Photo: Sulyiman
Makaya McCraven‘s much anticipated eighth album, In These Times, arrives next week and the Chicago based beat scientist had already enticied with two singles, ‘Seventh String’ and ‘Dream Another’. Now he’s offering a final preview of his forthcoming album with a third single, The Fours’. The track comes with an accompanying video directed by Ryosuke Tanzawa. Watch it below and grab the album when it drops on September 23rd through International Anthem / Nonesuch / XL Recordings.
Sun Ra Arkestra are in it for the long haul, never ceasing to amaze us. With legendary old alto saxophonist Marshall Allen as musical director for more than two decades, the collective continues to spread their interstellar magic, exploring and pushing the boundaries of jazz, both musically and conceptually. Following last year’s Grammy-nominated album Swirling, Sun Ra Arkestra are releasing their new album Living Sky on October 7th through Omni Sound.
Ahead of the album’s release, they have shared new single ‘Chopin’, which marks the first studio recording of Sun Ra’s elaboration of ‘Prelude in A Major’ of the Frédéric Chopin’s “miniature Opus 28 No. 7″. “‘Chopin’ was one of Sun Ra’s features for the lyrical wizardry of Marshall’s alto, the originator of Avant Garde saxophone, truly a wonder to behold at the age 98,” stated baritone saxophonist Knoel Scott. “This freshened arrangement of this Sun Ra Classic is a testament to the vintaged mastery of Marshall Allen and is truly reflective of his position as a keeper of the Sun Ra Legacy.”
Listen to ‘Chopin’ below and straight after listen to the previously released first single ‘Somebody Else’s Idea’.
Photo: Cory Dewald
More than 20 years into their career, The Bad Plus have been at the forefront of contemporary jazz music and their music remains as relevant and vital as ever. The trio-turned-quartet, with founding members Dave King and Reid Anderson now joined by guitarist Ben Monder and saxophonist Chris Speed, are releasing their eponymous album on September 30th through Edition Records. Speaking about their new iteration as a quartet, King says:
“We feel like we’ve pulled off a magic trick, changing the lineup from a trio to a quartet with guitar and saxophone that still sounds coherent as The Bad Plus. Having two main composers was our greatest card to play. Our language remains, and that’s the magic.”
Anderson also comments:
“If after more than 20 years you can put out a record that has the energy of a debut album, to me, that’s saying something. It’s what reinventing yourself is all about.”
‘Not Even Close to Far Off’ is the third phenomenal single to be lifted from the upcoming The Bad Plus and you can hear it below.
Photo: André Baumecker
An ingenious drummer-in-demand, producer and composer, Tom Skinner is one of the today’s most cutting-edge and visionary artists. Skinner had us entirely under his spell since the release of his self-titled album as Hello Skinny in 2012, which was one of our Picks of the Year. Incredibly prolific, he’s constantly flexing his creative muscles in exciting projects, including Sons Of Kemet, Melt Yourself Down, Matthew Herbert, Mulatu Astatke, The Owiny Sigoma Band, The Grip, and more recently The Smile. So we’re beyond excited to learn about the release of Voices of Bishara, the first album under his own name. The record takes its name from the late cellist Abdul Wadud’s 1978 solo album By Myself, which was pressed on his own label, Bisharra, a common Arabic name that translates as ‘good news’, or ‘the bringer of good news’.
Speaking about the album, Skinner comments:
“This record is an attempt to put something truthful into the world, through collaboration and community, at a time of rising dishonesty and disinformation – ‘Bishara’ is the bringer of good news, and by bringing the musicians on this album who are very dear to me together, we pay homage to that idea by collectively spreading light where there is increasing darkness.”
Voices of Bishara will see the light of day on November 4th through Brownswood / International Anthem / Nonesuch and ahead of it we can already hear the mesmerizing and gripping lead single ‘Bishara‘.
This Friday will see the release of 3, the new EP from French rock trio KOS. Self-described as the “seductive meeting of a jazz drummer, a metal bassist and an inventive guitarist”, KOS weave together their disparate musical backgrounds and experiences to craft a sound that is raw and intense yet melodic and tender, with groove sensibilities throughout. The upcoming EP encompasses a broad spectrum of influences and elements of post-rock, jazz, metal, prog and electronica.
Alongside the announcement, KOS have released the lead single ‘Le Bus’. The track is offered with a stunning and stellar video accompaniment directed, animated and edited by Pevin Kinel. Speaking about the video, the band comments:
“We love the graphics and the precise animation that fits well with the rhythm of the song. But also the crazy scenario and the final message that emerges. In short, we think it’s a video that suits us and that defends our new upcoming EP”
Watch the video below and wach out for the EP release on September 9th.
Photo: Julie Calbert
Brussels based composer and visual artist Christina Vantzou has announced the release of a new album entitled No.5. The follow-up to 2018’s No.4 marks the fifth instalment in her staggering series of numbered albums, exploring and melding classical, ambient, and minimalism. Vantzou envisioned the album when she performed at the Syros International Film Festival in the Aegean Sea and after relocating to the Cycladic island of Ano Koufonisi, she stripped down and condensed hours of raw recordings into the 11 pieces that make up the album. Vantzou describes No.5 as “11 gelatinous, dripping and fragile concoctions for voice, piano, synthesizers, strings, winds and field recordings.” She adds:
“No. 5 seeks moisture, air, walking barefoot in nature, absorbing the elements, losing track of time.
It’s a record about space and opening up space. It’s a set of ideas shaped in the oral tradition. It sends praise and care for those who wish to reshape reality.”
We’ll have to wait until November 11th for No.5 to be released through Kranky but we can already hear the magnificent and immersive first single ‘Surreal Presence (for SH and FM)’. Take a listen below and check out the visual trailer straight after.
