Europe Jazz Media Chart - September 2022

Despite this unusual instrumentation, because they play without bass, the three musicians create a rhythmic and harmonic basis with a wide range of dynamics and means of expression. Their playing is at times almost hypnotic and constantly captivates one with its trance-like verve and emotional expression.

Piano virtuoso Andrzej Jagodziński is the leader of one of the longest running European jazz ensembles. Next year, his trio, which was started in 1993, will celebrate its 30th anniversary. Its most famous effort is, of course, “Chopin”, an ingenious album which was so infuential that it launched in Poland a whole new jazz-meets-classical movement. Jagodziński’s newest album “Requiem” presents his ambitious original work composed for mixed choir (Camerata Silesia), jazz trio (with Adam Cegielski on bass, and Czesław Bartkowski on drums) and three improvising jazz vocalists (Grażyna Augiuścik, Agnieszka Wilczyńska and Wojciech Myrczek). Built according to the classical form, and containing seven parts, it makes up a coheseive whole permeated with the spirit and energy of jazz.

The Norwegian guitar player Kim Myhr, who plays a lot of instruments on this record, has given us a brilliant "work" with his new recording, Sympatetic Magic. Here, a lot happens along the way in details and input that should open up the whole world for Kim Myhr and this excellent band (Hans Hulbækmo – drums, perc, Michaela Antalová - dr, perc, Ingar Zach - fir cassa, timpani, perc, vid.speakers, Adrian Myhr - bass, add.guitar, Anja Lauvdal - organ, synth, Håvard Volden - guitar, David Stackenäs – guitar). I think this is Myhr's most varied and exciting recording to date, and I look forward to hear this music in concert sometime in the future. Then it can become, if possible, even more exciting and interesting.

DoomCannon (real name Dominic Canning) has been around for a while in British jazz, especially the scene that has been conquering the world from (East) London in recent years. He has worked with just about every important name on that young, hip jazz scene, played the famous Jazz Re:freshed evening at MauMau under his own name, became a music teacher but also Musical Director (the Brit Awards, Jools Holland) and played a prominent role in Nubya Garcia's band when she started to perform worldwide. Renaissance is, in everything, an album where quality shines through. A musically as diverse as it is excellent album on which DoomCannon has exploited his bizarre great class in songwriting and arranging to the fullest. He plays from the band feeling but writes arrangements in which a horn section and/or a string section find their way in full glory. Ambitious and hugely successful that's what you can say of Renaissance. Renaissance is a fascinating first album from a musician who can undoubtedly be called one of the great heroes of the New Wave of British Jazz. DoomCannon is a promise of the very greatest order. 

Swedish pianist and composer Mathias Landæus and his trio with Johny Åhman bas and drummer Cornelia Nilsson has an extraordinary breadth. They mostly play original music, but can just as easily slip in a Monk song, a pop classic or a piece of free jazz. In their interplay there is a simple obviousness and an infectious joy of playing that appeals to the most ardent jazz enthusiast as well as to less experienced listeners. In recent years, the trio has collaborated with a number of well-known musicians and artists from both pop, jazz and experimental fields. Influences could be, for example, Jan Johansson, Monk, Keith Jarrett, Per-Henrik Wallin, Paul Bley, dub, electronica, punk, Indian music. Release on the Portugese label Clean Feed Records.

I was there! Not on the actual recording dates, but one night on the first week of the residency. I remember an extended and eclectic version of "Fables of Faubus" and Mingus dancing with his bass during the performance of "When The Saints Go Marching in". A night and a recording to remember!