New Albums - Page 122

Bassist and composer Marcos Varela’s new album, San Ygnacio, has already garnered a four-star review from All About Jazz. Varela, who was born in Texas, but has been a New York jazz fixture for more than a decade, explores his heritage on San Ygnacio. “San Ygnacio is a rare mixed bag disc that works exceedingly well,” the All About Jazz...

Norwegian progressive metal outfit Circus Maximus has released its fourth studio effort, Havoc. “Metaphorically, it’s about succumbing to fire and striving to cope with the aftermath of decisions when overshadowed by the love we have for others and ourselves,” according to guitarist and producer Mats Haugen. Havoc is the first release since 2012’s Nine for the band, which features founding...

Virtuoso jazz bassist Omer Avital has released his 10th solo album, Abutbul Music. The Israel-born bassist, who has called New York home since 1992, is known for combining Middle Eastern sounds with western jazz. The Paris-recorded Abutbul Music continues in this vein with the musician — often acknowledged as one of the most unique of his generation — pairing joyful...

Bassist Kenny James, who has created music for television and film, has released his third album under the moniker he uses for production work — Invisiblemann. James plays all the instruments on all but three tracks of Invisiblemann Volume 10: Ready to Float. Invisiblemann Volume 10: Ready to Float is available on James’ website and at CDBaby. Check out the...

Metalcore band Killswitch Engage has released its seventh album, Incarnate. Singer Jesse Leach told Blabbermouth that band founder and bassist Michael “Mike” D’Antonio came up with the album title after contemplating the album’s artwork. Leach remembers exclaiming “What a great word!” after hearing D’Antonio’s suggestion. “It just sounds good, it’s ambiguous enough where people can draw their own conclusion, and...

The Gaslight Anthem singer, songwriter and guitarist Brian Fallon has released his solo debut album, Painkillers. His bandmate in one of his many projects, Molly & The Zombies, Catherine Popper (Jack White, Hem, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Willie Nelson, Puss n Boots) handles bass on the record. “I felt like I was doing exactly...

You may know double bassist Nicholas Bayley for his 2009 world premiere performance of Hafliði Hallgrímsson’s double bass concerto “Sonnambulo” with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, which was a piece written for him to perform with the SCO. Currently the bassist for the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and a double bass instructor at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Bayley is also known...

Swedish power metal band Sabaton has released Heroes on Tour, featuring a 2015 performance in Wacken, Germany. The band, featuring bassist and founding member, Pär Sundström, recorded the show on its Heroes tour, which the group mounted in support of the 2014 album of the same name. While a CD of the tour performance is available in the U.S., Nuclear...

Electric bassist Fernando Huergo has released Hashtag, which combines his original work with his take on standards by Mongo Santamaria, Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter, and Billy Strayhorn. Born in Argentina, Huergo has long lived in Massachusetts and is an associate professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He recorded Hashtag, his seventh album, at Berklee, and the record...

Violent Femmes have released their first full-length studio album in 16 years. We Can Do Anything, features the alternative band’s founding bassist Brian Ritchie. Best known for classic 1980s songs like “Blister in the Sun” and “Kiss Off,” the group’s previous album, Freak Magnet, was released in 2000. The album, the band’s ninth, was recorded Brooklyn, Nashville, Los Angeles, Milwaukee...

Snarky Puppy keyboardist Bill Laurance has released his third solo album, Aftersun. Laurance’s bandmate in the fusion group Snarky Puppy, bassist Michael League, plays on the album which he also co-arranged and co-produced with Laurance and Snarky Puppy drummer Robert “Sput” Searight. Aftersun was recorded in New Orleans in August and September 2015. Aftersun is available on and as a...

The Kenny Barron Trio’s Book of Intuition was recorded in just two days in June 2015. The jazz trio features pianist Barron, drummer Johnathan Blake, and bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa. Both Blake and Kitagawa are longtime Barron bandmates. Blake has worked with the pianist for a decade, and Kitagawa, who is also known for his solo compositions as well as his...