The Listening Guide
đ¶ The listening guide: five albums, released during the past twelve months, chosen around a weekly theme đ¶
This week, we pick five records from vocalists. Pianist Frank Harrison and vocalist Brigitte Berahaâs new album The Way Home has received praise from folk legend Norma Winstone for its undeniable beauty. Beraha reflects her heritage with lyrics in English, French and Italian, evoking feelings of nostalgia and melancholy in this homely, uncomplicated recording. Dwight Trible, who is surely possessed of one of the richest and most moving voices in jazz music, sings with power and feeling on Pathways & Passages, the first album with his group Cosmic Vibrations. Joined by John B Williams, Derf Reklaw, Pablo Calogero, Christopher Garcia, and Breeze Smith, Trible sings lyrics and improvises within pieces packed with percussion and lyrical woodwind playing. Like the brilliant Ellen Andrea Wang, Kaisa MĂ€ensivu sings and plays upright bass simultaneously, maintaining a swinging groove and perfectly complimenting her small ensemble. On Hand Picked, MĂ€ensivu adapts some well-known standards with Finnish lyrics, and presents some fantastic original instrumental pieces alongside them. The joy and saudade we so often associate with Brazilian music is there in abundance on Fran NĂłbregaâs debut album for Umbilical. Entitled A flor e o tempo, it features a fine version of Baden Powell and Paulo CĂ©sar Pinheiroâs Cai Dentro alongside contemporary pieces, all of which bring Franâs voice to the fore. The eponymous debut album from 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition winner Samara Joy is a twelve song tour de force, recorded at Oktaven Audio in October, 2020. Joy is backed by the Pasquale Grasso Trio and describes the album as âa glimpse of what I've learned so far,â as well as âa way for me to pay homage to those who have come before, while lending my own perspective to these songs.â You can support each of these fantastic albums on Bandcamp!
Frank Harrison & Brigitte Beraha â The Way Home
Cosmic Vibrations ft. Dwight Trible â Pathways & Passages
Kaisa MĂ€ensivu â Hand Picked
Album of the Week
Our NQ Jazz album of the week is the new LP from Munich-based group, Web Web. Featuring contributions from the great Brandee Younger and Charles Tolliver amongst others, this collaborative and spirited offering pays homage to the musical directions of the early seventies, whilst sounding fresh in its technical execution. âAkinuba / The Heartâ sets a Yusef Lateef monologue to music, and the filmic âSatori Waysâ features beautiful harp, horns, and mellotron. You can support the record on Bandcamp!
Classic Album
Our NQ Jazz classic album this week is an eight-disc box set from Blue Note Records, presenting twelve sets of music from the legendary trumpeter Lee Morgan. All were captured during his quintetâs residency at The Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, California, which took place in July, 1970. The group features saxophonist Bennie Maupin, pianist Harold Mabern, bassist Jymie Merritt, and drummer Mickey Roker. You can find this momentous release on the Blue Note Store, QoBuz, streaming services, and various other platforms.