Kira Vollman, "Outzeit the Geist"
Keep listening, she's got something just for you. Perennial L.A. avanteer/artist Vollman (Non Credo) sings and plays about a hundred keyboards, horns, strings and percussion instruments on her way to establishing her very own variety show.
Call it cabaret or exotica, "Outzeit" encourages you to imagine Vollman wearing multiple glittery masks as she impersonates a cast of obscure royalty, whether from the street, the art scene or the imagination. Her lyrics, full of puns and assonances ("sick of all the sycophants," "itchin' litigious"), pop from her tongue in a variety of whispers, accents, moans and torchifications, not to mention spectacular self-harmonies.
Each song contains its own world within general frameworks of tango, blues, waltz, beatnik bongo, funeral march . . . but such descriptions overlimit these compositions, so full of twists and inspired filigree. If a few tunes feel claustrophobic, consider our times -- and consider that if you had that many abilities, you'd pack 'em in too. The most negative description any snoot could dredge up for "Outzeit" would be "impressive." For samples, try the moody instrumental "Malice Aforethought" and the darkly surprising closer, "Going Home."
One more gift: To showcase Vollman's sharp & funny visual art, the limited-edition CD includes a colorful oversize illustrated booklet.
Listen/buy here.
Azar Lawrence, "New Sky" (Trazar)
What can you not find on this album? One single bad vibration. Saxist Azar Lawrence revives a moment half a century ago when it seemed as if a groove and a sun-drenched dance were all we needed to unite the poles of race and politics. And he's assembled just the team to pull it off: John Beasley (breezy keys), Munyungo Jackson (ripplin percussion), Tony Austin (bumpin drums), Gregory Moore (trippin guitar), Sekou Bunch (motivatin bass) and a bunch more.
You'll be hearing your favorite things -- Trane waltz, Pharaoh trance, Santana Afro-Latinism, Rufus funk, urban soul -- delivered with the absolute authenticity of fokes who grew up on it and would rather play this music than sleep on a mattress stuffed with thousand-dollar bills. The feeling of healing permeates from first note to last, and it's so easy to imagine Azar just sailing through the entire "New Sky" when he graces this year's Hollywood Bowl Jazz Fest (Sat. June 25).
Take an hour off from the news and inhale the fresh air.
Trio Subliminal 2, "Cinema Infernale" (Orenda)
The mighty thunder of Trio Subliminal's second storm system bursts from the guitar of Jake Vossler, the trumpet of Dan Rosenboom and the drums of Tina Raymond. Thousands of shaven-skulled priests salaam before a dog-headed god under fiery skies. Alien messages are scrambled into pharaonic inscriptions for future decoding. Poets dream pure distillations of a time before the psychic veil. Subliminal battles rage behind twitching eyebaals. Everything is understood.
Listen/buy here.