Jazz albums: 2017

 http://instrumentalost.bandcamp.com/

 

Reedist Kamasi Washington became a star in one night after release of his triple-CD debut album few years ago. I tried hardly (and more than once) to listen it till the end but never succeeded. Not because it was a free form abstract cacophony (it looks regular listener afraid of it most of all in jazz and it's understandable). No, it was just a bulky collection of simple pop-tunes, sometimes with rock attributes ("spices" in a soup?), easy listening trying to satisfy widest tastes. It looks Kamasi quite succeeded in it, so now we have his second work on shelves.

Mini LP, released as next step to success after successful triple debut sounds probably a bit strange, reasons are mostly technical I expect (the material used was originally written for museum exposition's soundtrack, plus OST for short video "Truth"). In all cases, that's a positive side of new release - based on same formula as the debut was, it's significantly shorter what makes it much more accessible). The opener sounds as if it comes from "La La Land" OST, but rest of the album represents mostly over-orchestrated easy listening tunes with repeating simple straight melodies.  

What seems to be happening here is that the music is built on short phrases that come from the drums, the others build their phrases on top of that construct, and the end result is a mind boggling continuous rush of quick ideas and short phrases that repeat for a short while, and then topple over each other.

Describing this music is not easy, you will just have to listen for yourself. There is definitely an influence from some of Ornette Coleman's more outside work, plus the drumming of Denardo Coleman, Rudy Royston, Jonathan Blake and John French (from Capt Beefheart) and the piano music of Cecil Taylor. Those who have listened to the wide array of ancient traditional African music will also hear some familiar elements. Plus, the witty sass and brevity of early be-bop could be seen as an aesthetic influence too. Imagine a cross between extreme be-bop and 'Trout Mask Replica' played on a damaged record that gets stuck and skips a lot and you may be close to this group's sound.

This is a musical approach that is very original, whether or not this band becomes a lasting influence remains to be seen. Even if you don't enjoy this music, you owe it to yourself to at least check this out.

 http://intaktrec.bandcamp.com/album/we-know-not-what-we-do-24bit-44khz