Noah Preminger is tilting at windmills. Few artistic statements are more quixotic in 2017 than jazz protest albums. Twitter rather than tonality is the order of the day. Yet even if the New York based saxophonist fails to engage the new president in a war of words on social media, he’s made jazz great again with his sixth album Meditations On Freedom. The project is slated for digital release on Friday, January 20, to coincide with the presidential inauguration. Trumpeter Jason Palmer, bassist Kim Cass and drummer Ian Froman join the saxophonist on instrumental interpretations of familiar material including Bruce Hornsby’s “The Way It Is” and striking original compositions like “The 99 Percent.” Performed in the liberating free jazz style associated with Ornette Coleman’s classic quartet, the appropriately named Meditations On Freedom is terrific, tremendous and very, very strong.
---
I wrote a nasty review of a desultory concert by Lloyd and J. Holiday.
---
I reviewed Ramsey Lewis’ concert at the Gem Theater.
---
I reviewed Echoes of Europe, the new album by the Dino Massa Kansas City Quintet, for KCUR.
---
I chastised a misguided Kansas City artist at Plastic Sax.
---
I wrote an extended preview about Atmosphere’s return to the Granada.
---
I write weekly music previews for The Kansas City Star and Ink magazine.
---
I discussed Blackbird Revue on KCUR this week.
----
Posted here, for the first time anywhere- my response to the contemporaneous teen albums meme:
1. The Clash- London Calling---
2. Michael Jackson- Off the Wall
3. Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson- Waylon & Willie
4. Bob Marley- Survival
5. Prince- 1999
6. Ramones- Ramones
7. Bruce Springsteen- Darkness on the Edge of Town
8. Talking Heads- Fear of Music
9. Hank Williams, Jr.- Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound
10. Stevie Wonder- Songs in the Key of Life
Buddy Greco has died. I thought about goofing on the late lounge lizard, but I genuinely like this ish.
---
Tommy Allsup has died.
---
Greg Trooper has died.
---
William Onyeabor has died.
---
Yukmouth’s JJ Based On a Vill Story is an unexpected triumph. RIYL: The Game, Oakland gangsta rap, E-40. ”Thank You Lord” may be the album’s worst song.
---
Systema Solar’s Rumbo A Tierra is a party-starter. RIYL: Bomba Estéreo, a sense of surprise, Julieta Venegas.
---
The XX’s I See You is an adorable homage to 1980s synth-pop artists like Alison Moyet and the Human League.
---
I’m glad for my friends who are excited about Radiohead’s return to Kansas City on April 5. An even more promising performance of forward-thinking sounds will take place at the Folly Theater on April 7. The quartet of Donny McCaslin, Jason Lindner, Tim Lefebvre and Mark Guiliana act as convincing jazz ambassadors in a recent Tiny Desk Concert.
---
Bonobo updates smooth jazz on the impressive Migration. RIYL: Bob James, hot tubs, John Klemmer.
---
Sepultura’s Machine Messiah isn’t just another perfunctory genre exercise. RIYL: Pantera, rage, Kreator.
---
Who needs the parody act Steel Panther when Grave Digger is still producing unironic gems like ”Healed By Metal”?
(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)
No comments:
Post a Comment