Daily jazz blog, Marlbank

Radhika de Saram, From the Crow's Nest, Rainy Days ***

Led from the bass guitar by stellar classical player the Sri Lanka born Londoner Radhika de Saram the always reliably listenable-to bebop inspired saxist Zhenya Strigalev plays an important role in fanning out the fusions of sound here which has a …

Published: 6 Dec 2023. Updated: 7 months.

Led from the bass guitar by stellar classical player the Sri Lanka born Londoner Radhika de Saram the always reliably listenable-to bebop inspired saxist Zhenya Strigalev plays an important role in fanning out the fusions of sound here which has a sprawling energy to it. Compositions are de Saram's own. You really don't know what is going to happen next whether it is mournful explorations on a track like 'Promise' or a guitar reverie as provided by Rodion Grischenko on 'Old Cane Chair' while the Indojazz flavours found on 'Adalar' are also part of a big palette of ideas flung generously around.

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Michel Reis, For A Better Tomorrow, CAM Jazz ****

An attractive accessible modern mainstream solo piano album from world class Luxembourg player Michel Reis recorded in pristine fashion at Stefano Amerio's Artesuono Studio earlier this year. Reis original 'Coal Harbour' is one of our favourite …

Published: 5 Dec 2023. Updated: 7 months.

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An attractive accessible modern mainstream solo piano album from world class Luxembourg player Michel Reis recorded in pristine fashion at Stefano Amerio's Artesuono Studio earlier this year. Reis original 'Coal Harbour' is one of our favourite tracks and here Reis shows his consummate gifts in interpreting strong melody. Reis goes that bit further in terms of grand statement on a track like 'After Winter' but we much prefer it when he manages to winkle out incredible feeling from a few scraps of hooky material - take his version of Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks classic 'Simple Twist of Fate' which is fantastically beautiful. (A touching version of Dylan's 'Chimes of Freedom' is also included.) A late night kind of record, one that has a personal touch. Quietly slipped out at the weekend, what a pleasure from start to finish.