News: November 2007
Posted November 26, 2007The very latest news, to start with, is that the magazine JazzMan, our biggest jazz monthly, awarded the “choc” of the year to Yaron Herman and his trio. We have many reasons to celebrate, and this one just puts the cherry on the cake. A record contract is in negotiation for Yaron in the USA at the moment. The reviews for “A Time for Everything” keep coming in and are brilliant, and the three nights at the Sunside club in Paris plus one matinee in November were sold out!
We are happy to announce the signature worldwide of Japanese composer/arranger/producer and trumpet player Jun Miyake for his new album “Stolen from Strangers”, already out in Japan on his own label Drape handled by Videoarts. The CD will be on release in Europe beginning of 2008 on a new label part of the prestigious Enja Records, based in Germany, with distribution in France through Harmonia Mundi. Jean-Paul Goude, photographer and visual artist (concept and videos Grace Jones, parfum Dior with Vanessa Paradis…) has been implicated in the sleeve design which includes several of his photos. Amongst the collaborators are Arto Lindsay, Peter Scherer, Vinicius Cantuaria and a number of big names on the French music scene. Two of Jun Miyake’s recently recorded compositions will be part of a Japanese advertising campaign for Lexus. The artist is currently in Tokyo to promote the Japanese release of his album and to finish work as musical director for a theatrical production of the ‘Three Penny Opera’.
Jon Hassell is playing the Queen Elisabeth Hall on November 17, as part of his European dates which included a recording project in Scandinavia. More about this later. Meanwhile, if you want to read Brian Eno appreciation of Jon Hassell, very recently published in the UK national daily the Guardian and entitled “The debt I owe to Jon Hassell”, please click here.
The latest news from the ACT label and publishing: The Nils Landgren Funk Unit concert at the Bataclan was a splendid success for this outstanding trombone player, singer and band leader from Sweden. Surrounded by an excellent group of musicians including Ray Parker Jr., he brought the house down with his brilliantly arranged and very danceable performances of titles from his latest album “Licence to Funk”.
Esbjörn Svensson’s trio E.S.T., is giving a private concert in Hamburg next week to celebrate the release of their new album ‘Live in Hamburg’, exactly one year after it was recorded, the first live recording after 12 years of touring! The album will be released on November 22.
On the very same night, Huong Thanh & Nguyên Lê will be singing and playing the music of their brand new album “Fragile Beauty” at the New Morning club in Paris.
Also on ACT, “Mare Nostrum”, a beautiful project inspired by the Mediterranean Sea, a collaboration between trumpet player Paolo Fresu, accordionist Richard Galliano and Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren will be on release beginning of 2008.
Many good things are happening for music from all over the world, as well: Hazmat Modine, recently signed to German label Jaro Medien, is a New York ensemble blowing its trumpet (and tuba, saxophone, harmonica, clarinet etc.) with skill and inventiveness, inspired by its American roots in music. They did a showcase at the recent WOMEX and are now nominated for the BBC World Music Awards 2008.
News from Piranha are some major releases beginning of next year which will warm the cockles of our hearts in deep winter: Egyptian Mahmoud Fadl brings us music “for Oriental Dancers” , Boban and Marko Mrakovic and their ‘Orkestar’ return in force with a fourth release, “Go Marko Go !”, with guest star Shantel; and then there is the Fanfare Tirana, also present and much appreciated at WOMEX, a new signature, a very big brass band from Albania ; and finally, a new signing from France this time for Piranha, the collective Watcha Clan from Marseille, celebrating their 10th anniversary with their new album “Diaspora Hi Fi”, due for release mid March. This Mediterranean caravan will be touring extensively in France and abroad.
French band “La Caravane Passe recently signed to Métisse Music will be celebrating the release of their latest recording “Velkom Plèchti” end of November with two dates at the Paris New Morning Club in November/December, with a big date for their very special show “the Real Fake Wedding” (Le vrai/faux marriage) at the 1000 + venue Bataclan on January 28, and they will also open the very well attended Festival Chorus in March 2008.