New Albums - Page 95

Trip Wamsley has released Shibboleth, a new solo album featuring three drummers alongside the bassist performing everything else. “Shibboleth” is defined as “a word or saying used by adherents of a party, sect, or belief and usually regarded by others as empty of real meaning.” “Does it meaning anything?” Wamsley asks. “Is it realistic or unrealistic that it will be...

Bassist Darryl Anders and AgapéSoul have released their long-awaited sophomore album, Conversations. Similar to their first album, the modern soul band dishes out beautiful melodies and lush harmonies held together by Anders’ rich bass tone. This time around they called upon some fantastic guest artists including Tommy Sims, Geoffrey Williams, Eric Gales, Paul Jackson Jr., and members of Snarky Puppy....

Composer and double bassist Martin Nevin has worked with some of the top jazz musicians of our times: Albert “Tootie” Heath, Greg Osby, Ethan Iverson, and Ambrose Akinmusire, and more. Now he’s stepping out front with his debut album as a leader, entitled Tenderness is Silent. While Nevin is known for his jazz work, his new release doesn’t fit neatly...

R+R=NOW is a new group featuring the monster talents of pianist Robert Glasper, keyboardist Terrace Martin, trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, beatboxer and synth player Taylor McFerrin, drummer Justin Tyson, and bassist Derrick Hodge. The collective gets their name from a Nina Simone quote, with the R+R standing for “Reflect and Respond”. “[It is] an artist’s duty… to reflect the...

Bay Area instrumental trio Covet has released effloresce, which guitarist Yvette Young describes as “post rock intensity meets more proggy/mathy songwriting.” Young’s captivating two-handed tapping technique drives the melodies while drummer Forrest Rice and bassist David Adamiak support with dream-like grooves. Some of that ethereal vibe comes from exploring new harmonic textures, says Adamiak. “On this recording, we experiment with...

After releasing Defying Gravity last year, Mr. Big hit the road to support the album. Now a new live album has been released from that tour called Live From Milan, which is available in several formats. The tour featured all four original band members including Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan, and Pat Torpey, although the drummer had been battling...

Outside My Window may be jazz bassist Jeff Denson’s 12th release as a leader or co-leader, but it’s also one of his most diverse. This time around his vocals are given as much weight as his impressive bass playing as he performs original songs as well as covers by Jeff Buckley, Abbey Lincoln, Peter Gabriel, and Soundgarden. “I was a...

Obscura’s new album Diluvium, which completes their four-album concept cycle, is now available and it’s a killer. The technical death metal band held no punches in putting the album together, which features the insane fretless seven-string bass work of Linus Klausenitzer. We were able to talk with the bassist earlier this year to clue us into the concept. “It’s about...

Between the Buried and Me have followed up Automata I from earlier this year with it’s conclusion, Automata II. The two-part concept album is based around the idea of being able to view the dreams of others. “Automata II sees us at our most dynamic and most creative,” says bassist Dan Briggs. “It feels like turning a page into a...

Australian instrumental funk band Pickpocket have returned with a new EP called Permutations. Anchored by bassist Craig Strain, the band explores their sound even further this go around. “This release sees the band delving into some deeper grooves and richer harmonic textures while paying homage to our musical roots and attempting to push into newer musical spaces, there’s even a...

Bassist Sam Bevan has released Emergence, an album of original modern jazz that draws from his time in the San Francisco Bay area. Bevan is based in New York City but spent 16 years in the Bay and used some of his friends from the area on the record. “Drawing from jazz, gospel, Afro-Cuban and West African traditions, the songs...

Each year since 2014, King Crimson releases a box set of live and rare recordings from the band’s history. The Elements Tour Box 2018 follows suit with tracks taken from rehearsals, live performances, studio recordings, alternate takes, and more with several clips that have never been released. The two-disc set features music from the band’s entire career and has something...