The MLN Ensemble are firmly in June's Emma Rawicz headlined Wycombe mix

Heading into the Chilterns next month and before that debuting with Kuzushi (3-stars) to be released on 27 May, MLN Ensemble pursue an equal temperament harmony jazzprog and jazz-rock attuned approach that the fusion heads among us may gravitate …

Published: 10 May 2023. Updated: 25 days.

Heading into the Chilterns next month and before that debuting with Kuzushi (3-stars) to be released on 27 May, MLN Ensemble pursue an equal temperament harmony jazzprog and jazz-rock attuned approach that the fusion heads among us may gravitate towards most. Beaming up from a specially configured keyboard played by Stephanos Karageorgi designed by bass guitar boffin Mateusz Gocek ''equal temperament'' explorers MLN Ensemble are prominent in the mix never mind the whys and wherefores in Wycombe too much - new names to most they are down to play at an all-dayer there in June.

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Headlined by still very much a wunderkind saxist Emma Rawicz currently the hottest new generation jazz act on the UK scene whose next album Chroma comes out later this year and from which the konnakol strewn 'Phlox' is streaming - read a review of her fine 2022 debut Incantation here - and topping the bill at this High Wycombe Community Arts Centre located happening in Buckinghamshire, 'Hectic' from the EP Kuzushi has eloquent rap from Polish born rapper Eyeconic and the title track goes behind the beat by utilising a reggae feel as an ingredient from Gocek with his bass line.

At the kit featured drummer heavyweight Laurie Lowe best known for his work with the great Robert Mitchell figures - go back, he's on the legendary Quite Sane head's meisterwerk Epiphany - powering in à la Dennis Chambers, refreshingly, even. Guitarist David Preston - read a review of Preston's Purple / Black Vol 1 recently in marlbank - is featured winningly, you can wig out here most if you are so inclined and why not, on 'Steady State', the pick of the EP. MLN sticksman Jamie Parker keeps more than decent time and in so doing whips out and locks into a chunky groove.

The Wycombe Jazz Festival is on Saturday 3 June to be held at the Wycombe Community Arts Centre in High Wycombe. Rawicz is on in the evening, MLN are among the support acts and Ally Steel among the DJs. Tickets

MLN Ensemble, photo: press. Emma Rawicz, photo: ACT

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Linda May Han Oh tracks seize the day

We spent part of yesterday listening to a lot of pre-release lead-off tracks among the output of dozens of labels and it was patently obvious which album coming up kidnapped our ears most reading the runes because from The Glass Hours 'Circles' …

Published: 10 May 2023. Updated: 25 days.

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We spent part of yesterday listening to a lot of pre-release lead-off tracks among the output of dozens of labels and it was patently obvious which album coming up kidnapped our ears most reading the runes because from The Glass Hours 'Circles' and 'Antiquity' are so fresh and interesting. You can certainly make an educated guess that this album from this vantage point of ''singles knowledge'' is the hottest one for June in prospect. Both these tracks have a whole lot going for them in terms of originality and sheer visceral as well as intellectual appeal. And we look forward to hearing the rest of the record and will make full comments on release. Suffice to say for now this is beyond the nevertheless important thrill of thriving on a riff and finds a place where flow is all in the harnessing of beat, groove and melodic resource in a highly instinctive yet cerebral manner within the crucible of fast unfolding group play. Crucially these tracks also seem relevant experiencing them in 2023 without the need nostalgically to dance to the music of a lost time.

Linda May Han Oh is one of the very best bassists of her generation. In the same superlative bracket as Esperanza Spalding although a completely different player we say that on the Australian-Malaysian who lives in the States because of the bassist-vocalist's work on Uneasy with Vijay Iyer, Pat Metheny (From This Place) and above all on her own Walk Against Wind, a classic of the 2010s. On The Glass Hours a 6 June release to be released on her husband the Cuban pianist Fabian Almazan's Biophilia label (on which Almazan also figures strongly) the Warne Marsh influenced tenor icon Mark Turner experimental singer Sara Serpa and Dave Holland drummer Obed Calvaire also appear. The tracks streaming so far are above. Linda May Han Oh, photo: press