Eight years after his initial debut full-length in 'The Mecca' (2018), bassist, composer and educator Corcoran Holt unveils his long-awaited sophomore album release in the sensational 'Freedom of Art'. While the time in between projects may have been longer than listeners would have liked, Corcoran's indelible talents have certainly not rested on their laurels with the bassist having clocked up work with an incredible roll-call of contemporary names including Kenny Garrett, Teodross Avery, The Rongetz Foundation, Jean Baylor and Katsuko Tanaka. Holt's earnest and heartfelt sensibilities towards his music have consistently managed to express the ideals that he holds dearest to him. From his devotion to family and his commitment to discipline and betterment, 'Freedom of Art' serves as an exquisite love letter to those principles through music that is beautifully composed and superbly performed. Backed by a fantastic array of supporting musicians which include Stacy Dillard, Josh Evans, Benito Gonzalez, Kweku Sumbry and Lewis Nash, Holt and company offer up an inspirational fifteen-track statement of intent conveyed through sincere and impassioned compositions. Corcoran Holt delivers a truly scintillating project that not only reasserts himself as one of the most accomplished and thoughtful bassists performing today, but also affirms that genuine freedom - be it artistic, personal or spiritual - rests in the ability and courage to create without compromise.
The Argentine upright-bassist and band-leader Laura Camacho unveils her wonderful new project continuing her unwavering commitment to bringing Argentine Tango to the world. Having grown up in Buenos Aires and become fascinated with Tango at such a young age, Camacho moved to the US at 30 to further her education, securing two degrees in the process. Now as an esteemed musician and educator in her own right, Camacho continues to express her devotion to her music - and also to her culture - through everything that she does. As also a member of the Broken String Band and Symphony Orchestra Augusta, it is perhaps Camacho's work as founder of the highly-decorated and oft-celebrated Athens Tango Project that has garnered her the most acclaim. Featuring an expansive roll-call of artists that have performed as members at one time or another, Camacho cemented her bold musical intentions through an ensemble founded nearly fifteen years ago and that still receives wild acclaim today. Through her new ensemble, The Laura Camacho Tango Project, the boundlessly-talented and inspirational artist unveils a fantastic ten-track project that reasserts her talents and core values all over again. 'Todo Tiempo Pasado' serves as a scintillating ode to Tanguera through vibrant, orchestral-heavy compositions that also find remarkable re-imaginings of Britney Spears' 'Toxic' and Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill'.
'Shapeshifter' serves as the latest release from double-bassist Jon Henriksson which marks his debut with Danish contemporary jazz flag-wavers in April Records. With his own full-length debut having only come in 2023 in the form of 'Harmonia', Henriksson finds himself in the midst of a creative foray that finds him keen to extoll new musical narratives amidst varying ensembles. 'Shapeshifter' once again pairs Henriksson with long-time friend and collaborator in pianist Rasmus Sørensen and drummer Jonas Bäckman - both returning from 'Harmonia' but now being paired alongside newer band members in saxophonist Karl-Martin Almqvist who rounds out the core quartet. Asserting himself as an April Records staple - having last appeared on Sørensen's 'At the Right Time' (2024) - Henriksson shares an inspired ideology very much in line with April's encouragement towards a free-thinking and improvisational approach to their artists' music. 'Shapeshifter' soars as an album that masters the art of patience; throughout the album's eight compositions, Henriksson helps to foster an environment and interplay between his band members that relishes the understated elements between them. It's a lush harmony that accentuates trust between its players and which formally introduces Henriksson amongst the April top tier.
The tirelessly prolific efforts of double-bassist Richard Andersson have found a fascinating new vehicle which finds him paying homage to one of jazz's greats in pianist Thelonious Monk. For the Copenhagen-based musician and band-leader, the thrill of improvisation and collaboration have long served as motivating factors for the abundance of new music that he is able to continually unveil through Hobby Horse Records. The last twelve months alone have seen Andersson helm new music projects with his trio alongside Carl Winther and Jeff "Tain" Watts ('Steep Steps'), as a member of Anne Efternøler & Lige Børn ('Brugskunst') and release music via another dynamic new quartet in Omrum ('Bringer of Light'). With Hobby Horse serving as the perfect playground to champion new, innovative and improvised perspectives on contemporary jazz, Andersson's 'Monk & More' is sure to exquisitely convey those same values. Paired with clarinettist Rudi Mahall, pianist Artur Tuznik and drummer Kasper Tom, the four-piece present an inspired take on Monk's compositions as well as music by Lennie Tristano, Ornette Coleman, Lee Konitz and Jimmy Giuffre. Nine charismatic performances that showcase an affectionate and personality-driven perspective on music by jazz greats.
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