Europe Jazz Media Chart - April 2024

There is praise flowing in for the Michał Aftyka Quintet, a group of super talented young Polish musicians. Frukstrat, their first recording, has just been awarded a Fryderyk (Poland’s equivalent of Grammy) as the Phonograhic Debut Album of the Year – Jazz, and, even more importantly, nominated for the German Jazz Prize 2024 in the category “Debut Album of The Year – International.” Michał Aftyka is an outstanding bassist and his quintet includes equally astonishing players: Marcin Elszkowski on trumpet, Marcin Konieczkowicz on alto saxophone, Tymon Kosma on vibraphone, and Stefan Raczkowski on drums. Their captivating music is a mix of different stylistic refenences, sophisticated harmonies and rhythmic solutions, but the overall sound is homogenous and fresh. The titles of the compositions, all by Michał Aftyka, suggest literary inspirations from contemporary, and not so contempoary sources (prose and poetry). Frukstrat captures fears and emotions of the new generation.

In the folk music trio, Aurom, there are three vocalists (Malin Alander, Guro Utne Salvesen and Ingeborg Lognvik Reinholdt) who are perfectly suited to each other. They come from three different Norwegian folk music traditions, but they unite excellent in this project. They take turns being the "leading" voice, but the whole record is a collective with a three headed choir that sounds wonderful. An exceptionally delicious and exciting record, from three exquisite folk singers from Norway.

Saxophonist Mark Lockheart is an icon of British jazz. By now prominent on stages and in the studio for four decades, the last few years have been dominated by very striking and excellent records under his own name. The very strong and deliciously exuberant Smiling is no exception. Smiling is an album by a purebred musician who has only continued to grow musically and is still hungry to write, arrange, play and record new adventurous music. Who, as a true bandleader, can be heard at his best, but at the same time gives even more space to the other musicians. Because he knows the compositions demand it. Smiling is pure jazz enjoyment. On compositions such as Lunch With The Devil, you can hear the pleasure of playing and the arranging class splashing off the track. Speaking of arranging....hoe beautiful then is Wrap Me Up...absolute world class! And of course then you need great musicians who get what you want and take it to an even higher level with their playing.

Two saxophonists from different generations - the veteran Bruno Parrinha and the youngster João Gato - meet in an exploratory dialog. The duo work on an improvised conversation, in which the instruments intertwine, dialoguing, exchanging ideas, in a very curious and challenging process. The music is purely improvised and is based on a process of communication, of action and reaction, in constant articulation. Each element introduces ideas, provokes, leads in different directions. A beautiful improvised and exploratory dialog that results in creative music.

With The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow, Charles Lloyd's first studio recording since the 2017 sessions-acclaimed Blue Note albums Vanished Gardens and Tone Poem, Lloyd continues his monumental music making,as a band leader,composer, flutist, and a saxophonist. The album also gives us first-time recordings of six new Lloyd compositions including the title track in company with Brian Blade, Jason Moran and Larry Grenadier.

Tutu Puoane realises a dream come true with Wrapped In Rhythm, in spirit and roots, a profound and powerful statement, which she translates musically in a grandiose and serene and inspired singing.” (Bernard Lefèvre)

The spring sun also makes you look at jazz in a more playful mood. This is exactly how Latvian singer Jūlija Zakirova’s debut album Golden Hour was conceived. A ten-song journey through the sunny eighties, recalling the narrative claimed by artists like Prince, Stevie Wonder and the like. Andris Buiķis, drummer of the jazz-funk band Very Cool People, who has also announced himself as an unusual composer, arranger and producer in recent years, helped create the retro sound. Jūlija Zakirova is a Latvian singer of Tatar origin, so the mostly playful party also features moods dedicated to ethnic roots, as can be heard in the track... Roots. Relaxed and colorful debut performance in the Latvian pop-jazz scene. And vinyl freaks can also look for a Golden Hour copy.