The Village Voice said this of trumpeter Jaimie Branch’s 2017 debut “Fly Or Die”: “This is free jazz, in that it’s free of constraints.” Her music and playing and compositions have been hailed as unique, individualistic and unconventional. Should you think that her second release “Fly Or Die II – Bird Dog of Paradise” would be similar, dispense with that thought immediately. She is in full attack mode, going beyond the fiery playing of the debut. Like many artists these days, she has something to say about America. (She spells it AmeriKKKa), but she doesn’t just take a swipe at the wrongs she sees, she does a full-on t-bone. The show opens with this powerful recording from Jaimie Branch.
There are some other debuts for you: the Malleus Trio from Vancouver, the Kobra Quartet (an amalgam of musicians from New Orleans and Chicago that celebrates the jazz connection between those cities), Longboard (a double saxophone trio), Quartet Next (guitarist Dan Phillips’ latest Chicago project, and rising bass star Nick Dunston.
You’ll also hear music celebrating the late and great Randy Weston, Yoruba-influenced music from Kevin Haynes from England with his Grupo Elegua, and French pianist Gaël Mevel who has John Hebert and Ralph Alessi with him on a fine recording from 2013.
00:00 Jaimie Branch * Fly Or Die II – Bird Dog Of Paradise – International Anthem * Simple Silver Surfer * USA
05:39 Host speaks
07:18 Jaimie Branch * Fly Or Die II – Bird Dog Of Paradise – International Anthem * Prayer For Amerikkka Pt. 1 & 2 * USA
18:45 Henrik Olsson * Hand Of Benediction – Barefoot * Harmony * Sweden
24:12 Malleus Trio * Play Nice – Self-released * Half Full * Canada
31:02 Host speaks
31:42 Malleus Trio * Play Nice – Self-released * Foghorn Factory * Canada
37:26 Franklin * Amen – Earshift * Hammer Gut * Australia
41:35 Tenor Triage * Tenor Triage – Ropeadope * Try Tones * USA
45:47 Host speaks
48:00 Cheikh Tidiane Seck * The Music Of Randy Weston – Komos * African Cookbook * Mali
59:40 Kevin Haynes * Osun – Self-released * Osun * Grt Britain
1:09:19 Host speaks
1:10:04 Kevin Haynes * Osun – Self-released * Ori Iray * Grt Britain
1:18:45 Damien Kingston Trio * Tributary – Self-released * Iron Pot * Australia
1:22:10 Joao Lencastre’s Communion 3 * Song(s) Of Hope – Clean Feed * Hittin’ The Heavy Bag * Portugal
1:26:29 Host speaks
1:28:09 Kobra Quartet * Kobra Quartet – Astral Spirits * Telly Attire * USA
1:36:49 Andrew Schiller * Sonoran – Self-released * Sonoran * USA
1:43:20 Longboard * Being Wild – Yolk * Cairo Hipsters * France
1:49:18 Host speaks
1:51:30 Nick Dunston * Atlantic Extraction – Out Of Your Head * Globular Weaving * USA
1:59:04 John Yao’s Triceratops * How We Do – See Tao * The Golden Horn * USA
2:06:05 Host speaks
2:07:00 Gaël Mevel * Quartet Alta – Self-released * Deuxieme Feuillade * France
2:12:27 Gaël Mevel * Quartet Alta – Self-released * Le Deuxieme Chat * France
2:18:04 Dor Herskovits * Flying Elephants – Endectomorph * Scottish Fold * USA
2:22:44 Jacek Kochan * Man Of No Words – GOWI * Man Of No Words * Poland
2:30:54 Host speaks
2:32:53 Quartet Next * Dutiful Dissent – Lizard Breath * Dutiful Dissent * USA
2:38:01 Quartet Next * Dutiful Dissent – Lizard Breath * Sisyphean Journey * USA
2:48:37 Host speaks
2:49:07 Miles Perkin Quartet * The Point In Question – Clean Feed * Sea Drop * Canada