Singaporean singer Jacintha (full name Jacintha Abisheganaden) takes on the songbook of the Hollywood of my youth: "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head," "Que Sera Sera," "California Dreaming," "Windmills Of Your Mind." It's funny, I hated these songs back in the day. Now? The concertina/acoustic guitar introduction to "Que Sera Sera" makes me melt. Weird. Anyhow, Jacintha's very intimate presentation is a real winner.
Jae Sinnett - It's Telling...A Drummer's Perspective
Wow, sometimes you just stumble onto a little gold. Jae Sinnett's kit work manages to channel bits of my favorite drummers (Jeff Watts, Tony Williams) while retaining his own thing. It's very inspiring to be witness to a player who can muster great power when necessary and still dial back to great levels of sensitivity on the snare and high hat. While it might be a drummer's perspective, Sinnett's quartet pushes him along nearly as much drives them. Great stuff.
Ganelin Trio Priority - Live in Lugano 2006
Ganelin Trio drummer Klaus Kugel emailed me, asking if I'd be interested in listening to his group's music. Sure, why not? I mean, fully improvised music get so little attention these days, if it ever did at all. After doing a little research I discovered that this group, founded by pianist/synthesizer player Vyacheslav Ganelin, has a long history. Even though Kugel and saxophonist Petras Vysniauskas have not been there since the trio's inception, they play as if they've been together their entire lives. These long pieces feature quite impressive and organic thematic development as ideas are passed from man to man.
Article comments
1 - Michael J. West
I am SOOO with you, Mark. I'm currently on deadline for six different reviews, and aside from those I've gotten 15 more jazz discs just in the past 10 days...I've not even touched most of them. And since your review palette is much broader than mine, I can't FATHOM how many you must have in that pile.
But what a neat idea for a column! I'll be watching this one.
2 - Big Geez
I wish I'd thought of this first. I guess I'll just keep staring mournfully at all my own unreviewed albums. A little guilt is good, right?
3 - Glen Boyd
Nice column Mark. Just remember, we get first dibs on all of the good stuff over at the New releases column...
love ya'!
-Glen
4 - Jordan Richardson
Great column. It's always nice to find great new jazz to listen to. I'll be checking it out from now on, Mark.