Kris Davis Celebrates Six Remarkable Women Pianists

World of Jazz 701

On her new album Run the Gauntlet, Kris Davis pays tribute to six remarkable women pianists who have provided inspiration and support over the course of her own journey in music: Geri Allen, Carla Bley, Marilyn Crispell, Angelica Sanchez, Sylvie Courvoisier and Renee Rosnes. I’m featuring a track from the Davis album plus a selection of music from the six women. In addition there’s music from other new releases including a couple of tracks from the new album from Pericopes +1 featuring Emiliano Vernizzi, Ruben Bellavia, and, Claud Vignali.

SHOW AUDIO

PLAYLIST

• Show Intro 00:00

• Orrin Evans And The Captain Black Big Band "Dislocation Blues" from Walk A Mile In My Shoe (Imani Records) 00:29

• Emaginario "Beginning With A Groove" from Interlude Of The Duende (Ropeadope Records) 07:47

• Patricia Brennan Septet "Palo de Oros (Suit of Coins)" from Breaking Stretch (Pyroclastic Records) 11:10

• Patricia Brennan "Robbin" from More Touch (Pyroclastic Records) 20:39

• Kris Davis "Run The Gauntlet" from Run The Gauntlet (Pyroclastic Records) 30:34

• Geri Allen "A Prayer For Peace" from Live At The Village Vanguard (DIW) 44:29

• Carla Bley, Andy Sheppard, Steve Swallow "Saint's Alive" from Andado El Tiempo (ECM) 50:36

• Marilyn Crispell & Tim Berne "Inference" from Inference (Music & Arts) 59:01

• Angelica Sanchez "Lady of the Lavender Mist" from Nighttime Creatures (Pyroclastic Records) 1:09:52

• Sylvie Courvoisier & Mark Feldman "Not A Song, Other Songs" from Time Gone Out (Intakt Records) 1:19:31

• Renee Rosnes "From Here To Star" from Written In The Rocks (Smoke Sessions Records) 1:30:07

• Tord Gustavsen Trio "Seeing" from Seeing (ECM) 1:38:06

• Pericopes +1 "Rue Sedaine Métavers" from Good Morning World (Losen Records) 1:43:39

• Pericopes +1 "Assange" from Good Morning World (Losen Records) 1:48:58

SHOW NOTES

Orrin Evans And The Captain Black Big Band - Fifth album from the seasoned, twice Grammy-nominated powerhouse ensemble. A spirited reflection on Evans’ life journey with neurofibromatosis of the left foot. Sean Jones, Josh Lawrence – trumpets; Todd Bashore – alto saxophone, flute; Caleb Wheeler Curtis – tenor/soprano saxophones; David Gibson, Reggie Watkins – trombones; Vicente Archer, Madison Rast – double bass; Anthony Tidd – electric bass; Anwar Marshall, Mark Whitfield II – drums; Orrin Evans – piano. Guest soloists: Nicholas Payton (trumpet), Jesse Fischer (organ). Available August 16, 2024 from Imani Records

Emaginario - Steeped in World Rhythms, Ethan Margolis (aka Emaginario) Delivers an Innovative and Highly Conversational Sonic Approach for Acoustic Guitar on Interlude of the Duende which features Bassist Larry Grenadier and Drummer Eric Harland. Margolis is a prime example of an artist who has willingly committed himself to the demands of achieving a seamless and authentic cross-cultural musical dialogue. His guitar compositions reflect a deep understanding of Afro-Caribbean rhythms and Roma (or Gitano) stylings, brought about by a 24-year long mentorship within Spain’s Roma community. A modal core of harmony permeates his playing style as well as allowing for an open and creative dialogue between the guitar and drums.

Patricia Brennan Septet - On her third album, vibraphonist/marimbist/composer Patricia Brennan’s creative imagination expands again, with a septet featuring Brennan, bassist Kim Cass, drummer Marcus Gilmore and percussionist Mauricio Herrera plus an adventurous trio of horns – Jon Irabagon on alto and sopranino saxes, Mark Shim on tenor, and Adam O’Farrill on trumpet and electronics. It’s an enrichment of the themes and influences that made More Touch such a memorable experience: contemporary classical and forward-searching jazz, folkloric traditions from Brennan’s native Mexico, and a wealth of rhythmic inspirations from her youth, ranging from Afro-Caribbean sounds to funk, salsa and brass-driven rock bands. Two tracks one from each album.

Kris Davis - Joining Davis are a new trio featuring bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Johnathan Blake. “These trailblazing women were beacons of possibility during different stages of my development,” Davis writes in her liner notes, “showing me that a career in music – whether as a woman, an immigrant, a parent, or a fan of avant-garde music – was attainable.

Geri Allen - with arguably one of the best rhythm sections in jazz - a live album by Allen, with bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Paul Motian. It was recorded in 1990 at the Village Vanguard and released on the Japanese DIW label.

Carla Bley, Andy Sheppard, Steve Swallow - released on the ECM label. Though the musicians were longtime collaborators, this was their third album as a trio and second on the ECM label. It was Bley's first complete album of new compositions in eight years and was titled after a three part meditation on addiction and recovery, inspired by a friend's struggle with alcoholism.

Marilyn Crispell & Tim Berne - recorded during the Toronto Jazz Festival in 1992 and released on the Music & Arts label. Mixed reviews for this outing but I find it a fascinating listening experience.

Angelica Sanchez - Sanchez says “This recording is a culmination of six years of writing, re-writing, rehearsals, concerts, van trips with the band and the love and support of friends and family.” A nonet featuring Sanchez - piano, compositions with Michaël Attias - alto saxophone, Ben Goldberg - contra alto clarinet, John Hébert - bass, Thomas Heberer - quarter-tone trumpet, Sam Ospovat - drums, Chris Speed - tenor saxophone, clarinet, Omar Tamez - guitar, Kenny Warren - cornet

Sylvie Courvoisier & Mark Feldman - The 2019 release Time Gone Out, recorded at the Oktaven Audio studio in New York, is a culmination of many years of collaboration. The album shows how her music has freed itself from any reference and plays in radical singularity: between power and restraint, energy and fragility, energy and softness. This speaks in the present about the present, about our time and wanders into a distant, unpredictable future.

Renee Rosnes - released in 2016 by Smoke Sessions Records. It won the 2017 Juno Award for Solo Jazz Album of the Year. It features Steve Wilson on alto & soprano saxophones, Steve Nelson on vibraphone, Peter Washington on bass and drummer Bill Stewart.

Tord Gustavsen Trio - a new chapter in his series of acclaimed trio recordings. With long-time drummer Jarle Vespestad and bassist Steinar Raknes, Gustavsen digs deep into his unique blend of Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Scandinavian Folk and Church Music

Four years after releasing their last album, Pericopes+1 return with an inventive new concept album of futuristic reflections on the present. The new release celebrates ten years of touring for this acclaimed Italian sax/piano/drums project whose style would best be described as “crossover jazz”. Over the years this power-trio has performed hundred of concerts and festivals around the world. “Good Morning World” outlines a return to Pericopes' melodicism and lyricism. This type of Jazz reflects the spirit of Italian creativity – solid in its traditional academic heritage but influenced by a variety of cultures and sounds that have shaped the music of the present for more than a century – there are references to dodecaphonic music, European and African-American jazz, post-rock sounds, prog, avantgarde, all combined with melodies of popular music and liturgical inspiration.