The Listening Guide
🎶 The listening guide: five albums, released during the past twelve months, chosen around a weekly theme 🎶
The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz (formerly named after Thelonious Monk) began its International Competitions in 1987, and the list of finalists down the years makes for compelling reading. From the exceptional vocalist and visual artist Cecile McLorin Salvant, to the celebrated pianist Tigran Hamasyan, the competition has given many young musicians an important early-career accolade as well as support with further education, helping them on their way to international renown. This week’s five albums come from a selection of competition winners and finalists: the most recent of whom was Max Light, who scooped second place in the 2019 International Guitar Competition, and the first of whom was Diego Urcola, who was awarded second place in the 1997 International Trumpet Competition, and has since won numerous GRAMMY awards with Paquito D'Rivera. Ambrose Akinmusire’s fantastic album for Blue Note Records notably features two previous competitors: himself, the 2007 winner of the International trumpet competition, and Justin Brown, who was awarded second place in the 2012 International drums competition. Check out each record if you can: Isaiah, Max, and Diego’s projects can be found on Bandcamp, Jazzmeia’s album is available via her website, and Ambrose’s project is available via the Blue Note site.
Isaiah J. Thompson – Plays The Music Of Buddy Montgomery
Jazzmeia Horn – Love & Liberation
Ambrose Akinmusire – On The Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment
Diego Urcola Quartet featuring Paquito D'Rivera – El Duelo
Album of the Week
Pianist Alex Koo is joined by ECM recording artist Ralph Alessi (trumpet) and Filippo Vignato collaborator Attila Gyárfás (drums) on his new album for Bruges-based label, W.E.R.F. Records. Described as ‘a trip through space’, it contains eight original pieces, combining lyrical and minimalist composition with improvisation informed by film music and the concept of soundscapes. Support the project on Bandcamp!
Classic Album
Recently re-issued on Gilles Peterson’s archive label having initially been released on Strata-East Records in January 1975 — Shirley Scott’s One For Me is a brilliant soul-jazz LP packed with wicked organ playing, sax solos and drum grooves.