Welcome to the weekend and New in Music This Week: April 24th. I have a diverse range of albums for you and styles of music. Plus four jazz reissues that any collector will likely want to have.
My top pick is:
JAZZ: CEIBA – SIMON MOULLIER – self-released
This is a terrific album by composer and vibraphonist Moullier. He composed all 11 tracks on this album that finds him performing with Jongkuk ‘JK’ Kim on drums; Lex Korten on piano and Rick Rosato on bass. Percussionist Keita Ogawa appears on two tracks. This is Moullier’s third release with his quartet.
Throughout this nearly 57-minute album, Moullier has written music influenced by his interest in a variety of places and styles from around the world: from Brazilian rhythms to Mozambique drum grooves; from being inspired by Mount Fuji while in Tokyo to walking in the Andes; from Coltrane to Bobby Hutcherson.
None of that would mean a thing if the music weren’t good and Ceiba is quite good. Moullier’s style is very different than that of other vibraphonist contemporaries. What makes him unique is the way this Frenchman coalesces all of his interests, discoveries and passions into a cohesive album that never plays it safe. Rather, it always reveals something fresh and exciting.
Traveling the world and the world of music with a vibraphonist has never felt as rewarding as it does on Ceiba. As the Brits might say, I was gobsmacked by Moullier’s album.
Here are the other fine recordings that are New In Music This Week: April 24th:
CHORAL: RIGWRECK – Gabriel Jackson / The Crossing / Donald Nally– Novana Records
This is the 40th album by The Crossing. They have a perfect record at the Grammy Awards – 4 nominations and 4 wins for Best Choral Performance. This new album is highly likely to extend that record.
They perform the work of contemporary British composer Gabriel Jackson. All the works on this remarkable album were commissioned by Donald Nally and The Crossing except the final work which was composed for Nally.
The album opens with his According to Seneca with text by Gustav Sobin from 2011. The Crossing gave the world premiere performance in June of that year. That is followed by Yes, I Am your angel which had its world premiere in July of 2016. The text is by Kārlis Vērdiņš as translated by Ieva Lešinska.
The title track, featuring text by Pierre Joris, had its world premiere in 2013. The Deepwater Horizon disaster prompted Jackson to compose this piece. Self-Portrait in Charleston, Orlando tackles gun violence and had its world premiere in 2019. It features text by Dean Rader.
The album concludes with Darest thou now O soul? which was composed for Donald Nally’s 60th birthday. The world premiere was in 2022 and features text by Walt Whitman.
Given The Crossing’s lengthy relationship with Jackson and their familiarity with his work, this is as perfect a recording one could possibly imagine of these five compositions.
Each one is utterly compelling and explores a variety of issues at the forefront (or should be at the forefront) of our thinking these days.
CLASSICAL: CARL REINECKE: FLUTE WORKS – Jeehee Han / Lang Lang / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Vasily Petrenko – Deutsche Grammophon
I’ve not spent much time listening to the works of German composer Reinecke. Which makes the joys of listening to Jeehee Han’s album that much richer. It also happens to be her debut album.
Reinecke’s Flute Concerto in D Major, Op. 283 opens the recording with Han joined by the Royal Philharmonic. This is a late composition of Reinecke’s and it was written in 1908 (he passed away in 1910). Some critics hailed the work and others thought it derivative. Han’s playing makes a persuasive argument on behalf of the concerto.
That is followed by his Undine sonata for flute and piano which was published in 1882. Joining Han on piano is Lang Lang. This four-movement sonata is quite impressively played.
The album closes with the adagio from Reinecke’s Ballade in D Minor, Op. 288 with the RPO.
Jeehee Han has made a beautiful and impressive first recording. I feared over 52 minutes of flute music would be overwhelming, but it was anything but. I really liked it.
GENRE DEFYING: REACHING FOR THE MOON – Elina Duni / Rob Luft – ECM Records
You could saw that this is a jazz album, but I think that would limit the power of this quietly intoxicating new album from vocalist Duni and guitarist Luft.
Yes, you can find songs that are fully jazz (Ornette Coleman’s Lonely Woman) or standards (the title track written by Irving Berlin). But Duni’s approach to these songs and others from all parts of the world is so unique that putting a label on it would be a fool’s game.
Not that she shares musical styles with artists like Beth Gibbons from Portishead; Hope Sandoval from Mazzy Star, Kate Bush or Enya, I had the same visceral response to her singing on this album.
Luft’s playing is the perfect accompaniment for this outstanding album. Pour yourself a drink, turn out the lights and venture into the world of this album. You won’t regret it.
JAZZ: TRIUMVIRATE – Billy Childs – Mack Avenue Music
It’s been a quarter century since pianist/composer Childs released a trio recording. Many of the songs he’s chosen for Triumvirate come from songs he recorded early in his career.
Joining Childs are Ari Hoenig on drums and Matt Penman on bass.
The first four tracks (One Fleeting Instant, Carefree, Like Father Like Son and Heroes) are originals written by Childs.
The second four tracks find them covering Whisper Not by Benny Golson; Ask Me Now by Thelonious Monk; Lazy Afternoon by John Latouche and Jerome Morossand Flamenco Sketches by Miles Davis.
While this is the first official recording by this trio, you wouldn’t know it by listening to Triumvirate. This is a solid and sophisticated album that allows each musician to showcase their individual talents and their abilities as a trio working intimately.
JAZZ: THE WONDERFUL WOLRD OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG – Wynton Marsalis & Vince Giordano – Blue Engine Records / Jazz at Lincoln Center
If you want nothing but pure bliss for 72 minutes, I strongly recommend this tribute to the music recorded by legendary trumpeter Louis Armstrong over a five-year-period from 1925 to 1930.
Marsalis is smart enough not to try to be Armstrong, nor is he trying to imitate him. He’s simply playing this music with the same joy and passion that Armstrong brought to these songs – albeit with much better recording technology.
Joining Marsalis for this delightful album is bass saxophonist and tuba player Giordano.
There are thirteen tracks including Hotter Than That, The Savoy Blues, Ski-Dat-De-Dat and Melancholy Blues.
They are joined by Chris Crenshaw on trombone, Victor Goines on tenor & soprano saxes, clarinet and bass clarinet; Carlos Henriquez on bass; Ali Jackson on drums and tambourine; Jon-Erik Kellso on trumpet; Dan Nimmer on piano; Ken Salvo on banjo and guitar and Andy Stein in violin.
JAZZ: SUIT YOURSELF – Judith Owen – Twanky Records
When I was first introduced by Judith Owen, I found myself watching and then listening to a singular performing who is absolutely doing what she was meant to do with her life.
Suit Yourself combines many of her passions: big band, blues and jazz. She performs songs by Mose Allison (Mind Is On Vacation); Irving Berlin (Blue Skies); George and Ira Gershwin (Shall We Dance?); Frank Loesser (If I Were A Bell); Bobby Timmons (Moanin’) and more.
There are also four originals by Owen (one co-written with Jamison Ross). I was quite impressed with them.
As I was with The Gentlemen Callers who make up her band: David Blenkhorn on guitar; Kevin Louis on cornet and trumpet; Ricardo Pascal on saxophone; Jamison Ross on drums; Pedro Segundo on drums and percussion; David Torkanowsky on piano and Lex Warshawsky on double bass.
Special guests include Joe Bonamassa, Davell Crawford, Tony Boyd-Cannon Choir and the J.O. Big Band.
JAZZ: LIVE AT JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER – Catherine Russell – Dot Time Records
This thoroughly entertaining album is a perfect companion to Wynton Marsalis’ Armstrong album above. And they both come from Lincoln Center. This is a performance from Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room.
The theme is The Hot Club of New York, a weekly gathering of fans of vintage jazz and blue records – particularly 78s. (Ask your parents.)
In addition to performing songs by her father Luis Russell, her setlist includes songs by Cab Calloway, Hot Lips Page, Jeter-Pillars Orchestra and more.
Selecting favorite tracks is impossible, because I love this album. But I guarantee you haven’t heard Old Man River quite like the performance on this album.
Joining Russell for these shows were John Allred on trombone; Evan Arntzen on tenor sax and clarinet; Domo Branch on drums; Russell Hall on bass; Jon-Erik Kellso on trumpet; Matt Munisteri on guitar and Ben Peterson on piano. Tap dancer Michela Marino Lerman joins for four tracks.
VINYL REISSUES
JAZZ: THE COMPLETE ‘ROUND ABOUT MIDNIGHT AT THE CAFÉ BOHEMIA – Kenny Dorham – Blue Note Tone Poet Vinyl
Trumpeter Dorham’s sextet appeared at New York City’s Café Bohemia in May of 1956. This was his first live recording.
The members of his sextet were Kenny Burrell on guitar; Arthur Edgehill on drums; Sam Jones on bass; J.R. Monterose on tenor saxophone and Bobby Timmons on piano.
The original vinyl had just six tracks on it. A later release had 17 tracks as does this vinyl release.
There are six Dorham originals plus performances of Autumn in New York, A Night in Tunisia, ‘Round About Midnight, Who Cares? and more.
Dorham doesn’t have the following that other musicians from the bebop/hardbop eras. This album makes it clear what a lot of people have missed out on. This is a great album.
I haven’t had a chance to hear the vinyl version, but it must sound a lot better than the digital version available on most platforms.
JAZZ: INTRODUCING LEE MORGAN – Lee Morgan – Craft Recordings
Just as it is hard to fathom that Billy Strayhorn was a teenager when he wrote Lush Life, it’s hard to believe that trumpeter Morgan was just 18 when he recorded over two days this album with Hank Mobley’s quartet.
In addition to tenor saxophonist Mobley, the other members were Hank Jones on piano; Art Taylor on drums and Doug Watkins on bass.
The album opens with Mobley’s Hank’s Shout. That’s joined by Nostalgia on the A-side. The B-side has Bet, Softly, As In a Morning Sunrise, P.S. I Love You, Easy Living and That’s All. The last four as played as a medley.
Just listen to Morgan throughout this album. He can go hardbop and be gentle within moments. I’ve long been a fan of Lee Morgan and consider any album of his worthy of your time and mine.
Craft Recordings has released this and the other two reissues on 180-gram vinyl and in hi-res audio.
JAZZ: THIS HERE IS BOBBY TIMMONS – Bobby Timmons – Craft Recordings
Here is another jazz musician whose reputation is probably not as big as it should be due to his early death. Timmons worked with Art Blakey’s Jazz messengers and Cannonball Adderley’s band.
This album finds the pianist play with Jimmy Cobb on drums and Sam Jones on bass. This was his first album as a leader.
The album opens with This Here and Moanin’, two of four Timmons originals and two of the most recognizable jazz tunes of all time. Later in the album his Dat Dere and Joy Ride are performed.
Track three finds Timmons playing a solo version of Lush Life. The other covers include Jule Styne’s The Party’s Over, Duke Ellington’s Prelude to a Kiss, Rodgers & Hart’s My Funny Valentine and Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer’s Come Rain or Come Shine.
The album was recorded and released in 1960.
JAZZ: THE YOUNG LIONS – The Young Lions – Craft Recordings
How’s this for a line-up of young lions: Bob Cranshaw on bass; Louis Hayes and Albert “Tootie” Heath alternating on drums; Lee Morgan on trumpet; Wayne Shorter on tenor sax; Frank Strozier on alto sax and Bobby Timmons on piano.
This album was recorded in one session in 1960 and released in the summer of 1961.
The album features That’s Right written by Morgan; Fat Lady written by Timmons and three tunes written by Shorter (Peaches and Cream, Scourn and Seeds of Sin).
The conflict between old and new, tradition and innovation are at the heart of any group of people called young lions or young turks. Simply put, The Young Lions, the only album featuring these musicians, is a real keeper.
That’s all for New In Music This Week: April 24th. What are you listening to first?
Enjoy your weekend! Enjoy the music!
Main Photo: Art from Simon Moullier’s Ceiba (Photo by Shervin Lainez/Courtesy Simon Moullier)