Arild Andersen Trio live at Jazzfest Berlin 2009

Tommy Smith · saxophone
Arild Andersen · bass
Patrice Heral · drums

recorded live at Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Main Stage, November 8, 2009

1. Ilama Ilama
2. Backe
3. Out House
4. Dream Horse

When George Russell put together a band of completely unknown young Norwegian musicians in the late sixties, bassist Arild Andersen was one of them. The others were Jan Garbarek, Terje Rypdal and Jon Christensen. Soon the quartet was gaining confidence and wider acclaim and released their first album Afric Pepperbird on the ECM label – a landmark of Norwegian jazz.
Arild Andersen has been one of Europe's leading bass players ever since, also playing the local Oslo rhythm section for visiting Americans like Don Cherry, George Russell and Sam Rivers. He recorded 16 albums in his own name for ECM. Bill Frisell, Ralph Towner, Nana Vasconcelos, Paul Motian, Alphonze Mouzon, Kenny Wheeler and John Taylor are among the great musicians that can be heard on some of these albums.
His recent trio features Scottish saxophone player Tommy Smith and Italian expatriate Paolo Vinaccia on drums. Since Vinaccia was ill last November, French drummer Patrice Heral sat in with his old friend Arild Andersen.
One of his recent recordings is "Electra", released of course on ECM

Sheila Jordan live at Hot Club Lisbon 2008

Sheila Jordan, voc
Filipe Melo, p
Bernardo Moreira, b
Bruno Pedroso, dr
João Moreira, tp

recorded live at Hot Club, Lisbon/ Portugal, August 10, 2008

1. Hum Drum Blues (Oscar Brown Jr.)
2. How Deep is the Ocean (Irving Berlin)
3. Bird Alone (Abbey Lincoln)
4. Falling in Love with Love (Richard Rodgers/ Lorenz Hart)
5. Autumn in New York (Vernon Duke)
6. Dat dere (Bobby Timmons)
7. The Touch of Your Lips (Ray Nobles)
8. Lady Be Good (George Gershwin)
9. Pent-up House (Sonny Rollins)
10. Ballad for Miles / It Never Entered My Mind (Sheila Jordan/ Richard Rodgers)
11. Black Bird / Reel Time (Paul McCartney/ Chris Lee)
12. Confirmation (Charlie Parker)
13. Sheila's Blues (Sheila Jordan)
14. The Crossing (Sheila Jordan)

In 2008 Sheila Jordan released the live album "Winter Sunshine" on Justin Time Records.

Tower of Power live at AVO Session Basel 2009

Emilio Castillo, ts, voc

Stephen ("Doc") Kupka, bs
Francis Rocco Prestia, b
David Garibaldi, dr
Larry Braggs, voc
Roger Smith, keys
Tom E. Politzer, ts
Adolfo Acosta, tp, flh
Mic Gillete, tp, tb
Mark Harper, gt
Special Guest: Stefanie Heinzmann, voc

recorded live at AVO Session November 8, 2009

1. We Came To Play/ Soul With a Capital "S"
2. You Met Your Match
3. Loveland/ (To Say the Least) You're the Most
4. Only So Much Oil In The Ground
5. How Could This Happen to Me
6. So I Got To Groove
7. Me And Mrs. Jones
8. What Is Hip?/ Soul Power
9. Souled Out

For over 40 years, Tower of Power has been creating their own kind of soul music. Since 1968, Tower of Power has delivered their unique brand of music to their fans, appearing before sold out crowds as they tour the world each year. Tower’s sound can be hard to categorize, but the band's leader and founding member, Emilio Castillo, has labeled their sound as "Urban Soul Music."
Tower's rhythm section lays down a groove like no other band. The band’s horn driven sound is unique, and the way they approach everything, from writing and arranging to mixing and performing, is totally their own. Combine all of that with an outstanding lead vocalist and you have one of the most dynamic groups of musicians to ever hit the stage.
In 2009 They released their latest album "Great American Soulbook".

Herbie Hancock Quartet live in Hamburg 1988

Herbie Hancock, p
Greg Osby, as & ss
Buster Williams, b
Al Foster, dr

recorded live at Fabrik, Hamburg, October 23, 1988

1. Stella By Starlight
2. Footprints
3. Maiden Voyage

Somewhere in the early'80's, Herbie formed a trio of himself, Buster and Al Foster on drums. For certain summer tours, Branford Marsalis, Michael Brecker, or Greg Osby were added. The trio continued working together until 1995.
Last week Herbie celebrated his 70th birthday. Happy Anniversary!

Rebekka Bakken & Band live at MusicHall Worpswede 2010

Rebekka Bakken, vocals
Christer Karlsson, keys
Sebastian Nylund, guitar
Sven Lindvall, bass
Per Lindvall, drums

recorded live at MusicHall, Worpswede, January 21, 2010

1. Like Cologne (Rebekka Bakken)
2. Sometimes (Rebekka Bakken)
3. Ghost In This House (Hugh Prestwood)
4. Powder Room Collapse (Rebekka Bakken)
5. Nothing For You (Rebekka Bakken)
6. In The Early Morning Hours (Rebekka Bakken)
7. Is That You (Rebekka Bakken)
8. Hard To Be A Loser (Rebekka Bakken)
9. I Can Always Forget (Rebekka Bakken)
10. To Be Your Lover (Rebekka Bakken)
11. Not A Woman (Rebekka Bakken)
12. No Easy Way (Rebekka Bakken)
13. Say Goodbye To What Is Gone (Rebekka Bakken)
14. Why Do All The Good Guys Get The Dragons (Rebekka Bakken)
15. Forever Young (Marian Gold, Frank Merteen, Bernhard Lloyd)
16. Starlight Of My Heart (Rebekka Bakken)

Rebekka Bakken, vocals
Jesper Nordenström, keys
Stefan Astner, guitar
Lars Danielsson, bass
Per Lindvall, drums

recorded live at Kulturzentrum Schlachthof, Bremen, April 15, 2005

17. Didn't I
18. Mitt Hjerte Alltid Vanker/ So Ro (Trad., Hans Adolph Brorson/ Rebekka Bakken)

The fact that the Norwegian artist lived quite a long time in New York City and Vienna adds some charming and contrasting colours to her works. The music of her native country is still associated with notorious clichés. Rebekka, however, does not consider herself a musical landscape painter. “I never had the impression that my surroundings - neither at home nor abroad - contributed much to my inspiration.” Still - listeners who are bound to do so will discover the long winters, the crystal clear mountain air, and the mystic fjord landscapes in her former records. “Such images are only created in the eye of the beholder,” reflects Rebekka. “As musicians we shouldn’t be afraid of these clichés, of images others associate with our music. Our listeners notice things that musicians are not aware of. When I listen to Brazilian music, certain images come to my mind which no Brazilian would ever think of because it is their everyday music. So I have no problem with it if somebody recognizes Norway in my songs. That’s fine with me.”
On her latest album called “Morning Hours” she leaves her songs a lot of room to enfold. “All this space is important for me,” says Rebekka Bakken,“it is like a long, deep breath, like the instinct of life per se. In this space you deal with the things that really matter in life.” Her fourth album sounds different from its predecessors, more mysteriously and yet closer to reality. And it is her most romantic work to date. “I actually did not realize that at first. I really love the album because the songs sound like I wrote them. There’s nothing that stands between me and them. I did not have to elaborate much because I immediately felt comfortable with them.”

Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express live at Jazz Open Stuttgart 2009

Brian Auger (B3), Karma D. Auger (dr),
Andreas Geck (b), Savannah Auger (voc)

recorded live at Jazz Open Stuttgart 2009

1. Freedom Jazz Dance
2. Truth
3. Straight Ahead
4. Season Of The Witch
5. Indian Rope Man
6. Bumpin´On Sunset
7. Whenever You´re Ready
8. Light My Fire

The legendary Brian Auger's Oblivion Express has returned. The famed B3 and keyboard player, has created a distinct voice that combines jazz, rock, soul and funk, that is clearly recognizable to his millions of fans. With over 20 albums to his name and lengthy stints on the RCA and Warner Bros. labels, Brian Auger has accumulated Grammy Nominations, 10 albums charting in Billboards Hot 100, a #1 single, and the title of "The Godfather of Acid Jazz". Brian's bands over the years have featured Rod Stewart, Long John Baldry, Julie Driscoll and even Jimi Hendrix. In addition, Brian has recorded with great luminaries as The Yardbirds, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Eric Burdon and Down To The Bone. The new incarnation of the Oblivion Express is a family affair featuring Karma Auger on drums and Savannah Auger on vocals, who live up to the Auger name and make the Oblivion Express smoke. Rave reviews and demands for return engagements follow this artist wherever he goes.
In 2005 they released the double CD "Live at the Baked Potato"

Don Byron New Gospel Quintet live at NDR Hamburg 2009

photo by Till Krautkraemer

DK Dyson - voc
Don Byron - ts, cl, voc
Frank Wilkins - p
Brad Jones - b
Pheeroan AkLaaf – dr

recorded live at Rolf-Liebermann-Studio/ NDR, Hamburg, May 15, 2009

1. Boogie Woogie Bossa Nova (Eddie Harris)
2. Hide Me In Thy Bosom (Thomas A. Dorsey)
3. My Desire (Thomas A. Dorsey)
4. Precious Lord, Take My Hand (Thomas A. Dorsey)
5. On Time God (Peoples)

From the start of his career as a bandleader in the early 1990s, Don Byron has reveled in interpreting music of a wildly diverse range of styles and artists, including Duke Ellington, Igor Stravinsky, Mickey Katz, Raymond Scott, John Kirby, Sly Stone, Henry Mancini, Sugar Hill Records’ early hip-hop, Earth Wind & Fire, Herb Alpert, and most recently, R&B icon Junior Walker.
Don Byron’s newest project grows out of his in-depth studies of gospel music. Gospel pioneer Thomas A. Dorsey is a major inspiration, and Byron revisits some of the master songwriter’s works alongside other classics as well as lesser-known gems of the genre.
“In the past few years I have listened more intensively to black religious music than ever before. Examining the specific blues styles peculiar to country, R&B, and rock led me to thorough studies of the blues based religious music of White and Black Southern Gospel. I am combining my own compositions with traditional Gospel pieces in a way I have not attempted before. This project coincides with a growth in my own faith and is for me a religious expression.” –Don Byron.
The Don Byron New Gospel Quintet was launched in the spring of 2009 and had its New York premiere during a four-night run at the Jazz Standard. The band went on to tour Europe for three weeks and was received enthusiastically by audiences and critics alike.
My favourite Don Byron album is still "Romance with the Unseen", released 1999 on Blue Note

Enrico Rava & Stefano Bollani: Art of the Duo - live at NDR 2003

Photo © Roberto Masotti/ ECM Records

Enrico Rava,tp
Stefano Bollani,p

recorded live at NDR Studios 2003

1. Tango for Vasquez y Pepita (Rava)
2. Le Solite Cose (Rava)
3. Drops (Rava)
4. Happiness is to win a Big Price (Rava)
5. Le Tue Mani (Montano, Spotti)
6. The Way You Look Tonight (Jerome Kern)

Here´s another great live recording of this incredible duo I recommended earlier on this blog.
In 2008 they extended the duo format together with US-boys Mark Turner, Larry Grenadier and drumlegend Paul Motain on the ECM release "New York Days"

Bobo Stenson Trio live at NDR Hamburg 2009

Bobo Stenson - p
Anders Jormin - b
Jon Fält – dr
recorded live at Rolf-Liebermann-Studio/ NDR, Hamburg, June 12, 2009

1. El Mayor (Silvio Rodriguez)
2. Olivia (Silvio Rodriguez)
3. A Fixed Goal (Ornette Coleman)
4. M (Anders Jormin)
5. Music For A While (Henry Purcell)
6. Una Muy Bonita (Ornette Coleman)
7. Don’s Kora Song (Don Cherry)

The reconfigured Bobo Stenson Trio in a performance of characteristically wide arc. Material this time includes original compositions, group improvising and pieces by Henry Purcell, Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, and Silvio Rodriguez. Their latest effort on ECM is the 2008 album "Cantando":

Paolo Fresu & Furio Di Castri: The Art of the Duo - live at NDR 2001

Paolo Fresu, tp
Furio Di Castri, b

recorded live at NDR, Hamburg 2001

Don´t Open Ear/ Walk About (Fresu)

Since 1990, Furio Di Castri has been performing with Paolo Fresu in duo combining acoustic and electronic music and contributing their compositions to theatre, dance, films, contemporary art, ethnic music research.

Maria João & Aki Takase: The Art of the Duo - live at NDR 1988

Aki Takase, p
Maria João, voc
recorded live at NDR Studios, Hamburg 1988

1. Estranha Forma Da Vida (Amalia Rodrigues; Alfredeo Merceneiro)
2. My Favourite Things (Rodgers/ Hammerstein)
3. Lush Life (Strayhorn)

Vocalist Maria João from Portugal and pianist Aki Takase, born in Osaka/ Japan played together for several years. They released the live album "Looking for Love" on enja, recorded at Leverkusener Jazztage 1987.

Jasper van't Hof & Bob Malach: The Art of the Duo - live at NDR 1988

Jasper van't Hof, piano

Bob Malach, tenor sax

recorded live at NDR Studio, Hamburg, 1988

1. Cheops
2. Mute
3. Sparrow

The Dutch keyboard player, Jasper van’t Hof and the Philadelphia-born tenor saxophonist and flautist, Bob Malach renew their collaboration on this duo recording. The two musicians' great compatibility is in evidence as they perform original compositions by Van’t Hof. They released the duo album "Pseudopodia" on In+Out records.

John Abercrombie & Ralph Towner: The Art of the Duo - live at NDR 1984

John Abercrombie, guitar
Ralph Towner, guitar

recorded live at NDR Sudios 1984

1. Late Night Passenger (John Abercrombie)
2. Timeless (John Abercrombie)
3. Waterwheel (Ralph Towner)
4. Nardis (Miles Davis)

The now legendary album "Sargasso Sea" released 1976 on ECM is a delightful introduction to the guitar duo of Abercrombie and Towner, whose strikingly different styles prove remarkably compatible. Towner: “With Abercrombie I can play as much as when playing solo and still get to ply my skills as accompanist.”

Stefano Bollani & Stian Carstensen live at Jazzfest Berlin 2005

Stefano Bollani · piano
Stian Carstensen · accordion

Kulturbrauerei Prenzlauer Berg, JazzFest Berlin 2005

1. Waltz in Db (Minutenwalzer) (Frédéric Chopin)
2. Visione Number Due (Stefano Bollani)
3. Honeysuckle Rose (Fats Waller)
4. Torn a Surriento (Ernesto de Curtis, Battista de Giovanni)
5. September Song (Kurt Weill)

Stefano Bollani and Stian Carstensen are two like-minded musicians: curious about their environment they like telling stories and entertaining on a grand scale. From soloist to symphony orchestra player Bollani has fulfilled many tasks. Playing in trio format with Clarence Penn and Scott Colley he is also performing with Enrico Rava on a regular basis. Carstensen is a jack of all trades in regards to music.
Stone in the Water is the first of Stefano Bollani's ECM recordings to feature the Italian pianist's Danish Trio, a group that already has six years of playing experience behind it, and produces a sound that is supple, subtle and flowing.

hr-Bigband feat. Roberta Gambarini: „Tribute to Ella“ - live at Rheingau Musik Festival July 2009

Roberta Gambarini, voc

Örjan Fahlström, ld
hr-Big Band (Frankfurt Radio Big Band):
Martin Auer, Axel Schlosser, Thomas Vogel: trumpets
Heinz-Dieter Sauerborn, Oliver Leicht, Tony Lakatos, Julian Argüelles, Rainer Heute: reeds
Günter Bullmann, Peter Feil, Manfred Hornetschläger, Christian Jaksjø: trombones
Peter Reiter, piano; Martin Scales, guitar; Thomas Heidepriem, bass; Paul Hochstädter, drums

recorded live at Schloss Johannisberg, Geisenheim July 5, 2009

1. When Lights Are Low
2. Please Don´t Talk About Me
3. Daydream
4. Honeysuckle Rose
5. Stardust
6. Just One Of Those Things
7. Manha da Carneval
8. Oh, Lady Be Good
9. This Autumn
10. Lover Come Back To Me
11. Round Midnight
12. Cotton Tail Part I
13. Cotton Tail Part II
14. I Hadn´t Anyone Until You

The Frankfurt Radio Bigband is one of the most innovative German jazz ensembles of our times. Its imaginative programmes, quality musicians and high-profile projects have raised the Big Band of the Hessischer Rundfunk (German Public Radio of Hessen) to the Champions League of large ensemble jazz music and have set new musical standards. From swing to the avant-garde, it covers the entire spectrum of jazz, as well as crossing over into classical, pop and world music.

Celebrated throughout the world by fans, critics and many of the world’s greatest musicians, Roberta Gambarini became a fast-rising star. The Boston Globe named Roberta as the “true successor to Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Carmen McRae.” Roberta’s new album, ‘So In Love,’ out on August 25, 2009, is a stunning affirmation of her status as one of the most important vocal artists performing today.