American pianist Brad Mehldau and drummer Mark Guiliana have just released Mehliana: Taming the dragon, a fantastic electric duo recording for the Nonesuch record label. With Brad Mehldau on synthesisers, Fender Rhodes and piano and Mark Guiliana on drums and electronics, the pair generate a strong groove reminiscent of the sound of “avant-groove” trio Medeski […]
drums
Jan Garbarek: Knot of place and time
Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek released the marvellous In Praise of Dreams in 2004. More than a solo recording, the whole album works as a conversation between himself, American/Armenian violist Kim Kashkashian and frequent collaborator French/Ivorian drummer Manu Katché. Underpinned by Jan Garbarek’s sparse use of samplers or keyboard and by Manu Katché’s subtle yet complex drumming […]
Food: Moonpie
Food is an experimental jazz group formed in 1998 by Norwegian drummer and composer Thomas Strønen and UK saxophone player Iain Ballamy. Food originally recorded four albums as a quartet which included Norwegian musicians Arve Henriksen (trumpet/vocals) and Mats Eilertsen (double bass). Since 2006, the group reverted to its core duo while inviting like-minded musicians […]
Jack DeJohnette & Foday Musa Suso: Ocean wave
Between 2003 and 2005, innovative Gambian kora player Foday Musa Suso and legendary jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette toured together and recorded Music from the hearts of the masters (2005), a wonderful collaboration between two genuine masters of their respective instruments. The kora is a fascinating instrument which has of course had a huge influence on early American […]
Charles Lloyd & Billy Higgins: Supreme love dance
Veteran American saxophone and flute player Charles Lloyd (b. 1938) and legendary drummer Billy Higgins (1936-2001) have been friends since the 1950s. They have recorded together several landmark sessions for the ECM label, notably The Water is Wide (2000) and Hyperion with Higgins (2001). In January 2001, at the saxophone player’s invitation, both musicians met at Charles […]
