Jazz Recommends Jazz February 2019

Review: Mark de Clive-Lowe's legacy reaches right back to the early 90s, when he was involved in a variety of groups in his native New Zealand. Having covered a lot of ground since then, including working with Theo Parrish, he's now dropping this stunning live session recorded in his current home of Los Angeles with a band that includes Ammoncontact's Carlos Nino on percussion. From tender lulls to stormy peaks, this is a broad tapestry of contemporary jazz rooted in the thrill and energy of performance. Mark de Clive-Lowe is rightly considered a master in his field, and this is the perfect example of his craft.

Review: Back in 2017, we aptly described the Jukka Eskola Soul Trio as "the Finnish horn boss's newest project". The combo is now not so new, of course, but the trumpeter and flugelhorn player's outfit remains a go-to source for quality jazz and jazz-funk material. There's more than a little Latin flavour to be found on "Tiny B", a Hammond-powered shuffler rich in South American drum rhythms and the kind of sticky trumpet solos that were once a hallmark of Herb Alpert's records. Flipside "Stick Of A Branch" is a far more up-tempo affair, with Eskola's punchy playing riding fluid vibraphone motifs and floor-rocking jazz drums.

Review: Staubgold sub-label Modern Jazz Dance Classics (MJDC) was initially created by friend-of-the-imprint Jeff The Fish to offer vinyl pressings to previously digital-only contemporary jazz-dance cuts. It's been rather successful so far, as this first label compilation provides. There are 15 catalogue highlights showcased on this must-have double album, including the deep jazz-funk flex of Bill Laurance's "Time To Run", the synth-powered brilliance of Khari Cabral & Jiva's "Gemineyes", the righteous Jap-Jazz insanity of Cro Magnon Jin's relentless "First Landing", some sweaty drums and high-octane horn lines from Hermento Pascoal and an insanely percussive, funk-fired wig out from Volunteered Slaves titled "VSOP".

Review: Way back in 1976, now legendary U.S jazz drummer Steve Reid and his band, The Legendary Master Brotherhood, headed into Studio WE in NYC to record what would become "Nova" - a near-legendary debut album that has since become a cult classic. Featuring a mix of punchy free jazz and free funk, the set is still regarded by many jazz-heads as Reid's defining work. Here it gets a fresh reissue on limited orange vinyl, with Soul Jazz Records doing their usual bang-up job on the mastering and packaging. There's much to admire throughout, from the fizzing dueling trumpet and sax solos of breezy opener "Nova", to the spiraling spiritual jazz intensity of "Free Spirits - Unknown" and the free-jazz epic "Sixth House".

Review: The latest limited-edition salvo on Jazzman's contemporary jazz offshoot Jazz45 comes courtesy of Soren Skov Orbit, a Copenhagen-based outfit formed by saxophonist Soren Lyhne Skov and pianist Peder Vind. The two tracks stick closely to the project's founding principles of fusing global musical traditions with modal jazz. A-side "Orbit Bound", where hissing cymbals, hypnotizing piano motifs, plodding double bass and ear-catching saxophone solos cluster around a droning bass clarinet, is probably the pick of the pair, though the more straight-up, trad-jazz warmth of "NV" is also very enjoyable. As debut outings go, it's hugely impressive; here's hoping we hear more from Skov and Vind in the months and years ahead.

Review: Under its original Japanese title, "Gogo Sanji No Aki" first appeared on Johnny's Disk Records way back in 1982. It was written, performed and recorded by artists who all but disappeared afterwards, namely vocalist Mayumi Sonoda and a backing trio helmed by pianist Kichiro Sugino. As this reissue proves, it remains a hugely enjoyable set of vocal jazz standards given an atmospheric twist. Vocals are delivered in both Japanese and English in a surprisingly classic manner. In fact, Sonoda sounds like she spent years singing in smoky American jazz bars rather than earning her stripes on the Japanese scene. With Sugino in fine form on the piano throughout, "Gogo Sanji No Aki" is a gently breezy, high-class delight.