"Gift From the Trees" by Mammal Hands. On compact disc. Released this year on Gondwana Records.
For the past year or two, I've been searching for new sounds and directions in jazz. Something besides bands covering the standards. Mammal Hands is one of the results of that search.
I rarely sit and listen to an album all the way through. My usual method is to listen to two or three songs at a time. But I was unable to walk away from this.
On compact disc. A 1971 release originally. Part of the 'Jazz Collection 1000' series. Recorded and printed in Japan.
All original compositions by jazz bassist, Gary Peacock. It would fit in nicely with the recordings he later made for ECM Records with Keith Jarrett and Jack DeJohnette. It's focused on Peacock's bass playing (as it should be). There are occasional vocalizations that would cause one to think that Jarrett was present, but his sidemen here, are all Japanese musicians.
It can be listened to on Soundcloud.
On vinyl, from 1989 and on the ECM Records label. Contemporary jazz.
Markus Stockhausen is a trumpet player. The sounds are improvisational, avante-garde and often minimalist. Also playing on the record is bassist, Gary Peacock, who can be heard on many of ECM's jazz offerings and was a part of Keith Jarret's trio.
This record was found in the used bins of the record store, but the vinyl is in pristine shape. Like it has never been played in the thirty-three years since it was released.
Avishai Cohen is a bassist. This is not traditional jazz .... bebop or swing. And not improvisational, avant-garde or free jazz either. I suppose it would be labeled, contemporary jazz. Melodies that don't always go in the expected directions.
Engaging in a little record store bin digging this afternoon. Found a seven-inch vinyl 45rpm of an obscure punk band, a R,E.M. tribute recor...
