LABEL BLEU available from New Note

BOJAN Z Xenophonia CD LBLC6684
Bojan Z's latest release for Label Bleu sees him play piano & customised Fender Rhodes in an always creative, “advanced fusion” setting. Joined by Rémi Vignolo (double bass) and Ari Hoenig or Ben Perowsky (drums) the resulting music could well be his most satisfying work to date.

STEFANO BOLLANI I Visionari 2CD LBLC669596
The Italian jazz pianist Stefano Bollani is one of the outstanding talents of European jazz. With his quintet of Italian musicians he has created his most ambitious project to date, which demonstrates his great abilities both as performer and composer. Always accessible and melodic, the music borrows from west-coast jazz as well as cartoon music, Mingus and contemporary song-writing and the quintet is joined by special guests, violinist Mark Feldman, trumpeter Paolo Fresu and singer Petra Magoni.

ROMANO/SCLAVIS/TEXIER           African Flash-back     CD       LBLC6679
This is the third release dedicated to the photographs of the eminent Magnum photographer, Guy Le Querrec, released by the trio of Aldo Romano on drums, Louis Sclavis on clarinet and sax and bassist Henri Texier. The musicians were inspired by original pictures, taken in Africa,from Le Querrec’s private archives with each musician selected four images for the basis of their compositions.

FRESU, SALIS Di CASTRI (P.A.F.)       Morph       LBLC6669
The first-ever studio recording by three contemporary European musicians, trumpeter Paolo Fresu, pianist Antonello Salis and bassist Furio Di Castri, who have been performing together at various times over the last fifteen years. Talented composers, their music shows the influence of Miles Davis, crossed with free jazz plus elements of classical music, tango, Latin rhythms, Sardinian roots music; all treated with an ever-present sense of humour.

STEFANO BOLLANI          Concertone         LBLC6666
‘Concertone’ features Italian pianist Stefano Bollani’s trio with the Orchestra della Toscana performing Bollani’s composition , which is a classical concerto for jazz piano and orchestra. Bollani is performing at the Bath International Music Festival at the end of May.

JON HASSELL          Maarifa Street           LBLC6674
In the last two decades trumpeter Jon Hassell has recorded 11 highly influential category defeating albums. His superb new CD is his first for six years, his first for Label Bleu and is a unique mix of electronic grooves and ethnic styles. It features John Beasley (keyboards), Dhafer Youssef (vocals, oud) and others.

JULIEN LOURAU               Fire And Forget                LBLC6670
Leading French saxophonist Julien Lourau returns to the more dance-oriented sounds of his earlier successful releases for Warner Jazz. Using electronics, effects, keyboards, guitar and voice, Lour au mixes Central European influences with Latin rhythms to create an infectious mix. This diversity is further emphasised with the presence of guest vocalists who bring a variety of influences, from the Canterbury-rock sound of Brit John Greaves (Henry Cow & National Health) to world (Magic Malik & Sebastien Quezada).

JULIEN LOURAU           Forget           CD / DVD           LBLC668081
“Forget” is the second part of a project, conceived by the acclaimed French saxophonist Julien Lourau. During the studio sessions, the musicians rehearsed little in order to keep a maximum of spontaneity. A powerful groove was set up by the rhythm section which gave Eric Lohrer on guitar, Bojan Z on keyboards and Lourau on saxophones the opportunity to improvise freely. A bonus DVD features a short film by the Haitian film-maker Michel-Ange Quay set to music by Lourau

DAVID KRAKAUER                Bubbemeises: Lies My Gramma Told Me    CD           LBLC6677
David Krakuer is one of the foremost musicians of the new wave of Klezmer. The clarinet virtuoso’s new CD is a stunning blend of traditional Jewish music, rock, jazz, and contemporary elements (represented by DJ Socalled who samples and raps).

MAGIC MALIK ORCHESTRA               XP2                CD                 LBLC6682
With “XP-2” flautist Magic Malik continues the experimentation he started with his two previous albums for Label Bleu. With a specially selected group of musicians Malik explores different rhythmic, harmonic and melodic ideas. Apart from his regular collaborators he is joined by alto saxophonist Steve Coleman, continuing a relationship which began at the North Sea Festival some years ago.

HENRI TEXIER STRADA SEXTET   Vivre           LBLC6668
A major figure in European jazz, bassist/composer Henri Texier’s latest release features his Strada Sextet, a group of young improvising musicians that include his son Sebastien on clarinet and alto saxophone. perform original compositions that feature strong melodies which combine the jazz tradition with elements of the avant-garde.

HENRI TEXIER         Holy Lola               LBLC6678
Bassist/composer Henri Texier’s soundtrack for Bertrand Tavernier’s latest film features Texier’s most recent ensemble, the Strada Sextet, which completed an eight venue UK tour in March, plus clarinetist Louis Sclavis
and violinist Dominique Pifarely.

NELSON VERAS        Nelson Veras               LBLC 6671
This debut recording by the young Brazilian guitarist, Nelson Veras also features Magic Malik on flute and voice. Although his Brazilian roots are evident, with compositions by Tortinho Horta, Tom Jobim and Milton Nascimento, Veras’s plays in a free, contemporary jazz style as he interprets compositions by Keith Jarrett, John McLaughlin and Wayne Shorter.

DUOUD                 Sakat                CD                       LBLC2598
Follow-up to “Wild Serenade”, the acclaimed debut by DuOud (Mehdi Habbab and Smadj ) that mixed the traditional
sounds of the oud and contemporary electronica. On “Sakat” the duo are joined by Yemeni musicians, Abdulatif Yagoub,
a singer and oud player, and Ahmed Taher, who plays the mismar. Back in Paris, Mehdi and Smadj artfully re-mixed the recordings, making minor modifications to harmonies and arrangements and adding the trumpet of jazz musician Eric Truffaz on one track.

BUNKY GREEN Another Place CD LBLC6676
New recording by the alto saxophonist Bunky Green who is considered a legend among his fellow musicians. The album is produced by Steve Coleman and it features pianist Jason Moran, bassist Lonnie Plaxico and drummer Nasheet Waits on a programme of four originals and two standards.