Arve Henriksen "Cartography" live at Punktfestival Kristiansand 2009

Photo © by Alf Solbakken/ Punkt 06

Arve Henriksen: Trumpet, Vocals, Electronics, Percussion
Jan Bang: Live Sampling, Electronics
Eivind Aarset: Guitar, Electronics, Bass
Anna Maria Friman: Vocals

Punktfestival Kristiansand/ Norway, September 5, 2009

1. Cartography - Fantasy No. 1
2. Cartography - Fantasy No. 2

In 2008 Arve Henriksen recorded his album Cartography for ECM. A shifting cast of characters, with live sampling man and album co-producer Jan Bang at the centre, provides a series of soundscapes, an ambient-experimental map of moods, for the uniquely liquid, singing trumpet lines of Arve Henriksen to scale and explore. Some tracks are recorded live in concert, others are studio creations. Singer David Sylvian reads his own poetry on two cuts.

Tingvall Trio live at Jazzfest Berlin 2009 - UPDATE!

Martin Tingvall · piano
Omar Rodriguez Calvo · bass
Jürgen Spiegel · drums

recorded live at A-Trane, November 4, 2009

1. Våg in
2. Vattensaga
3. Valsång
4. Mustasch
5. Tveklöst
6. Hajskraj
7. Movie
8. Mjau
9. Rödblå
10. Grrrrr
11. Pinocchio
12. Nu Djävlar
13. Under Ytan
14. Vagor
15. Trolldans
16. Norrland Guld
17. Avsked
18. Monster

Swedish piano player Martin Tingvall’s compositions are characterized by catchy melodies, which not only sweep along jazz lovers but even appeal to audiences which are not familiar with jazz. The three Hamburg based musicians play their very own kind of Scandinavian jazz with a Cuban touch and a slight rock’n’roll attitude. In the ballads you can hear the Northern melancholy but always spiced with a positive feel.
Careful listeners can recognize Swedish folksongs which are an important ingredient in many songs.. The arrangements of those songs give the trio plenty of space for improvisation which turns every concert into a one-time experience.
Tingvall Trio recorded three absolutely great albums for Skip records, called "Skagerrak", "Norr" and the latest "Vattensaga".

FM Trio live at Jazzclub Karlsruhe 2010

Fabian Mueller - Piano
Kaspar von Grünigen - Bass
Fabian Bürgi - Drums

recorded live at Jazzclub Karlsruhe, June 17, 2010

1. Vue Miniature/Schublade (von Grünigen)
2. Die Spule (von Grünigen)
3. Selber Fisch (von Grünigen)
4. Ligne Libre (Mueller)
5. Hemtuk/Fiasko/Montage (von Grünigen/Paul Motian/von Grünigen)
6. Das Hotel (Bürgi)
7. Le Grand Souffleur (Mueller)
8. Grains & Dots (von Grünigen)
9. Platzhirsch (Mueller)

FM Trio's first live performance was given in 2004, after two years of intense work together. Two years later the Trio was a well-established and consolidated formation, and it continued to focus on its repertoire of original compositions. During the same year it started to tour extensively throughout Switzerland and in other European countries as well: Austria, Germany, Sweden, Lichtenstein and Slovakia.
The new CD “ligne libre”, released by Altrisuoni, the Swiss jazz label, was recorded during a 2-day session at the Radio Studio Zurich by engineer Martin Pearson and producer Peter Bürli.
The new music of this CD is a further expression of the main characteristics of FM Trio's art: the fresh and mature interpretation of original compositions, that come out of the "compositive nowhere", and that arise from the momentary conceptual genius of the Trio.
With this album, FM Trio draws charm from the classic “piano trio” form. The ability to act collectively and to take risks are two essential elements of the music of these three young Swiss musicians.
With this album the Trio proves its commitment to servicing the true expressiveness in music, as opposed to the all-too-common self-indulgence of the majority of current line-ups.

Nils Wogram & Simon Nabatov live at Jazzfest Bonn 2010

photo © by friedrich von hülsen

Nils Wogram, trombone
Simon Nabatov, piano

recorded live at Kulturzentrum Brotfabrik, Jazzfest Bonn, June 4, 2010

1. Moods and Modes (Wogram)
2. Moving In (Wogram)

3. Split The Difference (Wogram)
4. Time Machine (Wogram)

5. Danca Nova (Nabatov)

6. Assuming (Nabatov)
7. Full Stop (Nabatov)

Russian pianist Simon Nabatov and German trombonist Nils Wogram definitely have no problem communicating with each other and clearly have tremendous fun playing together.  Their duo has remained fresh and continued to thrive since it made its debut in 1997 at The Loft in Cologne and won over the critics and audience at the 1997 Moers Music Festival with a performance hailed as a highlight of the event.  They first played together in 1995 in a quartet the trombonist led and one can attribute the success of their ongoing collaboration – which has included an octet of Wogram’s and a quartet of Nabatov’s—to the fact that aesthetically they are unmistakably kindred spirits.  Above all both are intrepid musical adventurers who fearlessly set their sights on distant, un-chartered horizons in their improvising and composing, secure in their knowledge that they can always bring their music back home to the safe stylistic harbors of the mainstream and modern jazz and classical traditions from which they each set sail.

Their latest album called "JazzLimbo" was released in 2007 on leo records.

Jacob Karlzon Trio live in St.Ingbert 2010

Photo © by Miki Anagrius 

 Jacob Karlzon - Piano

Hans Andersson - Bass
Jonas Holgersson - Drums

recorded live at Jazzfestival St. Ingbert, Kulturzentrum Alte Schmelz, March 20, 2010

1. Maniac (Michael Sembello)
2. Ninnen (Jacob Karlzon)
3. Pull/Woid/Nilha (Jacob Karlzon)
4. Fragrancia (Jacob Karlzon)

Jacob Karlzon Trio has developed a unique interplay in which the lines between impulses in the spur of the moment, improvisation and composed passages are almost wiped out. The repertoire consists mainly of Jacob Karlzon´s compositions, where beauty, space and emotional intensity are united into something heavily swinging, where tenderness is close to groove, and where closely united musical expressions are reflected dynamically. Impressions are collected from various places, which creates a width in the artistic direction the ensemble takes. Their joined expression is warm and intense, and starts out in a nearness to the listener. Sometimes music from other composers is used, which leads to personal interpretations of for example Cole Porter or the heavy metal band Korn.
Today the members of the trio are Jacob Karlzon (piano), Hans Andersson (bass) and Jonas Holgersson (drums). During the year of 2008 the trio played a great number of concerts in Sweden and Denmark. After these tours the trio recorded in Nilento Studio, Gothenburg with the great technician and producer Lars Nilsson.
The record “Heat” was released on the Swedish record-company Caprice in spring 2009 and contained, except for the trio, the great swedish hornplayers Peter Asplund on trumpet and Karl-Martin Almqvist on saxophones. The record consists mainly of compositions by Jacob Karlzon but also includes his arrangements of a composition by Maurice Ravel and one by the numetal-band KoRn. It also includes one song from the motion picture Lord of The Ring.

Nils Landgren Funk Unit "Funky ABBA" live at JazzBaltica 2004

Photo © by: ACT / Johan Bergmark

The Funk Unit:
Nils Landgren - Trombone, Vocals
Magnum Coltrane Price - Vocals, Keyboard
Annika Granlund - Vocals, Trumpet
Jessica Pilnäs - Vocals
Karl-Martin Almqvist - Tenor Saxophone
Henrik Janson - Guitar
Lars DK Danielsson - Bass
Robert Östlund - Keyboard
Wolfgang Haffner - Drums
Special Guests:
Viktoria Tolstoy - Vocals
Roy Hargrove - Trumpet
Terri Lyne Carrington - Drums
Peter Weniger - Tenor Saxophone
Sharon Dyall - Vocals

recorded live at Große Konzertscheune Salzau, July 2004

1. Dancing Queen
2. Gimme!Gimme!Gimme!
3. Voulez-vous
4. When All Is Said And Done
5. Summer Night City
6. Knowing Me, Knowing You
7. Take A Chance On Me
8. Super Trooper
9. S.O.S.
10. Thank You For The Music
11. You Dig

Exactly 30 years after ABBA’s international breakthrough at the Eurovision Song Contest, Nils Landgren has undertaken a highly personal tribute to one of the greatest pop bands ever, working together with his grooving band, which "drives young people into a frenzy and yet also is taken seriously by the snobbish jazz lovers" (Spiegel).The new album is called FUNKY ABBA – and Nils can call it that with much justification, through his long-standing friendship with Benny Andersson. Twenty-five years ago, on the strength of his special trombone sound, Benny asked the fresh-faced Nils to join him in the studio to play on the ABBA song "Voulez-Vous". This time it was the other way round: Benny couldn’t wait to take part on at least one track of FUNKY ABBA.

e.s.t. Esbjörn Svensson Trio live in Burghausen 2001

Photo © by: ACT / Patrik Sehlstedt

Esbjörn Svensson - piano
Dan Berglund - bass
Magnus Öström - drums

recorded live at Wackerhalle Burghausen, May 6, 2001

1. The Rube Thing
2. Good Morning Susie Soho
3. The Chapel
4. The Wraith/ From Gagarin´s Point of View
5. Dating
6. Bowling
7. Dodge The Dodo
8. Hands Off

Openness, curiosity, and a little bit of chance are all a part of Esbjörn Svensson’s artistic foundation: “I play piano because we didn’t have any other instrument in the house. Actually, I would have rather played drums. For instance, as a kid, I put together a set out of old odds and ends, and tried to sound like “Sweet” on “Ballroom Blitz”. But then Magnus Öström came with his drums, and I decided to stay with the piano. Magnus and I grew up together, and have played together from the beginning. When Magnus was given his first drum set, he brought it over to my house, and we started playing. We had no idea how to play, but it was a lot of fun. Since we didn’t have a teacher, and no one was telling us how to play, we were able to gradually develop our music in a very unique, individualistic way.”
From the mid-eighties on, Svensson and Öström established themselves as inspiring sidemen in the Swedish and Danish jazz scenes. They formed their first trio in 1990, but it wasn’t until 1993 that they got the necessary lift to get a CD off the ground. It was then that they met Dan Berglund. Both were fascinated by the structural strength and creative diversity of his playing and were able to entice Berglund into joining the trio.
In 2000 the CD Good Morning Susie Soho (ACT 9009-2), was released and earned the trio the title “Trio of the Year” by Jazzwise, UK. e.s.t. toured on the “RISING STARS” Jazz Circuit and played all major festivals throughout Europe. The same time Sony Columbia USA released the first CD “Somewhere Else Before” a compilation from the European albums “From Gagarin´s Point of View” and Good Morning Susie Soho” in the USA.

Jim McNeely & HR-Big Band feat. John Abercrombie: Timeless

John Abercrombie, guitar
Jim McNeely, conductor & arranger
HR-Big Band (Frankfurt Radio Big Band)

recorded live at hr-Sendesaal, Frankfurt a.M., Germany, November 9, 2009

1. Jazz Folk
2. Ralph's Piano Waltz
3. Bred
4. Ballad In Two Keys
5. Line Up
6. Anniversary Waltz
7. Soundtrack
8. Ralph (Out Of Towner)

Over a career spanning more than 40 years and nearly 50 albums, John Abercrombie has established himself as one the masters of jazz guitar.
After graduating from Berklee, Abercrombie headed to New York, where he quickly became one of New York's most in-demand session players. He recorded with Gil Evans, Gato Barbieri, and Barry Miles, to name a few. He was also a regular with Chico Hamilton's group.
But it was in Billy Cobham's band, which also featured the Brecker brothers, that Abercrombie first started to build a following.
In the early 1970s, Abercrombie ran into Manfred Eicher, who invited him to record for ECM. The result was Abercrombie's first solo album, Timeless, in which he was backed by Jan Hammer and Jack DeJohnette. Abercrombie's second album, Gateway, was released in November 1975 with DeJohnette and bassist Dave Holland; a second Gateway recording was released in June 1978.
His second group, a trio with bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Peter Erskine, marked the first time he experimented with the guitar synthesizer. This gave him the opportunity to play what he called “louder, more open music” with a propulsive beat, demonstrated in the group's three releases, Getting There (featuring Michael Brecker) in 1987, Current Events in 1988, and John Abercrombie, Marc Johnson & Peter Erskine in 1989.
From there, he moved to partnerships that he would shuffle and reshuffle for the next 20 years.
Another album, titled Open Land, added violinist Mark Feldman and saxophonist Joe Lovano to the mix.
His affiliation with Feldman, in a quartet that included Marc Johnson and drummer Joey Barron, ushered in a period of looser, freer, almost improvisatory playing. “I like free playing that has some relationship to a melody; very much the way Ornette Coleman used to write all those wonderful songs and then they would play without chords on a lot of them,”
Throughout the 1990s and into 2000 and beyond, Abercrombie has continued to pluck from the ranks of jazz royalty--and be plucked for guest appearances on other artists' recordings. One propitious relationship was with guitarist, pianist, and composer Ralph Towner, with whom Abercrombie has worked in a duet setting.
His latest recording "Wait Till You See Her" featuring his quartet of violinist Mark Feldman and drummer Joey Baron, newcomer Thomas Morgan replacing previous bassist Marc Johnson, was released in 2009 on ECM.

WDR Big Band feat. Kurt Elling live in Köln 2010

 

Kurt Elling, voc
WDR Big Band Köln:
Johan Hörlen, Karolina Strassmayer: as; Olivier Peters, Paul Heller: ts; Jens Neufang, bs
Andy Haderer, Rob Bruynen, Klaus Osterloh, Wim Both, John Marshall: tp
Ludwig Nuss, Marshall Gilkes, Bernt Laukamp: tb, Mattis Cederberg: b-tb
John Goldsby, b; Paul Shigihara, git; Frank Chastenier, p; Hans Dekker, dr
Conducted and arranged by Michael Abene

recorded live at Philharmonic Hall, Cologne/ Germany, June 26, 2010

1. Soft Lights And Sweet Music (Irving Berlin)
Soloists: Paul Heller, ts; John Marshall, tp; Hans Dekker, dr
2. Steppin´Out (Joe Jackson)
Soloists: Paul Heller, ts; Hans Dekker, dr
3. You Are Too Beautiful (Richard Rodgers/ Lorenz Hart)
Soloist: Ludwig Nuss, tb
4. All Points West (Kurt Elling/ Laurence Hobgood)
Soloists: Paul Heller, ts
5. Nighttown (Don Grolnick/Lyrics: Kurt Elling)
Soloists: Karolina Strassmayer, as
6. Effendi (McCoy Tyner / Lyrics: Kurt Elling)
Soloists: Frank Chastenier, p; Kurt Elling; John Marshall, tp; Johan Hörlen, as
7. Stella By Starlight (Victor Young)
Soloist: Johan Hörlen, as
8. Dream Clock (Joe Zawinul/Lyrics: Kurt Elling)
Soloist: Paul Shigihara, git
9. Face On The Barroom Floor (Wayne Shorter/Lyrics: Kurt Elling)
Soloist: Frank Chastenier, p
10. I Like The Sunrise (Duke Ellington/ Lyrics: Kurt Elling)
Soloist: Andy Haderer, tp
11. Introduction of the Band
12. Tumbleweed (Michael Brecker/ Lyrics: Kurt Elling)
Soloist: Marshall Gilkes, tb; Frank Chastenier, p; Paul Shigihara, git;
13. All The Way (Sammy Cahn/Jimmy Van Heusen)
Soloist: John Marshall, tp

On June 23rd last year, Grammy nominated and critically acclaimed modern Jazz vocalist Kurt Elling released "Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman", his eighth album and second release on Concord Jazz.
The live collection was recorded in January 2009 at the Allen Room in the Lincoln Center, New York as part of Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series. The new 12-track release features an all-star cast of musicians including saxophonist Ernie Watts, the Laurence Hobgood Trio and string quartet.

"Dedicated to You" is a stunning spectrum of music, both vocal and instrumental. The album opens with an introductory interpretation of the American Songbook classic, “All or Nothing At All,” in which the interconnectedness between Elling’s vocal and Watt’s tenor saxophone calls up immediate references to the Coltrane/Hartman source. The transformative interpretations of songs such as “Autumn Serenade,” “Nancy With The Laughing Face” and “You Are Too Beautiful” are definitive examples of how to remain true to the inner essence of a song.

The Hang Allstars - Live at Leverkusener Jazztage 2009

Don & Dave Grusin, keys
Nils Wülker, tp
Lee Ritenour, gt
Wolfgang Schmid, b
Will Kennedy, dr

recorded live at Forum, Leverkusen during  30th Leverkusener Jazztage, November 2009

1. Shuffle City (Don Grusin)
2. Wes Bound (Lee Ritenour)
3. Maroni Moreno (Wolfgang Schmid)
4. Lincoln Boulevard (Don Grusin)
5. Stone Flower (Antonio Carlos Jobim)
6. Memphis Stomp (Dave Grusin)
7. Smoke´n´Mirrors (Lee Ritenour)
8. Number 8 (Don Grusin)
9. Catwalk (Don Grusin)

Colorado born pianist and Professor for Sociology and Economics Don Grusin released an all-star live concert featuring - among many others - his brother Dave on keyboards and guitarist Lee Ritenour on an album called "The Hang". Last year he toured Europe with an all-star band to support the release of this album in Europe.

David Sanborn Trio feat. Joey de Francesco live in Burghausen 2010

David Sanborn (as)
Joey de Francesco (org, voc)
Gene Lake (dr)

recorded live at Wackerhalle Burghausen, March 11, 2010
41st International Jazzweek Burghausen 2010

1. Comin´ Home Baby (Ben Tucker)
2. Brother Ray (Marcus Miller)
3. The Peeper/ Let The Good Times Roll (Hank Crawford/ Fleecie Moore & Sam Theard)
4. Basin Street Blues (Spencer Williams)
5. Only Everything (David Sanborn)
6. Full House (David Sanborn/ Marcus Miller)
7. I´ve Got News For You (Roy Alfred)

His 24th album "Only Everything"continues Sanborn’s return to the roots of his original inspiration in the world of R&B, blues and soul that began with 2008’s Here and Gone. The CD opens appropriately with “The Peeper” a cover of a Hank Crawford soul-jazz classic. Crawford was a major influence on Sanborn, who told JT that he was just 11 or 12 when her first heard Crawford’s version of “Don’t Cry Baby” on his From The Heart album and “it just stopped me in my tracks.” Later, when he hosted the television show Night Music, Sanborn brought his idol on as a guest and asked him to perform “The Peeper” and “Don’t Cry Baby.” Sanborn said that, “I wanted the world to hear this man’s special gift.”
The rest of Only Everything continues in the same classic groove, aided by a stripped-down band of Joey DeFrancesco on organ and Steve Gadd on drums, plus a horn section on selected cuts, adding to the vintage soul-jazz feel. On tour in support of his CD Gadd was replaced by drummer Gene Lake.

Dave Brubeck Group live at Berliner Jazztage 1972

Dave Brubeck (p)
Gerry Mulligan (bs)
Paul Desmond (as)
Jack Six (b)
Alan Dawson (dr)

recorded live at Philharmonie, Berlin, November 4, 1972

1. Blues for Newport (Dave Brubeck)
2. All the things you are (Jerome Kern)
3. Line for lyons (Gerry Mulligan)
4. Sermon on the mount/ Blessed are the poor (Dave Brubeck)
5. Jumping bean (Gerry Mulligan)
6. Someday my prince will come (Frank Churchill)
7. Thank you (Dave Brubeck)
8. Truth is fallen (Dave Brubeck)
9. Take five (Paul Desmond)
10. Sign off (Dave Brubeck)
11. Take the "A" train (Billy Strayhorn)

This legendary concert by Dave Brubeck with his regular quartet featuring Gerry Mulligan plus former member Paul Desmond is circulating for a long time among bootleggers. There´s also a video of this concert. Here I present you an all new recording taped directily from broadcast by Radio Berlin last Friday

MST – Murcof, Talvin Singh, Erik Truffaz live at Jazzfest Berlin 2009 - UPDATE!

Erik Truffaz · trumpet

Murcof · laptop
Talvin Singh · tabla

recorded live at Jewish Museum Berlin, Glass Courtyard, November 8, 2009

1. Berlin - Pt.1
2. Berlin - Pt.2
3. Ulysses (Murcof)
4. Al Mediodia (Murcof, Truffaz)
5. Good News From The Desert (Murcof, Truffaz)
6. Abiento (Murcof, Truffaz)

Since 20 years Swiss-French trumpet player Erik Truffaz has been opening up new perspectives on the European jazz horizon. With his quartet he has been following in Miles Davis’ footsteps on the gateway between acoustic and electronic music. Once in a while he takes time out of the quartet routine and goes traveling. His recent triple CD Rendez-Vous is a sonic travelogue about his journeys to India, Paris and Mexico. Joining him on this musical trip are mexican electronic minimalist Murcof and London based tabla player/producer of Indian origin, Talvin Singh.

Christof Lauer Trio live at Jazzfest Berlin 2009 - UPDATE!

Photo of Christof Lauer © by: CF Wesenberg / ACT


Christof Lauer · saxophones
Michel Godard · tuba & serpent, bass guitar
Patrice Heral · drums, percussion, vocals

recorded live at Georg-Neumann-Saal des Jazz-Institut Berlin, November 7, 2009

1. Un Regalo Per Natale (Michel Godard)
2. The Kite (Christof Lauer)
3. Mona (Patrice Heral)
4. Blues in Mind (Christof Lauer)
5. Suave Sopiro (Michel Godard)
6. Circe (Christof Lauer)
7. De Cuir et de Cuivre (Michel Godard)

Christof Lauer’s international trio of virtuoso musicians offers the added attraction that each musician plays two different instruments. Godard is a tuba player, but equally competent on the historical serpent, a slightly hoarse-sounding, snakelike exotic monster, a precursor to the ophiclieides made from wood covered in leather. Heral is an excellent drummer and percussionist as well and Lauer’s playing on soprano and tenor sax is so different in character, that one may justifiably speak of two different instruments. An ensemble of numerous possibilities this is – music with driving rhythm, lyrical with an angular edge and suffused with a soulful and strangely foreign beauty.
In 2007 Christof Lauer recorded a trio record featuring Michel Godard and Gary Husband called "Blues In Mind" released on ACT Music.

Studnitzky Trio live at Jazzfest Berlin 2009

Sebastian Studnitzky - Trumpete, Piano, Electronics
Paul Kleber - Bass
Sebastian Merk - Drums
Guest: Hrund Osk - Vocals
Oskar Gudjonsson - Tenorsaxophone
Nils Landgren - Trombone

recorded live at Jazzfest Berlin, November 6-8, 2009

1. Egis (Sebastian Studnitzky)
2. Gloomy Sunday (Lewis)
3.  Love Sick (Bob Dylan)
4. Quiet (Sebastian Studnitzky)
5. Sequel (Sebastian Studnitzky)
6. Ice Cream Man (Tom Waits)
7. Hauke (Sebastian Studnitzky)

He lives in Berlin and works with renowned artists on an international level. "I used to be just a jazz trumpeter", says Sebastian Studnitzky. However, in the course of his musical career, he has opened a lot of doors: Now he is proficient in a variety of musical styles and has developed into a unique multi-instrumentalist. Playing the trumpet, the piano and the keyboard, Sebastian Studnitzky has created his very own sound.
With a unique sound, fascinating detailed soundscapes and a message delivered in a musical language entirely his own, Sebastian Studnitzky's new album, EGIS, brings his mastery into focus. Overflowing with vitality and excitement, packed with energy, the album tells many different stories. EGIS is Jazz - and a lot more. There is a unique sound, a special type of emotion as well as a certain minimalistic character that makes the listening experience more intimate at the heart of Sebastian Studnitzky's music - real up close.