The brooding second album by Mandrake Memorial is complex, transitional and driven by four egos trying to define a unique sound-and still get along. I would chalk up any unevenness between the tracks to the compromises happening behind the scenes. It lacks the upbeat, spontaneous flow and continuity of their first album, though this music has a gradual tidal wave swelling to it, and it's full power becomes accessible after repeated listening. Mandrake's musicianship is improved and the song writing is far more adventurous.
One of the staples in the Count Basie discography, April in Paris is one of those rare albums that makes its mark as an almost instant classic in the jazz pantheon. April in Paris represents the reassembly of the original Count Basie orchestra that define swing in the 1930s and 1940…
“Pretty On Harvard” is Placid Larry’s fourth album outing with German Chillout label Lemongrassmusic. Over 5 years have come and gone since his well received “Melancholy Light “ debut back in 2012. This new album is a contemporary reminder of those formative influences as Placid Larry touches on his roots here with a precise blend of Jazz, Chill-Hop, Trip-Hop and Chill Out. “Pretty On Harvard” is an easy listening excursion for the soul, soothing and gentle but with enough of an edge to get that foot tapping or head bobbing…
Legendary work from Miles Davis – large group sessions that virtually define the "cool" in cool jazz! The work's quite different from Davis' earlier bop sides with Charlie Parker – and show a distinct influence from modernists like Gerry Mulligan (who is on the recordings) and from the experiments of the Tristano school. Miles is less the leader than the creative visionary – as all players come together in a perfect blend of sound, perfectly polished, and with a very dark edge.
Following the 2021 release '1st Movement', hailed by Swedish National Radio as one of the best of the year, Adam Forkelid's latest upcoming work, 'Turning Point', offers a contemporary Nordic mirror into the journey of life. The music represents a sonic exploration of life's inevitable changes that make up each of our personal stories. Written across a month and recorded in a single day, the record showcases a poignant fusion of the piano and guitar - a collaborative interplay central to the record's identity.