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| MPS Records - George Gruntz, Hideo Shiraki, Jef Gilson, Annie Ross & Pony Poindexter, Willie Smith MPS Records New Digital Releases Digital Mastered for iTunes Distribution: Edel:Kultur/ Kontor New Media MPS Records Homepage - Mastered for iTunes - 24-bit-Transfer from original master tapes - produced by Dirk Sommer This week MPS releases some of its world music recordings. Check them out: Hideo Shiraki Quintet + 3 Koto Girls – Sakura Sakura Adulated in his native Japan, drummer Hideo Shiraki led the most famous Japanese jazz group of the early 60's. His combining jazz and traditional Japanese music brought him an invitation to the 1965 Berlin Jazz Festival and a record date. Three women playing Koto, the traditional Japanese stringed instrument, accompanied the quintet. The results: world music that works. Known in the West as 'the Cherry Blossom Song', the traditional Sakura Sakura finds Shiraki employing mallets, fingers, brushes, and sticks in combination with the Kyoto players as jazz and tradition blend. The Jef Gilson Nonet feat. Jean Louis Chautemps – New Call From France Although largely overlooked even in his native France, an avid cult has been building around Jef Gilson's music. The eclectic Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth fame collects pressings, and journalist Gilles Peterson has praised his recordings. Composer, pianist, sound engineer, producer, label owner, Gilson played bop, modal, free, world music. Jean-Luc Ponty and Michel Portal first found their footing working with Gilson. Nathan Davis, Woody Shaw, Philly Joe Jones, David Murray, hung out, recorded and toured with Gilson. Archie Shepp, Randy Weston, Martial Solal, Steve Lacy made albums in Gilson's studio. Annie Ross & Pony Poindexter With The Berlin All Stars Feat. Carmell Jones And Leo Wright – Recorded At The Tenth German Jazz Festival In Frankfurt Lauded for her 1952 underground hit 'Twisted', the Englander Annie Ross achieved enduring fame when she joined up to form the iconic vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. Pony Poindexter was one of the top-flight saxophonists of his era, recording with the likes of Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, and Eric Dolphy. The back-up band, the Berlin All-Stars, consists of the cream of the American ex-patriot crop, as well as two top European players. Willie "The Lion" Smith – Music On My Mind Known as "the Lion" of the Harlem piano style, Willi Smith was one of the fathers of stride, and a member in good standing of a coterie of certified jazz legends. Throughout the album Smith reminisces about the pianists who congregated in New York and proceeded to revolutionize jazz. His recollections about the music of "my good friends and my pals" as he plays their music are priceless glimpses into the Jazz Age of the '20s and '30s. George Gruntz – Noon In Tunisia Renowned Swizz pianist/composer George Gruntz became entranced by the music of the North African Maghreb on his 1964 visit to Tunisia. Over the next few years he revisited the area, taking in the melodies, rhythms, and improvisational styles of a Bedouin music rooted in 1000 years of nomadic culture. With the intent of integrating this music with jazz, Gruntz assembled the crème of the Bedouin players and a top-flight group of like-minded jazz musicians. write your comments about the article :: © 2015 Jazz News :: home page |