New In Music This Week: June 20th

Welcome to the weekend and New In Music This Week: June 20^th. This week’s list of new releases and a couple of vinyl re-issues leans heavily towards jazz. But not exclusively jazz!

Here is my top pick for New In Music This Week: June 20^th:

JAZZ: DREAM MANIFEST – Theo Croker – Dom Recs

This album actually came out last week, but I only found out about it today. That means I’ve missed out on a full week of listening to this terrific new album by composer/producer/trumpeter Croker.

This isn’t just a jazz album. There are multiple elements and styles of music here (including R&B, hip-hop, house), but it coalesces in a way to be a fully realized look at the need for human connection. The end result is an album that is firmly its own unique vision. It also echoes back to great albums of the 70s and 80s while fully maintaining its independence of music created of and for these times.

Joining Croker on Dream Manifest are Gary Bartz, D’LEAU, Estelle, MAAD, Malaya, Tyreek McDole, Natureboy Flako and Kassa Overall.

I’ve been following Croker since 2014’s AfroPhysicist. At that time I was convinced he was one of our most imaginative musicians. Dream Manifest confirms that his level of imagination and spirit have grown exponentially. This is a superb album.

Here are the other fine recordings in New In Music This Week: June 20^th:

CLASSICAL: LA MER: FRENCH PIANO TRIOS – Neave Trio – Chandos Records

This is wonderful album of music by French composers. All of it performed exquisitely by the Neave Trio.

The members of Neave Trio are pianist Eri Nakamura, violinist Anna Williams and cellist Mikhail Veselov.

Opening La Mer is Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor. This 5-movement trio had its debut in 1892. It anchors the album and makes up half of this 65-minute album. It’s an intense work beautifully realized.

Mel Bonis’s Soir et matin, Op. 76 for Piano Trio is next. The simplicity and grace of this composition serves as perfect counterpoint to the tension and mystery of the Saint-Saéns.

Closing out the album is Debussy’s La Mer with an arrangement by Sally Beamish. This is one of the most performed works by orchestras.  Her arrangement works on so many levels. There’s no way three instruments can accomplish everything an orchestra can, but you don’t miss the orchestra in this arrangement – particularly as played here. 

La Mer, the album, features truly amazing musicianship at the highest level. This is an album I will be returning to for years to come.

CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL: SEASONS OF CHANGE – Curtis Stewart – Bright Shiny Things

We’ve all heard Vivaldi’s Four Seasons more times than we can possibly count. But you’ve never heard Four Seasons like this. Violinist Curtis Stewart has put together something completely different.

Vivaldi’s work has been re-arranged to serve as the foundation in which unhoused individuals in the Phoenix area are mixed in commenting about the impact of climate change on their lives. Who else experiences the extremes more than those without a house?

Stewart continues his examination of climate change by gradually eroding the influence of Vivaldi’s original work on his music. The views of the homeless also travel their own journey from darkness into guarded optimism.

Stewart plays violin throughout and is joined by Njioma Grievous, Lara St. John and Charles Yang on three cadenzas.

All of this sounds like a deeply intellectual exercise. It is one of the great joys and discoveries of Seasons of Change that it is far more than that. This is a deeply emotional album that is both satisfying and stimulating.

JAZZ:  CITY LIFE – Michael Dease – Origin Records

Trombonist Michael Dease has now recorded three albums of the music of Gregg Hill. The first was The Other Shoe: The Music of Gregg Hill. The second was Found in Space:The Music of Gregg Hill.

This new album is rooted in New York City’s tougher and grittier aspects. There are no walks in Central Park. No views of the beautiful skyline from a harbor cruise.

Put on your walking shoes and be ready for anything you might find in the shadows around any corner. You never know what’s lurking just in front of or in back of you.

There’s so much to explore amongst Hill’s music that this is a two-album set. The first album features Dease with Linda May Han Oh on bass and Jeff “Tain” Watts on drums. All three perform on the second album and are joined by saxophonist Nicole Glover and pianist Geoffrey Keezer.

Sit back, close your eyes, listen to this music and imagine a Martin Scorsese movie playing in your mind. I can’t think of a better way to enjoy City Life.

JAZZ: DOWN TO EARTH – Freddie Roach – Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series

Blue Note’s Classic Vinyl Series is focused on the organ this month with two releases this week. 

The first is this 1962 album by Freddie Roach. He’s joined by Kenny Burrell on guitar, Percy France on tenor Saxophone and Clarence Johnston on drums.

There are six tracks on Down to Earth. All but one (Henry Mancini’s Lujon) are originals by Roach.

As an organist, Roach had a neater and lighter style than his contemporaries. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not without its funk, it’s just not living quite so deeply in the funk as others did. If you want something funkier and grungier, keep reading this week’s list.

If you want some groove in your grooves (since this is a vinyl release), time to explore Down to Earth.

JAZZ:  LIVE IN JOHANNESBURG – NYO Jazz – Carnegie Hall

NYO Jazz is the youth ensemble at Carnegie Hall. If you worry about the future of big band music and ensembles, this album will restore your faith. Who knows whose career might start at NYO Jazz and end up being the next wunderkind in jazz?

This recording comes from four concerts at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa. Joining as special guests on the recording are bassist Romy Brauteseth and saxophonist Linda Sikhakkhane. Both of whom are South African artists.

The repertoire ranges from Duke Ellington to Thelonious Monk to Angela Bofill to Billy Childs to Lakecia Benjamin.

The arrangements are good. The playing is superb. If you love big band music/arrangements, you’ll want to spend 90 minutes with Live in Johannesburg.

JAZZ:  SOLACE OF THE MIND – Amina Claudine Myers – Red Hook Records

Now 83 years old, pianist/organist/vocalist/composer Meyers shows no signs of slowing down on this solo album.

Myers composed nine of the ten pieces. The traditional Steal Away is the only song she didn’t write.

Myers plays with intense passion, deep commitment and a grounded-ness that absolutely resonated in my soul. Perhaps the highest praise I can give this album is that it brought solace to my mind while listening to it.

This is a truly graceful and quietly powerful album. 

JAZZ:  STOP AND LISTEN – Baby Face Willette – Blue Note Classic Vinyl

Here’s the second jazz organ vinyl reissue for you this week:

Hammond B3 organ fans are probably already well aware of Baby Face Willette. If not, here’s a chance for vinyl fans to discover his second album for Blue Note that originally came out in 1961. It was his second release that year. Face to Face was the first.

There are four original songs on Stop and Listen. The other three songs are covers of Willow Weep for Me, At Last and Work Song.

Willette is joined by Ben Dixon on drums and Grant Green on guitar.

He would only record two more albums (Mo’Rock in 1964 and Behind the 8 Ball in 1965). He passed away at the age of 37 in 1971.

This is one cool record.

JAZZ:  WORDS FALL SHORT – Joshua Redman – Blue Note Records

After touring with pianist Paul Cornish, drummer Nazir Ebo and bassist Philip Norris for his 2023 album where are we, saxophonist/composer Redman has created a new quartet with those three musicians. They are his bandmates for Words Fall Short.

All eight tracks here are previously unrecorded originals by Redman. 

Somewhat ironically for an album entitled Words Fall Short (also the title of the third track on the album which features an outstanding opening 47 second solo by Norris), the album concludes with Era’s End which brings back vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa who appeared on where are we. Does this last track portend the end of his using vocals on his records? I hope not. This is a hauntingly beautiful ballad and Cavassa’s singing adds immeasurably to the song’s beauty.

Two other musicians join for tracks on this album: saxophonist Melissa Aldana and trumpeter Skylar Tang.

That’s all for New In Music This Week: June 20^th.

Enjoy your weekend! Enjoy some music!