March 2022
Kristine England
Mar 29, 2022
Shane Parish
Liverpool
On his latest recording, Athens, GA-based Shane Parish offers evocative electric interpretations of traditional folk music on Liverpool. The self-taught musician (who is also a member of the duo, Ahleuchatistas) effectively reimagines and transforms sea shanties into lovely and lyrical meditations.
“Black Eyed Susan”
Ilhan Ersahin, Dave Harrington & Kenny Wollesen
Invite Your Eye
"Invite Your Eye" begins with a layered saxophone blast. After a minute, the drums kick in, and the track starts the journey to a hypnotic groove. All three members have worked togetherbefoer, but this is their first recording as a trio, creating what JazzTimes calls, “spacy stoner-jazz.”
"Invite Your Eye"
Messa
Close
"Pilgrim" begins with beguiling vocals amid middle eastern folk. Two and half minutes later, the song transforms into a doom-metal opus, with singer Sara Bianchin presiding over Sabbath-esque riffs. Kerrang raves the group is “breathing new life into [the genre]..."
“Pilgrim”
Stromae
Multitude
Belgian singer/songwriter Paul Van Haver a.k.a Stromae's recent single “L’enfer” (translation: “hell”) is a highly personal song about his battle with depression and suicidal thoughts, powerful track from an “adventurous third album [that] examines how we humans care for one another — or don’t.” (Pitchfork)
“L’Enfer”
Cécile McLorin Salvant
Ghost Song
Salvant is no stranger to awards, having won the jazz honors, Grammys, and numerous critics polls along the way. Her voice is gorgeous and her technique is flawless, and her vocals are steeped in emotion. It’s refreshing to listen to a performer who feels the words she sings.
"Ghost Song"
Mary Simich
How Does One Begin
Listening to this it’s hard to believe it’s not a long-forgotten gem from a bygone era. Her songs sound like a cross between folk, country and girl groups of the 60s. Or, as Rough Trade puts it, her work is “Patsy Cline meets Lana Del Ray with King Khan in the passenger seat.”
"How Does One Begin"
Alai K
Kila Mara
Even though he’s settled in Berlin now, Alai K hasn’t forgotten his Kenyan roots. Creating music that is most assuredly techno but with rich, East-African percussion, his fusion of the two styles is seamless. “Kila Mara...celebrates cultural exchange in vibrant colour…” (Crack Magazine)
“Watu”
Danilo Perez & the Global Messengers
Crisálida
The Panamanian pianist has had an illustrious career, starting out under the tutelage of Dizzy Gillespie and spending several years on the road with Wayne Shorter. His latest as a leader, Crisálida, features the Global Messengers are aptly named, with members from far flung locales.
“La Muralla (Glass Walls) Suite: Monopatia (Pathways)”