May Melomania
Rhythm Planet whips up our usual recipe for this week’s playlist – a mix of new and older releases across a range of musical styles.
By Tom Schnabel • • 2 min readThis week, Rhythm Planet whips up our usual recipe – a mix of new and older releases across a range of musical styles. The playlist begins with Norwegian pianist and composer Ola Gjeilo, from a gorgeous new album called Night—so named as he composed the music at night while looking out over the New York City skyline. I find the entire album perfect for pandemic listening; it’s soothing and beautiful but never sappy or sentimental.
Canadian violinist Angèle Dubeau has arranged quite a few works by contemporary composers that I like a lot. We listen to her arrangement of a Ludovico Einaudi piece. Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds has a stunning new choral album that I’ve really enjoyed. The two sopranos—Kate Ledington and Maeve Stier—alternate solos with stratospheric high notes. The gorgeous music comes from St. Thomas Aquinas, a 13th century Italian Dominican priest and composer. The sound reminds me a bit of Eric Whitacre, one of my favorite choral composers.
We hear a lovely track from the L.A.-based Brendan Eder Ensemble. Eder produces, composes film scores, and leads this crossover classical chamber group. I love arrangers and arranging, so I’ve included it. We follow that with a spare and lyrical piece from trumpeter Volker Goetze, from his duo album Silent Thunder.
I love pianist Laurence Hobgood, whom I first heard with Kurt Elling’s group. Abetted by a string quartet, we hear his treatment of Glen Campbell’s beautiful song “Wichita Lineman.” The playlist also features jazz tracks from pianist Mike Bond, trumpeter Thomas Marriott, the group New Stories, guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel, drummer Paul Shaw, and vibraphonist Christian Tamburr. Croatian-American singer Thana Alexa sings “Set Free,” from her powerful new album Ona ("She” in Croatian), an apropos title for an album that explores the female identity. Finally, we hear from up-and-coming saxophonist Alexa Tarantino, who performs as part of the collective Works for Me.
To provide some comfort during our house arrest, I dug up a classic from Massive Attack called “Protection” that features singer Tracey Thorn. I believe KCRW debuted Massive Attack on L.A. radio way back in the day.
Bassist Henry Grimes sadly just died from Covid-19. Juilliard-trained, he worked with top artists like McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, and Roy Haynes, before quitting the scene and disappearing for over 20 years. Somebody discovered him in Los Angeles, where he worked as a janitor. We hear him with Sonny Rollins on a recording of the wonderful 1959 Stockholm concert. I love this vinyl album and fortunately you can still find it on resale sites.
I am absolutely in love with Brazilian singer Roberta Sá, so I had to feature “Meu Novo Ilê” from her 2015 album Delírio. Doesn’t it have a surprising Cape Verdean feel? Sá was born in 1980 in the northeastern city of Natal, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Continuing in the world music vein, I’ve included a trio of tropical Latin tracks on the playlist. First, a smoking one from conga master Cándido Camero with singer Graciela; one from the late bassist Andy González; plus a new album by the Calle Loíza Jazz Project.
Rhythm Planet Playlist for May 5, 2020
Ola Gjeilo / “
Still” / Decca Music Group
Laurence Hobgood / “
Wichita Lineman” / Ubuntu Music
Angèle Dubeau / “
Night” / Groupe Analekta
Ēriks Ešenvalds, Portland Statue University Chamber Choir, Ethan Sperry / “
O salutaris hostia” / Naxos
Pastorale” / Brendan Eder Ensemble
Volker Goetze / “
Silent Thunder” / Weitblick Media LLC
Mike Bond / “
Polarized Child” / Bounce Castle Records
Roberta Sá / “
Meu Novo Ilê” / Som Livre
Massive Attack feat.
Tracey Thorn / “
Protection” / Circa
Day Dream” / Christian Tamburr
Andy González / “
Inspiración de Cachao” / Truth Revolution Records
Cándido &
Graciela / “
Conga Jam” / Chesky Records
Old Folks” / Goose Mountain Properties LLC
Thana Alexa / “
Set Free” / Thana Alexa
Thomas Marriott / “
Trumpet Ship” / Origin Records
Wolfgang Muthspiel, Scott Colley, Brian Blade / “
Everything I Love” / ECM Records
Sonny Rollins Trio / “How High the Moon” / Dragon Records
Mr. M” / Posi-Tone Records
New Stories / “
So Near, So Far” / Origin Records
Heartland” / Summit Records