The Listening Guide
🎶 The listening guide: five albums, released during the past twelve months, chosen around a weekly theme 🎶
This week, we look north, to the nations and sounds of Scandinavia. Amongst our selections are albums made by artists based in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Iceland.
Hvalfugl – Øjeblikke Vi Husker
Album of the Week
Our NQ Jazz Album of the Week is the debut record from London-based violin player, composer, and vocalist, Johanna Burnheart. Reflecting her time spent living in Berlin and love for the city’s clubs and electronic music output, her involvement with London and Berlin’s jazz scenes, classical foundations and explorative nature — the album is a melodic, experimental, and inventive first offering that showcases her deep skill and strong vision. Contributors include Boz Martin-Jones (drums and shaker), David Swan (keys and synths), Jonny Wickham (upright bass), and Noel Langley (percussion). Check out the project on Bandcamp!
Classic Album
The late bandleader and clarinetist Toshiyuki Miyama ed his jazz-funk big band The New Herd for decades, helping them to become one of Japan’s most decorated jazz groups. They notably played with Charles Mingus and Dizzy Gillespie in the seventies — a decade during which they released a number of fantastic studio and live albums. Nio & Pigeon is one of their finest — at times groovy, others spiritual and relaxing.