Nobuki Takamen - Jazz (Japan)

When last heard from, guitarist/composer Nobuki Takamen had released his first solo album, Solo Guitar (2014). He is active on the New York scene, but has returned to his native Japan for an annual tour for many years. For his sixth album he has chosen to document live performances of his trio with bassist Toshiyuki Tanahashi and drummer Naoki Aikawa, long-time musical collaborators for more than a decade. 

Takamen is definitely a bebop-oriented player. Although this is an all-original double-CD set—so there are no covers—he makes reference to the tradition in various ways. "All Waltz" is an especially clear example. Dedicated to legendary guitarist Jim Hall, it is an "All The Things You Are" contrafact in waltz time. The composition refers to Hall's repertoire, and the trio's highly interactive interpretation is in line with Hall's nearly telepathic trios, especially the one with bassist bassist Don Thompson and drummer Terry Clarke. "Gee, Seventh Avenue" was inspired by a friend's story about an Art Blakey show at Sweet Basil. It's hard bop all the way, with an appropriate drum solo (and a bass solo as well). 

There are also influences from outside of jazz. The opener "Freddie's Mood" is a latin tune with a definite Bo Diddley beat. "Jimi's Swing" uses a Jimi Hendrix chord riff for the intro and breaks, putting Hendrix into a swing context, just as the title promises. Takamen arranged a Japanese nursery song, "Akatonbo" (Red Dragonfly), which features a lovely lyrical arco bass solo. Another cultural influence surfaces in ''Sjećanja za Pamćenje'' (Memories to Remember) inspired by a European tour: it has a folksong quality. 

The closer "Blues For Riley" brings the music firmly back to its jazz roots, with a structure reminiscent of "Willow Weep For Me" and a couple of choice Thelonious Monk quotes. A fitting ending to a program full of variety and highly empathetic group interaction. Sometimes there's no substitute for the familiarity that a long playing partnership brings. This is jazz guitar trio music at its finest.

Track Listing: Freddie's Mood; Smile; All Waltz; Gee, Seventh Avenue; Akatonbo; Sjećanja za Pamćenje; No Easy Days; Jimi's Swing; Homeward Bound; Strolling in Downtown; Wonderful Days; Blues For Riley.

Personnel: Nobuki Takamen: guitar; Toshiyuki Tanahashi: bass; Naoki Aikawa: drums.

https://www.allaboutjazz.com/live-in-japan-nobuki-takamen-self-produced-review-by-mark-sullivan.php

Live In Japan (2016)

MOD JAZZ FOREVER

The night is dark, and crisp enough to require a dark blue woollen overcoat over your midnight blue two-button narrow-lapelled, slim-fitting suit. Your loafers are oxblood and polished to a shine that reflects well on the rest of your outfit. You’re looking for the perfect soundtrack for a night on the town, not just any town, but a city, a bustling metropolis lit by neon and a full of a million souls – although you only want to be seen with a small percentage, the ones who can share your outlook and need the right sort of sounds.

Fortunately for you the mod jazz crew are back in town and we have scoured the world to provide you with the perfect blend of jazz, with a touch of the blues, a shake of soul and a pinch of latin. Whether you are sipping a whisky sour in a wood-panelled bar, trying to created the perfect Mad Men moment, or working up a sweat, we have the number for you.

As usual, we pay only lip service to genre divides, and bring you lots of great jazz vocals, often with an R&B twist. Check Troy Dodds’ ‘The Real Thing’ (the B-side of a super-expensive Northern soul hit) or Floyd White’s ‘Finders Keepers’, lifted from a previously unreleased Invader session. Mod jazz favourite Mark Murphy turns up with the amazing rare 45-only ‘It’s Like Love’ and Clint Stacy, Bobby Jenkins and Little Bob all help keep the mod jazz quality high. On the female side we have the phenomenal Tobi Lark, who is known for her soul numbers but was a consummate jazz performer, as was Byrdie Green, who gives us her take on Freddie Hubbard’s ‘Return Of The Prodigal Son’. 

A good mod jazz record needs plenty of roaring Hammond organ, which we give you by Brother Jack McDuff, Johnny “Hammond” Smith and the great Reuben Wilson with one of his earliest recordings. That other great Hammond exponent Billy Larkin sings like Georgie Fame and strokes some piano keys on ‘Looking’, which sounds rather like ‘Fever’, a song served up in a wonderful version by Buddy Guy. The Night Beats deliver a garage jazz take on ‘Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf Pt 2’ mod jazz regulars Hank Jacobs, Dave Hamilton and Johnny Lytle keep our toes tapping and our fingers clicking. As you leave the room to the previously unreleased British jazz cut ‘Sunshine Superman’ by Bocking, Robinson, Morais you will be feeling as sharp as ever. Another mod jazz miracle. 

By Dean Rudland

Mod Jazz Forever

Alexandre da Mata & The Black Dogs - Blues (Brazil)

Guitarist, composer and music producer. Through more than 17 years of his career, Alexandre has performed on Brazilian and international stage with various names of instrumental and popular music. Developed unique style, impressing by the mixture of feeling and technical proficiency. After years working at the forefront of the most diverse projects, Alexandre da Mata presents his most authorial work accompanied by the Black Dogs. In 2016 the band released the album "All Them Reasons", with the participation of drummer Chris Salde (AC / DC) and already performed in major festivals in Brazil ...

All Them Reasons (2016)

Alan Jack Civilization - Psych Blues Rock (France)

Alan Jack Civilization is one of the many formations of Jacques Braud. Born in 1969 in Tours after Alan Jack Group's decision and his will to play with Richard Fontaine (bass), the duo recruits Claude Olmos (Guit) and Jean Falissard (Drums) to perform immediately in Paris at La Locomotive , Golf Drouot (with the Variations) and the Alhambra. Everything is linked very quickly since 15 days after training the group records the album "Bluesy mind" which imposes with talent are rock bluesy under English infusion between Cream and Cactus. The time to release a 45t, to enter the studio again for a new opus and Alan's comet is consumed in 1970, marked by the release of a last SP in French with other musicians, including two future Martin Circus, Alain Pewzner and René Guérin. Note that the album and their two 45t came out at BYG, a jazz label that diversified into rock and prog.

Alan Jack was an organist, pianist, composer and singer of (primarily) French blues. Jack fronted several different band over his career, including Alan Jack Civilization from 1969-1970. The band only ever released one album, 1969’s Bluesy Mind. The excellent “What You’re Gonna Say” can be found on this album. Jack passed away in 1995 at the age of 51.

Bluesy Mind (1969)

AISLES - Neo-Prog • Chile

Aisles biography (http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=2338)

Founded in Santiago, the year 2001, AISLES represents the new generation of chilean prog. Provided of a style eminently neo symphonic, the band delivers a style of classic roots and influenced by the british school (groups like GENESIS, YES, PINK FLOYD and MARILLION). Their only album is "The Yearning", released in 2005. One of the dinstinctive aspects of this offer is the interesting formation, which nucleus is composed by the Vergara brothers (guitars, keyboards and vocals), that includes the interaction of two keyboardists; also the english lyrics, that gives them the opportunity to enter in bigger leagues of prog.

The AISLES sonorous landscapes are dominated by a melancholic and emotive air, where the melody and long instrumental developments cover all the near path of neo prog; you can hear nice melodies, not only that boring constant soloing we heard from almost all the bands nowadays.

This band, because it's in the frontier of classic and neo prog, is recommended to all fans of the two mentioned genres. Really the chilean prog scene is getting bigger every year!!

The Yearning [2005]

Amaxis (Ralph Oleski) - Neo Progressive Rock

Ralph Oleski, recording as Amaxis, has released a neo-prog album that covers a lot of progressive territory, from blistering electric guitar runs anchored by a chugging bass and drum rhythm section to analog synth passages to more mainstream prog rock sounds, as well. -- Bill Binkelman - Wind & Wire Magazine

The Amaxis album, Astral Images, contains 14 contemporary instrumental tracks blending Progressive Rock, Power Pop and a sprinkling of other genres. The album is hard to pigeon hole into a specific category. The over all category would be instrumental progressive / pop / rock, there are other influences mixed in as well.  The CD was put together over about a year. It was used drum programming, synthesizers either played on a keyboard or using a guitar MIDI controller and of course 'real' guitar, buzzing away all over the place.

Astral Images [1999]

CZESŁAW NIEMEN - Eclectic Prog • Poland

CzesŁaw Niemen biography (http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=2491)

Czesław Juliusz Wydrzycki - February 19, 1939 (Stare Wasiliszki, Byelorussia) - January 17, 2004 (Warsaw, Poland)

In 1958 he has repatriated to Poland. His scenical name is a pseudonym taken after the name of the river Niemen. Debuted as a rock and soul singer in the early 1960's. He recorded "Dziwny jest ten świat" (Strange Is This World) as a major Polish protest song in 1967, and was an early pioneer of psychedelic music in communist Poland in the late 60's. He recorded three albums with the band Akwarele, as well as later works with Enigmatic, Grupa Niemen, and Aerolit. His first self-acclaimed progressive work was entitled "Enigmatic", and was released in 1969. The most notable song from it was "Bema pamięci żałobny - rapsod" (A Mournful Rhapsody, in memory of Jozef Bem, a Polish solider who served as a Polish Army general in the Polish War of Independence (November Uprising). 

Like "Rhapsody", many of the other songs from "Enigmatic" were based Polish folk poetry. During his progressive period Niemen played keyboards extensively, including a Hammond, and later a mellotron and finally a Moog synthesizer.

In the early 70's Niemen recorded three albums for CBS International (Schaelplatten), including a 1974 release entitled Mourner's Rhapsody with Jan Hammer and Rick Laird of Mahavishnu Orchestra, electric violin and saxophonist Michal Urbaniak of Fusion, bassist the late Seldon Powell of the Buddy Rich Band, and session pianist the late Don Grolnick. The album featured a fifteen minute version of "A Mournful Rhapsody". In the latter 70's Niemen's musical work tended more toward jazz/fusion, and even electronica. He released seven additional albums and a retrospective collection before he passed of cancer in 2004.

Thanks to Bob (ClemofNazareth) for Biography.

His jazz/fusion work connects him with many other artists already featured on the archives, either as individual performers, or as members or session participants in works listed here (see some of these names above). In addition, his presence in the largely underground rock and psychedelic scene in communist Poland in the late 60's makes him by definition a progressive musician. The English-language albums Strange is This World, Ode to Venus, and particularly Mourner's Rhapsody and, to a slightly lesser extent, the Russian-language Russische Lieder all are worthy of consideration for their musical blend of jazz and electronic folk sounds, early use of electric violin, heavy use of mellotron, as well the tendency to derive subject matter for songs from contemporary popular poetry that tended toward social commentary. 

1970 - Enigmatic

1973 - Ode To Venus

1973 - Russische Lieder

1975 - Niemen Aerolit

1980 - Postscriptum

Dziękuję bardzo, Magal!