Iseul Kim Trio True Me (2021)

Fresh from winning Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year in 2015 and the 2017 Peter Whittingham Jazz Award, emerging saxophonist Helena Kay releases her debut album, Moon Palace, on Ubuntu Music.

Ludwig van Beethoven wrote his 10 Violin Sonatas between 1797 and 1812. The Sonatas 1 to 9 were written between 1797 and 1803 before almost ten years passed until his opus 96. The composer premiered all his early piano works himself, which might be why he called them 'Sonatas for Pianoforte and Violin.' In the spirit of W. A. Mozart's redefinition of the genre, who elevated the violin from its previously only accompanying role, and in spite of today's common designation as 'violin sonatas,' both instrumental parts in Beethoven's sonatas are on an equal musical footing. In 2020 - the anniversary year surrounding Beethoven's 250th birthday - the Korean violinist Clara-Jumi Kang and her partner on the piano, Sunwook Kim, took on this special cycle of chamber music works.

The first thing you notice about Charles Owens is the tone. The American tenor saxophonist is a player of irresistible warmth. Like the early John Coltrane he is firm and direct, but generous and sincere with it. On listening to him you feel you know him. He invites the comparison on two tunes associated with the master, sashaying elegantly on Angelica and musing mysteriously on Central Park West. Both are utterly charming.