Friday, January 31, 2020

Full Show Friday: Jason Palmer and Tucker Antell 11/24/19 Portsmouth, NH

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Jason Palmer & Tucker Antell!


It's Jazzy January again here at RtBE, so get ready to kick off 2020 with some different styled shows every Friday. For this series we skew into new (or more recent) jazz lands. Keeping it current proves there is amazing live jazz still being performed no matter what Ken Burns says.


We are going to end the month of our focus on Jazz with a random youtube find. It is a full show from November 24th last year at The Press Room in Portsmouth, NH performed by Jason Palmer & Tucker Antell with Ryan Parker - Piano, Max Ridley - Bass, Tyson Jackson - Drums. The quintet plays a dynamite acoustic jazz set an while they are new to us, Palmer and Antell have been very active in the Boston Jazz scene. 

This show right here is why we keep doing this monthly focus year after year, we keep finding amazing artists who worth checking out. 

One camera angle, but it is all that is needed as the sound is top notch and the band is excellent.  Enjoy and thanks for spending the month with us and our Jazz focus. RtBE will return to regular programming in February.  

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Album Review: Brass Against - Brass Against II

Brass Against 
Brass Against II
*** out of *****

The New York based collective Brass Against second full length release mixes up their interpretations of prog-rock, funk, folk and hip hop artists with blasting horns and heavy metal explosiveness, all the while delivering those artists politically charged lyrics.

The main players are Andrew Gutauskas- Bari Sax/Arranger, Brad Hammonds- Guitar, Mariel Blidstein - Trombone but the band grows from song to song. The album begins with the bands rendering of "Lateralus" by Tool, stretching out and winding around the ominous prog-rock with bass and gloom just around the corner while they manage to make Audioslave funky with their heavy handed horns on "Show Me How to Live".

The best of the bunch may just be "Gasoline" which finds Amanda Brown delivering a more soulful approach to the tune, moving further away from the original in winning fashion; a clear album highlight. Not every cover is a success as "War Pigs" feels stilted, especially in comparison to say Brownout's better suited horn based cover of the tune and Jane's Addiction "Mountain Song" loses it's core bass rumbling, substituting a thinner sound. 

The band's main source of inspiration and best delivery comes from Rage Against The Machine's catalog. "No Shelter" is grooving hip hop based around Sophia Urista's take on Zach de la Rocha's rhyming while "Know Your Enemy" delivers banging horn charts and solos around Urista's shouts.

The record wraps up with a cover of Bob Dylan's "Maggie's Farm" which is clearly inspired by RaTM's take of the song but manages it's own pumping spin on the classic tune of rebellion. More than jut a straight cover album Brass Against II infuses the originals with a vibrant sense of 2019 aggressiveness for divided political times.
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Support the band, buy the album and peep some video below:


Wednesday, January 29, 2020

2019 Recap: Favorite Albums, Shows, Etc

With all the hectic happenings at the end of the year, things can be missed. This is just a catch up post to point out a few of our favorite things from 2019 that shouldn't go unnoticed. There were many strong releases, great live shows, amazing musical moments....2020 has a lot to live up to.

Before we jump into what was hot from last year (and last decade) we should point out we went back in time even further during 2019 and did a monthly focus on our Masters Series. Each month we discussed an artist/group we respected and who formed RtBE tastes (as an example June was for Jimi). Feel free to check each of those out as well. 

Now...in case you missed it here are our Best of 2019 series of posts...

Our picks for best album art of 2019, where we check out some creative album art from the last year.

Our picks for best live show of 2019, what an amazing year for live tunes...all of these were jaw dropping nights in their own ways.

Finally our three part series for albums of the year. Part one, our just misses and letdowns, part two our picks for 10-5, part three our top 5, picks for best albums of 2019.  Again all of these are fantastic and worth your time and attention.

Also as an added bonus we have our list of the top fifty albums of the past decade which you can check out and yell at us about. The top live albums from the last decade get a little bit of love as well.

Feel free to let us know your choices for all of the above in the comments and thanks as always for reading and exploring...as the patron saint of this site stated:

What are those of the known, but to ascend and enter the Unknown? 

Album Review: Allison Miller's Boom Tic Boom - Glitter Wolf

Allison Miller's Boom Tic Boom
Glitter Wolf
**** out of *****

The fantastic drummer Allison Miller leads a group of experimental jazz players on Glitter Wolf, a diverse, constantly exciting and instantly enjoyable jazz offering. While never easy, this dense and powerful record propels forward with unique arraignments and Miller's driving force.

Allison Miller's Boom Tic Boom includes Miller, violinist Jenny Scheinman, cornetist Kirk Knuffke, clarinetist Ben Goldberg, bassist Todd Sickafoose and pianist Myra Melford. The group was touring for two years together before entering the studio to record the ten songs presented here.

Opener sets the tone as "Congratulations and Condolences" kicks off the record on a high note with killer drum beats, group interplay which allows for soloing and locking in as needed. The loose acoustic bass thumps from Sickafoose and beefy clarinet blows from Goldberg stand out but the whole collective cooks. 

The piano and killer groove light the way for "Malaga" which gets the head bobbing with Latin flair while "Zev-The Phoenix" is a more restrained reflective piece. The whole band locks in for the bebop start of "Daughter and Sun" before moving into scenic wide open spaces while album closer "Valley of The Giants" works with layers of various percussion to wrap up the record.

Things can become a bit cluttered at times, "The Ride" feels like five different songs in one and the changes can be jarring as when Miller completely drops out and leaves Scheinman's strings alone. While those transitions can be clunky, when the group is up and running the rough patches are easily forgotten. 

Miller's drums are dynamite throughout as she leads from the back on tunes like the double wolf combo of the expansive "White Wolf" and the stop/starting of the title track. The odd funky groove of "Welcome Hotel" is just one more showcase for Boom Tic Boom's collective style as Miller and company shine bright throughout.
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Support the artist, buy the album, stream it on bandcamp or below and peep some video:


Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Album Review: Dopolarians - Garden Party

Dopolarians
Garden Party
***and1/2 out of *****

The group Dopolarians is a coming together of jazz legends to play in a free form way on Garden Party. The music moves from soothing to angular and challenging as these long time associates traverse a wide range of sound on this collection of tunes. 

The band are Alvin Fielder — Percussion, Kidd Jordan — Tenor Saxophone, William Parker — Bass, Christopher Parker — Piano, Kelley Hurt — Voice and Chad Fowler — Alto Saxophone, Saxello and almost all have played together in some way in the past, but most had not done so in quite some time. The album is a Southern affair, being recorded in New Orleans (only having the bassist Parker from New York) and the relaxed tone speaks to the south but the adventurous playing speaks to everyone.

Opener "C Melody" starts sparse moves to loud, avant-garde style of sounds, lead by percussionist Fielder who doesn't even touch his cymbals until about three and a half minutes in, just thumping the path for all to follow. Unfortunately this would be Fielder's last album as he passed away in 2019, but it is a worthy legacy.

"Dopoloria" is a smoother workout, but still has jagged edges as things squeak and squawk around as pianist Parker moves along under Kelley Hurt's vocal ooh and ahh's dripping directly into the following effort "Father Dies; Son Dies" which keeps the energy while kicking up the rhythmic vibe. 

Hurt's poetic/spoken word vocals are the focal point to start "Garden Party" before the squealing brass and brushed percussion join as the song moves into a more light jazz direction, however, with this group sonic chaos is always just under the surface.

The band plays "Guilty Happy" repeating a motif until happiness almost resembles madness while album closer "Impromptu" moves into free-bop range spiraling all over the place as Jordan's sax and Fielders drums skitter all over the place wrapping up a searching outing, proving there is always more to say in jazz and never enough time. 
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Support the band, buy the album, stream it on bandcamp or below and peep some video:    

Monday, January 27, 2020

Dylan Cover #412 Hudson "Lay Lady Lay"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Hudson playing "Lay Lady Lay"
Jazzy January has invade Mondays! All this month we will check out various artists covering Dylan in a Jazz vibe, can you dig it daddy-o? 
Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we addressed a cover of this tune:
Excellent track and the first time the world heard Dylan's new singing style, which would only last for Nashville Skyline. This song is the standout track from this album, it is a classic and so simple, yet sweet and timeless. One of Dylan's best tracks, this phase was the the closest to "country" he ever got and "Lay Lady Lay" is an overall fantastic piece of music.
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
We first found out about this Hudson release earlier this year, and have been digging on the album. Some of RtBE favs are inthe band so why wouldn't it be great?

Thoughts on Cover:
A less adventurous cover than "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" but a fun, light airy take on the track which has an almost Caribbean breeze to it. Medeski's keys and Scofield's guitar lead the way bu the drums and bass lock things down expertly.  

Friday, January 24, 2020

Full Show Friday: Linda May Han Oh: Aventurine | JAZZ NIGHT IN AMERICA

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Linda May Han Oh!

It's Jazzy January again here at RtBE, so get ready to kick off 2020 with some different styled shows every Friday. For this series we skew into new (or more recent) jazz lands. Keeping it current proves there is amazing live jazz still being performed no matter what Ken Burns says.

Bassist and band leader Linda May Han Oh directs her players in this engaging musical adventure. Pro Shot, Pro Sound, full set list and information below. Enjoy:

This concert was recorded at NPR's Studio One in Washington, D.C., on July 1, 2019. 

SET LIST 00:00 - "Kirigami" 10:44 - "Song Yue Rao (Moon in the Pines)" 16:02 - "Aventurine" 22:13 - "Lilac Chaser" 28:11 - "Yoda" 33:05 - "Lucid Lullaby" 45:40 - "Broome We Are Here" 47:33 - "The Sirens Are Wailing" 55:46 - "Ebony"

MUSICIANS Linda May Han Oh (bandleader, acoustic and electric bass) Greg Ward (soprano and alto saxophones) Matt Mitchell (piano) Ches Smith (drums and vibraphone) Fung Chern Hwei (violin) Curtis Stewart (violin) Benni von Gutzeit (viola) Jeremy Harman (cello)

Thursday, January 23, 2020

New Peal Jam Single, Tickets On Sale Tomorrow

The first single from Pearl Jam's upcoming album Gigaton has been released. It is titled "Dance Of The Clairvoyants (Mach I)" and you can listen below.

The tune has a huge Talking Heads influence which was completely unexpected. The over produced drums and groovy bass line make this a rare dance track in Pearl Jam's catalog. Honestly RtBE holds little hope for a new Pearl Jam studio record, as their last one was dull, but this slight switch in style makes us more intrigued.

No matter their studio output Pearl Jam are one of the last great rock bands playing these days and tickets for their North American tour go on sale to the general public tomorrow on the evil Ticketmaster.

Album Review: Jon Batiste - Chronology Of A Dream: Live at the Village Vanguard

Jon Batiste 
Chronology Of A Dream: Live at the Village Vanguard
**** out of *****

On his Jon Batiste's first release from his 2018 Village Vanguard residency, titled Anatomy of Angels, he delivered a more traditional jazz record in a tribute to one of his musical heroes Thelonius Monk. Now comes the second release from that residency titled Chronology Of A Dream and it is a richer, fuller representation of the artists skills and charisma, blending genres, incorporating new styles and remaining true to his own sound. 

From the soulful scat singing on the opening rollicking "BLACCK" to the tambourine shaking New Orleans tribute of "PWWR" the vibrant energy is palpable through the speakers as Batiste leads the crowd through some Who Dat? Saints inspired cheering around gorgeous high tempo and soft piano playing to fade out. His hometown of New Orleans is never far from his mind as "KENNER" gets the gumbo bumbling with hints of James Booker and Professor Longhair while one of Batiste's friends and mentors Roy Hargrove gets a tribute during a cover of his "SOULFUL".

The core group of players are drummer Joe Saylor, bassist Phil Kuehn, percussionist Negan Santos, trumpeter Giveton Gelin, saxophonists Tivon Pennicott and Patrick Bartley, tubist/trumpeter Jon Lampley, and guitarist Louis Cato but it is Batiste's record. The groove may march the way forward during the popping "BIRTHE" but it is Batiste's piano work which shines above the funky head bopping lines.

Chronology Of A Dream is just a ton of fun and as it was taken from the same set of shows as Anatomy of Angels, this is clearly the livelier record and better representation of his sound. That said, getting to see both sides of Batiste, the classical trained jazz professional and the lively party time band leader, on the same night makes him a special talent and one never to be missed on the live stage or live album.

(This record was included on our list of best live albums of the 2010's)
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Support the artist, buy the album and peep some video below:


Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Interview: Stoo Odom - New Orleans Bassist

Our second New Orleanian jazz artist we are lucky enough to talk about (and talk to) on RtBE today as we direct you to our interview with Stoo Odom which Glide Magazine was nice enough to publish.

We have known Stoo for a few years now and after a recent trip south we discussed his new album coming out, as well as his upcoming tour of Japan. This was a perfect time to conduct a formal interview with Mr. Odom and include it both on Glide as well as RtBE's Jazzy January.



Please support the artist, read the interview, check out his bandcamp site and peep some video below:

Album Review: Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah - Ancestral Recall

Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah 
Ancestral Recall
***and1/2 out of *****

Following up the excellent and huge in scope Centennial Trilogy, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah goes even further away from traditional sound, pulling his self proclaimed "Stretch Music" as he explores lyrical passages, less and less horns and more and more variations on percussion and just odd soundscapes with Ancestral Recall.

The album opens with layered clapping leading into the most gorgeous and complete piece delivered this go around as "Her Arrival" is a stunner. Propelled by rhythmic drumming, trumpet blasts and a sense of purpose with band mate Elena Pinderhughes contributing on flute . "Before" (also featuring Pinderhuges) is a wonder as well as the natural sounds morph as the horns and flutes rise into a deep drum groove which enchants and could roll on forever; tracks like these are wonderful and point to CSaA's immense talent and ear for combining sonic worlds.

It must be noted though for all of the tracks success other times on the record, such as "Diviner [Devan]" and digitally repetitive "Prophesy", things feel as if they are just sonic experiments, not meant to really go anywhere, like all experiments, some are more successful than others. Vocals are now a clear part of CSaA's attack as his friend Saul Williams arrives to deliver his spoken word poetry over digital beats on "I Own The Night" and the incredibly percussive title track while "Forever Girl" invites MC's Mike Larry Draw and Chris Turner to rhyme and sing over the playing.

"Songs She Never Heard" pushes the groove but also incorporates soaring sax work from Logan Richardson and Lawrence Fields piano before distorting the sound with various filters and production tricks. A track like "Overcomer" feels like a natural progression as it incorporates breathy chanting, a deep bass groove and soaring solos, but the filters/production again shellacs the horn with distortion, diluting it's sound and impact. These production add on's seem to be the work of a restless ear and  while certainly unique, they tend to detract from the overall style. Scott has said he makes his own horns because he disliked the sound of the trumpet and that coloring of the main instrument can be both exciting and off putting. 

Also at times his horn work doesn't feel like main instrument on Ancestral Recall as the bass and drums in various coloring's are put in the forefront. Frequent collaborator Weedie Braimah percussion is all over the album as is the synth percussion from CSaA himself. "Ritual (Rise of Cheif Adjuah)" pairs that production with swirling sounds and horn work before petering out with weird synths then rising again around percussive hand drums.   

Ancestral Recall is a challenging album and one that continues the push for blending everything into the sonic whole, and while not always successful, it is never boring. Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah is constantly trying out new scopes and spaces for sound and is tied to no musical boundary. This can be classified as jazz because what else can it be? The best answer is the one CSaA gave years ago, "stretch music" as he continues to explore and see how far he can take the sound and RtBE will certainly be along to enjoy the ride. 

(This album also made Glide Magazine's Top 20 Jazz Releases of 2019)
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Support the artist, buy the album, stream it on bandcamp or below and peep some video:


Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Album Review: Algiers - There Is No Year

Hey all, got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!

It is of Algiers newest release, There Is No Year.

Produced by experimental artists like Randall Dunn [Sunn O))), Earth] and Ben Greenberg [Zs, Uniform] the band tries to scale back their rock sound and push minimalist industrialist sound.  The band has been better, but definitely check them out for yourselves.

Support the artists, read the review, buy the record and peep some video below:

Album Review: Jon Batiste - Anatomy of Angels: Live at the Village Vanguard

Jon Batiste 
Anatomy of Angels
*** out of *****

The first of two live albums from Jon Batiste recorded during his 2018 six night residency at The Village Vanguard in New York City, Anatomy of Angels captures Batiste and his band as they move through elegant passages of sound and scope. 

Opening with his original composition "Creative" finds Batiste leading things as his Stay Human bassist Phillip Kuehn and drummer Joe Saylor support in acoustic trio fashion.  The tune shows Batiste elegant piano leads before shaking stomp breaks, complete with tambourine shakes, lively up the number.

The first guest is invited to sing on a version of Ray Noble's classic "The Very Thought of You" as Lake Street Drive's Rachael Price delivers the standard in a smooth and understated manner. The torch song breaks up the rivers of flowing piano keys and adds a different dynamic to the short record. 

Unlike some of Batiste other offerings, or his Late Show television theatrics, Anatomy of Angels is old school jazz (no R&B or hip hop here) in the vein of his musical idol Thelonious Monk. Batiste pays tribute to Monk's style with his own tune "Dusk Train To Doha" before expanding his band to an eight piece and tackling Monk's own "Round Midnight" with grace and power.   

The extra players (trumpeters Giveton Gelin and Jon Lampley, saxophonists Patrick Bartley and Tivon Pennicott) stick around for the most successful effort, the adventurous and flowing title number. After a blissful start a flurry of keys begins to quicken the pace as tempos shift and adjust around the excellent drumming and trumpet work. The most natural and exciting number presented on this live album.

Even with an expanded band Batiste remains the focal point, as his piano runs are loud and constantly moving, giving the supporting players the notes to rally around. Batiste easily slips into the role of bandleader, and after his huge Hollywood Africans release this lighter throwback live album is a mellow listen. 
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Support the artist, buy the album and peep some video below:



Monday, January 20, 2020

Dylan Cover #411 Gary Burton Quartet "I Want You" Live

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Gary Burton Quartet playing "I Want You" 
Jazzy January has invade Mondays! All this month we will check out various artists covering Dylan in a Jazz vibe, can you dig it daddy-o?

Thoughts on Original:
(From the first time we tackled a cover of this song)
A song that fits the Gemini Dylan like a glove; direct lyrical yearning chorus with verses that meander about introducing characters like roadblocks in the way of true love. It was the last tune written for the mega Blonde on Blonde and a song he and others (it was Al Kooper's favorite) admired so much he almost titled the album after it. Never a track that jumps to the top of peoples "favorites" or "best of" Dylan lists but one that really nails what the artist is all about in some of the simplest terms.

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
The vibe player Gary Burton and his Quartet are solid jazz men but also new to RtBE, we will have to dig a bit deeper on them in the future.

Thoughts on Cover:
The group gets after it as they play an energetic and bass driven attack on the tune. Very melodic and grooving this is a damn good cover for our Jazzy January taken from the band's live Carnegie Hall concert.  

Happy MLK Day: March on Washington 1963

This is a tradition here at RtBE. While we are including this in our Monday Dylan series, this is a necessary break from the routine.
We here at RtBE have lots of heroes and most stem from America's hard fought past. We have talked about the godfather of this site, we will probably touch on Lincoln at some point, but the man who we celebrate today is right up there both of them. Martin Luther King Jr. is an American who deserves to be honored right alongside the greatest our country has ever produced.

We are happy to dedicate this Monday to him and to help celebrate the day we will post a 10 minute clip of Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and others performing songs at one of the most monumental days for democracy, the1963 March on Washington DC.

Dylan plays "When The Ship Comes In" with Baez helping out, "Only A Pawn In Their Game" solo and joins a group for "Keep Your Eyes On The Prize".



Have a great day and make sure to watch this, MLK's last prophetic public words:


It is still so incredibly moving.

The full speech is located here and worth listening to as well and you can read this amazing writing which unfortunately is still relevant today from King as well:

Friday, January 17, 2020

Full Show Friday: Herbie Hancock 2006

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Herbie Hancock!

It's Jazzy January again here at RtBE, so get ready to kick off 2020 with some different styled shows every Friday. For this series we skew into new (or more recent) jazz lands. Keeping it current proves there is amazing live jazz still being performed no matter what Ken Burns says.

We are showcasing one of the legends this week as Herbie Hancock takes the stage to deliver some funky jazz offerings from 2006. Pro Shot, Pro Sound, full set list below. Enjoy:



● Tracklist: 1. Actual Proof 2. Watermelon Man 3. Stitched Up 4. Maiden Voyage 5. Virgin Forest 6. Cantaloupe Island 7. Chameleon
● Personnel: Herbie Hancock - piano, keyboards Lionel Loueke - guitar, vocals Nathan East - bass, vocals Vinnie Colaiuta - drums

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Album Review: Mel Stirling - Standing To Fall (EP)

Mel Stirling
Standing To Fall
*** out of *****


The first solo offering from Los Angeles-based Australian artist, Mel Stirling is titled Standing to Fall and it is a rocking effort that soars with arena ready riffs and singalong hooks.

A throw back to an alt-rock 90's sound the record is chock full of ringing guitars, layers of production and metallic heaviness. Stirling's voice rises above it all with clear power as the EP kicks off with "Slipping Slowly", a straight ahead grungy rocker which adds layers of distortion and power to close while "Leave It Behind" switches gears and moves to pop rock with an upbeat strum, synths and a bouncy low end.

The title track is the most nuanced on the EP as pianos and army of guitars (acoustic and electric) overpower everything but Stirling's soaring vocals; if anything there is too much crammed into the song resulting in an extra weighty five and half minutes. "Pain and Waiting" stays dramatic, but is more successful as it strips back the guitar layers and increases the piano work, ominous undertones and soaring vocals.

The production is top notch, having been recorded and mastered at Alchemix Studios in Brisbane’s West End, Australia. Stirling's voice is the clear star, however sometimes the overloaded musical backing takes away from her strength on the record.

"Kamikaze" calls to mind some of the rock epics from Guns N' Roses Use Your Illusion days with drawn out drama over heavy drums and increasing instrumentation before album closer "Here And Now" wraps up Standing to Fall back on the pop rock front with shimmering guitar lines proving Mel Stirling can go both direct or over the top with her alt-rock style. 
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Support the artist, buy the album and stream it on her site, also peep some video:

2020 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Artist Announcement

The lineup for the 2020 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival has been announced!

Here is the video with the classic Dr John jam "Right Place, Wrong Time" as the soundtrack:


We got a few of our predictions right and a few wrong (Can't believe we forgot about the Black Crowes reunion), but this year seems really solid top to bottom.

Here are a few artists playing to get you in the mood:








Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Album Review: Branford Marsalis Quartet - The Secret Between The Shadow And The Soul

Branford Marsalis Quartet
The Secret Between The Shadow And The Soul
**** out of *****

Banford Marsalis has been crafting excellent acoustic jazz for decades now and his newest release continues this trend. The Secret Between The Shadow And The Soul tackles originals and covers with a relaxed cool, even when things really get out there.

The quartet, pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis, and drummer Justin Faulkner have an easy going musical understanding and while Marsalis may be the marquee name, this is clearly a collective as each artist is vital to the songs.

The most adventurous number kicks off the record as the band tackles the Revis written tune "Dance of the Evil Toys". The piano and bass set the tone before Branford's horn enters, the tempo picks up and chaos pokes it's head in and out as the track rumbles forward. Calderazzo's piano solo towards the finale is the highlight of the opening effort and the veteran piano player is truly the standout MVP of this record, writing two numbers and playing brightly on all of them.

His smooth piano work is showcased during both his original ballads "Conversation Among The Ruins" and the mellow mood piece "Cianna" which displays a Spanish flair. A take on Eric Hill's "Snake Hip Waltz" is yet another successful outing as again Calderazzo shines along with the vibrating bass work of Revis. Marsalis and Faulkner come alive during the pumping "Nilaste" which is a whirlwind of sound as yet again Calderazzo's piano puts a pin in things.

The Marsalis led blues infused "Life Filtering from the Water Flowers" is a somber piece with some direct playing from the saxophone legend but the album closing rendition of Keith Jarrett's "The Windup" finds the band having the most fun out of any of the tracks here.

Starting with lively piano work the drums kick up as bebop horn fills flow effortlessly. The band navigates sharp angles, musical changes and groovy passages as it spreads its wings and really get after it to close this excellent record.

Over the hour of exciting music presented on The Secret Between The Shadow And The Soul  the Branford Marsalis Quartet prove they are game for anything and experts in the smooth, rough and all textures in-between.

(This album also made Glide Magazine's Top 20 Jazz Releases of 2019)
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Support the band, buy the album and peep some video below:

NOLA Jazzfest 2020, Artist Predictions

The lineup for the 2019 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will be announced tomorrow but RtBE got the early scoop...

Actually no we don't...but since it is fun to predict, lets look into the crystal ball and guess who will be and who should be playing.

We will exclude the brass bands and local acts (even though they are truly the main reason we go) including nationally touring NOLA acts like Irma Thomas, Kermit Ruffins, Big Sam,  GalacticTrombone Shorty all the Brass Bands who will all be there.

Also we are obviously skipping the great jazz, blues and gospel acts who will be the foundation of the festival in their respective tents. Lets just talk about the bigger national touring artists for now....We will focus more on locals closer to the show.
To get in the southern festive NOLA mood, here is a great video done by Jeronimo Acero that my friend the fantastic Lu Brow sent north to warm me up during the winter.
Now on to the predictions....

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

New Orleans JazzFest Artist Announcement Coming Thursday

The best festival in America announce their headliners this Thursday as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will reveal their headliners in just two days.


We will have our predictions tomorrow but here is hoping the festival continues to deliver the goods with their big name acts.

The truth is RtBE has been attending the festival for 11 straight years now and the real reason to go is not Bruce Springsteen or Stevie Wonder (both of who who we have seen play the Fest in the past). It is because of the local acts who don't tour, the food, the Gospel/Blues/Jazz tents and the over arching great vibes that emanate from the stage.

We will get to the big acts with guesses tomorrow but for today lets showcase a few live sets from local artists and the food to get in the mood:




Album Review: Futurebirds - Teamwork

Futurebirds
Teamwork
***and1/2 out of *****

The veteran Athens, GA outfit Futurebirds newest release Teamwork is a delightful mixing of Americana, Psychedelic country and good old fashion rock and roll as it works its way through twelve tracks complete with harmonies, horns, guitars and shining examples of successful songwriting.

The band, Thomas Johnson, Johnny Lundock, Carter King, Brannen Miles, and Daniel Womack, work as a true collective with each member contributing to the writing of songs, harmonies and lead vocals. The overall sound from track to track shifts with various influences seeping in, but the southern twang and steel guitar is never far from the center.

The group has a large Wilco influence as they work in the alt-country ramble and steel guitars for “My Broken Arm” but even better is the yearning-to-soaring adventure of “Wandering Minds”, which digs deep emotionally. “Picking Up Strangers” would be at home in a Drive-By Trucker live set while “Dream, Fam!” amps up the bass work and horns reminiscent of successful My Morning Jacket outings and “Trippin” injects a bit of a Tom Petty pop rock influence into the radio friendly jam.

While those influences are all positive, the band makes its own mark on the excellent “Killing Ground” which deals with addiction around raspy vocals and shimmering guitars while album opener “CBL” expertly uses glimmering guitar lines, ringing harmonies, country swagger and a stout back beat to recall joys of eras past.

The band recorded Teamwork while on tour all over the country and at times the production can sound muddle with vocals pushed to the back or layered under fuzzy layers of instrumentation, echoes and effects. An example is the southern soul displayed on “Wear It Out” which blares successfully, but crisper production would reward with even better results. However, experimental closer “Waiting On A Call” works well with that overloaded style, crafting an electronic sonic journey.

One of Futurebirds strongest overall efforts of their career, Teamwork is easy going while posing emotional questions, taking things as they come while delivering tunes for the road trip of life.
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Support the band, buy the album and peep some video below:

Monday, January 13, 2020

New Pearl Jam Album, Gigaton and World Tour Coming 2020

The Seattle band Pearl Jam are back with a new album and world tour for 2020.  The group today announced Gigaton, their follow up to 2013's Lighting Bolt, and a tour to support the record.

The album cover is a photo from the excellent Paul Nicklen and speaks to climate change, a cause very important to the band.

Pearl Jam are one of the best rock and roll bands going today and are worth checking out if you can make it to one of the announced shows. Odds are RtBE will be at MSG on 3/30 and there is a hope that the band headlines Jazzfest, but we will talk about that later this week.

For now let's enjoy some live PJ. North American tour dates are below and European dates can be found on their site:






March 18th – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena

March 20th – Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre

March 22nd – Quebec City, QC @ Videotron Centre

March 24th – Hamilton, ON @ FirstOntario Centre

March 28th – Baltimore, MD @ Royal Farms Arena

March 30th – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden

April 2nd – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena

April 4th – St. Louis, MO @ Enterprise Center

April 6th – Oklahoma City, OK @ Chesapeake Energy Arena

April 9th – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center

April 11th – Phoenix, AZ @ Gila River Arena

April 13th – San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena

April 15th & 16th – Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum

April 18th & 19th – Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena

Dylan Cover #410 Brad Mehldau & Chris Thile "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" Live

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Brad Mehldau & Chris Thile playing " Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"
Jazzy January has invade Mondays! All this month we will check out various artists covering Dylan in a Jazz vibe, can you dig it daddy-o? 

Thought's on Original:
From the first time we reviewed a cover of this tune:
This song is so iconic and flat out awesome, even people who dislike Dylan have to enjoy this tune right? Biting and yet not bitter, a toss off of the grandest proportions, "Don' Think Twice, It's All Right" is epic and yet so straight forwardly simple. It easily ranks as one of the bard's best works, truly a classic and has been covered by so many people in so many ways.
Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
This is our first time hearing Brad Mehldau play. We featured Chris Thile in this series once before.

Thoughts on Cover:
A great musical duet between piano and mandolin with Thile singing excellently. A very cool jazz influenced version of this oft covered tune.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Full Show Friday: Ben Wolfe Sextet Live @ Dizzy's 2017

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Ben Wolfe Sextet!

It's Jazzy January again here at RtBE, so get ready to kick off 2020 with some different styled shows every Friday. For this series we skew into new (or more recent) jazz lands. Keeping it current proves there is amazing live jazz still being performed no matter what Ken Burns says.

Some really great players as Randy Brecker, Luis Perdomo, Joel Ross join the band leader and stand up bassist Ben Wolfe. The outfit run through some killer jazz in 2017 right in the heart of NYC. Pro Shot, Pro Sound, Enjoy:

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Album Review: Son Swagga - Dark Magic

Son Swagga
Dark Magic
***and1/2 out of *****

The Dutch collective Son Swagga is a nine piece outfit who get after it by tossing funk, reggae, jazz, rock and psych into a pot then blend the ingredients for hours on end. The second full length release from the band titled Dark Magic is all about the groove as it rolls out killer sounds fit for late night jam sessions. 

The opening title track sets the tone with a funk bass and rock overtures that ebb and flow around synth flourishes and a huge mid song horn solo, an invigorating start to Dark Magic. The follow ups "Namensi" and "Wayra" veer more towards smooth jazz with rolling textures and sounds and the group never sounds hurried or scattered, letting the groove dominate.

The organ leads the way for "Neith" which amps up the percussion and horn blasts as it swells resulting in one of the highlights on the record while "Sage" is a softer excursion. The funk gets picked back up on the pumping "Nahuel"another bright spot on a record full of them while album closer "Golem" starts off ethereal before moving slightly towards free jazz improvisation to wrap up the strong effort. 

The band (Felix Back - Keys, Robin Engelhard - Electric Guitar, Azubike Onwuka - Electric Bass, Jonathan Szegedi - Drums, Yannick van ter Beek - Percussion, Bo Floor - Trumpet, Andrius Dereviancenko - Tenor Saxophone, Dirk Zandvliet - Baritone Saxophone, Alex van Abeelen - Trombone) work together to shine brightly throughout Dark Magic, a smooth and exciting funky jazz release.
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Support the band, buy the album, stream it on bandcamp or below and peep some video:




Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Album Review: Neil Young and Crazy Horse - Colorado

Neil Young and Crazy Horse
Colorado
** out of *****

Last year it was unexpectedly announced that the muse had struck Neil Young and he decided to record a new Crazy Horse album with Nils Lofgren coming back on-board filling in for Frank "Poncho" Sampedro. The recording like all of Neil's works happened fairly spontaneously, capturing the outfit's woolly sound in the moment. Unfortunately unlike his best work with the Horse, the spirit may be willing but the body just doesn't respond as it once did.

Things are limp, tepid, and soft, scattered for even Crazy Horse's notoriously one take friendly standards. Perhaps on the back of the surprisingly better with age Psychedelic Pill too much was expected from this offering, but the band works best on the quick stripped down country ditties and never get to the patented stomp and wail of prime Horse.

The reflective "Olden Days" is the best of the soothing bunch with buzzing guitar tone, focused lyrics, harmonies and sense of purpose and longing. The jingle-jangle country piano tones of "Eternity" are a nice touch while "Milky way" is slightly more expansive and delicate using Billy Talbot's bass to move things positively forward.

The lone extended workout is the scattered to the point of gibberish "She Showed Me Love", which feels as if it was done in one take with the band not knowing where they were going. Usually this is where the magic happens with Crazy Horse, but not on this outing, the plodding drums and sketchy at best guitars just wobble around Young's lyrics about mother earth and old white guys.

The track "Help Me Lose My Mind" sums up this effort. It contains all the prime ingredients; grimy guitar riffs, paranoid Uncle Neil lyrics, heavy bass and drums, but things never sync up to a larger whole. The track plods along before sputtering out without reaching any sort of heights while still reminding of great efforts past. 

The truth is, anytime spent with Crazy Horse is always enjoyable to RtBE's ears, but Colorado seems to be proof that the silver and gold of albums past has tapped out. While Young is the ultimate surprising rocker, and rumor has it the band recorded a host of songs during this session, hopes aren't running high to a return to form from the aging noise rockers.
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RtBE loves Neil Young, featuring him in our Masters Series last August. Crazy Horse in particular is our favorite Neil project and RtBE wrote about them extensively. Support the artist, buy the record, peep some video below:

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Happy 6th Anniversary to Angels & Vagabonds Debut Release

Hard to believe @angelsvagabonds released our debut effort, The A&V EP six years ago today.
It has been fun writing about music on various websites and publications over the last fifteen plus years, but nothing beats the act of creating music, playing it live and recording it. Our first EP was an excellent experience, a huge learning process for me personally, and the whole band are still very proud of the final result.

From the cover photo that stayed exactly as Bruno_Pek_ shot it, to the great production from our good friend Glen to the contributions of everyone involved The A&V EP is a joy to remember. More importantly, we still like listening to it and you can do that now.

You can download from our bandcamp site, you can buy it from iTunes, stream it on Spotify or below. As always, thanks for reading, and on this day I can say thanks for listening to my music.

Album Review: Junius Paul - Ism

Junius Paul
Ism
***and 1/2 out of *****

From the opening of the intense "You Are Free To Choose" Junius Paul and his fellow players announce that they are a force of nature, kicking off Ism with an intense flurry of notes and scales. The track is overloaded with sounds as the acoustic bass player leads the charge but there are horns, pianos and drums all contributing to the maelstrom.

Throughout Ism Paul plays with a host of Chicago (and beyond) Jazz players from various years past, but the most recent band, which started off the record, just may be the strongest as Vincent Davis, Justin Dillard & Corey Wilkes all show their range. The foursome get super funky during the striding gallop of "Georgia", avant garde with the noise collection of "Twelve Eighteen West", frantic on the scattering speed of "Collant Denier" and let the low end rumble for "Two Minute Warnings" complete with soaring horn lines.

Other older live outings are interjected around these tracks as Paul proves a vital jazz musician on the scene playing all sorts of styles as tracks from various bands blend into each other over the course of these seventeen songs. "Ma and Dad" incorporates Tomeka Reid's cello with ease while "Sprouts" find Paul expertly pairing with Makaya McCraven for deep beats.

Other highlights include the hypnotic "View From The Moon", the grooving "Bakers Dozen" and the rollicking "The One Who Endures" which is propelled forward by Vincent Davis powerful drumming. Two extended numbers also need to be mentioned as "Paris" pushes Paul's bass work directly to the forefront while the searching and exploratory "Spocky Chainsey Has Re-Emerged" stretches out to almost twenty minutes in exciting fashion.   

Ism captures Paul at various times making intricate and complex music that also engages and grooves. A vital part of the current Chicago Jazz scene, Paul and company deliver the goods on Ism.
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Support the artist, buy the record, stream it on bandcamp or below and peep some video:


Monday, January 6, 2020

Dylan Cover #409 Hudson "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Hudson playing " A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall"
Jazzy January has invade Mondays! All this month we will check out various artists covering Dylan in a Jazz vibe, can you dig it daddy-o? 
Thoughts on Original:
Dylan singing from a position of fear as he poetically discusses the Cuban Missile Crisis and the possibility of Nuclear annihilation. Dylan also mentioned in Chronicles that the song was inspired by a feeling he got when reading microfiche newspapers in the New York Public Library: "After a while you become aware of nothing but a culture of feeling, of black days, of schism, evil for evil, the common destiny of the human being getting thrown off course. It’s all one long funeral song." An apt description and a powerful song from a young songwriter.

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
RtBE missed the Hudson release which is too bad as we are fans of Medeski Scofield and Dejohnette. The record is worth checking out though even if it was released a few years ago. 

Thoughts on Cover:
A very cool artistic cover of Dylan's tune in unique fashion. A great way to start off Jazzy January Dylan covers, and we will get back to this group later in the month as well.   

Friday, January 3, 2020

Full Show Friday: Zorn @ 60, Warsaw Summer Jazz Days 2013 Warszawa, Poland

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...John Zorn!

It's Jazzy January again here at RtBE, so get ready to kick off 2020 with some different styled shows every Friday. For this series we skew into new (or more recent) jazz lands. Keeping it current proves there is amazing live jazz still being performed no matter what Ken Burns says.

We kick off Jazzy January Full Show Friday's with a doozy of a concert celebrating John Zorn at 60 which took place back in 2013. This collection of players (including Mike Patton, Sofia ReiMarc Ribot, Etc.) is top notch as they storm through these songs with an extra bit of force and vigor.  This is top notch all around. Pro Shot, Pro Sound, full set list and information below:


Song Project: 0:16 Batman 2:17 Besos de Sangre 8:28 Tamalpais 13:28 Dalquiel 18:50 Towards Kafiristan 22:32 La Flor Der Barrio 27:16 Zapata Rail 30:05 Book of Shadows 35:06 Tears of Morning 39:27 Osaka Bondage 40:56 Mountain View 47:36 Of Wonder and Certainty 52:40 Dostoyevsky 

Line-up: John Zorn, Mike Patton, Sofia Rei, Jesse Harris, Marc Ribot, Cyro Baptista, Joey Baron, Kenny Wollesen, Trevor Dunn, John Medeski. (John Zorn w Sali Kongresowej, Telewizja Polska)