Jazz Hands

Herbie Hancock - Mr. Hands (1979) {2014 Japan Jazz Collection 1000 Columbia-RCA Series SICP 3997}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 263 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 94 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 188 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1979, 2014 Columbia / Sony Music Japan | SICP 3997
Jazz / Post Bop / Fusion / Jazz Funk / Piano

Reissue with latest DSD remastering. Comes with liner notes. Herbie Hancock's lackluster string of electric albums around this period was enhanced by this one shining exception: an incorrigibly eclectic record that flits freely all over the spectrum. Using several different rhythm sections, Herbie Hancock is much more the imaginative hands-on player than at any time since the prime Headhunters period, overdubbing lots of parts from his ever-growing collection of keyboards. He has regained a good deal of his ability to ride in the groove.

Fire! - The Hands (2018) {Rune Grammofon RCD2197 Official Digital Download}
FLAC (tracks) - 16bit/44kHz - Official Digital Download -> 231 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 87 Mb | Cover | 5% repair rar
© 2018 Rune Grammofon | RCD2197
Jazz / Rock / Free Improvisation / Jazz Rock / Noise / Dark Jazz

For 20 years Rune Grammofon have made a habit of releasing music that is beyond easy classification, in later years typified by Swedish trio Fire!, consisting of Mats Gustafsson, Johan Berthling and Andreas Werliin. All three are highly accomplished musicians, but Fire! music is not "difficult" in the sense that jazz and especially free jazz is often perceived. Very much a tight knit unit with three equal players, Fire! has been likened to powerful guitar led trios such as Cream and The Jimi Hendrix Experience, but with Berthling´s heavy, doom laden basslines being such a typical identifier, we can´t help but thinking of Black Sabbath´s debut album when it comes to hypnotic impact.

A fine soloist who was influenced by Bill Evans but had his own musical identity, Warren Bernhardt appeared in many different settings through the years. He studied classical piano, played in Chicago while attending college, and was with Paul Winter's sextet between 1961 and 1964. After moving to New York, Bernhardt played with Gerry Mulligan, Clark Terry, George Benson, and Jeremy Steig, in addition to doubling as a studio musician on many pop dates. He was with Jack DeJohnette's Directions (1976) and Steps Ahead (1984-1985), and frequently led his own trios. Bernhardt also recorded several fine dates for DMP. Warren Bernhardt died on August 19, 2022 at the age of 83.

There have been a number of famous jazz artists whose offspring have followed their father's footsteps into music, think only of Ellis Marsalis and his sons, Dewey and Joshua Redman, Papa John and Joey DeFrancesco, Bucky and John Pizzarelli, Walter and Nicholas Payton and Harry Connick Senior & Junior.

Captivating, ethereal and majestic, Mammal Hands (saxophonist Jordan Smart, pianist Nick Smart and drummer and percussionist Jesse Barrett) has carved out a refreshingly original sound from a disparate array of influences: drawing on spiritual jazz, north Indian, folk and classical music to create something inimitably their own. Hailing from Norwich, one of Britain's most isolated and most easterly cities, they have forged their own path away from the musical mainstream and their unique sound grew out of long improvised rehearsals. All three members contibute equally to the writing process: one that favours the creation of a powerful group dynamic over individual solos. Their records are entrancing and beautiful affairs, while their hypnotic live shows have seen them hailed as one of the most exciting bands in Europe as they push their unique line-up to the outer limits of its possibilities.

Mammal Hands are a trio of like-minded musicians: Nick Smart piano, Jesse Barrett drums and tabla, and Jordan Smart saxophones. Floa is their second album for Gondwana Records and in the 18 months since their debut, Animalia, they have carved out a growing following both here and abroad for their hypnotic fusion of jazz, folk and electronica: winning fans from Bonobo and Gilles Peterson to Jamie Cullum. Landmark live performances have included shows at King's Place in London and the RNCM in Manchester, as well as a barn-storming debut at the Montreal Jazz Festival (where they debuted as part of the BBC Introducing showcase).

Pianist Hilton Ruiz has had a very successful career in both jazz and Latin music. On this Tropijazz release, he combines the two styles to form a very likable brand of Latin jazz. Ruiz utilizes such sidemen as Tito Puente (playing vibes or timbales on three songs), flutist Dave Valentin, tenor saxophonist David Sanchez, trumpeter Charlie Sepulveda, trombonist Papo Vasquez, bassist Andy Gonzalez and three notable percussionists (Giovanni Hidalgo, Ignacio Berroa and Steve Berrios) for Latinized versions of four jazz standards and five group originals (including three by Ruiz). The music is quite catchy, danceable and reasonably challenging.