All posts filed under “2024

Tyshawn Sorey - The Susceptible Now

The Susceptible Now by Tyshawn Sorey Trio

The Susceptible Now is the new release from drummer Tyshawn Sorey’s trio, with Aaron Diehl on piano and Harish Raghavan on bass. They present 4 long tracks: (1) the McCoy Tyner classic “Peresina” from his album Expansions; (2) “A Chair in the Sky” (composed with Charles Mingus) from the Joni Mitchell album Mingus; (3) “Your Good Lies,” from the contemporary soul group Vividry; and (4) “Bealtine” by Brad Mehldau. The Susceptible Now will be out October 11, on Pi Recordings.

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Aloft Fujii Tamura

Satoko Fujii, Natsuki Tamura – Aloft

Aloft is the ninth duet album by life partners, pianist Satoko Fujii—who released her 100th album as a leader in 2022—and trumpeter Natsuki Tamura. The album was recorded on December 13, 2003, at Samurai Hotel in New York by Mike Marciano and was released on July 12, 2024, on Libra Records.

Aloft Fujii Tamura

Satoko Fujii, Natsuki Tamura

Aloft
(Libra Records)

What more can we say after nine conversations? It’s hard to guess. It probably depends on the understanding between the two partners.

Naturally, if the initial meeting is haphazard and ends abruptly due to a lack of common understanding, there might not be much more to say. But if the conversation is between a couple united by love, friendship, passion, or even life in its entirety, the ninth conversation is just as unique as the third or the thousandth.

In such a case, the conversation would get filled with the unexpectedness of the moment, the day’s happenings, and what has yet to be said or experienced, building up on a ground solidified by the already existing habits that strengthen the bonds and engage even more in discussing the unknown together.

Aloft is indeed an illustration of the second possibility. It captures that incredible moment where nothing exists, yet creation happens again, seemingly from thin air, or perhaps from everything; what seems so mysterious to us feels like a daily occurrence for Satoko Fujii and Natsuki Tamura.

Of course, all conversations offer different intensities, moments of shock, and specific depths. But Aloft stands out as an album that captivates naturally and simply in its accessibility, in what it provokes and inspires, offering a constant depth tinged with humor, seriousness, culture, and–above all–exceptional speaking skills.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Discover next: Natsuki Tamura – Summer Tree

Aloft

Satoko Fujii Natsuki Tamura
© Hideo Arimoto

Natsuki Tamura: Trumpet; Satoko Fujii: Piano

Tracklisting

  1. Migration (08’09”)
  2. Wintering (08’08”)
  3. Traveling Bird (04’57”)
  4. Lifting (09’26”)
  5. On the Flyway (10’04”)
  6. Waiting for Dawn (09’37”)

Aloft was released on July 12, 2024 // Libra Records 102-075

Vijay Iyer Compassion ECM

Vijay Iyer Trio – Compassion

Compassion is the second release by the Vijay Iyer Trio, featuring Linda May Han Oh on double bass and Tyshawn Sorey on drums. The 12 tracks were recorded in May 2022 at Oktaven Audio, Mount Vernon, New York, and the album was produced by Vijay Iyer and Manfred Eicher. Compassion was released on February 2, 2024, on ECM.

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Lisa Ullén Heirloom

Lisa Ullén – Heirloom

Heirloom is a solo recording by pianist Lisa Ullén. It was captured during two sessions—with an audience—on June 6 and 8, 2023, at Fylkingen in Stockholm, Sweden. The two concerts were identical, each exploring two variations of the same three-part suite: “Heirloom,” “Fragrance,” and “After Sun.”

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