Posts Tagged Instrumental
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April 14, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Laurel Halo: Raw Silk Uncut Wood
Laurel Halo Raw Silk Uncut Wood Latency Recordings Berlin-based, American-born sound-artist and composer Laurel Halo loves skitterish percussion, tinkering pianos and strident textures. She loves jazz settings – and then totally fucking with them, and she creates the best movie soundtracks for non-existent movies. All of that is on display here on Raw Silk Uncut Wood – but overall this is her most […]Archive
March 31, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The 1001 Albums Challenge # 140: Red Snapper – “Our Aim Is To Satisfy”
I really don’t think I knew anything about this – not only this album but even the band Red Snapper. Now this is weird to me for one reason: Anything even vaguely Acid-Jazz related in and around the years 1997-2003 was entirely my bag. My bag clearly wasn’t big enough to keep this in it… So it’s time and place […]Archive
March 10, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Nate Smith: Pocket Change
Nate Smith Pocket Change Ropeadope LLC Nate Smith, master drummer – as a composer and musician he is both bandleader and session-sideman. He’s racking up the credits – in the last week or so I’ve reviewed his James Gadson-aping star-support turn on the Jose James album of Bill Withers covers and his furious funk attack as a cameo-star with The Fearless Flyers. […]Archive
February 20, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
UNWIND Chisholm/Meehan/Dyne: Orange
UNWIND: Chisholm/Meehan/Dyne Orange Rattle I first heard Hayden Chisholm (saxophones) – well at least first really took notice on the glorious collaborative album Small Holes In The Silence featuring Hannah Griffin’s voice and Norman Meehan’s piano. The music was sparse, the lyrics drawn from famous New Zealand poems. Griffin and Meehan have an ongoing project in collaboration with Bill Manhire. Chisholm was the silent star of […]Archive
February 17, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Matt Brewer: Ganymede
Matt Brewer Ganymede Criss Cross Master bassist and composer Matt Brewer has been making ‘heady’ art-filled jazz music across the last two decades as sideman and leader, and importantly as a writer, working with the likes of Dave Douglas, Christian McBride, Greg Osby, Brad Mehldau and many more. Most recently he’s been creating dizzyingly wonderful larger-ensemble workouts, but here it’s […]Archive
February 12, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Manins/Samsom/Benebig/Lockett: SHUFFLE
Manins/Samsom/Benebig/Lockett SHUFFLE Rattle The Rattle label continues to defy the odds, making quality product (actual CDs, lovely covers, liner notes, packaging and production – never ‘just’ the music) and shining a light. Jazz, Maori music, contemporary classic – call it “art” music if you want a catch-all maybe, I like to think of the boutique […]Archive
January 31, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The 1001 Albums Challenge # 120: Barry Adamson – “Moss Side Story”
I already know I’ll be listening to this a lot more – I love it. Instantly. Which is no great surprise. I used to have a few Barry Adamson solo albums – and have followed most of his work and appearances. Anyone that can play with the range of artists and engage with a range of audience such as he […]Archive
January 1, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 345
Michael Houstoun, Piano (1979) This is my favourite $1 op-shop find. For now at least. I love Michael Houstoun – amazing talent, I feel lucky thinking about the number of times I’ve seen him perform. He threatens retirement this year but I always enjoy his playing. I love classical piano and Beethoven too – so it’s […]Archive
December 6, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Gig Review: Orchestra Wellington NEW WORLD (December 1, Wgtn)
Orchestra Wellington NEW WORLD MFC Saturday, December 1 The closing event in Orchestra Wellington’s 2018 program was a suitably epic closer to the “Great and Noble” season, featuring a guest conductor for one piece, a guest soloist in regular concert master Amalia Hall, a world premiere and some stately performances of the classical music world’s […]Archive
November 1, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Ralph Towner: My Foolish Heart
Ralph Towner My Foolish Heart Deutsche Grammophon/ECM One of my all-time favourite albums by anyone ever is Diary by Ralph Towner. What a beautiful and tranquil thing that is. And I found it because, on a whim, I was desperate for more Ralph Towner because, up to that point, and I guess beyond, one of […]Archive
October 20, 2018 by Simon Sweetman