Jawanza Kobie’s Weekly Wednesday Jazz Playlist May 18, 2022

Mary Halvorson is an American avant-garde jazz guitarist from Brookline, Massachusetts. Halvorson began her musical education on violin but was enthralled with the idea of playing guitar after discovering Jimi Hendrix She first picked up electric guitar at the age of 11 in seventh grade. She initially enrolled in Wellesley College to study biology, but dropped her prospective major after sitting in on one of saxophonist Anthony Braxton’s music classes. She quickly connected with him and he heavily encouraged her to find her own expression on guitar.[3] Although Halvorson is often categorized as a jazz guitarist, her music includes elements of many other genres, such as flamenco, rock, noise, and psychedelia. This is ‘Night Shift’ from her newly released album Amaryllis.

New York City-based Jonathan Barber was voted the #1 Up-and-Coming Drummer of 2018 in Modern Drummer. Only 29 years old, he has already recorded and toured worldwide with such artists as Pat Metheny, Nicholas Payton, Buster Williams, Jeremy Pelt, Wallace Roney, Terrace Martin, Jennifer Holiday, Harold Mabern, Steve Davis, Stefon Harris, and many more. Barber has also been called on for such significant performances as Jimmy Greene’s Ana Grace Project (with an all-star band comprised of Greene, Kenny Barron, John Patitucci, and Kurt Elling) and back-to-back sold-out concerts with the Brooklyn Philharmonic and Erykah Badu at the BAM Opera House. Born in Hartford, CT, Barber has been playing drums since the age of five, initially falling in love with the instrument through watching his father perform in the family church. Barber’s upbringing in the church instilled within him a deep appreciation of the power, passion, and full sound of the gospel music tradition, and he now brings its infectious energy to the wide range of styles in his musical toolkit. This is ‘Poetic’ from his May 2022 release.

Jacob Garcchic (trombone), is a multi-instrumentalist and composer. Since moving to New York in 1994 he has been a vital part of the Downtown and Brooklyn scene, playing trombone with the Lee Konitz Nonet, Ohad Talmor/Steve Swallow Sextet, Mary Halvorson Octet, and the John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble. This is his track ‘Fanfare’ from his latest release Assembly.

Brandon Seabrook is a guitarist, banjoist, and composer living in New York City where he has established himself as one of the most forward-thinking and versatile and guitarists of his generation. Seabrook's work focuses on the juxtaposition of fragmented soundscapes, angular composition, and a massive dynamic range that can change in a nanosecond. Rolling Stone Magazine noted, “The fiercely dexterous musician has lunched a number of bands combining serious chops with manic intensity and a left- field compositional vision.”   “In The Swarm” is the track heard hear from his May 2022 release.

Daniel Villarreal-Carrillo is a well known drummer, musician and DJ in the Chicago music scene. Originally from Panamá he fuses his pan-Latin style with influences of psychedelic rock, Cumbia, afro-beat, boogaloo, rock, free experimental jazz, hip-hop, and funk to create an original contemporary soundscape. Daniel was most recently seen playing drums on Season 6, Episode 12 of the television series “Empire.” As a DJ, Daniel specializes in groovy vintage Afro-diasporic sounds. His DJ sets (vinyl or digital) showcase his knowledge of world music, electronica,Tropicalia, vintage latin soul, Chicha, psychedelic Cumbia, Afrobeat, reggae, funk, and groovy deep cuts beats.  “Uncanny” is the track heard here from his new release International Anthem.

Nduduzo Makhathini is a South African jazz musician from Umgungundlovu, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Coming from a musical family, his love for music began at an early age. Makhathini is the recipient of the 2015 Standard Bank Young Artist Award in the category of Jazz. Makhathini won the Best Jazz Artist award. His musical output has led him to be described by Seton Hawkins of All About Jazz to be "a truly singular pianist, an astonishingly gifted composer, and a deeply nuanced thinker on the music...one of the [South Africa]'s most remarkable talents." From his new release in May 2022 In The Spirit Of Ntu is ‘Senze Nina’

Gordon McChesney "Ches" Smith is an American musician, whose primary instruments are drums, percussion, and vibraphone. He recorded and performed an album of his own solo percussion pieces entitled Congs for Brums. In 2010 he released Noise to Men. Originally from Sacramento, California, Ches Smith is a drummer, percussionist, and composer based in New York. He has collaborated with a host of artists on many scenes since the early 2000s, including Marc Ribot, Tim Berne, John Zorn, Darius Jones, David Torn, John Tchicai, Nels Cline, Mary Halvorson, Trevor Dunn, Terry Riley, Kris Davis, Dave Holland, Secret Chiefs 3, Xiu Xiu, Good for Cows, Theory of Ruin, and Mr. Bungle, among others. This is ‘Interpret It Well’ a new release for him.

Tigran Hamasyan is an Armenian jazz pianist. He plays mostly original compositions, which are strongly influenced by the Armenian folk tradition, often using its scales and modalities. In addition to Tigran's folk influence, he is influenced by American jazz traditions and to some extent, as on his album Red Hail, by progressive rock. His solo album A Fabel is most strongly influenced by Armenian Folk Music. Even on his most overt jazz compositions and renditions of well-known jazz pieces, his improvisations often contain embellishments based on scales from Middle Eastern/South Western Asian traditions.  This is “De-Dah’ from his most recent 2022 release StandArt.  

Tord Gustavsen (born 5 October 1970) is a Norwegian jazz pianist and composer. He tours extensively worldwide, and he has been a bandleader for a trio, ensemble and quartet at various times, all bearing his name. After playing primarily in trio format for several years, Tord launched his new project, Tord Gustavsen Ensemble in 2008, with a commissioned work for the Vossajazz Festival in Norway, followed by a new recording in 2009. In 2011-2015, the quartet was Tord’s major touring ensemble formation, alongside duo and trio formats with the musicians in the ensemble. He did extended projects with Kristin Asbjørnsen and Susanna Wallumrød joining the ensemble on vocals, with Cecilie Jørstad doing spoken word, and with Nils Økland on fiddle/violin. In 2022, Tord continues the journey in trio format, now introducing bass player Steinar Raknes alongside drummer Jarle Vespestad, for a trio that takes inventive interplay and humble virtuosity to yet another level. His latest 2022 album release is Opening and this track ‘Stream’ is from that album.

Per Mollehoj is a Danish jazz guitarist based in Copenhagen. ‘Beal Street Blues’ is from his new 2022 release with his trio S’Wonderful.

As a contrast to the 1st track on this playlist with the same title. This my track ‘Night Shift’ from my 1st CD Feels Better Than It Sounds.

I hope you enjoy

JK