Liberosis

Re-Mind

Self-Released, 2024

8/10

Listen to Re-Mind

The sophomore effort from Liberosis, which is spearheaded by the Korean pianist Iseul Kim, the Latin sounds here embrace jazz and classical nods with much appeal.

Kim’s precise and lively keys start with “Boundaries”, as Jaewon Lee’s unpredictable drumming enters alongside the lively strings, and the title track follows with quick piano and crisp drumming, where melodies won’t go unnoticed, either.

Halfway through, “Improvisation With Jaewon” spotlights the drumming acrobatics amid hypnotic keys, while “New Iseul” is an intimate moment of beauty, grace and slight rumbling as the pace picks up.

Close to the end, “Lost In Time” benefits much from Jongsu Yoon’s stirring violin and Ok Joung Kim’s well timed cello, and “No Escape ver 2023” exits with the most firm selection, where Hoo Kim’s bass prowess adds much to the busy finish.

An album that is strong on storytelling, Kim penned these songs while traveling and the individual strengths of each player only enhances the jazz, classical and Latin ideas.

Travels well with: Skyline Sun- Dichotomy; Daan Herweg- In Search Of The Lost Chord

Michaël Attias

Quartet Music Vol. 1: LuMiSong/Quartet Music Vol. II: Kardamon Fall

Out Of Your Head, 2024

9/10

Listen to Quartet Music Vol. 1: LuMiSong

The inimitable sax player Michaël Attias is joined by Santiago Leibson, Sean Conly, Matt Pavolka, Mark Ferber, Christopher Hoffman and Tom Rainey for these 2 discs of avant-garde jazz sounds that serve as Attias’ first time as bandleader in 7 years.

Vol. 1 leads with Leibson’s flowing keys before Pavolka’s playful bass and Attias’ fluid sax enter the mesmerizing climate, and “Mister Softee Is A Font” follows with Ferber’s animated drums and the unpredictable sax that touches on timeless jazz nods.

Vol. 2 begins with strong attention to mood, where the soft keys and soulful sax emit much intimacy thanks to “Kardamon Fall”, while “Avrils” benefits much from Rainey’s soft drums amid elegance and dreaminess.

Closer to the end, “Bobulated” showcases Conly’s unpredictable bass that suits the rich and adventurous album highlight, and “The Angel Fold” exits with profound cautiousness and mystery thanks to the 4 player’s reserved contributions.

Although the the bass and drum chairs are different between the discs, the creativity is consistent, as Attais and company mesh contemporary jazz and Post-Romanticism with tonality, harmony and enlightening dynamics that draw us in from beginning to end.

Travels well with: Nick Dunston- Colla Voce; Alfredo Colón- Blood Burden

Ben Kono Group

Voyages

Self-Released, 2024

8/10

Listen to Voyages

The multi-instrumentalist and composer Ben Kono is joined by an all star cast for these 8 jazz and classical filled songs that tell an immigration story.

“Yobiyose (The Calling)” leads with Mike Holober’s bright piano and Jared Schonig’s thumping drums that suit Kono’s lively tenor sax, and “Bata Kusai!!” follows with strong attention to mood, as playful violin enters the lively climate.

The middle spot belongs to the rich strings of “Across The Pond”, where Kono handles flute, while “Issei” is a calmer moment of introspection via the poetic violins from Meg Okura and Sara Caswell.

“Sansei” and “Yonsei” exit the listen. The former makes great use of Matt Clohesy’s strategic bass, and the latter offers an animated burst of rhythmic and dynamic instrumentation where Pete McCann’s meticulous guitars adds much.

Half the tracks are vignettes that are reflective, and the other half are longer forms that spotlight a specific generation of Japanese Americans. A powerful and exciting effort, Kono brings culture and generations together with timeless and creative song craft.

Travels well with: Matt Slocum- Lion Dance; Ed Neumeister Quartet- Covers

Carolyn Kendrick

Each Machine

High Occulture, 2024

9/10

Listen to Each Machine

The multi-instrumentalist Carolyn Kendrick is in the company of Isa Burke, Tyler Chester and Pele-Or Greenberg for these 13 sincere and timeless Americana songs.

“The Devil’s Nine Questions” opens with much warmth, where Kendrick’s comforting voice is met with Burke’s soft guitar and Rhodes bass emitting much beauty, and “In The Beginning” follows with Kendrick playing orchestral chimes amid Burke’s harp and the throwback soundbite.

Further along, “Are You Washed” showcases intimacy via the fiddle, organ and accordion thanks to Kendrick, while “In The Blood” touches on bluegrass nods via Burke’s fiddle that suits the flowing vocal harmonies.

“Cool Of The Day” lands near the end and is populated by Chester’s pump organ, piano, synth bass, percussion and acoustic guitar for a moody, folk climate, and “A Perfect World” exits with Kendrick’s expressive voice and poetic spirit that makes sublime use of cuatro, piano and electric guitar.

Kendrick plays acoustic and electric guitar, fiddle, cuatro, percussion, piano, organ and accordion, and the nods to country, folk and bluegrass sure are appreciated across this thoughtful and authentic experience.

Travels well with: Long Prairie- By Sunrise; Rakish- Now, O Now

India Gailey

Butterfly Lightning Shakes The Earth

Redshift, 2024

9/10

Listen to Butterfly Lightning Shakes The Earth

The American-Canadian cellist India Gailey is joined by the Symphony Nova Scotia and conductor Karl Hirzer for these 2 involved pieces that explores their contemporary classical vision.

“Mountainweeps” starts the listen with 3 chapters, where solo cello miniatures emit much beauty and grace that, at just 3 minutes total, allows for an enlightening and emotive take on climate change in the on alpine environments.

The title track occupies the back half, and it’s a much longer affair, where waves of ambience, and stirring strings are complemented by cautious percussion, booming drums and well timed winds that create richness and strong attention to timbral gestures.

A powerful and dynamic body of work, Gailey’s experimental moments and timeless classical appeal again leaves us captivated.

Travels well with: India Gailey- Problematica; Mark Haney- Placentia Bay: Summer Of 1941

Matt Slocum

Lion Dance

Sunnyside, 2024

8/10

Listen to Lion Dance

The drummer and composer Matt Slocum is joined by Larry Grenadier and Walter Smith III for this exciting, modern jazz affair that touches on post-bop, too.

The playful spirit of “Consolation Prize” opens with Slocum’s acrobatic drumming alongside Smith’s soulful sax, and “Dettifoss” follows with Grenadier’s bouncy bass and the warm sax complementing the crisp drums.

The title track occupies the middle spot and showcases Slocum’s distinct delivery that suits the rich wind, while “This Is All I Ask” allows for the precise bass and cozy sax to cultivate fluid grooves.

“We See” and “Persona” exit the listen. The former is an animated album highlight where the frisky rhythm section won’t go unnoticed, and the latter finishes with an intimate haze of beauty and grace.

Slocum has 6 albums under his wing now, and this installment runs the gamut of emotions and is executed with timeless jazz sensibilities.

Travels well with: Ed Neumeister Quartet- Covers; Anat Cohen- Quartetinho: Bloom

Roberta Michel

Hush

New Focus, 2024

9/10

Listen to Hush

The esteemed flutist Roberta Michel brings us new works for solo flute, where electronics by several artists enter the 5 involved pieces.

Jane Rigler’s “Red” opens with Michel’s animated piccolo that swirls with extended gestures of high register dynamics, and “And For You, Castles”, by Victoria Cheah, follows with Michel’s hazy flute amid Victoria Cheah’s atmospheric electronics via the microtonal climate.

Jen Baker’s “The Great Bridge And A Lion’s Gate” arrives at the halfway point and flows with an energetic demeanor and atypical rhythm, while "Quintet”, the best track, recruits Mert Morali’s electronics alongside the bass flute for strong attention to pitch and timbre in the Morali piece.

Angélica Negrón’s “Hush” exits, and pairs the intimate flute with Negrón’s electronics, as strategic synth and waves of grooves enter the thoughtful finish.

A highly diverse body of work, Michel brings classical and electroacoustic ideas together with an experimental angle that you can’t not be intrigued with.

Travels well with: Daniel Lippel- Adjacence; Patrick Yim- One

Microplastique

Blare Blow Bloom!

Irritable Mystic, 2024

8/10

Listen to Blare Blow Bloom!

An all star assembly of Ben Zucker, Molly Jones, Josh Harlow and band leader Adam Shead, as Microplastique they flesh out an unpredictable jazz setting using their multi-instrumental ways.

“Blare” opens with Shead’s rapid fire drumming before playful keys and dizzying sax thanks to Jones enters the rowdy delivery, and “Blow” follows with strong attention to percussion amid a dizzying, free jazz climate.

“Bloom!” arrives at the halfway point and makes great use of the dreamy flute, where intimacy and exploration blend atypically, while “Walk On Kedzie” carries a child like demeanor alongside the soft wind and a mesmerizing spirit.

Landing near the end, “Bells For Four” uses strategic repetition via the skilled percussion, and “March For MRA” exits with Zucker’s well timed harmonica and a ‘found objects’ sort of appeal that’s artistic and unconventional.

An effort that uses so many noisemakers to its advantage, all the selections were captured live and showcase tremendous improvisation and avant-garde jazz adventurousness.

Travels well with: Stein/Smith/Shead- Volumes & Surfaces; Stein/Smith/Shead- Hum

Michael Abels/Augusta Read Thomas

Children’s Stories

Cedille, 2024

8/10

Listen to Children’s Stories

An assembly of lengthy pieces from Michael Abels and Augusta Read Thomas, the music is provided by the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and Stilian Kirov, and are rooted in short stories by Leo Lionni and the poetry of Laureate Gwendolyn Brooks.

Frederick’s Fabels, by Ables, opens with “Frederick”, where pretty winds and graceful strings flow alongside Michael Sumuel’s narration, and “The Greentail Mouse” follows with bare and rich ideas amid the vivid storytelling.

This portion exits with the turbulent “Alexander And The Wind-Up Mouse”, as waves on intimacy enter, too, and Thomas’ Gwendolyn Brooks Settings begins with the a choir harmonizing across the powerful “Part 1”.

Deeper into this half, “Part 4” spotlights the soaring voices and animated horns, and “Part 6” exits with dynamic instrumentation, animated singing and an unpredictable quality that’s immediately gripping.

An effort that illuminates Chicago’s musical scene, the orchestra and choir setting is both meticulous and imaginative.

Travels well with: Rachel Barton Pine- Corelli: Violin Sonatas, Op. 5; Eighth Blackbird/David Lang- Composition As Explanation

Ray Chen

Player 1

Decca, 2024

9/10

Listen to Player 1

The violin extraordinaire Ray Chen meshes classical sounds with the world of gaming here, and it makes for 8 very distinct and creative pieces.

“Romantic Flight (from How to Train Your Dragon)” opens with Chen’s meticulous and bright violin amid the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s dynamic and soaring musicianship, and “Sadness & Sorrow (from Naruto)” follows with Chen’s intimate string gestures that flow alongside the stirring climate.

Moving into the middle, “Violin Concerto in D major, Op.35” unfolds across 3 chapters of grace and melody via the meticulous progressions from the violin, while “I Remember My Name (from Squid Game)” comes with a distinct dreaminess that’s cautious and pretty.

“Pallet Town (from Pokémon Red)” and “Isabella’s Lullaby (from The Promised Neverland)” exit the listen. The former offers a friskiness that builds into a triumphant and soaring album highlight, and the latter is an emotive and gripping finish to a very well thought out and flawlessly executed record.

A highly innovative outing, Chen’s performance is full of symphonic and fantastical gestures that bridge 2 seemingly different worlds into captivating storytelling.

Travels well with: Isata Kanneh-Mason- Mendelssohn; Yunchan Lim- Chopin Études

Pan Project Ensemble

Borderless Flows

Neuma, 2024

8/10

Listen to Borderless Flows

The global sextet Pan Project return with 6 pieces that explore their multi-cultural ways with both improvisation and experimental bursts.

“The Naked: call” leads with Jessika Kenney’s flowing vocals amid Ned Rothenberg’s precise shakuhachi and bass clarinet via the powerful climate, and “Oshi Dhora (He Came)” follows with Saeyeon Jeong’s expressive pipes and Woonjung Sim’s playful percussive techniques exploring the worldly dynamics.

In the middle, “The Naked: question” offers a bare moment of breathy vocals and mysterious winds, while “(Borderless Flows)” recruits Jeff Roberts’ guqin, Deepak Paramashivan’s Sarangi and Afarin Nazarijou’s qanun that populate the field recordings and found objects-ish tinkering.

Near the end, “The Naked: night” spends 11+ minutes mesmerizing us with its quivering ideas, Kenney’s varying vocals and nearly sci-fi gestures, and “Shui Jiezou (Water Rhythm)” exits with Roberts’ guqin, electronics, found objects, gamin and saenghwang making for an artistic and colorful finish.

A record that rewrites the idea of ‘world music’, this is a sensitive, avant-garde and enlightening journey that can be enjoyed repeatedly.

Travels well with: Ken Field- The Canopy; Lina Bahn- Axolotl

Dave Stryker

Stryker With Strings Goes To The Movies

Strikezone, 2025

9/10

Listen to Stryker With Strings Goes To The Movies

The always prolific Dave Stryker returns with Xavier Davis, Jeremy Allen, McClenty Hunter and an orchestra for these well known soundtrack tunes that sound fantastic in his vision.

“In Your Eyes” opens with soulful brass and a violin solo thanks to Sara Caswell, as Stryker’s dreamy guitar guides the Pete Gabriel classic, and “Cinema Paradiso (Main Theme)” follows with Davis’ intimate keys amid a romantic spirit that tugs on the heartstrings.

Further along, “Taxi Driver (Main Theme)” allows for Greg Ward’s alto sax to shine alongside Hunter’s soft drums, while “Flirtibird” showcases Mark Buselli’s flugelhorn skills for the rich album highlight.

Deeper yet, Jim Pugh’s strategic trombone enters the elegant strings of “Moonglow”, and “Edelweiss” exits with Allen’s frisky bass and Stryker’s meticulous guitar via the melodic and timeless finish.

Most of us have heard these songs before, but they’ve never sounded like this, and they certainly do justice to the originals thanks to Stryker’s distinct skillset.

Travels well with: Dave Stryker Trio w/Bob Mintzer- Groove Street; Dave Stryker- Prime

Jelena Jovovic

Heartbeat

Self-Released, 2019

9/10

Listen to Heartbeat

A Serbian jazz singer with a voice that can fit just about any situation, on Heartbeat, Jelena Jovovic’s first album as a leader, she offers 6 originals and 4 interpretations with an impressive band backing her.

“Witch Hunt” starts the album with nearly 9 minutes of Jovovic’s expressive vocals on the Wayne Shorter tune where saxophones and rhodes are in attendance, and “Paladin” follows with agile keys on the graceful traditional folk song turned jazz fun.

Elsewhere, horns invade “The Countless Stars”, where cultured Balkan rhythms help make this one of the best selections, and the bop friendly and playful “Bubu’s Song”, which is immediately memorable.

Near the end, “Time Is Here” recruits a warm and lounge feel to the sophisticated track, and “Pools” ends the listen with a dance friendly and percussively strong finish with backing vocals on the Latin flavored exit.

Jovovic and company put a unique spin on traditional jazz with her European heritage intact here, making Heartbeat one of the best jazz focused listens of 2019.

Travels well with: Dianne Reeves- Bridges; Sarah Vaughan- A Time In My Life