The New Jazz Focus - sponsored by JazzInEurope.com - Episode 1

Hi Everyone – Nigel J.  - editor in chief at JazzInEurope.com

Welcome to the first episode of New Jazz Focus I will be making comments - shining a spotlight on albums I particularly enjoyed this month and clips of the artist videos. 

We start off with the album – BLIK by the group Radio Bévort.

The Group was formed by Danish Saxophone player Pernille Bévort and is a septet consisting of a regular rhythm section and four woodwinds.

All four wind players double  - providing a wide and diverse sound palette for Pernillie - who is responsible for all of the arrangements to draw from.

This album sounds more like a small big band album rather than your typical septet recording

Almost all of the ensemble passages are fully through-composed yet at the same time, there is plenty of space for each of the soloists to fully open up

This album is not “Music for the Millions”. It’s intelligent, extremely well-conceived and performed spectacularly. That said, it’s also not a science project, the music sounds fully organic.

So….let’s listen to a little snippet of this album now…

Read CD Review for BLIK-Radio Bévort @ JazzInEurope.com

The second album I’ve chosen is by the German group Soulcrane which is lead by

the trumpet player Matthias Schwengler and the album is titled - “Another Step We Take”.

The Albums opens with the title track “Another Step We Take”, a jazz waltz that not only sets the tone for this recording it also displays the beautiful tone and lyricism of leader Matthias Schwengler 

While almost all the tracks on this album are in a similar tempo and tonality, the album at no point becomes monotonous in fact quite the opposite, The sense of melody and form - displayed specifically by Schwengler and his guest saxophonist Matthew Halpin keeps - the listener fully engaged. 

If you’re looking for an album full of up-tempo hard-swinging jazz, this is not the album for you. The feel is ethereal and the soundscapes highly textural with a superb sense of melody, the perfect album to chill out with. 

let’s experience a little of that chill-out vibe now…

Read CD Review for Another Step We Take @ JazzInEurope.com

Finally for this episode lets delve into the latest album from the Israeli pianist Nuphar Fey. Her new album titled “Serenity Island” is released on the Belgium based label - Hypnote Records. 

This album simply can’t be categorized and that’s part of its appeal because its a composition of a personal journey and therefore should be celebrated for its individuality. Through her music gifts, you are invited to immerse yourself as her companion. Each of the tracks invites you to proceed like stepping-stone chapters. 

Life is about taking leaps of faith...well lets at least take a little hop with Nuphar Fey – Enjoy.

Read CD Review for Serenity Island @ JazzInEurope.com

Thanks to this show's sponsor - JazzInEurope.com from Europe, Read Globally...

Here is a link to the video version of this episode on YouTube: VIDEO Version -Take me Directly to YouTube :)