Welcome to our blog! Below are some of our favourite albums this month.

UP's Favourite Releases Feb 2008


Sainkho Namchylak / In Trance / Leo Records

Inspired by the great paintings of the Dunhuang caves in China, Tuvan-born singer Sainkho Namchylak in collaboration with percussionist Jarrod Cagwin have released a spiritually evoking album In Trance. In Trance was recorded live at Jeunesse Festival in Vienna and tells the story of a young man who witnesses figures within the Buddhist paintings in the caves come to life. Namchylak's unforgettable extraordinary vocal abilities – which include an extensive vocal range of seven octaves and a vast collection of super sounds is eerily effective in bringing these trapped spirits to life. Cagwin's percussion enhances these diverse vocal effects by adding atmospheric sounds and shamanistic-like dance elements to the otherwise stark vocal.
To explore more of Sainkho's music, visit her MySpace page.


The Blind Boys of Alabama / Down in New Orleans / Proper Records

Known as The Happyland Singers till 1948, The Blind Boys of Alabama have succeeded in wooing an audience from a wide spectrum. The old days brought in the gospel fans, but now The Blind Boys of Alabama are reaching an international audience with diverse musical tastes, both young and old. They have now won four Grammys. "Down in New Orleans" is an excellent bluesy addition to their legendary backdrop. It is their first ever recording in New Orleans and they are accompanied by an exceptional team of local musicians: Allen Toussaint, The Preservation Hall Jazz band and The Hot 8 Brass Band, and a top-flight backing trio. The album features fun and upbeat "You Got To Move" with its jolly brass and banjo accompaniment, Dixieland-styled gospel favourites like "I'll Fly Away" and the distinct and moving harmonies of "I Got A Home". The Blind Boys of Alabama will be performing in London's Jazz Café on 3rd May 2008 as well as touring the UK and Ireland.


David Buchbinder / Odessa/Havana / Tzadik

Odessa/Havana is a curious jazz Jewish-Cuban fusion, aptly released on John Zorn's Tzadik label as part of the label's Radical Jewish Culture series. Trumpeter and composer David Buchbinder and pianist and composer Hilario Duran explore the commonalities between the two musical styles. The album features a jazz and Afro-Cuban ensemble, including the rapidly up-and-coming Cuban drummer Dafnis Prieto, who also played in Michel Camilo's second trio album, Spirit of the Moment. Prieto does an impressive drum solo in "Rumba". In Odessa/Havana, many tracks twist and turn between styles, some with stronger flavours than others: "Lailadance" has a latin emphasis, "Impresiónes" latin jazz, "Freylekhs Tumbao" veers Jewish (and is reminiscent of a Jewish hora dance) with a blend of Afro-Cuban rhythms and a sense of Iberian bravado and an element of jest. Most impressive however is "Cadiz" which begins with Arabic, Spanish sounds before giving an air of excitement into what seems to be a crazy explosion of Klezmer, Latin and Jazz with beautiful oud solos by John Gzowski in between. Odessa/Havana is a daring, flamboyant album made with top musicianship in an intelligent way.

MYO
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We'd also like to recommend the following new releases: Fernando Otero's Pagina de Buenos Aires, a new album by Pat Metheny (with Christian McBridge & Antonio Sanchez) entitled Day Trip – both albums on Nonesuch label, and Palae by Achim Kaufmann, Frank Gratkowski and Wilbert de Joode on Leo Records.