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The Shipwreck Bag Show | Il Tempo … Tra Le Nostre Mani, Scoppia | Long Song Records

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Xabier Iriondo and Roberto Bertacchini are together again to continue the work started with the mini-cd of the same name which closed the wallaceMailSeries. Two years to forge a sound that has become much more than the sum of two styles, whose personality has become trademark. Shipwreck The Bag Show is a group, a band playing live and this album offers twelve tracks that are real songs. Without forgetting the sound research carried out over the years, the duo is dedicated to singing and playing blues songs obviously drunk and crooked, obviously cripple blues, dirty, primitive and evocative. God (or who for him) makes them … Continue reading →

Adam Pierończyk | Ed Schuller | Jacek Kochan | Plastinated Black Sheep | Not Two Records

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PBS is a 1999’s trio led by drummer Jacek Kochan. The dominant style here is an Ornette-ish kind of free blues feel, with material contributed by all three men. Kochan, who directs the musical flow from the traps, studied in the U.S. back in the Eighties, and he combines the melodic drumming of a master like Max Roach with the polyrhythmic approach to Elvin Jones. His beat is infectious, and so is the lift he brings to a band. Considering that you can feel that kind of energy through your home stereo, imagine how inspiring it must be to be sharing a bandstand with Kochan. Saxophonist Pieronczyk has an attractively gruff sound on tenor, loose and facile with hints of Sixties-era Rollins and Coltrane. His soprano is a pleasant surprise, controlled and tuneful. Kochan’s “Sparrow Dance” is his soprano feature, as he races bassist Ed Schuller’s busy throb and the composer’s pounding drums to the end. Schuller is in his element here, with a lot of space to fill with his massive sound and an active rhythm partner in Kochan. He also contributes two compositions. His “Sooner Then Before” is a dedication to the late Jaki Byard, with Pieronczyk on tenor charging through the melody urged on by Kochan and the composr’s probing bass. It’s a long track, but they prove time and again on the CD that they can grab and hold the listener’s interest without strain, even on original tunes that run as long as ten minutes. The other long piece, “For Walter” by Pieronczyk, is a tender song that evokes a relaxed performance and a spirited tenor solo. All told, an ispired first-time encounter among three musicians with limitless imaginations and big ears. Very hip, and recommended. — Stuart Kremsky (Cadence) Continue reading →

The Wall-London Band | Birth & Rebirth | Not Two Records

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Greg Wall and Frank London have been making music together for close to twenty years, since their student days at the New England Conservatory of Music. Their collective experiences, taking them throughout North America and Europe, run the gamut of many diverse and exciting projects -Jazz; Old and New; Blues; Ethnic and World Music; Performance Art and Avant / New Music Wall and London’s new recording, “Birth / Rebirth” is a celebration of the individual creative spirit, while simultaneously embracing the rich tradition of the American Jazz Band. The nine compositions on the album, all composed by Wall and London, represent a distinct voice in interpreting the Jazz legacy. Continue reading →

Arek Skolik | Sylwester Sośniak | Michał Szumlas | Checkmate | Not Two Records

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Arek Skolik – drums | Sylwester Sośniak – guitar | Michał Szumlas – bass | Józef Antoni ‘Ziut’ Gralak – trumpet | Stanisław Soyka – vocal | Paweł Rozkrut – conga. All compositions by Sylwester Sosniak. Arrangements by Arek Skolik & Sylwester Sosniak. Produced by Marek Winiarski.Special thanks to: Marek Gachowski, Krzysztof Kobylihski, Marek Winiarski, Grzegorz Gutowski, Andrzej Zielinski, Andrzej Kalinowski, Joziu Gralak, Stasiu Soyka, Pawet Rozkrut and all the people who helped in this project. — Arek Skolik, Sylwek Sosniak Continue reading →

Hasidic New Wave | Live In Cracow | Not Two Records

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As part of the Jewish Culture Festival Cracow hosted an exceptional group from the US – The Hasidic NewWave. The concert of the quintet, which fuses jazz and funk with elements of Jewish and Arabic music, was truly a special event.Co-leaders trumpeter Frank London and saxophonist Greg Wall, guitarist David ,,Fuze” Fiuczynski, bassist Fima Ephron, and drummer Aaron Alexander displayed not only inventiveness, finesse, and unbelievable technique, but created what could only be called a musical spectacle. They were able to draw the audience into the music as virtually active participants, creating a sort of collective celebration of it in spite of the fact that what they played is by no means ..accessible” music. With their Cracow appearance, The Hasidic New Wave fully confirmed the qualities displayed on their CD ,,The Jews and the Abstract Truth”. Wall played incredibly; his improvisations, though rather far out, were well–constructed and convincing. His playing bore not a trace of calculated-ness, just honest, expressive, and highly personal creativity. London displayed equal sound-sculpting prowess, invention and enthusiasm while also connecting with the audience well. The rhythm section also deserves high praise: Fiuczynski amazed listeners with his Frank Zappa-esque guitar stylings, showing great musicality, sound, and feel; Ephron not only accompanied well, but tastefully integrated a variety of electronic effects into the music; Alexander played in a relaxed but at the same time extremely precise manner, with a perfect command of dynamics. His drums had a unique, soft, subtle, and warm sound. The audience had a great time, the atmosphere in the room more reminiscent of that at a regular dance-band gig that an avant-garde jazz concert. Lack of space was the only reason people didn’t start to dance. — Robert Buczek (Jazz Forum) translated by Kami White Continue reading →

Scott Amendola | Ben Goldberg | Devin Hoff | Plays Monk | Long Song Records

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Does the world really another trio interpretation of Thelonious Monk’s music? Well, take one look at the personnel involved here, and you’ll Know this isn’t simply another stab at revivalist orthodoxy. Bassist Devin Hoff, drummer Scott Amendola, and clarinetist Ben Goldberg have worked together and separately in many of the Bay Area’s most interesting groups (Hoff and Amendola are two thirds of the Nels Cline Singers; Goldberg is the newest member in the Tin Hat ensemble) and each is a strong band leader in his own right. They’ve also participated in two of the more intriguing recent homages to jazz masters. All three were members of New Monastery, Nels Cline’s recent homage to Andrew Hill; and Hoff was the bassist on The Door, the Hat, the Chair, the Fact, Goldberg’s tribute to Steve Lacy. — Signal to Noise Continue reading →

Los Angeles Jazz Quartet | Family Song | Not Two Records

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Dear Listener we are proud to present our latest recording, family song. The quartet has been composing, performing and recording with the same personnel for five years. Most of the titles of the compositions on this CD contain references to our families and friends. For this reason we would like to dedicate this album to those people who occupy a special place in our lives. LA. Jazz Quartet, July 1998 Continue reading →