'Elements' by Terence CollieThe new release from pianist Terence Collie continues amidst a recent run of jazz musicians using their music as a way to connect with the environment around them. Over the years, there have been some inspired statements as with harpist Tori Handsley's 'As We Stand' (2020, Cadillac Records) which delivered an impassioned state of affairs with her assessment of man's continual plundering of the planet and its resources, while Gianluca Vigliar Quintet's 'Plastic Estrogenus' (A.MA Records, 2019) sought to address the dangers of increasing levels of plastic found in the oceans. Collie opts to use his recent project to explore the make-up of the world around us and celebrate the building blocks of our very universe.
As a project, the aptly-titled tracks 'Air', 'Earth, 'Fire', 'Water' and 'Elements' represent amongst some of the most inspired pieces ever to bear the Terence Collie name. As part of a journey that began with Collie having taught himself how to play from the age of 12, the years since have heralded some monumental success and achievements with a slew of projects as a band leader, educator, a seasoned live performer and collaborator who can cite performances alongside Georgie Fame, Kyle Eastwood and Jo Harrop, amongst others.
With Collie's core trio comprised of long-term collaborators Nick Lenner-Webster (bass) and Ted Carrasco (drums), the lengthy compositions afford the artists the opportunity to fully explore the concepts and interweave their narratives accordingly. The music is further bolstered by the inclusion of a string trio from the London String Group who help to add subtle yet compelling dimensions and textures to the music as a whole doing scintillating justice to the album's ambitious scope.
'The Celtic Wheel of the Year Suite' by Josephine Davies & The Ensō Ensemble (Ubuntu Music)Josephine Davies must surely rank amongst one of the UK's most visionary and nuanced musicians working today. An artist who appears to regard her music within the glorious tapestry of an expansive and full-length project, each time with a compelling and enchanting story to share. Thinking back to one of Davies' Satori releases - 'How Can We Wake?' (Whirlwind Recordings, 2020) - the album could very well have been deemed a project at the height of the saxophonist and band leader's creativity with each composition from the album exploring a different Buddhist theory centred around a state of being thus encapsulating an incredible range of inspirations across the project's ten tracks from "bliss" to "compassion" to "joy" amongst others. And while the Satori project in of itself proved to be a release inspired by the teachings of Buddhist ideologies and principles, 'The Celtic Wheel of the Year Suite' finds Davies upping the creative ante even higher, frankly, to inconceivable heights.
From the three-member Satori project to the staggering seventeen-member Ensō Ensemble, Josephine Davies presents an eight-track project that this time finds inspiration from varying times of the year within the Celtic calendar and explores Davies' own spiritual connection to them. From blessing the first fruits of the harvest ('Lammas') to marking the beginning of winter ('Samhain') and an ode to the West Germanic spring goddess ('Ostara').
The Ensō Ensemble are comprised of a fantastic array of musicians that help to breath captivating life into Davies' vision - saxophonist Tamar Osborn (London Odense Ensemble, Flock) makes for an always welcome inclusion as does Satori double bassist, Dave Whitford. It's a line-up that does right by everything Josephine Davies strives to inject into her music - hers continues to prove an incomparable perspective for contemporary jazz; an artist that redefines the artform and craft that goes into envisioning a project as a complete album and an artist who will continually redefine expectations of her own music.
'The Alpine Session' by Arbenz Vs Arbenz Meets Ron CarterMichael and Florian Arbenz collaborating with bassist Ron Carter makes for a sensational union when weighing up the boundless successes, accolades and imagination each brings to the table. Deemed the most recorded jazz bassist in history - having contributed to well over two thousand recording sessions - Carter may require the least introduction. While boasting contributions to projects as varied as Miles Davis to A Tribe Called Quest, Carter still brings a visionary approach to his music, one matched by the Swiss Arbenz brothers.
Michael and Florian Arbenz have become revered improvisers and musicians over the years, continually looking to embrace a variety of musical challenges - pianist Michael recently unveiled his innovative 'Classicism' project which continued his explorations into the scintillating space occupied by both jazz and classical music; similarly drummer Florian recently completed his twelve-part 'Conversation' series with the intention of recording twelve albums over the course of three years and with each release showcasing his music amongst various ensembles.
For 'The Alpine Session', the Arbenz-Arbenz-Carter trio offer up a fantastic six-track project that pulls together each of their vast affections for traditional jazz stylings while still affording them the creative freedoms to present contemporary twists through their compositions. Featuring a cover of Duke Ellington's 'It Don't Mean a Thing' (likely selected by devout Ellington fan, Michael Arbenz), the album's tracks present an enthralling mix of groove-laden performances that are just a joy.
'Part Time Elegance' by Oh People (April Recordings)Marking our second nod to the greatness of Duke Ellington, the new Danish quintet - dubbed Oh People - have released a sublime piece of work lovingly citing the music of the pianist and composer as chief inspiration for 'Part Time Elegance'.
Finding its home on the beacon of innovative and contemporary Danish jazz in April Records, the super quintet is comprised of trumpeter Jonas Due, saxophonist Andreas Toftemark, guitarist Casper Christensen, bassist Lasse Mørck and drummer Henrik Holst Hansen. All names who have left an indelible imprint upon their contemporary scene across a multitude of solo projects and ensembles.
Recorded over a two-day session at the end of December 2023, the eight-track release showcases across originally-penned compositions from four of the quintet's five.
While many of April Records' projects tend to showcase more progressive perspectives on jazz - like Jonas Due's own OTOOTO project (April) - it's somewhat refreshing for the label to present an album that celebrates a more Golden Age of jazz along with its offshoot genres like Dixieland, Big Band Swing and Chicago Jazz. While the album delivers some outstanding uptempo numbers in 'Disco Double Trouble' and 'Oh!', the real gems lay in the ballads on the project with the exquisite 'Sosa' a notable album highlight.
