Ralph Mathissen

Ralph Alessi’s fourth appearance as a leader for the label follows a singular album run that’s been met with nothing but praise from The New York Times to The Guardian. The latter lauded Ralph’s previous recording Imaginary Friends (2019) for its “elegant balance of poignant, playful original compositions and gracefully probing improv” and declared it “his best album yet”. It’s Always Now however brims with arguments that there is a new contender for that title. On his new album, Alessi’s unique tone is as limber, piercing and present as ever, enveloped by a fresh quartet line-up – pianist Florian Weber, Bänz Oester on bass and drummer Gerry Hemingway – that navigates through the trumpeter’s idiosyncratically swinging compositions with a sixth sense.

Launch of a new duo with a most uncommon instrumentation, acoustic guitar and trumpet - but it's a highly attractive combination. Ralph Towner, guitarist extraordinaire, an ECM artist since 1972, is joined by Italian trumpet star Paolo Fresu, making his label debut for ECM.
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Chiaroscuro is Ralph Towner's 22nd album as a leader for ECM, in a discography with well over 30 titles. Alongside the landmark recordings like Diary, Solstice and Batik, this one has all the hallmarks of a classic.

Ralph Sharon - Around The World In Jazz (1957) {Fresh Sound Records FSRCD114 rel 1990}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 143 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 86 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 19 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1957, 1990 Rama Records / Fresh Sound Records | FSR-CD 114
Jazz / West Coast Jazz / Cool / Piano

I really enjoy this cd. Sharon is known for his arrangements usually with strings for many vocalists (from Cole to Nancy Wilson, Whiting to Bennett) So I was surprised to hear his septet which sounds like any West Coast combo with Jack Sheldon, Shorty, Shelly, and Florence among others. The tunes are nice; each very different from each other with subtle colors. I passed over it twice until I realized the label FRESH SOUND imports never disappoint me.