Music RECORDS JAZZ & WORLD
JAZZ KENNY GARRETT Seeds From The Underground (Mack Avenue Records) ●●●●● Here we find Kenny Garrett – a Detroit-born alto saxophonist who began his career performing with the Duke Ellington Orchestra before pursuing a solo career — in his most melodic vein, accompanied by a fine pianist, Benito Gonzalez, and a strong rhythm section that includes percussionist Rudy Bird.
Nedelka Prescod adds wordless vocals on a couple of tracks, and is part of a mini- chorus on ‘Welcome Earth Sound’. Their vibrant treatment of a series of new compositions by Garrett (several are dedicated to his jazz mentors, while a couple have distinct ‘world music’ roots) is very enjoyable. (Kenny Mathieson)
SINGLES & DOWNLOADS
JAZZ GARY HUSBAND Dirty & Beautiful, Volume 2 (Abstract Logix) ●●●●●
Jazz-rock isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and tends to be sniffed at in critical circles, but when it’s done well, it remains an exciting facet of the contemporary jazz spectrum. Like its predecessor, this album features keyboard player and drummer Gary Husband in duo, trio and quartet settings with a range of the genre’s luminaries, including guitarists John McLaughlin, Allan Holdsworth, Robin Trower and Wayne Krantz, keyboard player Jan Hammer and Level 42 bassist Mark King. Husband revisits Hammer’s ‘Rain’ and Miles Davis’ ‘Yesternow’ (briefly featured on Volume 1, but expanded here) alongside new material. (Kenny Mathieson)
WORLD ROBERTO FONSECA Yo (Montuno/ Jazz Village) ●●●●● Hitherto dressed by number one French fan Agnès B, Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca literally strips naked to underscore journeying into the diaspora of his Afro-Cuban roots. As eclectic as ever, Fonseca walks a fine line between cutting edge trio jazz, lyrical poems and flirtations with a more high energy, clubby scene. Beautiful collaborations with Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara and Assane Mboup among others are welcome. A consummate classical and popular pianist, Fonseca’s bold percussive style fused with wit, discipline and knowledge of the masters mark him as innovating the future of jazz, at home and abroad. (Jan Fairley)
WORLD COMPILATION VARIOUS ARTISTS Songlines Music Awards 2012 (Songlines/Proper Music) ●●●●●
Despite difficult times for music business sales, with popular small independents reporting they are barely covering their costs, let’s hear it for this innovative magazine. Songlines offers a bimonthly vision of the diverse with superb articles and covermount CDs.
This compilation album rounds up the nominees for the 4th annual Songlines Music Awards, where artists including Staff Benda Bilili and Amadou & Mariam have previously scooped awards. Newcomer Fatoumata Diawara definitely gets this reviewer’s vote. (Jan Fairley)
ALSO RELEASED
TS Eliot got it wrong. April is not the cruellest month. Not where our ear canals are concerned, anyway. April is killing us with its pop kindness.
Take ‘Storm’ (●●●●●, Because), a sojourn into sun-dappled collage-rock, courtesy of vintage exoticists Django Django; or the tropical indie of François and the Atlas Mountains’ ‘City Kiss’ (●●●●●, Domino); not to mention the shimmering optimism of ‘Among Angels’ (●●●●●, Fish People) from the ever-exquisite Kate Bush. (The latter is released on 10” picture-disc for Record Store Day on April 21).
Alas, April’s aural altruism email
did not reach farce-metal braggarts Steel Panther in time for ‘17 Girls in a Row’ (●●●●●, Island) and nor could it salvage Christina Perri’s mawkish, Mumfords-esque ‘Arms’ (●●●●●, Atlantic, see left), but Teenage Fanclub’s Gerry Love, aka Lightships, is on blissful, restorative form with the indie balm of 'Sweetness In Her Spark' (●●●●●, Geographic). (See also page 86 for a review of the Lightships album.) Love’s TFC shipmate, Norman Blake, appears on Bill Wells
and Aidan Moffat’s ‘The Powers and The Glory of Love’ (●●●●●, Chemikal Underground, see right) – a cut so divine that The List is bestowing upon it an unprecedented 1980s Single of the Decade garland. It’s a gorgeous homage to all the greatest ‘Power’ ballads (Frankie; Huey; Rush), and it might just save your life.
Back in the future, April’s Single of the Month goes to Scottish alt-rock enigma(s) The Son(s) with the untrammelled DIY glam-strop of ‘If I Hear You Talk Apostrophes Again’ (●●●●● , Olive Grove). Grammatical funk, cross-dressing blues and skewed-folk despotism never sounded so full of the joys of spring. (Nicola Meighan)
Battles Dross Glop (Warp) ●●●●● First in a 4-part series of Gloss Drop remix albums. Gang Gang Dance, HudMo and Hyperdub owner, Steve ‘Kode9’ Goodman redo ‘Ice Cream’ and ‘Afri- castle’, but the results taste more watery ice- pole than zingy sorbet. Jon Porras Black Mesa (Thrill Jockey) ●●●●● One half of San Francisco’s Barn Owl, Jon Porras’ solo work is a foreboding, desolate, droney haze of psychy desert guitar. Meditative, darkly beautiful soundscape stuff.
King Creosote & Jon Hopkins Diamond Mine Special Edition (Domino) ●●●●● A reissue of last year’s much-loved, Mercury- nominated album, with two brand new songs, plus the Honest Words EP and a B-side ‘Missionary.’
The Time and Space Machine Taste the Lazer (Tirk) ●●●●● Motorik workouts from Richard Norris, better known as half of Beyond the Wizard’s Sleeve with Erol Alkan. Driving and hypnotic, with Neu!-esque moments among more Balearic bursts.
Bear in Heaven I Love You It’s Cool (Dead Oceans) ●●●●● Less stoner rock and proggy stuff than Beast Rest Forth Mouth, and more pulsing, danceable beats on album three from the Brooklyn trio, channelling a bit of Pet Shop Boys if we’re not mistaken? Plum The Seed (Plum Tunes) ●●●●● Plum aka Shona Maguire, was the first female release on leftfield gem, Benbecula Records. Her light vocals have a soft, poppy sound, and bring on dubby Portishead flashbacks. (Claire Sawers)
88 THE LIST 29 Mar–26 Apr 2012