Auto Express From 8 July 2015

Theo Travis' Double Talk - Transgression (2015) {Esoteric Recordings EANTCD 1052}
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© 2015 Esoteric Recordings | EANTCD 1052
Jazz / Post Bop / Experimental / Fusion / Saxophone

The chiming notes of a very Mahavishnu Orchestra sounding guitar open the tension-rich "Fire Mountain" hotly pursued by Theo Travis' intense tenor sax soloing and coruscating axe work from Mike Outram. A change of pace is heard in the title track, beginning slowly but gradually building-up in pace and volume, Outram's fuzzy guitar twinned with Travis' sax comprise the melodic driving force, all underpinned by organ from Pete Whittaker and crackling drums from seasoned percussionist Nic France. The pressure continues to build courtesy of a keen ensemble riff reaching a climax until it dies back into the opening reflective sax-led balledic theme.

Steinway & Sons celebrates the centenary of iconic jazz singer Billie Holiday with an album of songs she made famous, arranged for solo piano by New York-based composer and pianist Jed Distler and performed by Steinway artist Lara Downes. The result is a musical portrait of the singer's life.

Joe Henderson, Masabumi Kikuchi, Terumasa Hino - In Concert (1971) {2015 Japan We Remember Poo Complete Series} [CD6of8]
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© 1971, 2015 Philips / Universal Japan | UCCJ-9208
Jazz / Post Bop / Saxophone / Piano / Trumpet

An excellent album – and one of Joe Henderson's boldest sets from the early 70s! The record features Joe working with a hip group of young Japanese players that includes Terumasa Hino on trumpet and Masabumi Kikuchi on piano and electric piano – and the sextet format of the session stretches way past Joe's other Japanese recording from the time, which was issued in the US on Milestone. This one features very long tracks, with tremendous intensity from both the group and Joe, who's got a real edginess to his playing here. Includes a version of "So What", plus the originals "Sunrise In Tokyo" and "Get Magic Again".

Terence Blanchard - Breathless (2015) {Blue Note B002295602}
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© 2015 Blue Note | B002295602
Jazz / Contemporary Jazz / Crossover Jazz / Electric Jazz / Post-Bop / Trumpet

Terence Blanchard's 2013 return to Blue Note, Magnetic, built upon his decades-long history of post-bop dynamism with a forward-thinking approach that blended edgy, modal improvisation with a sophisticated, genre-crossing compositional style. It was a concept he had been investigating on his previous efforts Bounce (2003), Flow (2005), and Choices (2009), and, though it had been years since Blanchard was considered a young lion, the eclecticism of the album matched the work of many of his younger contemporaries like trumpeter Christian Scott and pianist Robert Glasper, the latter of whom even played on Bounce.

The sophomore album from Simon Jeffes' homegrown band took over three years to record, but the signs are here that it was a labor of love. While drawing compositional and textural inspiration from both English folk and chamber music, it manages to sound like neither and a wondrous hybrid of both…

A team-up with Slapp Happy may seem an obvious meeting of minds in 2000, but not at the time (1975) when all they really shared was a Marxist outlook and a record label (Virgin). The two bands had already recorded Desperate Straights, which focused more on songs and Dagmar Krause's vocals…

They may have recorded three albums of crisp riff-rock in the studio, but it s onstage that the chemistry between Robin Trower and Jack Bruce really comes alive For this 2009 live DVD, they perform tracks from their album Seven Moons with telepathic intensity, locking into each other s playing ( So Far to Yesterday ) or hanging back to allow the other to shine…

Sadao Watanabe - Recital (1976) {2015 DSD Japan East Wind Masters Collection 1000 UCCJ-9178}
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© 1976, 2015 East Wind Music / Universal Japan | UCCJ-9178
Jazz / Post Bop / Neo Bop / Fusion / Saxopohone

A great live set from Sadao Watanabe – one that shows the wealth of influences he'd been drawing on, from post-Coltrane spirituality, to African-oriented rhythms, to a slight bit of funk! The group's great – with Watanabe on flute, alto, and soprano sax, Takehiro Honda on Fender Rhodes and piano, Kazumi Watanabe on guitar, plus added bass, trombone, and percussion – and we especially like Honda's keyboards, which make any session like this an instant treat! The album's got a warm, soulful feeling, but a sharper edge than most of Watanabe's smoother work of the time – and titles include "Hiro", "Maraica", "Wana Tanzania", and "Mathari Terbenam".

Political astuteness aside, Henry Cow's Leg End is simply a busy musical trip, comprised of snaking rhythms, unorthodox time signatures, and incongruous waves of multiple instruments that actually culminate in some appealing yet complex progressive rock…

Shirley Scott - Girl Talk (1967) {2015 Japan Impulse! Classics 50 Series UCCI-9274}
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© 1967, 2015 Impulse! / Verve / Universal Music Japan | UCCI-9274
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Organ

Sweet 60s grooves from Shirley Scott – really working the Hammond organ here with a wonderful sound – that warm, lean, soulful groove she hit perfectly at Impulse Records! There's a clarity here you don't get on some of Shirley's other records – a really stripped-down sound on the keys, which makes for playful lines that really sparkle – the kind of class and care that really set Scott apart from other 60s organists! Rhythm is nice and tight – bass from George Duvivier, and the great Mickey Roker playing some nice snapping, dancing drums – and tracks are short and compact, but still with some nice solo moments. Titles include "Come Back To Me", "On The Trail", "Love Nest", "Girl Talk", and "Keep The Faith Baby".