Jazz Recommends Jazz: February 2022

Review: Unlike previous instalments in the 180g label's Wamono series, this isn't a compilation in the strictest sense of the term, but rather a retrospective. It showcases a range of killer jazz-funk and rare groove tunes recorded at Nippon Columbia studios in the mid 1970s by arranger Kiyoshi Yamaya, koto legend Toshiko Yonekawa and shakahuchi master Kifu Mitsuhashi. Highlights come thick and fast throughout, from the mellow, slow-burn lusciousness of 'Nanbu Ushioi-Uta' and the up-beat, guitar solo-laden brilliance of 'Hohai-Bushi', to the all-time Japanese jazz-funk classic that is 'Saitaro-Bushi' and the solo-laden brilliance of 'Asadoya Yunti', whose dazzling Fender Rhodes solos are reminiscent of the early '70s work of the late, great Billy Preston.

Review: As part of Verve's Acoustic Sounds Series - which champions historic, fan and critical jazz favourites - we're delighted to get a look-in at one of John Coltrane's lesser known live albums. 'Live At The Village Vanguard' was recorded live at New York's iconic jazz club all the way back in November 1961, and was the visionary Trane's first official live album, him being in his early 30s at the time. Joined by Eric Dolphy on clarinet, McCoy Tuner on piano, Elvin Jones on drums and Jimmy Garrison & Reggie Workman alternating on bass, this album makes us truly feel transported back to an earlier, steamier version of 60s NY - jumpy bass and drums of 'Spiritual' and 'Chasin' The Trane' convey a mood of jazz frisk and respite from the city's trilbied bustle. This is a new 180-gram LP version, mastered from the original tapes.

Review: Lady Blackbird is the first singer to grace Foundation Music, and you'd best be paying attention to this vital new voice in the realm of soul jazz. Hailing from LA and blessed with a smoky voice to rival some of the greats, one listen to 'Blackbird' is all you need to be utterly captivated. The sultry playing from Deron Johnson, Jonathan Flaugher, Jimmy Paxson and Troy Andrews perfectly matches Blackbird's arresting voice, gliding between stormy explosions and the softest of touches to match the mood. Black Acid Soul is perhaps the perfect description for the music, shot through with a streak of 60s psych but taking it to some dark corners - a true expression rendered in sumptuous, noirish hues.

Review: Basic Fingers welcomes The Magic Twins to sprinkle some of their fairy dust over some old time disco music, and they don't hold up on chopping up with aplomb. The source material gets mystified on 'Magic Theme' as recognisable hooks and stabs meld with nimble keys and swirling organ pads until something wholly new emerges from the alchemy. 'It's Bright' has a jazz funk lilt which will bring you sunshine even in the depths of December, and once again the Twins do such a slick job with their edit you can't be sure where the joins are.

Review: Matasuna takes us on our global travels once more, this time to Latin America and Venezuela for this dance floor heater from La Retreta Mayor. It is an original from 1976 that now lands on its own 7" for the first time and is backed by a fresh remix from King Most. Elements of Latin, funk and jazz all inform the fiery a-side which also has some rich horns and red hot drums, bass and pianos adding to the intensity. The flip side version still has an organic vibe like the original but with a new intro and outro that have their own flavour.

Review: Reference Library dig deep into the archives for this glorious new 7" which comes in super limited quantities. It features Italian artists Santucci and Castiglione taking one side each with their own lush jazz and library tinged instrumentals. Santucci goes first with 'Mediterraneo,' a turbulent brew of double bass and prominent horn work that whips up a real storm as the drums come crashing down like waves on rocks. On the flip side is the lovely 'Castiglione,' a more silky and funky roller with plenty of subtle 60s references and psyched-out details. ''

Review: Venerable Japanese sax man Koichi Matsukaze has a scattered discography that reaches back to the 70s, but one of the true highlights of his accomplished career is the first he recorded with the Koichi Matsukaze Trio and Ryojiro Furusawa in 1976. BBE have been tapping into Matsukaze's archives for some time, and the incredibly rare and sought after At The Room 427 is in good hands with the jazz, funk and soul specialists. From the 20 minute epic 'Acoustic Chicken' to the short but oh-so-sweet vignette 'Theme Of Seikatsu Kojyo Iinkai', this is gold dust for dedicated jazz diggers.

Review: Verve's audiophile-focused Acoustic Sounds series - championing jazz classics big and small, with a core view to showing them off at their crispest - continues with a well-selected reissue of John Coltrane's 'Crescent'. Verve are focusing on Coltrane's live albums in particular; 'Crescent' almost certainly tops 'Live At The Village Vanguard', again featuring the unparalleled performative chops of Trane's fellow jazz peers McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones - his Classic Quartet. Across only 5 tracks, the fab four achieve every possible blue-noted peak and trough, from extended trumpet, piano ('Bessie's Blues') and drum ('The Drum Thing') solos.

Review: Polish pianist Hania Rani has been on prolific form since signing to Gondwana in 2019 for the Esja album which broke her to a wider audience. Rooted in classical approaches to piano but with a modern outlook which touches on electronic processes and pop vocals, she starts 2022 with an arresting new live recording captured in the iconic Studio S2 in Warsaw. Embellishing her traditional piano approach with a Roland Stage Piano and a Prophet 08 synth, the four-track EP shows Rani in full flight, playing at her arresting best.

Review: We Jazz Records welcomes a label debutant here for a tasty little 7". Gothenburg-based Finnish pianist Joona Toivanen is the man and he offers up a fresh take on Terry Riley's 'Keyboard Study' with trusty help from Tapani Toivanen on bass and Olavi Louhivuori of Superposition on drums, both of whom complete his trio. It is a heady, minimalistic piece with a deeply introspective mood. On the a-side is an edit of his future album cut 'Except For' which is another complex, moody piece of inward-looking jazz minimalism with gorgeously mellifluous

Review: BBE's second trawl through late 20th century deep Japanese jazz is every bit as eye opening and essential as its predecessor, which caused many hearts to flutter when it was released 18 months ago. From start to finish, we're treated to a righteous range of largely little-known tunes, from the spiraling, sun-kissed spirituality of Makoto Terashita Meets Harold Land's epic "Dragon Dance", and the funk-fuelled dancefloor jazz brilliance of Mabumi Yamaguchi Quartet's "Distant Thunder", to the smooth, snaking seductiveness of George Kawaguchi Big Four's "Vietnam" and the synthesizer jazz-funk insanity of Electro Keyboard Orchestra's "Mother Of The Future". A superb selection of genuinely off-kilter and life affirming Japanese gems that should be an essential purchase for both serious and casual jazz fans.

Review: Sun Ra's Saturn label put out the jazz greats Omniverse album back in 1979. That is the same year it was recorded in New York, but it is an often rather overlooked work from the well-known sun worshipper, maybe because he has such a vast catalogue. Each piece is a freeform excursion and exploration into pure jazz, with plenty of introspective piano coming from setups that range from trios to quartets to sextets. The cover art has been interpreted from a hand-drawn Arkestra cover, and this issue on blue wax comes with all new liner notes.

Review: Nico Gomez is a Belgian orchestra leader with Dutch roots.He is a firm favourite amongst lovers of Latin sounds and so, by extension, by the good folk at Mr Bongo Records. He mixes up bossa, jazz and easy listening into his own unique sounds and his 1972 gem 'Soul Of Samba' is one of his most well regarded works. It is full of lovely musical surprises and several euro-bossa-jazz favourites. Check out the shuffling rhythms of 'Aquarela' or the lazy Latin funk of 'Agua' for two real highlights.

Review: American jazz man 'Big' John Patton taste bout his career playing piano but move to the organ in the mid sixties. At that time he worked with Lou Donaldson for Blue Note and ended up releasing some 15 solo albums. By 1984 he was still on top of his game and dropped Soul Connection, a five track suite fusing soul and funk with jazz in deeply vibey fashion. It has become a much sought after classic by those who know but this reissue from Jazz Room means you won't have to play a pretty penny for it. With assistance form a strong backing band, this is one of Patton's funkiest works.