Jazz Recommendations September 2012

Review: This latest volume in Jazzman's occasional Spiritual Jazz series is, predictably, a fascinating beast, offering an unlikely glimpse into the sound of underground European jazz throughout the 1960s and early '70s. It's a refreshingly eclectic beast, moving from choir-laden German modal (see Herman Gehlen's bonkers "Kyrie") and folksy oddities (Jeff Gilson's excellent "Untitled"), to formidable Scandinavian deepness (the Binder Quintet), Eastern European classics (Crescendo Quintet) and typically wild Balkan freestyle (Dusko Goykovic's brilliant rendition of the "Macedonian Fertility Dance"). With detailed sleeve notes joining the dots and filling in the gaps, Spiritual Jazz 3 is a real eye-opener for those schooled on American jazz classics.

Review: New York-based jazz combo The Rongetz Foundation have previously impressed with their warm, soft-focus take on nu-jazz. This third album for Heavenly Sweetness continues the trend, expanding their repertoire to take in hip-hop soul (see the Jazzamatazz-goes-live John Robinson hook-up "A Compose of Modern Day"), soul-jazz fusion (an excellent cut with Gregory Porter, "GoGo Soul") and sumptuous modern soul ("Eunice K"). Although it's these new sounds the catch the ear, they remain an excellent jazz combo, as the evocative, expansive "The Bolshoi Drunk Ghost" adeptly proves. Possibly their best album to date, and a definite step forward.

Review: This latest volume in Jazzman's occasional Spiritual Jazz series is, predictably, a fascinating beast, offering an unlikely glimpse into the sound of underground European jazz throughout the 1960s and early '70s. It's a refreshingly eclectic beast, moving from choir-laden German modal (see Herman Gehlen's bonkers "Kyrie") and folksy oddities (Jeff Gilson's excellent "Untitled"), to formidable Scandinavian deepness (the Binder Quintet), Eastern European classics (Crescendo Quintet) and typically wild Balkan freestyle (Dusko Goykovic's brilliant rendition of the "Macedonian Fertility Dance"). With detailed sleeve notes joining the dots and filling in the gaps, Spiritual Jazz 3 is a real eye-opener for those schooled on American jazz classics.