Steve Davis: For Real

Steve Davis (trombone)
For Real (Posi-Tone; 2014)
Abraham Burton (sax)
Larry Willis (piano)
Nat Reeves (bass)
Billy Williams (drums)

Steve Davis is in superb form on his new album, For Real. This is probably the best I heard in a couple albums now. While the bandmates remained the same for this album, with the inclusion of Abraham Burton, their tone and Davis' writing feels stronger and more confident.

"For Real" takes a calm but groovy approach, with some additional homage to the Blue Note legacy (you'll know what this means when you hear it). While keeping the hard bop tradition, Davis still manages to make his compositions stand above some of his contemporaries. The lovely ballad "Days Gone By," excels thanks to the raw but lush notes from Burton and the always steady hand of Willis. Davis' playing is understated and warm reflecting a soft elder statesmen quality.

"Daylight" closes out the album on a wonderful Brazilian swing. While having the infectious flavour, Davis crafts the tune with a number changes that allows for some adventurous movements throughout the piece. Not your typical number. And not you typical Brazilian influence tune. Well done.

With For Real, Steve Davis show that he has a lot more to write about and he continues to go from strength to strength. For Real is probably his best record to date for the Posi-Tone label. And its well worth seeking out. Right now!

The Impossible

The Impossible (trio)
The Impossible (self-produced; 2013)
Mitch Green (bass)
Sam O'Brien (sax)
Tony Irving (drums)

The Impossible are a Brisbane based trio that reflect the influences of might be Coxhill, Brotzmmann and more recent, The Thing or Vandermark 5 and Sonic Youth (with whom drummer, Tony Irving as played with in the past). But where those compassion lay, is also jumping off point for more creativity. 

Their self produced debut is filled with two extended pieces record live, The Impossible show the audience at this live gig and you the listener, that there can be surprises around ever corner and ever note.

"Ignition" drives around on the heavy interaction between Irving and Green. The exchange of phrasing and complements is swift and fierce. It's a hard tone but beautifully placed along side the rhythmic lines that O'Brien gently adds just underneath the chaos.

"The Unanswered Question" sees O'Brien rising in the mix with Irving acting as the counter foil. The piece is calculating and intense. It requires a delicate patience as each chord and notes starts to fall into place and then midway through is completely broken apart by O'Brien and Irving. A battle that is engrossing and lovely all at once. This rotates and slowly works its way to calm, relaxed conclusion to the evening.

A very intriguing debut from The Impossible. While this live evening was long on song. It was short of the amount of tracks. But it does give us the potential of what this trio can do once in the studio. Definitely an album worth your money and band to look out for going forward.

Best Albums Of 2013

JazzWrap looks back at a phenomenal 2013.

Another exciting year. We have seen the growth of recent talent into what will be significant voices of the future. And the continue leadership of the elders. We remember those who have shaped the scene and left us way too soon but what they've taught us lives on through us.

Below are some of the albums that have had a significant effect on me over the last year. In no real order except the first two because they would not stop playing on my stereo, ipod and inside my head.

I hope you get a chance to hear some of this amazing music over the next few months. And we all hope the music just keeps getting better and braver over the next year. Enjoy.

Album Of The Year: Sunna Gunnlaugs: Distilled

Mary Halvorson: Ilusionary Sea
Jakob Bro: December Song
Mostly Other People Do The Killing: Slippery Rock!
Soren Gemmer: At First
Jason Moran/Charles Lloyd: Hagars Song
Cakewalk: Transfixed
Nicole Mitchell: Aquarius
Mikrokolektyw: Absent Minded
Nick Hempton: Odd Man Out
Wadada Leo Smith/Angelica Sanchez: Twine Forest
Kris Davis: Capricorn Climber
Fred Hersch/Benoit Delbecq: Funhouse
Zero Centigrade: Selce
Sava Marinkovic: Nowhere Near
Soweto Kinch: Legend Of Mike Smith
Luis Lopes: Live In Madison
Susana Santos Silva/Torbjorn Zetterberg: Almost Tomorrow
Soren Dahl Jeppesen: Pipe Dreams
Christian McBride: Out Here

Wadada Leo Smith: Occupy The World/Twine Forest

Wadada Leo Smith (trumpet)
Angelica Sanchez (piano)
Twine Forest (Clean Feed; 2013)

Wadada Leo Smith (trumpet)
Tumo Orchestra
Occupy The World (Tum Records; 2013)

Intimacy and intricacy are the best ways to describe two recent collaborations from Wadada Leo Smith this year. The first, with Tumo Orchestra and then in a duo session with pianist Anglecia Sanchez.

Occupy The World is another epic orchestral work with lots of improvisation and intense mood setting movements. Inspired by the global Occupy movement from the past few years, this session is not as enveloping as last years Ten Freedom Summers but it is just as broad in scope.

"Queen Hatshepsut" inspired by the Egyptian queen of the same name, is a piece flows up and down with rough chords from both Smith, the string section and Kantonen's fierce and sublime piano performance. The title track has various stages of deep reflection, as in the middle sections filled with atmospherics and free float trumpet lines.

In a similar inspirational voyage, Smith explores more intimacy with Angelica Sanchez on Twine Forest. The two have worked together for years, Sanchez is part of Smith's Golden Quartet and Organic group. Surprising that this is their first outing as a duo. Either way, it's bright, personal and highly captivating.

"Retinal Sand" sees Sanchez experimenting with the insides of the piano strings and Smith swirling with haunting accuracy. In addition to explosive outburst that blend seamlessly with the rolling and very punctuated notes from Sanchez. "In The Falls Of" while being improvised shapes itself into a lovely almost romantic ballad. The notes are soft with a melody and sparseness that stretches the piece and the imagination making for a devotional experience.

Two excellent sessions featuring similar deep, inspiring thoughts but with very clear distinction and execution. Wadada Leo Smith makes clear that with Occupy The World and Twine Forest, he is one of the most creative and prolific composers among his elder statesman colleagues on the scene today.