Trumpeter Anne Efternøler reassembles her Lige Børn trio of bassists for the collective's follow-up to the warmly-received self-titled debut of 2022. With Hobby Horse Records so open about their affections for innovative and improvised perspectives on contemporary jazz, Efternøler's latest release, 'Brugskunst', provides the Danish label with a further jewel amidst their burgeoning treasure chest of releases. Featuring the bass prowess of Thomas Morgan, Anders Christensen and Richard Andersson, Efternøler's fourteen-track project takes a decidedly more minimalist approach to composition which is an approach that the trumpeter plays with throughout. Serving as something of an allegory for today's abundance of information - particularly within the digital realms and the information and news available to each us via the convenience of just our phones - as a composer Efternøler seeks to deconstruct her music opting to strip it back to the bare essentials. An ideal elegantly captured through the track 'All you need is less' - a sublime and intricate piece indicative of the care and attention poured into the album's music.
'Axiom' marks the new album release from Venezuelan-born and Rotterdam-based guitarist Andrew Moreno whose debut serves as a perfect accumulation of his years of travel, performance and collaboration. Since setting out on his own in his late-teens, Moreno's passion for playing has taken him around Europe and seen him thrive amidst a variety collectives and ensembles over the years including performances at a series of notable European festivals including North Sea Jazz Festival, Breda Jazz Festival and Gratchen Jazz Festival. To help Moreno in conveying his vision for 'Axiom', the guitarist has assembled his long-time friends and collaborators in double-bassist Jonathan Ho Chin Kiat, drummer Tristan Renfrow and saxophonists Tineke Postma and Bo Van Der Werf. 'Axiom' as a debut and a piece of work is reflective of Moreno's journey to this point in time and to this stage of his career - an album born of his experiences which are elegantly transformed into interwoven narratives amidst some exceptional compositions. An excellent debut that goes a long way towards introducing the guitarist to a significantly grander audience.'
April Records are known for presenting some genuinely fascinating pairings as part of the versatile make-up of their dynamic catalogue. We're not far removed from the Duke Ellington-inspired ensemble Oh People which comprised Jonas Due, Andreas Toftemark, Casper Christensen, Lasse Mørck and Henrik Holst Hansen for their 'Part Time Elegance' debut. And of course vocalist Nana Rashid's collaboration with April's jazz trio, Little North, for Rashid's 'Music for Betty' debut proved another notable highlight. The Action 4s continue in the label's tradition of eclectic ensembles by pooling together the talents of harmonicist Mathias Heise, pianist Rasmus Sørensen, bassist Conor Chaplin and drummer Anton Eger for a vibrant and enthralling self-titled debut. With each artist having put out some fantastic music and having established themselves as solo names in their own right, there's an undeniable magic that the quartet have stumbled upon now that they are making music together. Recorded in Copenhagen over the course of three days in late-2023, the sessions were generated from a high level of improvisation along with a minor reinvention of the rule book along the way. The album's variety of styles rely on synth-based compositions that veer subtly towards an electronic aesthetic as its backbone and ultimately deliver some outstanding pieces as well.
With just a year having passed between now and the trio's debut release 'WAW!' - both available through Hobby Horse Records - US drummer Jeff 'Tain' Watts once again aligns with Danish musicians Carl Winther on piano and Richard Andersson on double-bass for their sophomore album release, 'Steep Steps'. With their debut having received a rapturous reception along with some notable distinctions, the concoction of American swing and Danish panache is captured beautifully for this year's release once again recalling the charm and allure of its predecessor. Winther, Andersson & Watts serve as three powerhouse names in their own right with some extraordinary successes between them that showcase their affections for improvised jazz, some world-class collaborations and global performances. Through the "WAW" union, this Hobby Horse-helmed trio have now unveiled an exciting new avenue to add to their already lengthy list of accomplishments. 'Steep Steps' features five tracks with an inspired take on McCoy Tyner's 'Inner Glimpse' from 1973 and an equally imaginative take on Tadd Dameron's 'Soultrane' from his 1957 album 'Mating Call'. As with the covers employed for 'WAW!', Winther, Andersson & Watts pay due homage to each track's lineage but still embrace the opportunity to create within their own distinctive style.
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