Steve Coleman’s Natal Eclipse - Morphogenesis

Morphogenesis

Steve Coleman’s Natal Eclipse

Pi Recordings

Steve Coleman - alto saxophone

Jonathan Finlayson - trumpet

Maria Grand - tenor saxophone

Rane Moore - clarinet 

Kristin Lee - violin 

Jen Shyu - vocals 

Matt Mitchell - piano 

Greg Chudzik - bass 

Neeraj Mehta - percussion

Steve Coleman has been undergoing an artistic renaissance since joining Pi Recordings in 2010. His M-Base theories have been hugely influential in contemporary jazz over many years, with followers such as Jonathan Finlayson taking his concepts and providing their own interpretations. I've had reservations about the M-Base style, chiefly that the fixed rhythms on releases such as 1995's Def Trance Beat (Modalities of Rhythm) have tended to anchor in place soloists, including Mr. Coleman, and prevented them from taking full flight.

Coleman has expanded his palette over the course of four Pi releases, and the result has been the best recordings of his career. Morphogenesis continues that streak with what is essentially an ambitious multi-part suite spanning 60-plus minutes. What's impressive is the clarity of the vision and how well the sections hang together to create the whole.

Coleman creates interest by constantly shifting the focus to different instruments in a seamless fashion distinct from the traditional jazz solo. Rhythms are more supple and varied than in his earlier works. The cyclical effect of the compositions' structures bears a faint resemblance to Anthony Braxton's Ghost Trance music, although Coleman is his own person as a composer and player.

There were a couple of sections that I felt overstayed their welcome, but overall Morphogenesis is another impressive milestone in Steve Coleman's career.

Staub Quartet - House Full of Colors

House Full of Colors
Staub Quartet
JACC Records

Miguel Mira - cello
Zingaro - violin
Hernani Faustino - double bass
Marcelo dos Reis - acoustic guitar, prepared guitar

The musicians who make up the collective known as the Staub Quartet are part of a vital Portuguese improvised music scene and have been featured in many combinations. Hernani Faustino is part of the amazing RED Trio, while Miguel Mira is one-third of the Motion Trio with Rodrigo Amado and Gabriel Ferrandini. Marcelo dos Reis is one of the principals of Cipsela Records, which has a small yet distinguished output, including a solo album from Zingaro.

The six tracks comprising House Full of Colors are fully improvised, and I actually approached this with some initial hesitancy. There are a lot of free improv recordings getting released these days, and I find myself with less of an appetite for abstract explorations of timbre and texture, with seeming little interest in forward momentum.

Given the quality of the musicians in the Staub Quartet, I should have expected that they would provide something of value, and they do. The members are adept at moving in one direction and supporting each other, so the music seems to have a composed element to it. dos Reis occasionally introduces repeating figures from his guitar, giving those tracks a unique blend of chamber music with an almost folk influence.

There continues to be a lot of quality jazz and jazz-influenced music coming from Portugal, and House Full of Colors is a worthy addition.

Erik Hove Chamber Ensemble - Polygon

Polygon

Erik Hove

Inner Circle Music

Erik Hove - alto sax, clarinet, flute, electronics
Anna Webber - flute, alto flute
Krisjana Thorsteinson - oboe
Krista Martynes - clarinet, bass clarinet
Andy King - trumpet
Kate Bevan-Baker - violin
Jean René - viola
Jane Chan - cello
Rémi-Jean Leblanc - bass
Evan Tighe - drums 

Polygon is the follow up to Hove’s 2014 release, Saturated Colour, featuring some of the same musicians, such as fellow Canadian saxophonist Anna Webber. 

As Hove explains: “This album builds on the sounds and concepts of … Saturated Colour. The goal in writing was to expand upon ideas already in play, in addition to adding a layer of electronics to many of the tracks in order to fuse the timbres and broaden the sonic palette of the ensemble.”

Polygon is aptly titled, as tracks such as Tessellation and Tetrahedron display a mathematical rigor and a decidedly serial bent. What’s nice is that Hove will break up patterns by shifting to looser rhythms and juxtaposing a solo voice versus the ensemble, albeit in a more structured way than a traditional jazz ensemble. 

The introduction of electronic effects, particularly on Tetrahedron, proves effective and marks the biggest difference between Polygon and Colour. I hope Hove delves more deeply into this area on future releases.

Fans of Anthony Braxon’s music for mid-sized ensembles will find a lot to like here.

Harris Eisenstadt - Recent Developments

Harris Eisenstadt
Recent Developments

Songlines

Anna Webber - flute
Sara Schoenbeck - bassoon
Nate Wooley - trumpet
Jeb Bishop - trombone
Dan Peck - tuba
Brandon Seabrook - banjo
Hank Roberts - cello
Eivind Opsvik - bass
Harris Eisenstadt - drums, compositions

Harris Eisenstadt is one of my favorite contemporary Jazz composers. His series of Canada Day quintet albums on Songlines represent a sustained high level of composing and playing, mixing the adventurous with a sense of melody that in a just world could attract a broader audience. 

Eisenstadt has featured larger groups as well, most recently on Canada Day Octet from 2012. Recent Developments has more of a chamber music sound, in spite of the fact the album includes a rhythm section of drums and acoustic bass. The album is a little deceptive; it has a light, even slight, feel to it at first. Listen further and more intricacies reveal themselves. The musicians on the record are a who’s who of today’s forward thinking jazz-related players. The ensemble sound takes precedence on Recent Developments, with the banjo of Brandon Seabrook providing an interesting and unusual textural twist.

Miles Okazaki - Trickster

Miles Okazaki - Trickster

Pi Recordings

Miles Okazaki - guitar

Craig Taborn - piano

Anthony Tidd - bass

Sean Rickman - drums

Trickster is an apt name, as what at first seems like a quiet, unassuming recording turns into an unexpected delight with further investigation. Okazaki has accomplished a difficult feat: Making a record that is both adventurous and accessible. 

Okazaki and his group take Steve Coleman’s M-Base concepts and apply their own interpretation, one which encompasses complex rhythms married to compositions with attractive melodies, even hints of the blues and boogie-woogie.

Okazaki has a quiet style that fits the music perfectly, and Craig Taborn does his usual fantastic job of fitting into a group concept and bringing his point of view. Tidd and Rickman are less well known to me, but provide sure-handed support in support of the mood of each piece.

Miles Okazaki has taken a huge leap forward in his evolution as an artist with Trickster.

Rich Halley and Carson Halley - The Wild

The Wild

Rich Halley - tenor saxophone, wood flute

Carson Halley - drums

Pine Eagle Records

The Wild is a new album of duets by saxophonist Rich Halley and his son Carson. I’ve seen the elder Halley’s name around, but have never heard him up to now. The album is divided into 10 tracks, ranging roughly from 4 to 8 minutes each, and the feel is free, even though there are some pre-determined melodies used as springboards to improvisation.

The album feels like a throwback, to a time when free improv, at least on this side of the pond, was more closely tied to the jazz tradition. The sax and drums format call to mind the classic Interstellar Space, and Halley is clearly influenced by Coltrane. He has enough of his own voice, though, contrasting sections of overblowing with lyrical phrasing, showing a tender side on occasion. In fact, it’s in these more reflective moments that I feel I’m more connected to his music, something I’ve observed with other artists who bring a lot of energy to their playing. Sometimes the conversation between musicians seems to be more nuanced at more relaxed moments.

What I like about this record is the performances unfold organically and at their own pace, with a variety of moods and tempos. Carson mixes up his approach between fixed tempos with a slight rock feel and totally free drumming. The length of the tracks means that, with a couple of exceptions, the Halley’s maintain a good level of focus and a sense of moving things forward, again linking to the jazz tradition.