Chaotic Good Jazz #14
New Releases: Late January + January's Gems 💎
I’ve got a double-issue for you this week including some incredible new releases from the last week of January and a round-up of my favorite albums released so far this year.
Buckle up, it’s gonna be a jazzy ride!
Notable New Releases January 26-31:
Albums:
Apocalypse Trio | Augusto Mattoso, Cliff Korman, Rafael Barata | Augusto Mattoso | January 30, 2025
Apocalypse Trio was born after a concert held on December 21st, 2021, the day on which the final judgment would prominently take place according to the Mayan calendar.
The world did not end, but a modern contemporary music group was born that would shake the traditional structures in place until then in Rio de Janeiro. Apocalypse trio is formed by Augusto Mattoso on Double Bass, Cliff Korman on Piano and Rafael Barata on Drums.
- excerpt from www.augustomattoso.com
Flowers Are Blooming In Antarctica | Laura Agnusdei | Kabul Maple Death Records | January 31, 2025
Italian composer and saxophonist Laura Agnusdei returns with “Flowers Are Blooming In Antarctica” a career defining record that sees the artist diving into uncharted waters, a profound timeless meditation on our relationship with planet Earth, the eco-conflicts arising and the fascination with non human forms of life, backdropped to a vivid soundtrack of coral exotica, spiritual Jazz, fourth-world minimalism, tropical electronics, tribal futurism and contemporary elegance
- excerpt from Bandcamp album description.
honey from a winter stone | Ambrose Akinmusire | Nonesuch Records | January 31, 2025
Composer and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire's album honey from a winter stone, which he calls a "self-portrait," features improvisational vocalist Kokayi, pianist Sam Harris, Chiquitamagic on synthesizer, drummer Justin Brown, and the Mivos Quartet. "For arguably the most technically gifted trumpeter of his generation, a lot of Ambrose Akinmusire’s breakthroughs actually come from letting go of standards and structures," says the New York Times. "Lately Akinmusire has been making some of the most intimate, spellbinding music of his career."
- excerpt from the
Substack, Jan. 31, 2025.
Mivos Quartet:
Olivia Deprato – Violin
Maya Bennardo – Violin
Victor Lowrie Tafoya – Viola
Tyler Borden – Cello
Kinetic | Black Flower | Sdban Ultra | January 31, 2025
The album embodies a philosophy of flowing with change rather than resisting it, offering a bold, dynamic statement on breaking free from life's limitations. Kinetic is a call to dance through life’s chaos and to harness the power of movement as a tool for liberation.
- excerpt from Bandcamp album description.
Slow Fawn Music No. 2 | Sam Cohen | 30th Century Records | January 31, 2025
Sam Cohen has created something truly special alongside some immensely talented musicians. This companion album to Slow Fawn Music No. 1 features Cochemea, Makaya McCraven, Photay and more.
Terra Solus | Nick Ford | Nick Ford | January 31, 2025
Terra Solus, meaning “lonely Earth”, is an exploration of life on this spinning rock in space. Throughout our lives we encounter relationships and situations that may excite us, challenge us, lift us up and break us down. At the end of each day, one constant remains: yourself. From the moment we emerge into the world until the moment we say goodbye, we are accompanied by ourselves, for better and for worse. We are wanderers upon the lonely Earth.
- excerpt from Bandcamp album description.
List of Demands | Damon Locks | International Anthem | January 31, 2025
Locks’s decades-long resume connects the dots between experimental improvisation, sample based hip hop, punk, and poetry – each done at the highest level and with a list of collaborators that could spin the head of even the most jaded listener. And that seems to be the point.
- excerpt from Bandcamp album description.
Accidental Ornithology | Sarah Belle Reid, Vinny Golia | Infrequent Seams | January 31, 2025
Accidental Ornithology is a collection of fourteen improvisations from Sarah Belle Reid and Vinny Golia, each inspired by the unique calls and behaviors of imaginary birds—from the grumbling cry of the Autumn Bog Fowl to the chaotic flight patterns of the Red Crested Floo Bog.
- excerpt from Bandcamp album description.
I’d like to think an alternate title for this album could have been Jazz-rassic Park.
If you are on Instagram, check out @sarahbellereid, she shares a lot of information about modular synths and is a great resource if you are trying learn more about sound design.
Flukin’ | Silvan Strauss | Kabul Fire Records | January 31, 2025
The album’s title “FLUKIN’” is a made up extension of the word “fluke” - a word commonly used for example in basketball commentary for an unlikely occurrence of chance, a surprising piece of luck or in Strauss case: Moments of lucky coincidences that can happen in improvised music while collaborating with different artists.
- excerpt from Bandcamp album description.
Singles:
“Frica” | Gregory Uhlmann, Josh Johnson, Sam Wilkes | International Anthem | January 28, 2025
from Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes, releases March 14, 2025.
Composition and improvisation, jazz and chamber music, ennui and contentment – are delightfully blurred.
“Frica” is, perhaps, the track on which that blur is most evident. The tune incorporates the staccato stutters and repetitions heard throughout the album, but doubles down with a subtly disorienting post-production chop by Johnson, which accentuates the trio’s live trance by introducing a floating phrase cut-and-mix- excerpt from Bandcamp album description.
“Dark Star” | Dave Harrington, Will Epstein | Many Hats Distribution | January 31, 2025
It’s worth noting here that we’ve been playing “Dark Star” together for at least a decade now, in performances ranging from an hour-plus long abstracted meditation on the theme in an art gallery, to a live recording from The Knockdown Center in 2016 presented here.
- excerpt from Bandcamp track description.
Did somebody say hour-plus long abstracted version of a Grateful Dead song? Count me in!
“Speak Low” | Ife Ogunjobi | Decca Records | January 31, 2025
Ife Ogunjobi of Ezra Collective covers Chet Baker in this version of “Speak Low.” Listen to Chet’s version here: “Speak Low”
Kinetic
Black Flower | Sdban Ultra | January 31, 2025
Saxophonist/flutist Nathan Daems leads the Belgium-based Ethio-jazz inspired quintet, Black Flower. Bandmates Jon Birdsong (cornet/conch shells), Simon Segers (drums), Karel Cuelenaere (keys), and Filip Vanderbril (bass) have come together to releases the band’s sixth studio album on the SDBAN Ultra label. Black Flower has been one of my personal favorites for years and Kinetic might just be their finest album to date.
For this album we had a peculiar inspiration/influence: BWITI. It’s so obscure that it’s not even a style of music but rather an intense ritual from Gabon/Cameroon/Congo where villages get together for several days, consuming a super potent psychedelic (the root of the iboga tree), playing music and going into trance. The music is always fast, often hyper fast, but with light percussions, no heavy drums because the supersonic tempo doesn’t allow for too much heavy sounds more like medium to high pitched percussions. Often there’s a harp involved also (ngombi) and the keys take on that role here, especially in the faster second part of the tune. The harp always plays fast riffs, not really bass riffs, but melodic riffs that have a very special groove to them.
- Quote from Nathan Daems during Kinetic listening party Jan. 30, 2025.
Black Flower’s discography: Magma (2022), Future Flora (2019), Artifacts (2016), Ghost Radio (2016), Abyssinia Afterlife (2014).
“muffled screams”
honey from a winter stone | Ambrose Akinsmusire | Nonesuch Records | January 31, 2025
Mixing hip-hop and a string quartet with synthesizers and his trumpet, Ambrose Akinmusire extracts a sweetness that sounds like dreams set to music. The gifted player, who currently serves as the artistic director of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA, called upon the talents of Mivos Quartet and rapper Kokayi for Honey From A Winter Stone, a beautiful realization of melding words and music.
This track and the album art both equally breathtaking, don’t you think?
First up, on the weekly playlist is the CGJ Track of the Week; “muffled screams” by Ambrose Akinmusire featuring the improvised vocals of Kokayi, followed by “Click” from Damon Lock’s List Of Demands.
The German, Belgian, and South African jazz scenes are all well represented on the playlist by Silvan Strauss, Black Flower, and Capetonian Nick Ford respectively.
Then the first single from the upcoming Ulhmann Johnson Wilkes album, before Apocalypse Trio brings a Billy Cobham-esque energy to the playlist. After that, a couple tracks from Sam Cohen and some experimental spiritual jazz from Laura Agnusdei.
Sarah Belle Reid’s imaginary bird calls are sandwiched between a Chet Baker cover from Ezra Collective’s Ife Ogunjobi and a Grateful Dead-inspired piece from Dave Harrington and Will Epstein.
Tracklist:
“muffled screams” - Ambrose Akinmusire
“Click” - Damon Locks
“FREE” - Silvan Strauss
“Kinetic” - Black Flower
“Particles” - Black Flower
“Continuum” Nick Ford
“Frica“ - Gregory Uhlmann, Joshua Johnson, Sam Wilkes
“The Announcement Of The Apocalypse - Drums Solo” - Augusto Mattoso, Cliff Korman, Rafael Barata
“Apocalypse Song” - Augusto Mattoso, Cliff Korman, Rafael Barata
“Crossing Over” - Sam Cohen, Cochemea, Makaya McCraven
“The Climb” - Sam Cohen, Cochemea, Oliver Hill, Makaya McCraven
“Ittiolalia” - Laura Agnusdei
“Oasi Bar” - Laura Agnusdei
“Speak Low” - Ife Ogunjobi
“Great Ghost Crane” - Sarah Belle Reid, Vinny Golia
“Dark Star” - Dave Harrington, Will Epstein
Below are the albums I’ve had on repeat all January long. These are the albums that I just can’t get enough of and can’t recommend enough. If you are a regular CGJ reader, some of these might look familiar. If not, you might just have found your new favorite.
Not seeing your favorite album of the month on the list? Drop it in the comments section below, I’d love to hear what you guys have been digging throughout January.
The Undreamt-of Centre (Live At Phoenix Central Park) | Laurence Pike | The Leaf Label | January 8, 2025
When I first heard the studio version of this album, it caught my attention. But it wasn't until I learned about Australian drummer Laurence Pike's inspiration behind it that I really fell in love with it. After reading the story and giving it another listen, it quickly became one of my favorite albums.
This live version takes things to another level. It features the Vox Sydney Philharmonia Choir, conducted by Elizabeth Scott, adding a whole new dimension to Pike's already impressive work.
Trapo Casual | The Magic Triangle | Cloudy Records | January 9, 2025
This album from the Vancouver BC bass/drum/sax trio has been one of my favorite finds while publishing Chaotic Good Jazz. Just try to listen to “Parche Parfait“ without tapping your toes… it can’t be done. If you are in or around British Columbia, these guys a playing a show April 16th at Gastown’s underground Guilt & Company.
Waters Deep | Maia | The Village Records | January 10, 2025
Water’s Deep was originally created by multi-instrumentalist Maia in 1996 as a solo harp piece in accompaniment to a choreographed dance tribute. Over the years it has evolved in to a three-movement suite “celebrating water as life’s essential force.”
Onda | João Selva | Underdog Records | January 10, 2025
Brazilian João Selva’s latest album Onda has an infectious groove that fellow music discovery Substack writer and neighbor to the north Jess Makler of
called a “shoulder-shimmying, hip swinging delight, perfect for a walk on one of Seattle’s recent sunny days.” I can confirm the shoulder-shimmying has been undeniable on a Portland sidewalk as well. This is the definition of a “feel good” album.
Module | Prepared | Compost Records | January 17, 2025
Prepared, the Munich-based trio of Chris Gall (piano), Flo Reidl (bass clarinet) and Christoph Holzhauer (drums), has been described as a “Gesamtkunstwerk” or total work of art.
A pianist who hammers, taps and plucks incessantly on the grand piano. A clarinetist who plays more bass than clarinet in the depths of his bass clarinet. And a drummer who, like a good record, goes on and on, constantly spinning the grooves in circles.
- excerpt from Bandcamp album description
A Blessed Leap Into Eternity | Corey Bernhard | Birdbrain | January 24, 2025
Corey Bernhard is the Philadelphia-based multi-instrumentalist/member of the The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s Late Show Band/mastermind behind A Blessed Leap Into Eternity. The album also features Lenny Mobley on drums, Jon Smith on electric bass and Yesseh Furaha-Ali on woodwinds.
Loopwheel | Garn, Claude Meier | Rabbit Hill Records | January 24, 2025
The Claude Maier-led Swiss quintet refer to themselves as not just a band, but as a “polyphonic journey through rugged soundscapes.” Inspired by the euphoria of life, the mountainous landscape of the Swiss Alps, and the extremes of nature. Their latest album Loopwheel is one you won’t want to miss.
Kinetic | Black Flower | Sdban Ultra | January 31, 2025
see Album of the Week.
List of Demands | Damon Locks | International Anthem | January 31, 2025
I’m all-in on spoken word jazz at the moment and I’ve had this album from Chicago’s Damon Locks on repeat since its release last week. Some of Lock’s other projects include leading the Black Monument Ensemble and performing in Rob Mazurek’s Exploding Star Orchestra. His latest, List of Demands is described as “bite-sized Nikki Giovanni-meets-MF Doom-Style rhythm experiments” and this is a one of the first albums I’d classify as a “must listen” in 2025.
Maia’s gorgeous second movement from the Waters Deep album “YEMANYA CELEBRATION” starts off the playlist. Black Flower and The Magic Triangle will get you moving and bobbing along with every beat. Up next, a couple tracks each from Prepared and João Selva to keep the good vibes flowing.
Then, Damon Locks and Corey Bernhard bring a experimental hip-hop element to the mix.
Wrapping things up are a few really remarkable pieces, including the title tracks from Laurence Pike’s live version of The Undreamt-of Centre and Garn’s absolutely gorgeous Loopwheel.
Tracklist:
“YEMANYA CELEBRATION (2nd Movement)” - Maia
“Monkey System” - Black Flower, Meskerem Mees
“Synesthetic” - Black Flower
“Parche Parfait” - The Magic Triangle
“Nice Cloud” - The Magic Triangle
“Trapo” - The Magic Triangle
“Module Zwei I” - Prepared, Florian Riedl, Chris Gall
“Module Zwei II” - Prepared, Florian Riedl, Chris Gall
“Viens Danser” - João Selva, Clea Vincent
“Banho De Mar” - João Selva
“Holding The Dawn In Place (Beyond, Pt. 2)” - Damon Locks
“Isn’t It Beautiful” - Damon Locks
“Sagittarius” - Corey Bernhard
“Haters Paradise” - Corey Bernhard
“Intoit - Live” - Laurence Pike
“The Undreamt-Of Centre - Live” - Laurence Pike
“Durchzogen” - Garn, Claude Meier, Christoph Steiner, Fabian M. Mueller, Marc Stucki, Urs Müller
“Loopwheel” - Garn, Claude Meier, Christoph Steiner, Fabian M. Mueller, Marc Stucki, Urs Müller
Final Thoughts: Substack has so many incredible music writers, below are a couple of posts from the last week that I really loved and just had to share. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did.
- Agharta & Pangaea @ 50 - The thrilling end to Miles Davis' 70s psychedelic funk-metal era. - A Bite of John Coltrane 🍪 - The transcendent musician who reached sainthood.ICYMI: New Releases: January 19-25
I love the Black Flower album, thank you for the recommendation. I have been going back listening to their past albums!