#4209: Jazz, Plus...

Hear new music from percussionist, composer, and vocalist Rajna Swaminathan, who leads the ensemble Rajas, a flexible ensemble of New-York-based improvisers from the Indian classical and creative music scenes. In her jazzy take on Carnatic music, Swaminathan plays the mrudangam, a barrel-shaped drum from the South Indian tradition, while the cast of Rajas, especially guitarist Miles Okazaki, Anjna Swaminathan (violin), María Grand (tenor saxophone), and Amir ElSaffar (trumpet), among others, trade musical phrases.

Then, listen to music from the Leeds-born and now London-based 12-piece collective, Nubiyan Twist, featuring the Ethio-jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke’s contribution on vibes. There’s also spiritual jazz with Moroccan trance overtones from Munich-based German jazz - supergroup Web Web music, with Moroccan singer and lute player Majid Bekkas, who plays the gembri (or gimbri), an instrument like an upright bass or lute with three strings.

Hear some groove jazz with the mixed influences of electronic and rock music along with minimalism, from pianist and keyboardist Romain Collin from his latest record, Tiny Lights, a trio affair with drummer Obed Calvaire and guitarist Matthew Stevens. Also, listen to music from the London-based trio, The Comet Is Coming, featuring sax by Shabaka Hutchings, along with keyboards and drums. There's new music by bass player Stephan Crump and his Rosetta Trio, who elegantly approaches jazz via Western chamber music. Then, hear some of Phillip Johnston’s music for the German film, The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926), a silent silhouette animation - similar to traditional Indonesian shadow puppet theater, scored for soprano sax, trombone, keyboards and drums. - Caryn Havlik

Program #4209: Jazz, Plus... (First aired 2/25/2019)

ARTIST: Nubyian Twist
WORK: Addis to London [1:30]
RECORDING: Jungle Run
SOURCE: !K7 Music
INFO: nubiyantwist.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Romain Collin
WORK: Overflow [4:25]
RECORDING: Tiny Lights
SOURCE: XM Records / Revive Music Group
INFO: romaincollin.com

ARTIST: The Comet Is Coming
WORK: Summon The Fire [3:55]
RECORDING: Trust In the Lifeforce Of The Deep Mystery
SOURCE: Impulse! Records
INFO: https://Verve.lnk.to/TrustLifeforce

ARTIST: Nubyian Twist
WORK: Addis to London [6:33]
RECORDING: Jungle Run
SOURCE: !K7 Music
INFO: nubiyantwist.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Web Web
WORK: Balini [7:43]
RECORDING: Dance Of The Demons
SOURCE/INFO: webweb.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Rajna Swaminathan & RAJAS
WORK: Offering [6:43]
RECORDING: Of Agency And Abstraction
SOURCE: Biophilia Records
INFO: rajnaswaminathan.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Stephan Crump's Rosetta Trio
WORK: Re Eyes [5:21]
RECORDING: Outliers
SOURCE: Papillion Records
INFO: stephancrump.com

ARTIST: Phillip Johnston
WORK: Pari Banu Kidnapped [7:23]
RECORDING: The Adventures of Prince Achmed
SOURCE/INFO: phillipjohnston.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Stephan Crump's Rosetta Trio
WORK: Outliers [1:10]
RECORDING: Outliers
SOURCE: Papillion Records
INFO: stephancrump.com