A selection of the hot new music surfacing across the continent this month by the top European jazz magazines and websites.
Kateryna Ziabliuk, Meloport (Ukraine)
KONSTANTIN KOLESNICHENKO: Good Things- A Tribute to George Smith (Self-released)
Good Things: A Tribute to George Smith is the latest album of Ukrainian harmonica virtuoso Konstantin Kolesnichenko, a familiar face in the international blues scene. Paying homage to the legendary George "Harmonica" Smith, Konstantin collaborated with a stellar lineup including Paul Seedorenko on guitar, Mykhaylo Lyshenko on piano, and the Dmytro Lytvynenko on drums. Tragically, the bassist Serhii Artemov, a valued member of the ensemble, fell victim to russian aggression in 2023 during the shooting in Bakhmut. The album features guest harmonica players Dennis Gruenling, Matyas Pribojszki, and Big Harp George, along with vocalists Alabama Mike and Konstantin Tikhonov, and Daniel De Vita on guitar, sharing space with Paul Seedorenko. This offering is deeply authentic, full of the characteristic, quivery approach of Konstantin’s performance, which definitely stands out of others.
Paweł Brodowski, Jazz Forum (Poland)
ATOM STRING QUARTET: Universum (Warner Classics)
Poland’s Atom String Quartet is one of the few truly improvising jazz string quartets in the world, the others that instantly come to mind are the Turtle Island Quartet from the U.S.A. and radio.string.quartet.vienna. The Atoms, as we like to call them, have been together now for 14 years. Universum, their seventh album, is their most ambitious endeavor. Over two CDs, it features four extended, multi-part string quartets, each composed by another member of the group, highlighting a different approach, style and a repertoire of performance techniques (each is a virtuoso). Atomizations by violionist Dawid Lubowicz is a reflection on the universe and the infinity of time, Atlas of Butterfflies by cellist Krzysztof Lenczowski is a musical illustration for a children’s book, String Quartet No. 1“Pictures from Warsaw” by violinist Mateusz Smoczyński tells a heroic story of Warsaw through the ages, altoviolist Michał Zaborski’s Bolero was inspired by… Ravel’s Bolero, evolving gradually into a free jazz departure. Overall, Universum is mostly serious music – classical, contemprary, minimal, with echoes of Polish folklore and world music, and a generous bonus of jazz improvisation.
Krzysztof Komorek, Donos kulturalny (Poland)
SCRATCHING FORK: II (Fundacja Słuchaj)
An album is a fantastic display of the guitarist’s skills and abilities and the presentation of the guitar colours. The music corresponds brilliantly with the inspirations contained in the titles of some of the songs. And sometimes it itself hints at the sources from which the trio drew inspiration. There are no stylistic restrictions here – what counts above all is a good musical idea. And Marek Malinowski and his bandmates have plenty of these.
Jan Granlie, Salt-peanuts.eu (Norway)
NILS ØKLAND BAND: Gjenskinn (Hubro Records)
The Most Beautiful Sound Next To Silence.
Dick Hovenga, Written in Music (Netherlands)
FELIX ZURSTRASSEN: NOVA/ Elusive (Igloo Records)
Brussels-based bassist Félix Zurstrassen releases a new album under the band name NOVA with Elusive. Within the band in addition to Zurstrassen, Ben van Gelder (alto sax), Antoine Pierre (drums), Nelson Varas (guitar) and this time Kit Downes (piano) as prominent addition, he has a great band to tackle. Men from different wind corners (Zurstrassen and Pierre from Brussels, Varas from Brazil, Downes from London/Berlin and van Gelder from Amsterdam) who have already played a lot together and find each other musically effortless and are always out for adventurous playing. Zurstrassen writes compositions with strong melodies that also leave plenty of room for fine soloing, giving each musician, measured over the album, considerable space to place themselves prominently in the soundscape. From album opener Glowing Ride to closing track Epilogue, the musicians consistently pull up very beautiful and warm-blooded atmospheres. The wonderful chemistry these musicians have together produces an album of great class. It all sounds so natural, so joyful, so loose, so free. Not surprising that these musicians keep seeking each other out for new projects/bands when the chemistry is always so present. Elusive is of great "European" jazz class.
Viktor Bensusan, Jazzdergisi.com (Germany)
DANIEL HERSKEDAL: A Single Sunbeam (Edition Records)
Into each heart some tuba must fall... Daniel Herskedal is an eco-mposer weaving moods while weathering storms between jazz and the new age...
Nuno Catarino, Jazz.pt (Portugal)
OLD MOUNTAIN: Another State of Rhythm (Clean Feed)
Old Mountain is a project by Pedro Branco (piano) and João Sousa (drums). They are joined on this album by a range of esteemed guests: the renowned Tony Malaby on saxophone, João Hasselberg and Hernâni Faustino on double bass. Based on collective involvement, this is contemporary music, fresh and rich, bringing together different voices and ideas in a common direction. Published by Clean Feed, "Another State of Rhythm" is a big surprise.
Henning Bolte, freelance (Netherlands)
PHILIPP RÜTTGERS TRIO: Etudes of Shapes and Forms (Zennez Records)
Peter Slavid, LondonJazz News (UK)
VARIOUS ARTISTS: A Celebration Of Keith Tippett (Pig Records)
A series of six concerts recorded at St Georges in Bristol in 2021 to celebrate the life of jazz pioneer Keith Tippett, featuring a host of players with whom Keith worked or was closely associated. Duos, trios, and various sized groups culminating in the 17 piece The Keith Tippett Celebration Orchestra. More than four hours of glorious music featuring the cream of British improvising musicians. "An ambitious and successful tribute".
Patrik Sandberg, Jazz (Sweden)
CHRIS POTTER: Eagle’s point (Edition Records)
Potters latest record as a leader Eaglés Point is filled with high-octane, contemporary jazz with a strong personal touch. This time Potter teams up with topnames like Brian Blade, John Patitucci and Brad Mehldau performing nine strong originals by Potter. Masterful interplay meets melodic thinking. One of Potters most adventurous records to date.
Cim Meyer, All That ... (Denmark)
FRANK KIMBROUGH: Solstice (Pirouet Records)
More than seven years ago Frank Kimbrough (p), Jay Anderson (b), Jeff Hirshfield (d) met and made this recording, mostly first takes, without rehearsal or previous discussions. Only musicians who have worked together and know each other really well from numerous occasions can do that. The music selected by Kimbrough - by i.e. Carla Bley, George Gershwin, Paul Motian, Annette Peacock, Andrew Hill, and Maria Schneider – demonstrates his appetite for “the enigmatic and the translucent, the mysterious and the artlessly elegant.”
Matthieu Jouan, Citizenjazz.com (France)
ANN O ARO: Bleu (Cobalt / Buda)
Reunion Island singer and poet Ann O'aro had warned us that her new album would sound "radical, music scraped to the bone. Her usual trio (voice, trombone, percussion) is joined by a piano, which she sometimes plays, and electronic modulations. The lyrics lose nothing of their wild freedom, and the scansion is as clear as ever. Bleu is the magic of an atonal dive into an ocean of cinematic improvisations.
Yves Tassin, JazzMania (Belgium)
QUENTIN DUJARDIN AND OLIVIER KER OURIO: Serendipity (Agua Music)
Throughout "Serendipity", the warm breath of chromatic mouth organ mixes with the caress of the strings for soft and light music that warms the winter air and makes it vibrate in a myriad of positive waves. (Pierre Dulieu)
Jos Demol, Jazzhalo.be (Belgium)
THOMAS HEBERER/JOE FONDA/JOE HERTENSTEIN: Remedy II (Fundacja Sluchaj)
With "Remedy II", the listener and the musicians immediately reach the core of emotion, energy and love for music, with great spontaneity and the assurance of great creators. The sum of the parts surpasses that which we may already dream of when we read their names: Thomas Heberer, Joe Fonda and Joe Hertenstein: a cure for the prevailing gloom! (Jean-Michel Van Schouwburg)
Christof Thurnherr, Jazz’n’More (Switzerland)
BOBBY PREVITE AND RAY ANDERSON: Double Trouble (Challenge Records Int)
Kaspars Zavileiskis, Jazzin.lv (Latvia)
THE DAVE STRYKER TRIO WITH BOB MINTZER: Groove Street (Self-released)
Not everything always has to be complicated. Not even in jazz. In these tumultuous times, mood-enhancing stability is also needed from time to time, and this is exactly what American guitarist Dave Stryker offers in his latest album Groove Street together with his long-time colleagues – organist Jared Gold and drummer McClenty Hunter Jr., with the participation of the well-known tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer. Such a company is able to create an upbeat feel and deep groove, making you smile and sway along to Stryker, Gold and Mintzer originals, as well as Wayne Shorter, Eddie Harris and Harry Warren standards.
Jacek Brun, Jazz-fun.de (Germany)
IZABELLA EFFENBERG: Impressions in Colours (GLM)
Impressions in Colors is a good portion of music, but it never gets boring, because the album is varied and self-contained. The music captivates with its content, convinces with its drama and above all offers a musical quality based on the fusion of melody and sound space. The sounds of the instruments used by Izabella Effenberg are simply fantastic. The complete absence of electronics is appealing; all the sounds you hear are "analog".
Madli-Liis Parts, Muusika (Estonia)
KIRKE KARJA/LUDWIG WANDINGER/ETIENNE RENARD: Caught in My Own Trap (BMC records)
Bega Villalobos, In&OutJazz (Spain)
ARUÁN ORTIZ: Pastor s Paradox (Clean Feed)
Aruan Ortiz once again strengthens a talent and a way of understanding composition that for the moment have made him successfully move through avant-garde jazz, Afro-Cuban music, soundtracks, chamber music, works for dance, orchestral compositions, contemporary classical and any field of avant-garde improvised music. Risk, creative restlessness and a constant search to develop his own language are the distinguishing features of a unique and unpredictable creator.
