A must hear new album: Olivier Babaz - Midnight Cafeine (2013)

An exciting debut album coming from a skilled young musician with a broad and open mind to what modern jazz is today.


On "Midnight Cafeine" French composer and bass player Olivier Babaz voices a sensibility of his own, tastefully expressed in ten compositions joined by two excellent musicians Sylvain Ransy, piano and Mark Nelson on drums.

The songs seems united by the fluid melodicity of an unconventional movie score where darker episodes alternate with bursts of joy and exuberance with the bass driving the story from behind or diffused within the texture, always instilling a warm feeling into the stage.Olivier Babaz  playing acoustic and electric bass takes the lead at the right moment, he knows when to add accents or come forward, he wraps piano and drums in a sonic velvet aura that can be sophisticated or powerful without overpowering. Free form and melodicity flow hand in hand as a kaleidoscope of soundscapes, blues themes and sparkling improvisations.
"Midnight Cafeine", "The Road to Hearst"(superb arco touches) and "Frenetik" are among the most seductive tunes, but to name a few highlights is not enough, the album as a whole has a cohesive beauty to be appreciated over and over again.

www.olivierbabaz.com

Listen to "Olivier Babaz - Blues de l'escalier" on JazzWorldQuest Web Player

Nicholas Payton - #BAM Live At Bohemian Caverns (BMF Records 2013)

This live album captures Grammy-winner's now legendary prowess on the trumpet - while simultaneously playing the Fender Rhodes. This is #BAM: Black American Music.

The evolution of Grammy-winning trumpeter Nicholas Payton continues on February 26 with the release of Nicholas Payton XXX #BAM Live at Bohemian Caverns on BMF Records.

Recorded at the historic Washington, D.C. club, Bohemian Caverns, on November 3, 2012, the album captures Payton's now legendary prowess on the trumpet – while simultaneously playing the Fender Rhodes piano. Featuring Vicente Archer on bass and Lenny White on drums, the Nicholas Payton XXX band's burning set includes compositions by Payton (The Backward Step, The African Tinge), the classic traditional "Frankie And Johnny," and Miles Davis (Drad Dog), Lenny White & Mike Clark (Catlett Out Of The Bag), and Thelonious Monk (Pannonica).

An accomplished multi-instrumentalist (in addition to the trumpet, piano, and keyboards, Nicholas plays bass, drums, tuba, trombone, clarinet and saxophone, etc.), Nicholas Payton adds another dimension to his musical achievement with the launch of his own imprint, BMF Records. 

After years on major labels, Payton is bypassing the traditional label system for BMF Records. BMF Records is a natural extension of Nicholas Payton's musical journey, following the release of last year's studio set, Bitches. The 15-song, original vocal and R&B album laid the groundwork for the revolutionary, yet evident, idea that that music of the Black American diaspora are more similar than dissimilar. Black American Music, coined by Nicholas Payton, describes his and all music descending from the Black American experience, including spirituals, gospel, soul, blues, and R&B. Black American Music was created by Black people, but it belongs to everyone. 

Nicholas Payton is the founder of the growing Black American Music awareness movement (#BAM). The genesis of #BAM is the public's reaction to 'On Why Jazz Isn't Cool Anymore' and subsequent ingenious posts published on his blog (http://nicholaspayton.wordpress.com) in November of 2011. 

#BAM is the synthesis of Payton's entire collective musical history – a prodigious talent who began playing professionally at age nine, made his major label debut at 21, won his Grammy at 24, wrote a full symphony orchestra and is credited on over 120 recordings as a composer, arranger and/or special guest. An all-around musician, Nicholas Payton is widely considered one of the greatest artists of our time. His unmistakable musical genius is on wide display on #BAM Live at Bohemian Caverns. 

Payton's "clarion trumpet, as well as his genre-defying solos, stood at the center of the music making...No descriptive label or category could be affixed to Payton's solos, which were as brashly original as they were technically imposing." - Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune (December 1, 2012)
http://www.nicholaspayton.com

DEJAN TERZIC - MELANOIA (Enja 2013)

Dejan Terzic drums
Hayden Chisholm saxophone
Achim Kaufmann piano
Ronny Graupe guitar
Dejan Terzic drums

Day dream, night dream, nightmare, short dream, ideal dream...

These are the topics, the group MELANOIA is about, founded in the summer of 2012 by the drummer and composer Dejan Terzic.

The highly active drummer has been since long part of the top acts of the European jazz scene. During the last years he has presented his highly acclaimed project “Underground”. ENJA RECORDS has also released his last CD “Diaspora”.

The newly founded ensemble deals with musical linkages, integrations, kind of dreams, day dreams, nightmares, multilayered structures and free implementations. MELANOIA focuses mostly on the dream and all its many intense and non tangible aspects. The quartet featuring four strong individualists that are part of Europe’s top-jazz-musicians swings between those structures and implementations. Those four artists create their music and compositions creatively. They all have drawn attention to themselves with diverse projects and recordings. The first CD of that bass-less quartet will be released in March 2013 by ENJA RECORDS.

This ensemble has been nominated for the “BMW-Welt Jazz-Award 2013 – Leading Drums”
Enja

MAGIC MOMENTS 6 - In The Spirit of Jazz (ACT 2013)

Music far from fixed styles. Sometimes more, sometimes less jazzy. Between the genres, whether classical music, rock or pop. On the pulse of time and beyond. With established ACT stars and promising newcomers. Music for open ears, for the mind and soul. And for everyone who loves good music.

The 6. edition of the popular Magic Moments series by Germany’s jazz label of the year 2010-2012 (ECHO award). In 2013 again under the motto “In the Spirit of Jazz”:

Music far from fixed styles. Sometimes more, sometimes less jazzy. Between the genres, whether classical music, rock or pop. On the pulse of time and beyond. With established ACT stars and promising newcomers. Music for open ears, for the mind and soul. And for everyone who loves good music
ACT

Soft Machine Legacy, new studio album "Burden Of Proof" is out now

Dear MoonJune Friends The new SOFT MACHINE LEGACY's studio album"Burden Of Proof" is available now. For CD info click here ==> BURDEN OF PROOF For high res download click hear ==> BANDCAMP Soft Machine Legacy makes their most powerful statement to date, delivering an album of epic proportions and their first studio output since 2007's Steam. Infectious grooves, undeniably hip vibes and sizzling performances dominate the outing, as the veteran progressive music masters continue to break new ground and offer listeners yet more previously-unseen facets of their dynamic musical persona. Featuring some intriguingly-inviting new writing, the album is a breath of fresh air for progressive music and a bold furtherance of the true adventurous essence that is the legacy of the great Soft Machine. It doesn't just offer the suggestion of venturing through ground previously untread -- by any of the Soft Machine incarnations -- it levels everything in its path on the way! Broad in its scope and ambition, but sensitive, probing and playful in its delivery, Burden of Proofprovides more than ample evidence that the legends remain at the top of their game, both individually and collectively. The group's two lead voices -- guitarist John Etheridge and saxophonist Theo Travis (currently touring worldwide with Steven Wilson)-- are in exceptionally fine form, whether gracefully enunciating a melody line in the pocket or dancing madly on the fringe. Also evident is the rock-solid anchoring of drummer John Marshall and bassist Roy Babbington, who keep proceedings tight and flowing throughout. Whether tip-toeing or stampeding, Soft Machine Legacy are as unified, focused and finely-honed as they've ever been -- delivering their crispest, most sparkling new material to date, in an undeniably inspired, unrelenting session. This is a fabulous, vital effort: a potent, impacting album encompassing the great spirit and aggressive pioneering approach championed by their namesake predecessors. For all fans of progressive music, the Canterbury scene, and the Softs, this superlative studio session is immediately 'essential' -- and easily the Legacy's finest, most high-reaching outing. Stay tuned for more info about SML gigs in France, Italy, Germany, UK and Japan, all to be announced soon. All the best Yours in Music Leonardo/MoonJune

SOFT MACHINE LEGACY: JOHN ETHERIDGE, JOHN MARSHALL, ROY BABBINGTON & THEO TRAVIS.

Jasper Somsen Group released “Sardegna”

European Jazz with an American bite!

SARDEGNA is a profound personal narrative of Jasper Somsen about the most constant thing in life – the change. The short stories on this album are about the moments we all face: searching for the meaning of life, the loss of dear ones, love and friendship. Jasper approaches them with patience and grace, yet retaining the organic emotional palette one can’t hide.

This second album of Somsen brings you to the rhythm of life on Sardegna Island with a mellow vibe, enriched by touching cello entries and deep bass solos. Poetic and sentimental, sad and cheerful.

The compositions do not only refer to Sardinia itself, but some are much more connected to the vast history of European and American jazz, or even maybe to another island yet to be discovered… An island created by passion, imagination and poetry. Akin to other migrants to Sardinia, exploring the island. This is also what Jasper does by releasing this album: creating new memories and whispering new destinations in our ears.

Jasper Somsen started his group in 2009. In October 2010 he released his first album "Dreams, Thoughts and Poetry" at Challenge Records. All release concerts were sold out and the album received excellent reviews.

Listen to the album Sardegna on the Radio 6 record pole for free!
More information about Jasper Somsen and his new Album Sardegna you'll find onwww.challengerecords.com

Upcoming concerts:

April 1 - Nijmegen (NL): Jasper Somsen Group (Music from the CD "Sardegna" - 2013)
Easter Jazz Festival - Café de Kroon | Time: t.b.a.
April 5 - Wageningen (NL): Jasper Somsen & The Wageningen Symphony Orchestra
Saint John "The Baptist" Church | Time: 20:15 | Information & Tickets
April 7 - Amsterdam (NL): Jasper Somsen & The Wageningen Symphony Orchestra
Beurs van Berlage | Time: 14:30
April 13 - Den Haag (NL): Jasper Somsen Group (Music from the CD "Sardegna" - 2013)
De Regentenkamer | Time: t.b.a.
April 14 - Arnhem (NL): Jasper Somsen & The Wageningen Symphony Orchestra
Musis Sacrum | Time: 14:30 | Information & Tickets
May 17 - Den Haag (NL): Jasper Somsen & Alessandro Di Liberto
Associazione Dante Alighieri | CLUB MEMBERS ONLY!
May 18 - Amersfoort (NL): Jasper Somsen & Alessandro Di Liberto
Amersfoort Jazz Festival | Time: t.b.a.
May 22 - Tilburg (NL): Enrico Pieranunzi's New European Trio
Paradox | Time: 20:30 uur |Information & Tickets
May 23 - Amsterdam (NL): Enrico Pieranunzi's New European Trio
BIM-huis | Time: t.b.a.
May 24 - Nijmegen (NL): Enrico Pieranunzi's New European Trio
De Lindenberg | Time: t.b.a.
May 30 - Nistelrode (NL): Enrico Pieranunzi's New European Trio
De Hoge Vorssel | CLUB MEMBERS ONLY!
May 31 - Zeist (NL): Enrico Pieranunzi's New European Trio
Piano Podium Henk Hupkes | Time: 20:30 hrs | Information & Tickets
June 1 - Rotterdam (NL): Enrico Pieranunzi's New European Trio
Lantaren/Venster | Time: t.b.a.
June 28 - Treviso (Italy): Enrico Pieranunzi's New European Trio
Monastier di Treviso | Time: t.b.a.

Chris Hyson - Little Moon Man (Feat. Kit Downes) (2013)

A set of original music written by Chris Hyson, this music is written for the piano and is played by the critically acclaimed, 'Mercury Prize' nominated pianist, Kit Downes.
I spent a lot of time experimenting with different musicians and instrumentation to find the right combination for this music. After some time, I came to realise that it was best suited to being played on the piano alone, as that's where I spend a lot of my time composing - alone on the piano. When I write music, I try to be as honest as possible, drawing influence from my own personal life experiences, and the relationships I have with others. All the music is written from a place of love. I hope you enjoy it
https://soundcloud.com/chrishyson