J.M. RECOMMENDS
ART PEPPER UNRELEASED
VINYL NEW ARRIVALS
![Kshatrya (The Eye Of The Bird) [Limited Edition]](https://www.jazzmessengers.com/50125-small_default/kshatrya-the-eye-of-the-bird-limited-edition-.jpg)
20TH CENTURY MASTERWORKS
Artist of the Month
Art Pepper
With his lyrical, swinging style, alto saxophonist Art Pepper is recognized as one of the major jazz stars to emerge out of the West Coast jazz scene of the 1950s. Despite a remarkably colorful and difficult life, Art Pepper was quite consistent in the recording studios; virtually every recording he made is well worth getting. In the 1950s he was one of the few altoists (along with Lee Konitz and Paul Desmond) that was able to develop his own sound despite the dominant influence of Charlie Parker. During his last years Pepper seemed to put all of his life's experiences into his music and he played with startling emotional intensity./p>
Label of the Month
Astral Spirits
Founded by Nate Cross (from $hit & $hine fame), Astral Spirits is a cornerstone label for jazz and improvised music based in Austin, Texas which began as a sublabel of Monofonus Press around 2014. From collective improvisation, through minimalism, ambient passages, drones and heavy guitars, the peculiar aesthetics of this independent imprint has made it one of the hippest avant-garde/experimental/free jazz record labels of today's scene. Check out all the available catalogue.”
CD of the Month
Mary Halvorson
Artlessly Falling
Artlessly Falling is the second album by Mary Halvorson's Code Girl. Its core remains Halvorson on guitar; Tomas Fujiwara on drums; Amirtha Kidambi on vocals, and Michael Formanek on bass. Trumpeter Adam O'Farrill replaces Ambrose Akinmusire, and Maria Grand is added on tenor saxophone and voice. The date also includes three vocal cameos by Robert Wyatt. A primary influence on Halvorson, she composed these songs especially for him. Her lyrics throughout reflect not only detailed attention but a methodology in which each poem strategically conforms to its accompanying musical construct. Artlessly Falling showcases deeply focused, expansively articulated, abstract musical languages that remain warm and welcoming, even amid dissonance.