The Listening Guide
🎶 The listening guide: five albums, released during the past twelve months, chosen around a weekly theme 🎶
This week, we explore the Berlin scene, with five albums from artists closely tied to the city. Pain Perdu’s Brandströmer is an exquisite collection of trio pieces using a range of acoustic instrumentation, whilst Natalie Greffel’s Para Todos is a fantastic Afro-Brazilian work with strong production and touching songwriting. Julius Windisch and Dan Peter Sundland lead on some brilliant improvisations and work-in-progress pieces, whilst Round Square’s Curved Space does brilliant things with the horn quartet plus rhythm combination. Linda Jozefowski’s Focus Natural features the Berlin-based drummer Diego Pinera, who has also recently released a new LP, but it’s Linda’s flute playing and compositions that take centre stage on this project. Support each artist on Bandcamp!
Album of the Week
Our NQ Jazz album of the week is the explorative new LP of free improvisation from Chicago-based trio Kuzu. The group comprises Dave Rempis (alto/tenor/baritone saxes), Tashi Dorji (guitar), and Tyler Damon (drums). The Glass Delusion was recorded between Chicago and Milwaukee in October 2018, and is released via Astral Spirits Records. Check it out and support the project on Bandcamp!
Classic Album
Recorded in July 1971, this six-track LP features interpretations of the Schwartz/Dietz standard Alone Together, Monk's Round Midnight, and Masabumi Kikuchi's Yellow Carcass in the Blue, alongside three pieces from members of the group. Vocalist Kimiko Kasai shines on her own Blues in C Minor — she would later go on to work with Herbie Hancock on the popular jazz-funk album Butterfly.