new release round-up,Jazz New Release Round-Up - 12th May 2023

No stranger to sounds of the divine, the spiritually resplendent organist Kit Downes returns along with colleague Hayden Chisholm to present this spellbinding performance, recorded in Cologne in 2021. Along with the mystifying reverberations of the Balkan vocal ensemble, PJEV, Medna Roso - Bulgarian for 'honeydew' - is a forty-minute long recording that captures the essence and timelessness of different musical practices from across the region. Deeply reminiscent of Mystères des Voix Bulgares by way of nineties Jan Garbarek, this album will fill your soul with wonder as it traverses beyond the temporalities of tradition.

Available Format: CD 

Whilst we’ve seen many sought-after reissues from the classic Tropicália-era of Brazilian music, this new compilation highlights over twenty individual treasures from the contemporary Rio scene. Unequivocal in scope, it features a wide array of forward-thinking descendants of the nation’s rich cultural heritage. From the familiar beach-ready sounds of samba and bossa nova to the more electronic and experimental nuggets this album has to offer, you will not be disappointed by this vibey and eclectic sonic profile of a city steeped in expressiveness and individuality 

Something of a dream-project for the Israeli bassist, Iroko is a brotherly collaboration built on the back of warm textures and grooves. Instrumentally, the stripped-back pairing of double bass and percussion is perfectly suited to the repertoire, which includes more authentically Afro-Cuban numbers in addition to several refreshing covers (‘It’s A Man’s World’) that the musicians adapt to with sturdy confidence. The ensemble vocals from Cohen, Rodriguez and an ample troupe of backing singers on tracks such as ‘Tintorera’ provide the music with ripe Nuyorican flavour. ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ is the real cherry on top in terms of its passion and joy, which are both exemplified in the rich vocal performance from Rodriguez as well as through Cohen’s adventurous syncopated bass-line 

In a similar vein, Iranian kamanchist Kalhor and leading Malian kora-player Diabaté pair up for an equally meditative album composed of sublime interwoven melodies and accompaniment in minimal fashion. With the recording made up of improvisations on traditional themes from either culture, there is a trance-like quality to the duo’s virtuosic storytelling. Truly, it is a privilege to hear the pair embody the rich courtly history of each instrument brought to life by such gifted performers.

Available Format: 2 Vinyl Records

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This debut release from the Manchester-based trio is an inviting and engaging glimpse into the northern jazz scene. With the group sharing various writing credits across the record, Jones and co. manage to achieve a certain freeness while faithfully remaining locked in a tight connection with one another. Subtle acoustic changes come and go in ‘blink-and-you’ll-miss-them’ moments, whereas the compositions themselves pursue a meandering flow of ever-guessing intrigue. A rewarding listen that never loses sight of its aims.

Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC

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East meets West in a highly inventive blend of Hindustani-infused magic. With each group established as forerunners in their respective fields, this collaboration comes as a treat for those who like to explore the state of jazz with open minds. Infectious electric beats are layered over the sonorities of Jaubi’s sarangi, tabla and guitar, which are offset by the more conventional but nonetheless fearless line-up of EABS. There are several contrasting but complimentary voices appearing on this album, each carrying the same inspired fluency to deliver the album’s central message.

Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC

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