Sylvain Kassap - Foehn - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Sensual is an album that pushes the boundaries of contemporary music, blending elements of jazz, rock, folk, and world music to create a truly unique and captivating sound. Rachel Z, a virtuoso pianist known for her expressive playing and innovative compositions, takes the lead in crafting the album's healing melodic mantras and harmonies. Omar Hakim, a legendary drummer with a career spanning over four decades, brings his unparalleled rhythmic expertise to the project. His dynamic and versatile drumming style adds a layer of depth and intensity to each track, creating a captivating groove that will have you moving to the music. Jonathan Toscano, a talented bassist known for his melodic and intricate bass lines, complements the ensemble with his impeccable sense of timing and musicality. His contributions add a rich and vibrant texture to the album, enhancing the overall sonic experience.

From free improvisation to contemporary or ethnic music, Sylvain Kassap explores a world that is rich in color and finesse, animated by an unquenchable spirit of freedom. Features Sylvain Kassap on the clarinet, Didier Petit on cello and voices, Helene Labarriere on the doublebass and Edward Perraud on drums and percussion.

A Willed and Conscious Balance is the first album of material arranged for an ensemble by multi-instrumentalist composer Tomin. The bulk of the album was recorded in one day at The Bunker in Brooklyn, NY by IARC house engineers Dave Vettraino and David Allen, and features a truly incredible lineup that includes members of Irreversible Entanglements and jaimie branch's FLY or DIE. Tomin's wielding of this crack squad is singular though, instantly setting this material apart from the discographies of the contributors.Imagine the density of a J.J. Johnson arrangement rhythmically stretched and pulled à la Thembi-era Pharoah Sanders, or the Dolphy-infused bop squawk elegance of Booker Little's Out Front sent through the sonic washing machine of Bennie Maupin's The Jewel in the Lotus. With each listen, the potential for comparisons feels both endless and unsatisfying, and while there were certainly hints of this direction on Tomin's collection of solo recordings, Flores para Verene / Cantos para Caramina - simple & entrancing chord progressions, favoring the dirge, favoring the repetitive - the sounds heard on A Willed and Conscious Balance take the listener somewhere new. Somewhere fresh yet familiar. A group exploration of simplicity that yields something complicated, just like life itself.