how effective, innovative and original sound is created. Hysteric riffs, expressive spills of energy, nervous driving sessions, tremendous culminations, wild perturbations who calm down to melancholic lyrical pieces, steady beats, monotonic series or slow dreamy excerpts – a featured drummer Mark Sanders already had his own way how to do it. Improviser creates charming, expressive and simply fantastic rhythmic section.

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DANIEL THOMPSON & COLIN WEBSTER – “BOSKAGE” (a new wave of jazz, 2019)

“BOSKAGE” was recorded by Daniel Thomson (acoustic guitar) and Colin Webster (alto saxophone). Both improvisers have an inspiring playing manner, driving style and unique sound. All the music is based on free improvisation and avant-garde jazz. The main priority to fascinating experiments, innovative decisions and inventive playing techniques is in every composition. Musicians don’t hesitate to make the radical, provocative, crazy or simply weird musical decisions. Their music is a mix of passionate, driving, energetic and dynamic sound. Dozens of emotions, moods, characters and expressions form a rich and expressive musical language. Musicians like to get on driving free improvisations, extract strange timbres, express different moods and integrate pleasant surprises in the musical pattern. All these elements finally make an exciting and expressive sound.

“BOSKAGE” is based on free improvisation and avant-garde jazz. The main basics of avant-garde jazz are fused together with other jazz styles. Innovative experimental jazz is filled with extended playing techniques, modern and exclusive instrumental section, sonoristic experiments and specific ways of playing. That’s the centre of the compositions. An interesting and organic stylistic allusion is made. Improvisers like to turn on absolutely different direction – they make a colorful and sparkling mix of styles, sounds and expressions. From innovations of experimental jazz, a duo make a return to the roots – the main typical basics of 1960’s avant-garde jazz are used here. A nice organic synthesis between traditions and innovations is made. The improvisers make an effort to create universal, colorful and bright music pattern. An independent, luminous and driving melody line is the centre of it. Alto saxophone is the source of vibrant, energetic ,trembling and thrilling sound. Colin Webster is a great saxophonist – he has a hypnotysing and expressive playing manner, inspiring and driving playing style and rich musical language. All his music is based on free improvisation and open form – immediate reponses, sensible and exciting corresponding to each other’s playing, spontaneous surprises, sudden turns and dizzy passages are the main elements. Improviser has an outstanding virtuosity, innovative point of view and modern musical language. Stormy vibrant culminations, dreamy lullabies, relaxing meditations, repetitive minimalistic samples, striking riffs, exciting expressive melodies, dizzy flowing passages, gorgeous ornaments, special effects and sonoristic experiments meet together in his music. That makes an effort to emotional, dynamic and expressive sound. Alive, expressive, vital and blooming melody line is the key of whole album and the source of vividness, drive and energy. Acoustic guitar has contrasting and bright sound. Lyrical soft riffs, gentle light solos, passionate luminous culminations, remarkable melodies, strange timbres, research of extended playing techniques and special effects contain the main base of the compositions. Daniel Thomson is blurring the line between different moods and sudden changes – stormy culminations passe to silent pauses, light gentle passages are changed by wild shrieky riffs, dramatic culminations or any other mood. An organic synthesis of rhythms, tunes, sounds, expressions and timbres is made. Dynamic rhythmic section, gorgeous background, extended and innovative instrumental section, sharp modern harmony line and terrific melody line are the main compounds of musical pattern. A duo creates an inspiring, expressive and vivid sound.

“A” Trio – “Music To Our Ears” (Al Maslakh, 2019)

“Music To Our Ears” is a new project made by “A” Trio. Three great jazz masters had gathered together to improvise – it’s Mazen Kerbaj (trumpet), Sharif Sehnaoui (acoustic guitar) and Raed Yassin (double bass). Free improvisation, experimental jazz, its innovations and traditions contain the main base of their music. The relations to modern jazz styles such as bebop, post bop, hard bop and other styles. Inventive decisions, masterful playing techniques, splendid virtuosity, rich musical language and expressive playing manner – all musicians are demonstrating wide musical knownledge and huge capacity of improvising. The improvisers are dedicated to create something new – radical decisions, spontaneous surprises, gorgeous ornaments, fascinating experiments are used in every composition.

Expressive sharp and vital trumpet, surprising guitar and organic double bass – an original combo is made here in “Music To Our Ears”. Each instrument had its own function – musicians join together and make an independent melody line, dynamic and effective rhythmic section, gorgeous background and stable harmonic pattern. An innovative instrumental section based on experimental decisions and extended playing techniques is created. The musicians are blending dozens of styles and genres – the basics of avant-garde jazz, free collective improvisation, innovations of experimental jazz twisted together with the roots of 1960’s avant-garde jazz are organically synthesized here. The music has an expressive, vital, driving and passionate sound, which is created by all three improvisers. Hollowing, sparkling and cracking trumpet is the centre of the melody line along with guitar. Trumpeter Mazen Kerbaj is the master of this art – his music is a mix of traditional Lebanese music, the basics of avant-garde jazz and sound experiments. Exotic tunes accompagnie charming remarkable melodies which grow directly to hollowing riffs, terrific blow outs, hot thrills, impressive passages, strange timbres, special effects and all kinds of ornaments. Ornamental texture, fantastic virtuosity, inventive point of view make an effort to exclusive, bright and driving sound. Different cultures meet here – European and American avant-garde jazz meets exotic and authentic Asian music and its basics. That finally makes a charming, original and luminous sound of whole melody line. Guitar is the source of new sounds, radical decisions and experimental ideas. Sharif Sehnaoui is an experienced guitarist. His music, same as other musicians, is completely based on synthesis of different cultures. Middle-Eastern, Asian and European music, experimental jazz and free collective improvisations. Extraction of percussion sounds, special effects, ornaments, flowing passages, extended playing techniques, effective riffs, emotional thrilling solos, moving trills – all these and other elements make an original and bright sound. Double bass player Raed Yassin is mixing up together the basics of free improvisational music, Western Europe harmony, basics of traditional Asian and Middle-Eastern traditional music and American avant-garde jazz. Stable bass line is contrasting to striking culminations, vibrant riffs, sharp chords, strange timbres and remarkable melodies. An effective, moving and driving sound is created.

Sloth Racket – “Dismantle Yourself” (2019)

“Dismantle Yourself” was recently recorded by “Sloth Racket”. It’a an ensemble which is formed by great experienced jazz masters – Cath Roberts (baritone saxophone), Sam Andreae (alto saxophone), Anton Hunter (guitar), Seth Bennett (double bass) and Johnny Hunter (drums). Each improviser has an effective, vital, passionate and expressive playing style. A featured and unique sound is created by using specific, experimental and original musical decisions. Inventive instrumental section, expressive and modern musical language, gorgeous background and interesting sonoristic experiments containĀ  the main base of the music. Musicians are improvising together with pleasure, drive and passion – their music is a mix of wide stylistic variety, interesting and exciting surprises, spontaneous solos and thrilling improvisations.

“Sloth Racket” members always have a free space to improvise. Their music is totally based on free improvisations, innovative avant-garde jazz, experimental music and some relations with modern jazz. The musicians are exploring new forms, extracting original ways of playing, bright and passionate solos and are willing to create extraordinary and fresh sound. “Dismantle Yourself” has its own, modern and innovative conception. Bright and independent melody line is created by saxophones and guitar. Cath Roberts and Sam Andreae are great saxophonists, who had already found their own sound, inspiring playing manner and inventive style. The basics of experimental jazz are connected to the roots of 1960’s avant-garde jazz – it’s the base of these two improvisers music. Expressive melodies, bright contrasts, thrilling riffs, perturbating sessions and driving solos gently fit tyogether with silent pauses, minimalistic samples, sonoristic experiments and special effects. The saxophones is the source of energy, expression and exclusive musical decisions, which are the main accents of the melody line. Guitar brings the additional tunes and colors – Anton Hunter is the master of his art. An improviser fuses together experimental music, the elements of contemporary academical music, experimental jazz, free improvisation and modern jazz. This huge stylistic variety effects colorful pattern, gorgeous background and effective luminous melody line. Guitarist is getting through contrasting episodes, which are highly different from the others – strong luminous riffs, vibrant culminations, striking risings, wild breaking sessions which suddenly are changed by relaxing, solemn, peaceful, deep and minimalistic pieces which have a meditative and hypnotysing sound. These three instruments form an expressive, vital, dynamic and simply impressive melody line. An album has a marvelous rhythmic section. Deep repetitive bass tunes form a stable bass line – bassist Seth Bennett is switching between different ways of playing, expressive modern ideas, luminous culminations, emotional trills or vibrato, arpeggio, dizzy passages, gorgeous ornaments or elegant pizzicatto and other musical language’s elements which accompagnie the main melody line all the time. The drums section is the key of the rhythmic section. An excellent drummer Johnny Hunter is mixing up all kinds of rhythms – wild free improvisations, passionate thrills, impressive solos, luminous culminations, silent pauses, steady beats or exciting expressive series are joined together. That makes an effort to original, vital, expressive and impressive sound.

From Wolves to Whales – “Strandwal” (Aerophonic Records, 2019)

“Strandwal” was recorded by “From Wolves to Whales”. It’s a quartet of featured jazz masters – they’re gently corresponding to each other’s playing and manage to create an exceptional and inspiring sound. A group of interesting and famous jazz masters is improvising here – it’s Nate Wooley (trumpet), Dave Rempis (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone), Pascal Niggenkemper (bass) and Chris Corsano (drums). Musicians are the central figures of contemporary avant-garde jazz scene. They’re collaborating and playing all together with other famous jazz masters. Their music always has inspiring, fresh and evocative sound. Surprises, drive, expression, passion and pleasure to improvise are the central elements of their music. Interesting stylistic allusions, some relations with contemporary academical and experimental music, sonoristic experimenta and wild free improvisations also are used almost in every composition.

Each musician is improvising individually – that makes an effort to wide range of colors, expressions, moods and characters in “Strandwal”. The musicians are demonstrating their masterful capacity to improvise – the music is full of contrasts, unpredictable turns, sudden changes and modern expressions. Immediate responds, spontaneous solos, silent pauses which meet tremendous culminations – it’s impossible to predict where’s the music is going to turn next minute. The basics of experimental jazz are used here – innovative avant-garde jazz is brought together with the roots of 1960’s avant-garde jazz, conceptual modern jazz, dynamic and contrasting contemporary jazz and impressive free improvisations. An exciting and exclusive instrumental section is created – experimental ways of playing, sonoristic experiments and special effects make the base of it. A gorgeous background is created by using ornamental texture, all kinds of passages, thrills, trills, ornaments and strange timbres. Musicians gather together and create an incredible melody line – trumpet and saxophone are the main basics of it. Expressive, thrilling, bursting and frantic trumpet brings drive and passion to the music. Nate Wooley is dxemonstrating his own, exciting, striking and luminous sound. Especially emotional and driving playing manner is fullfilled with hot spills, frantic riffs, sharp timbres, wild blowing culminations, expressive remarkable melodies, tremendous vibrant perturbations, dramatic blow outs and other similar elements. Trumpet is a source of energy, vividness and vitality. Saxophone’s tunes are expressive, moving, thrilling and frantic. Wild culminations, fantastic melodies, impressive virtuosic passages, bright perturbations, transcendental passages are contrasting to some relaxing pieces, silent pauses, solemn or minimalistic samples – Dave Rempis finds the best way how to fuse all these elements to one place. The duos of saxophone and trumpet are the most effective, exciting and beautiful pieces of whole album. It makes the central accent of the melody line – it’s thrilling, dynamic and simply amazing. An interesting, effective, passionate, moody, glimpsing and dynamic bass fullfilled with millions of colors, textures and timbres, is created by featured bassist Pascal Niggenkemper. His evocative style, inventive playing manner and original musical decisions make an effort to inspiring, touching and expressive sound. Drums by Chris Corsano contain the centre of the rhythmic section. Hysteric expressive sessions, breaking riffs, wild perturbations, strange timbres, colorful ornaments, dizzy passages, emotional trills, terrific culminations or silent minimalistic samples – Chris Corsano manages to fuse all these elements together in the most delightful and organic way.

Arashi – “Jikan” (PNL Records, 2019)

“Jikan” is a great result of collaboration between three jazz masters – it’s Akira Sakata (alto saxophone, Bb clarinet and vocals), Johan Berthling (double bass) and Paal Nilssen-Love (drums & percussion). Three musicians have their own style, unique sound and expressive playing manner. Each of them had already developped innovative point of view, modern conception and effective playing technique. The improvisers are the central figures of avant-garde jazz scene. The collaborations with other famous jazz masters, interesting projects, driving collective improvisations and great releases – these are the main activities of these musicians. The musicians are improvising with passion, drive, expression, creativity and masterful virtuosity.

The basics of avant-garde jazz, eclectic and energetic collective improvisation, innovative experimental jazz and modern jazz intonations contain the main stylistic base of “Jikan”. The music is created with impression and spontanity. Open form is used almost everywhere – that gives an opportunity to improvise spontaneously, with surprises, different motions and characters. The musicians have inventive playing style and excellent playing technique. Here masterful virtuosity, expressive playing manner, sparkling passages and ornamental texture are gently joined together. Improvisers like to search new ways of playing, explore new fields of musical language and extract strange timbres. Sonoristic experiments become the main accent of all sections – improvisers are experimenting on instrumental, timbral, melodic and rhythmic sections. That finally makes an effective, bright, innovative and awakening instrumental section. It’s conatined by synthesis of experimental, classical, extended, original, strange, evocative and exclusive ways of playing. Musicians manage to create multi-layed, bright, passionate and colorful pattern. An independent, moving and simply fantastic melody line is formed and kept all the time. Saxophone’s and clarinet’s tunes become the main accents of it. Akira Sakata is a great improviser – his music is a mix of innovative ideas, splendid virtuosity, invention and drive. Roaring bursting riffs, perturbating sessions, dramatic culminations, driving expressive melodies, wild furious blow outs, transcendental dizzy passages, gorgeous ornaments – all these elements contain the center of saxophone and clarinet melodies. Interesting, evocative and expressive vocal makes a colorful background, is used as an organic coloristic and brings new colors and sounds to the melody line. Free improvisation, the main elements of Asian and European music, American avant-garde jazz, the main elements of Japanese improvisational and Western Europe contemporary academical music are gently joined together in Akira Sakata’s music. An impressive rhythmic section is created by using double bass, percussion and drums. Double bass also is a useful instrument to create a stable bass line and multi-colorful background. Bassist Johan Berthling is the master of his art – the music is full of fresh tunes, moving trills, soft elegant pizzicatto, stormy aggressive culminations and all kinds of timbres. Repetitive rhythmic series contain a tight and steady bass line, sonoristic experiments help to explore new fields and extract strange, bright and simply original timbres. From silent pauses to tremendous culminations, light peaceful episodes, murmuring swingy pieces, minimalistic samples to roaring, growling, vibrant and wild riffs, breaking sessions and passionate melodies – improviser passes through wide range of moods and characters. Nervous expressive rhythms, aggressive explosing boosts, frantic spills, wild thrills, awakening striking culminations which lead straight to real storms of sounds and rhythms – that’s the base of Paal Nilssen-Love’s improvisations. All kinds of rhythms are fused here – expressive and amazing melody line is gently corresponsing to passionate, explosing and driving rhythmic section. The music is filled with driving, evocative and dynamic sound.

Rodrigo Amado / Dirk Serries – “Jazzblazzt” (Raw Tonk Records, 2019)

“Jazzblazzt” was recorded by two great improvisers – it’s Rodrigo Amado (tenor saxophone) and Dirk Serries (electric & acoustic guitars). Both musicians are famous on international avant-garde jazz scene. Their playing style is bright, expressive and evocative. The musicians integrate new ways of playing, modern expressions, fascinating sonoristic experiments and original decisions to the musical pattern. They had already developped their own sound and style – it contains wide range of styles, expressions and other elements of musical language. Wide stylistic variety is created almost all the time – the music is an organic mix of free improvisation, avant-garde and experimental jazz, nervous and expressive bebop, aggressive hard bop and other modern jazz styles. Musicians are switching between innovations and traditions – they’re getting on ambitious adventures, dramatic culminations and when make a return to the roots of 1960’s avant-garde jazz.

Incredible inspiration, drive, expression and passion accompagnie the music all the time. “Jazzblazzt” is full of all the main basics of avant-garde jazz. Both musicians are improvising together – their collective free improvisations usually are real bursts of energy. Immediate responds to each other’s playing, emotional and contrasting pieces, sudden changes of moods and expressions, wide range of rhythms and tempos used silmunateously – that’s the base of their playing. Musicians don’t hesitate to make provocative, radical, creative, outrageous or completely crazy musical decisions. They use their fantasy, inspiration and driving playing style for that. Improvisers also have an impressive playing technique, masterful virtuosity and an effective modern playing style. They manage to create and innovative instrumental section by experimenting on various fields of musical language. An expansion of technical abilities, research of strange timbres, integration of sonoristic and timbral experiments, a link from traditional to experimental playing techniques, special effects, strange timbres and ornamental texture – that’s the center of instrumental section, which certainly is one of the most effective, passionate and bright sections. The musical pattern also has an independent melody line, dynamic and contrasting rhythmic section, gorgeous illustrative background and sharp harmonic background. Tenor saxophone by Rodrigo Amado has an inspiring, touching and thrilling sound. Saxophonist is playing with expression, drive and passion. His music is a mix of all kinds of emotions, moods and xharacters. Frantic, harsh and hysteric get on soft and elegant mood, relaxing pieces, dreamy lullabies, dynamic contemporary jazz, steady cool or jumps on passionate expressive melodies, charming thrilling riffs, transcendental passages, colorful ornaments, special effects, blowing perturbating riffs, vibrant culminations and driving sessions. His music is unpredictable, has impressive and dynamic sound. Electric and acoustic guitar meet together in Dirk Serries improvisations. Ambient tunes, special effects, synth pitches, steady rhythms, heavy riffs and modified timbres join gentle and elegant solos, expressive and dynamic melodies, vibrant culminations, natural acoustic tunes, sonoristic experiments, charming riffs and all kinds of other elements. That makes an effort to original and colorful sound. The music of this album is full of emotions, expressions and drive.