Freshness of the night .........

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

Ian has already highlighted Alyn's contribution later tonight especially Ian's fave Maria Schneider and the Lee Morgan track

Geoffrey goes Latin with a not all the usual suspects selection, of course Dizzy G features

Claire & Kev the Sunday Jazz RomCom?

Claire Martin interviews MOBO Award winning pianist Zoe Rahman in advance of her appearance at the Brighton Festival. Plus Kevin Le Gendre profiles the soundtrack to Spike Lee's 'Mo'Better Blues' as his featured album in this month's 'Now Is The Time'.

Jon3 is a prog i shall be glued to the wireless for , get yer cassettess and harddrives etc at the ready for M Shipp

Jez Nelson presents two contrasting contemporary approaches to the piano trio from New York's Matthew Shipp and Scandinavian/British group Phronesis, led by bassist Jasper Høiby.

Pianist Matthew Shipp is not a musician short on artistic certainty. "I continue to pursue my own unique brand of piano language," he has said this year in relation to his latest studio recording; and of the trio he brought to The Vortex for the 2012 London Jazz Festival, he was confident that there was "no precedent" to what the group do together on stage.

With bassist Michael Bisio and drummer Whit Dickey, Shipp sets off on an improvised journey that travels through recognizable tunes and originals to somewhere beyond. And while the spiritual music of America's free jazz tradition is no doubt a key reference point (Shipp was pianist of choice in the late David S. Ware's famous '90s quartet), the group does seem to possess a distinctly fresh approach to what is one of jazz music's oldest configurations.

An evident delight for tight-knit grooves and a shared ear for anthemic melody unite Ivo Neame (piano), Anton Eger (drums) and leader Jasper Høiby (double-bass) in Phronesis. With four albums to their name, the band have begun 2013 on a high, touring Australia and Europe. In this performance from 2012, recorded at London's King's Place, the band are at their free-flowing best, working through a set of compositions by all three band members and in the process offering up a different and equally-invigorating idea of what the acoustic piano trio can be

those were the days eh

[Quarky]

Geoffrey goes Latin with a not all the usual suspects selection, of course Dizzy G features

Thanks for the heads up Calum. Geoffrey had a fascinating selection of tracks, including accordions, violins, modal jazz, and all types of latin rhythms.

But I assume Jelly Roll Morton has been disproved that Jazz needs a Spanish tinge. I can't say I have heard much in the way of latin rhythms on Jez Nelson's Jazz on 3. My feeling is that from my very inextensive listening to music, that these days, music with latin rhythms would go into the World Music category, and that the Jazz connection is much reduced.

[Alyn_Shipton]

Oddball, I think there's a huge Latin connection in the States which we see all too little of in the UK. The likes of David Sanchez, Danilo Perez, Chicho Valdez, Paquito D'Rivera, even McCoy Tyner's Latin big band of a few years back with Dave Valentin, are keeping this form very much alive and when you add the Cuban element, with bands like Cubanismo, there's a load going on. Had the plug not been pulled on Jazz Library,we had such a show planned, to build on the Cuban one which I did with Arturo Sandoval http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00g85jf

[Quarky]

Oddball, I think there's a huge Latin connection in the States which we see all too little of in the UK. The likes of David Sanchez, Danilo Perez, Chicho Valdez, Paquito D'Rivera, even McCoy Tyner's Latin big band of a few years back with Dave Valentin, are keeping this form very much alive and when you add the Cuban element, with bands like Cubanismo, there's a load going on. Had the plug not been pulled on Jazz Library,we had such a show planned, to build on the Cuban one which I did with Arturo Sandoval http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00g85jf

Thanks Alyn, and thanks for the link. My window on the world of music, from my reclusive hermitage in Hertfordshire, is Radio 3, and I do find it surprising that there is not a stronger confluence with Latin music in the London Jazz scene. Lucy Duran has been shouting about latin american music for several years now: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...ador_da_Bahia/. I believe a recent nominated young musician of World Music was a Columbian accordian player from the Elephant and Castle area. There is a huge Latin presence in London. So where is UK Latin Jazz? It's certainly a very exciting type of music.

In the meantime I will have to make do with your podcasts.

[Alyn_Shipton]

At present UK Latin jazz starts for me with Alex Wilson. I've followed his career from his first efforts, when I interviewed him for the BBC World Service, and his latest effort is worth a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvZevTSZ4Is

[Quarky]

Thanks again Alyn.

I see Alex will be performing at Kings Place soon, which is not too far down the road from me:

http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on-book-tickets/music/lokkhi-terra-alex-wilsons-trio-mali-latino-featuring-special-guest-omar-#.UQ4oxOioZe8

[Byas'd Opinion]

There's also the outstanding Venezulan pianist Leo Blanco, who's playing a UK tour in late June / early July. I was at one of the Edinburgh Fringe gigs mentioned in this article, and can confirm that he's every bit as good as the piece makes him out to be: http://www.marlbank.net/guestcolumn

[Ian Thumwood]

Alyn / Oddball

Alot of the names mentioned in Alyn's lists are favourites of mine but there are two other Latin musicians who I think are pretty exceptional and are similarly worth checking out. The first of these is alto-ist Miguel Zenon whose album "Ceremonial" is a blistering piece of contemporary jazz (from recollection Luis Pedermo, another interest Latin player, is on piano ) and features a lot of really good writing and punchy solos. The title track zips in and out of odd time signatures and having downloaded the leadsheet out of curiousity, was even more impressed that something so complex could sound so visceral and earthy.

For me, the big omission from the list of percussionist Bobby Sanabria who has recently been campaigning to get the Latin Jazz category reistated in to the Grammys. There are are number of great albums made under his name and if you can still get hold of "Big Band Urban Folk tales" you can hear a Latin equivalent of the blistering Mingus big band. This is an exceptional record and better than the recent "Multiverse." He has also made a few records with a big band from the Manhatten School of Music where the music of Machito and Tito Puente is given a dust-off to quite incredible results despite the young age of the musicians. Another name to look out for is Arturo O' Farrill who similarly fronts big bands and is himself the son of former Basie arranger Chico. Arturo's work is not as aggressive and visceral as the Sanabria bands and offer a more traditional modern big band approach in place of the aggressive and explosive riffing of Sanabria's outfits. O-Farrill's work is perhaps more scholarly but also worth exploring. "Spng for Chico" is a very good album and the one to go to whereas the more recent "40 acres and a burro" includes other influences other than Latin jazz.

I was pleased to read shared Alyn's entusiasm for "Cubanissimo" and it is nice to know that Jesus Almeny's band is still around. I heard them about ten years ago and thought they were terrific as a live act and the one albums of theirs that I bought is hugely enjoyable. However, reading Oddball's recent posts, I would add the caveat that this groups is a medium size big band and it tends to play a wide range of repertoire including some classic Cuban charts from the 1950's. I suppose it is a more jazz-orientated group than the Buena Vista Social CLub big band that freqeuntly tours and although I have a fondness for both bands, neither really offer a contemporary jazz spin of Latin Jazz.


The band I want to check out is Yosvany Terry's whose last album received some great reviews and is a kind of meeting of Latin Jazz and the music performed by Andrew Hill.

I agree that Latin Jazz is under-reported in the UK. If you start checking out the music you will see how it mirrors a lot of contemporary jazz and is almost it's own sub-culture with the style of jazz differing from the various Latin countries and the appetite for experimentation. Although I've not heard much of hsi music, Chicargo trumpeter Robert Mazuruk has been making some pretty outside jazz with Brazillian musicians during his residency in Sao Paulo. For me, this genre is hugely under-appreciated and is as exciting as contemporary jazz can get.

Cheers

Ian

[Old Grumpy]

Claire & Kev the Sunday Jazz RomCom?

Some pretty good stuff on JLU, I would say, Calum (just catching up on I player [fell asleep]).

OG

[Old Grumpy]

Alyn / Oddball

Alot of the names mentioned in Alyn's lists are favourites of mine but there are two other Latin musicians who I think are pretty exceptional and are similarly worth checking out. The first of these is alto-ist Miguel Zenon whose album "Ceremonial" is a blistering piece of contemporary jazz (from recollection Luis Pedermo, another interest Latin player, is on piano ) and features a lot of really good writing and punchy solos. The title track zips in and out of odd time signatures and having downloaded the leadsheet out of curiousity, was even more impressed that something so complex could sound so visceral and earthy.

For me, the big omission from the list of percussionist Bobby Sanabria who has recently been campaigning to get the Latin Jazz category reistated in to the Grammys. There are are number of great albums made under his name and if you can still get hold of "Big Band Urban Folk tales" you can hear a Latin equivalent of the blistering Mingus big band. This is an exceptional record and better than the recent "Multiverse." He has also made a few records with a big band from the Manhatten School of Music where the music of Machito and Tito Puente is given a dust-off to quite incredible results despite the young age of the musicians. Another name to look out for is Arturo O' Farrill who similarly fronts big bands and is himself the son of former Basie arranger Chico. Arturo's work is not as aggressive and visceral as the Sanabria bands and offer a more traditional modern big band approach in place of the aggressive and explosive riffing of Sanabria's outfits. O-Farrill's work is perhaps more scholarly but also worth exploring. "Spng for Chico" is a very good album and the one to go to whereas the more recent "40 acres and a burro" includes other influences other than Latin jazz.

I was pleased to read shared Alyn's entusiasm for "Cubanissimo" and it is nice to know that Jesus Almeny's band is still around. I heard them about ten years ago and thought they were terrific as a live act and the one albums of theirs that I bought is hugely enjoyable. However, reading Oddball's recent posts, I would add the caveat that this groups is a medium size big band and it tends to play a wide range of repertoire including some classic Cuban charts from the 1950's. I suppose it is a more jazz-orientated group than the Buena Vista Social CLub big band that freqeuntly tours and although I have a fondness for both bands, neither really offer a contemporary jazz spin of Latin Jazz.


The band I want to check out is Yosvany Terry's whose last album received some great reviews and is a kind of meeting of Latin Jazz and the music performed by Andrew Hill.

I agree that Latin Jazz is under-reported in the UK. If you start checking out the music you will see how it mirrors a lot of contemporary jazz and is almost it's own sub-culture with the style of jazz differing from the various Latin countries and the appetite for experimentation. Although I've not heard much of hsi music, Chicargo trumpeter Robert Mazuruk has been making some pretty outside jazz with Brazillian musicians during his residency in Sao Paulo. For me, this genre is hugely under-appreciated and is as exciting as contemporary jazz can get.

Cheers

Ian

Would the panel consider Roberto Fonseca and similar artists as exponents of Latin Jazz? They're (self evidently!) not British, but may be seen from time to time in this country.

OG

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

i confess i have not listened yet to a note .... all too late and zzzzzzzzzzzz eh

but encouraged and enthused by your comments i will start in on iPlayer ...

Arturo Sandoval, Irakere even the Buena Vista Social Club knock me out ...

one of the bass player mafia

[Ian Thumwood]

Calum

Sandoval is a funny player insofar that I think he owes a lot to Dizzy but maybe is a little on the commercial side. I bought my Dad his last album with a big band that featured a number of Gillespie-related tunes on but although he was very pleased with it, I don't think he matched the excitement of the current Dizzy All-star band. Sometimes Sandoval is a bit MOT but I suppose you could also level that criticism at Chucho Valdes. The pianist's recent "Chucho's steps" is killing and having seen him perform live, he is certainly an act not to be missed. I think this sums up the predicament with much Latin music in that not all of it is jazz. I've heard L'arpegiatta" play a lot of latin music and the results have been terrific yet the only link to jazz is the fact they improvise.

Buena Vista Social Club are sensational even if there are probably none of the originals now let in the band that is often touring these days. Again, they don't necessarily play jazz yet the music is irresistable. The latin jazz groups seem to me to be taking the music to another level and the tracks played by the likes of Zenon, Sanchez and Terry seem to be amongst the most exciting efforts in the current scene. It is disappointing that music as vigorous and exciting as this gets over-looked .

I always think that Latin jazz is like a Bach fugue but for rhythm . each instrument seems to be playinf it's own line and the way the percussion, bass and piano interact only adds to the mutli-layered feel that Bach produced when writing his music. Bach would have loved latin jazz.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

yep Ian i have listened to and like the works of Zenon et al ... btw i find nowt wrong with Latin MoR ...saw Sandoval at Scotts a couple of times, in high bop mode he is jaw droppingly good [or was]

catching up with Geoffrey's excellent stroll around the Latin landscape .... my but that Ellington track steals the show eh? Hold 'em Joe a long standing fave rave track from the 60s ....

[Ian Thumwood]

Calum

I feel that whenever Jazz borrows from Latin or Brazilian sources there is a risk of the music becoming bland. A good example of this is an album like Michel Camilo's "One more once" which has dated badly since the mid 90's and manages to convert a latin big band into the kind of music you would expect to hear on a TV game show. I haven't listened to it for ages but it got glowing reviews on Amazon which betrayed just how lightweight it was. Camilo is a good pianist but the results of the recordings session are shocking given the calibre of the band behind him and the kind of music the sidemen are usually reknown for. I suppose the only other idiom of jazz which can "bland out" quite so readily is fusion and both styles can quickly descend into Smooth Jazz excrement. It is quite noticeable just how much Latin music creeps in to the work of musicians like Peter White and his ilk.

For me, the Latin element must be visceral and have a degree of bite about it. Sandoval is nowhere near as bad as the Smooth Jazz stuff but the records I have heard by him are extremely approachable in the way that your find someone like Oscar Peterson can embrace a non-jazz audience. I would imagine that Sandoval would be totally different as a live act. The same goes for Brazilian music as this can mutate in to tameness whereas the best stuff (whether you are talking about a Egberto Gismonti's expansive musings, an explosive Tania Maria band or the Anat Cohens' wonderful Choro ensemble) has a degree of grit about it.

The issue for me with Latin Jazz is that it is seen too much of an off-shoot without registering as being as cutting edge as the more orthodox jazz sounds. The like of Miguel Zenon should properly be put in the same context as the likes of joe Lovano, Branford Marsalis, Donny McCaslin, etc, etc.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

listened to Matthew Shipp Trio [and Phronesis] ... an excellent prog highly recommended to all by dis jazbo

Shipp rejects the legacy of Corea Hancock Jarrett and i think implicitly Tyner, so you hear other things, some Monk, Waldron even my old fav Ran B ...... one of the most interesting jazz artists on the scene is Mr Shipp imho