Batterfly in Grey

“Another year, another Nightwishcore release,” one is tempted to think at the sight of Lost in Grey…

Released in 2007, Nefelodhis is a concept album by Maurizio Bianchi in collaboration with the abstract impressionist post rockin’ ensemble Sparkle In Grey (featuring Matteo Uggeri on electronics, Alberto Carozzi on guitars, Cristiano Lupo on various instruments and Franz Krostopovic). In the Greek terminology Nefelodhis means “cloudiness”. The concept of the album opens on poetical-promethean-mercurian images in relation with vertiginous spiritual states and ascentional horizons. The sound experiments and the pleaseantly suspensfully instrumental melodies perfectly illustrate the conceptual background of the project…

Veteran trombonist Al Grey leads an unusual quintet on this set from 1988 that, in addition to drummer Bobby Durham, features the sons of Al Cohn (guitarist Joe Cohn), Gerald Wiggins (bassist J.J. Wiggins), and his own Mike Grey on second trombone. The two trombonists have similar sounds, with the elder Grey getting the bulk of the solos. The repertoire mixes together swing standards with lesser-known jazz tunes by Thad Jones, Sonny Stitt, Hank Mobley, Al Cohn, Johnny Griffin, Art Farmer, and Al Grey himself. The relaxed straight-ahead music flows nicely and all of the musicians (other than Durham) have their opportunities to be featured. Worth searching for.

Gear Fab's excavation of the recorded history of Greenwich Village folkie Chris Wilson continued apace with this follow-up to The Grey Wizard Am I (itself reissued three years earlier by the archival label). You needn't be a total sci-fi/fantasy dork to enjoy that 1972-vintage album, though it certainly doesn't hurt. Those with less esoteric – okay, less geeky – tastes, on the other hand, probably felt the Tolkien-themed lyricism was more than a little bit twee and precious. Even more well-adjusted, down-to-earth listeners, however, might find themselves charmed by parts of The Tin Angel. Firstly, the music itself is more diverse and, consequently, has a far broader appeal. Secondly, there is nary a wizard hat or hobbit in sight.

Grey Daze, Chester Bennington’s pre-Linkin Park band, release Amends, the Phoenix-born band’s eagerly-awaited album featuring newly recorded music with re-mastered vocals from the group’s long out-of-print, and largely undiscovered catalog.