Foton Quartet...Poland Strikes Again!

Foton Quartet (group)

Zomo Hall (Not Two Records)

Gerad Lebik (sax)

Artur Majewski (trumpet)

Jakub Cywinski (bass)

Wojciech Romanowski (drums)

The rich and versatile Polish jazz scene has gone through a big transform in interest over the last decade. Due in large part to the resurgence of the great Tomasz Stanko. Over the last few years a number of artists have leaped into the consciousness of jazz fans all across the globe. From Marcin Wasilewski Trio, Mikrokoletyw to RGG Trio, Polish artists are showing us all that great, creative and forward thinking jazz can come from more than just Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Denmark, England, U.S. and a few select countries.

One such collective is Foton Quartet and their debut, Zomo Hall (Not Two Records). Zomo Hall might sound like a trip into the avant garde for the uninitiated, its actually upon the deeper listening that you will find the detail. There are qualities here that are reminiscent of the more experimental work of Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry and Art Ensemble. But the journey through these six "untitled" tracks is truly fruitful and a superb listen.

Artur Majewski (also a member of the duo Mikrokoletyw) and Gerad Lebik combine to bring forth some incredible phrasing and stellar improvising throughout this recording. Track three has a steady meditative tonality with both horns taking different patterns while Cywinski lays down a dreamlike bassline. Majewski later gains a bit of steam midway through but the track never loses its reflective aural sculpture.

Track five brought back memories of listening to Ornette Coleman's soundtrack for Naked Lunch. It's a journey through recess of my own mind that I'd rather not experience. A powerful performance from both Lebik and Cywinski, who turns his bass almost into a cello. This is the longest track on the album but its also the deepest and most creative as it takes the listener through a number of different themes all quiet in nature but adventurous in execution. Track six does stretch out with the band demonstrating that it can take the listener to far reaches of thought while still holding your interest (in only two and a half short minutes).

Foton Quartet is yet another piece of the new Polish jazz scene that must be heard by a wider audience. Zomo Hall standups against anything from rest the minimal, avant garde in other countries. And the work of Artur Majewski should really start to be noticed by more people as well. His collaborative work on the scene for me, is some of the best in Europe at the moment. 

Zomo Hall was a hard record for me to find. I had known about it for some time but couldn't even stumble across it. Then one day my good friends at Downtown Music Gallery got it in and I immediately put down the money. I suggest if you are interested in something new and creative--do yourself a favour and pick up Zomo Hall. Highly Recommend!

Adam Cruz: Drums In Front

Adam Cruz (drums)

Milestone (Sunnyside Records)

Steve Wilson (soprano sax)

Chris Potter (tenor sax)

Miguel Zenon (alto sax)

Steve Cardenas (guitar)

Edward Simon (piano)

Ben Street (bass)

Lately it seems that there aren't enough drummers who are stepping out of the shadows as leaders. Sure you may have your Brian Blades, Jeff Tain Watts and Tomasz Stronen's over the last two decades to make some exciting albums as leaders but extending that list doesn't go that far (I know I'm not including probably another twenty...but you get the point). So when I was listening to the debut from Adam Cruz, Milestone (Sunnyside) I was giddy with anticipation.

Adam Cruz has played with a plethora of musicians over the last two decades including Chick Corea, Sam Newsome, Tom Harrell and most notably with David Sanchez. Here was a consummate sideman finally after almost two decades getting the chance to lead his own group on record.

Milestone is an superb debut in both composition and execution. Adam Cruz has delivers similar results that Billy Higgins delivered on his all too few solo albums as leader. Milestone moves from straight-ahead contemporary with the "Secret Life" to more complex and adventurous material like "The Gadfly" and "Magic Leader" where Cruz really shines with some bristling palpitations on the drums.

"Bird Of Paradise" a midtempo number which actually closes the album is a highlight for me in that it showcases the bands at full stretch romantically. Ben Street and Steve Cardenas add beautiful touches on their solos giving the piece a powerful resonance. Edward Simon and Cruz intertwine in time magnificently drawing small comparisons to the Billy Higgins/Cedar Walton. "Crepuscular" is a great piece with an ethereal tonal structure, slow building with almost Abercombie-esque passages from Cardenas deep in the background. "Crepuscular" rising on slightly towards to the end as Steve Wilson and Chris Potter push through with some powerful harmonics making the closing highly rich and expressive.

Arguably just as inventive but certainly more upbeat than Brian Blades debut (no, I'm not criticizing Blades' debut), Adam Cruz has created a well rounded and dynamic recording that spreads across varying tempos and themes. It's a great piece work feature a an array of stellar individual performances. Cruz sets forth on some very expressive and expansive structures making Milestone a highly rewarding purchase for every jazz fan.

Jared Gold

Jared Gold (organ)

All Wrapped Up (Posi-Tone Records)

Jim Rotondi (trumpet)

Ralph Bowen (sax)

Quincy Davis (drums)

Jared Gold is one of those organ players that uses the instrument more like a piano than an instrument to bang out chords. Like the legends Larry Young, Sherily Scott, or Jack McDuff, he uses his compositions and band mates to construct an impressive and unique environment around himself. Gold creates beauty within a soulful jazz groove that quickly becomes infectious. But you the listener will be more influenced by the performances of this quartet more than the idea of a funky groove.

And that idea is clear and on display throughout All Wrapped Up, Gold's fourth album as leader. Opening with the fiery "My Sentiments Exactly," Gold makes a bold statement that this will be a heavy session but with a lot emotion and input from his fellow bandmates. This time around he circles himself with a superior lineup of Ralph Bowen, Jim Rotondi and Quincy Davis, all of whom have played with Gold in one incarnation or another. But on All Wrapped Up each member contributes to the session giving the proceedings a versatile and dynamic nature. Bowen is the real highlight on "My Sentiments Exactly" as he exchanges some tonal acrobatics with Gold that really get this piece smokin' during the mid-section. Awesome stuff.

Another set of soulful notes occurs on "Piece Of Mine" which sees Bowen, Rotondi and Davis delivering some very romantic rhythms. Jim Rotondi continues to show why he is one most electrifying hard bop trumpeters on the scene today. He delivers some hard poppin' solos during this piece, while Quincy Davis and Gold share some head-bopping, toe-tapping grooves that holds the listener's excitement throughout. "Dark Blue" is as it sounds, more a deep ballad with Gold effectively shaping the sound from the outside in. He adds some deeply soulful tones that construct a more Jimmy Smith or Doug Carn atmosphere than the usual aforementioned influences. "Dark Blue" was written by Jim Rotondi, so it is expected that he would shine with delightful solos along with Bowen.

"Just A Suggestion" sees the group really move into the funky Meters-type realm. Definitely a barn-burner if you hear it live. The group really lets loose and you feel the fire that builds up throughout the entire session really exploding on this piece. Gold gets the best beats out of Davis on "Just A Suggestion." A solid group effort to finish out the session.

Jared Gold in just a few short years on scene has really established himself as an upcoming force on the scene as a leader and musician. All Wrapped Up succeeds not just because of the experience of the lineup but also the versatility of the quartets leader. In All Wrapped Up, Jared Gold has made a fourth album that burns and soothes in both sound and composition.

Dave Douglas in Ecstasy

Dave Douglas (trumpet)

Brass Ecstasy At Newport (Greenleaf Music)

Vincent Chancey (french horn)

Luis Bonilla (trombone)

Marcus Rojas (tuba)

Nasheet Waits (drums)

Dave Douglas has been beyond the borders of jazz since he started out in the early '90s. An artist who for those unfamiliar, has combined the exuberance of Louis Armstrong, the adventure of Lester Bowie and the artfulness of Woody Shaw into what I believe is the best and most creative trumpeter of his generation. Douglas' new album Brass Ecstasy At Newport is just more evident of how he is making a definitive statement inside and outside the jazz landscape. 

This is essentially a live document of Dave Douglas' newest of many collective ideas Brass Ecstasy debut album from last year, Spirit Moves (Greenleaf Music). The performance was originally recorded by WGBO in Boston so the sound quality is excellent. But its the music that really delivers on an astonishing note.

This live performance surfs with New Orleans territory with more verve and intrigue than others have done over the last decade. Both the title track and "Fats" swing and generate a rich excitement that later lays into the bluesy outlook of "I'm So Lonely I Could Cry." The twelve minute closing number "Bowie" is a wonderfully brilliant tribute to the legendary Lester Bowie in which each member explodes in festive form that the great trumpet would undoubtedly enjoy.

Every Dave Douglas fan will gravitate to this live outing with no problems. The real thing is what those of you who haven't discovered Dave Douglas should do. If you are a fan of Armstrong but also are looking for something updated, different and compelling, Brass Ecstasy At Newport is a great introduction to one of many Dave Douglas projects. And could, along with the studio album, Spirit Moves make two perfect companions that will definitely open your world to one the greatest trumpeters of the late 20th Century and one of the future legends of the 21st.