Paul Medrano - Author at BestofJazz.org

All posts by “Paul”

Five Essential Akosh Szelevényi Albums

During the ‘90s, in France, one jazz musician was making free jazz so beautiful and accessible, he got to sign a contract with the biggest publisher of the time (Universal Music) only three years after self-releasing his second album.

Martin Archer, Charlotte Keeffe, Martin Pyne – Hi Res Heart

Hi Res Heart is the first album that Martin Archer, Charlotte Keeffe, and Martin Pyne have released together. Hi Res Heart was recorded during the COVID-19 lockdown, from August 2020 until March 2021, and it was released on May 14, 2021.

William Parker – Mayan Space Station

Mayan Space Station is William Parker’s first electric-guitar-trio album. It features Ava Mendoza on guitar and Gerald Cleaver on drums. All the tracks were composed by William Parker and recorded, mixed, and mastered by Jim Clouse, in February 2020, at Park West Studios, in Brooklyn.

Jazz August 2021

What to expect in Jazz this month? This is our August 2021 Selection of albums already released or to be released this month (What to Wait For?). Albums – or EPs, or Singles – that got our full attention and should be worth your time.

A playlist with one track per selected album is available at the end of the post.

Archie the Goldfish – Water & Light

Water & Light is the second EP by Archie the Goldfish, a project co-led by trumpet player Graeme Flowers and guitarist Chris Bestwick. Water & Light was released on the July 16, 2021.

Aki Rissanen – Divided Horizon

Divided Horizon is Aki Rissanen’s third solo album, the first on Edition Records after three excellent albums. Divided Horizon was recorded at Kallio-Kuninkala Studio, in Finland, on August 21 and 22 and September 23 and 24, 2020. Additional recordings were made at Studio Porra, in Finland, on January 13 and 14, 2021.

Jazz July 2021

What to expect in Jazz this month? This is our July 2021 Selection of albums already released or to be released this month (What to Wait For?). Albums – or EPs, or Singles – that got our full attention and should be worth your time.

A playlist with one track per selected album is available at the end of the post.

Tomoko Omura – Branches Vol. 2

New York-based Japanese jazz violinist Tomoko Omura has released Branches Vol. 2, the second volume of her compositions and arrangements based on Japanese folklore and traditional music. Tomoko Omura is accompanied by Jeff Miles on guitar, Glenn Zaleski on piano, Pablo Menares on bass, and Jay Sawyer on drums.

Sons of Kemet – Black to the Future

Black to the Future is the fourth album by Sons of Kemet, featuring Shabaka Hutchings on tenor saxophone, clarinet, and bass clarinet, Theon Cross on tuba, and both Eddie Hick and Tom Skinner on drums and percussion. It was released May 14, 2021, on Impulse! Records and recorded in 2020 during the weeks that followed the death of George Floyd.

Jalen Baker – This is Me, This is Us.

This is Me, This is Us is the debut album of vibraphonist, composer, and bandleader Jalen Baker. The album was released June 4, 2021, on Outside in Music. The nine original compositions (plus one reimagined Stevie Wonder classic) were recorded December 7 & 8, 2020 at Big Orange Sheep in NYC.