Marek Jakubowicz: Feelings

Marek Jakubowicz (guitar)

Feelings (Multikulti; 2012)

Marcin Oles (bass)

Cecylia Matysik-Ignys (harp)

Axmo (vocal)

With a lovely and highly passionate tone, Polish guitarist, Marek Jakubowicz delivers an album of straightforward themes in Feelings.

With qualities that remind me of Martin Taylor, Ottmar Liebert, Pat Metheny and Paco De Lucia, Jakubowicz aptly moves between Brazilian, classical and light modern jazz with ease. A gentle and easy session that is enjoyable on multiple levels.

Two bewitching pieces open Feelings, "Before You Were Born" and "Behind The Scene" with colourful shades of classical and jazz introspection. "Before You Were Born" has the feel of time passing. It's a journey through the opening of life and the path we decide to choose. The piece is punctuated by Matysik-Ignys sweet exchanges with Jakubowicz. While "Behind The Scene" explores a more romantic jazz tone as the versitile Oles bends the bass and Jakubowicz find affectionate tones that transform this above just a standard piece.

The title track is perfectly executed with Oles and Axmo adding hauntingly beautiful lines and lyrics that compliment the guitarist rich notes. Axmo's voice is raspy and echoes like Enya but sits nicely among Jakubowicz's composition. "Si Ceng Xiang Shi" is a ballad with Asian Pacific character that arches high thanks to Axmo vocals. "Travel Memories" closes this session in elegant form. Very tight passages by Oles and Jakubowicz that are pristine and well focused.

Marek Jakubowicz makes a very, very surprisingly beautiful record from a diverse avenue of themes. He shows he is incredibly capable in a variety of styles. Feelings is an album that slows creeps up on you. You may not get it on the first listen but I'm pretty sure you will be enchanted by the second spin. Enjoy...

Clarino: Cookbook

Clarino (trio)

Cookbook (Red Tucan Records; 2012)

Thomas Heberer (trumpet)

Joachim Badenhorst (clarinet)

Pascal Niggenkemper (bass)

Thomas Heberer's Clarino trio have quickly released another album of inspiring, improvised yet well balanced material in form of Cookbook.

Cookbook refers to the name Heberer has given to the form in which he has written the material for this trio. Cookbook fuses more structure from thin spaces Heberer, Badenhorst and Niggenkemper produce than their debut album, Klippe. As a result it is a different effort than its predecessor and even more engaging.

"Lockruf" opens with long notes that are stretched through time by Badenhorst and then joined by Heberer and Niggenkemper. Each creates a counterpoint but with lines that meet to tell the story of their journey as close to the end of the piece as you could get. A quiet and peaceful conclusion.

The multi-layered "Nomos" features a few complex lines from Niggenkemper. This is juxtaposed by ascending notes on clarinet and trumpet. Heberer has infused a number of playful notes into a delicate and complicated pattern. Very enlightening. The quiet introspection of "Bogen" with its utilization of various breathing techniques on the horns is closely matched by haunting chords resonating from the bass. This slides swiftly into a powerful recitation of repeating chords in the heavy "Deux." An intense passage of notes by Niggenkemper and rolling lines of Badenhorst make it an astounding number, albeit short.

Heberer uses long stretches of tone and color to close out this session with "Zuname." The pattern is circular and continues to build; the bassline is just audible underneath both horns. As the piece closes you hear the tones still echoing in the back of your mind.

Thomas Heberer has created a trio that seems to be as at ease within the material as it is with expanding on it. Cookbook may be just a clean slate with a few lines of direction but Clarino has made this a very exciting and creative journey to experience. Highly Recommended.

Christian Scott: aTunde Adjuah

Christian Scott (trumpet)

Christian aTunde Adjuah (Blue Note; 2012)

Lawrence Fields (piano)

Kenneth Whalum (sax)

Matthew Stevens (guitar)

Corey King (trombone)

Kris Funn (bass)

Jamire Williams (drums)

Defying convention has been Christian Scott's mantra since probably the day he picked up the trumpet. But its definitely been his motis-operandi since his first record in 2007. Each of his albums builds on different themes and moments--social, spiritual, personal and political. Scott continues this tradition with his fifth album, Christian aTunde Adjuah.

aTunde Adjuah is his newly transformed name in Ghanaian. A spiritual and personal awakening of sort. Forget about the name for a moment and focus squarely on the music. This again is another strong diverse outing for the young trumpeter. As with most Scott numbers, "New New Orleans" is large and emotional. A soulful, passionate piece that tells the story for the city in which it is named and dedicated to. Scott's lines are sharp and bold surrounded by the swirling melody of Stevens' hypnotic guitar and the funky drum kit of Williams. It's the heartbeat of the city coming back to life.

"Who They Wish I Was" is a quiet piece with epic underpinnings. The repetitive nature of the delivery from Fields and Williams has a cinematic quality to it that draws you ever closer. Scott's horn is soft and doesn't rise too far above the mix. "vs the Kleptocratic Union" and "Dred Scott" both speak to injustices of society and the worst of our human nature. Steven's versatility is on display in "...Kleptocratic Union", as he sculpts blues-like tones that are lovely at every turn. "Dred Scott" is more suspenseful, with improvised and soaring lines that crash against each other like waring factions with no end.

"I Do" develops a soulfulness and romanticism through the exchanges of Whalum and Scott which are accentuated by Williams' heavy kit. Romantic and still powerful. "Alkebu Lan" highlights the African influence upon Scott during this session. Its a nice mixture of African beats and American funk. But it's a midtempo piece that never goes over the top.

There are times when I felt Scott's boldness sounded more European than American. "The Red Rooster" and "Cara" both have a rolling melody on piano and sonic resonance of Scott's trumpet are good example of this. They're spacious and delicate with a tone is very intimate.

Many people may find the expansiveness of aTunde Adjuah a little hard to swallow. But I feel its another example of a young talent that is really exploring new ideas and trying to find different themes to push our definitions of what jazz is and can be. A great effort for most musicians. Christian Scott is certainly achieving that and continues to look upward and out.

Steve Davis: Gettin' It Done

Steve Davis (trombone)

Gettin' It Done (Posi-Tone; 2012)

Mike DiRubbo (sax)

Larry Willis (piano)

Josh Bruneau (trumpet)

Billy Williams (drums)

Nat Reeves (bass)

The interlude between One For All albums seems to be getting wider and wider lately. Steve Davis being one of the founder members of that exciting sextet. But that gaps tends to bring out the best in each members own bands in which they are the leader. Davis returns with his newest release, Gettin' It Done, a fabulous session which sees the trombonist in killer form.


Gettin' It Done features a few regulars to Davis' sessions, including Nat Reeves, Larry Willis and Mike DiRubbo. The title track fuses the best elements of Davis' arsenal, fierce commitment to each other and solid composition. It's modern hard bop at its finest. This is a cracker of piece with Willis, DiRubbo, Bruneau and Davis moving a blistering pace.

"Steppin' Easy" and "Alike" really highlight the horns with DiRubbo and Bruneau having superb exchanges with the leader. But also Davis allows them the space to solo and even more of a personality to numbers that already shine brightly. "Alike" being the loveliest and most personal.


The funky groove of "The Beacon" is something a little different from Davis' solo work. Reeves adds a catchy bassline that leads through. Meanwhile, Willis and Davis layer that groove with some rhythms that make this an irresistible number.

"Wishes" is a playful mid-tempo piece where Davis really shines and his sound fills the room like one of his mentors, Curtis Fuller. Davis' again gives the floor to DiRubbo who rattles off some soft but boldly shaped notes. After a short passage from Bruneau the rest of band return a glide the number to conclusion.

This is the first time Steve Davis has worked with all of these members as one unit. And he delivers another quality outing with Gettin' It Done. This is a solid group that hopefully they can tour together because they sound superb as a unit. And while we wait for the next One For All release, Gettin' It Done is a great waiting point. Enjoy...