Europe Jazz Media Chart - May 2025

Detached View is a mature album of German-Italian vibraphonist/  percussionist Marco Ullstein, presently studying at Amsterdam Conservatory. On first listening it reminds of Gary Burton’s famous quintet of the early 70s with Pat Metheny and Peter Erskine but soon you realize the saxophone as extra accent next to the electric guitar. You get the vibraphone here as leading instrument in its full range flowing into and out of the wonderful layered weavings of the group with Emiliano Roca (g), Pietro Mirabassi (sax), Arjun Amdas (b), and Francesco V. Parsi (dr). The sophisticatedly balanced music is a sheer pleasure for lovers of that instrument with its magics and can for sure charm a lot new listening ears. Together with harp the vibraphone is clearly in the lift in the recent past - with the group of Patricia Brennan and Carlos Bica’s 11:11 group as outstanding examples (see my chart choices of September 2024 and December 2024). Ullstein just won the International KEEP AN EYE Award - an award for outstanding young musicians from five participating schools in Barcelona (Escola Superior de Musica de Catalunya), Trondheim (Jazz Performance Programme NTNU), Boston (Berklee College of Music), New York (Manhattan School of Music), and Amsterdam (Conservatorium van Amsterdam) - with his new group CALIMA from Amsterdam comprising Miguel Valente (sax), Jules Charbonnier (p), Ton Felices (b), and Ludvig Holde Søndergaard (dr).

When we first heard Amalie Dahl more than two years ago, we immediately recognized the saxophonist's creative potential. Since then, with her group Dafnie or in other configurations, she has missed no opportunity to reveal herself as an inventive composer and creator, as well as a musician with a free, sharp and lively phrasing. With this quartet, she presents the aptly named project "Breaking/Building Habits", at once a continuation of a European avant-garde tradition and a search for a new path, thanks in particular to the original timbres of the combined vibraphone and saxophone. It's also an opportunity to welcome the creation of the new label Sauajazz, for which this is the first vinyl reference, proof that there are still some fools on the chessboard defending the king of jazz!

A trio with vocals, piano and saxophone is unusual in itself, but what Sarah Klenes, Bram De Looze and Sylvain Debaisieux have created together borders on the extraordinary. Last year, the CD was released almost unnoticed. Now comes the digital release. (Georges Tonla Briquet)

The main characteristics of this project are the extraordinary ability to communicate with each other, the flow of energy and mutual inspiration. Lucia Cadotsch's voice, the lyrics and the very interesting combination of background and improvised elements make the album a real treat for the ears. It is a musical collective in which no one plays over the other, and we will not find improvised show effects or fiery solo parts here. This music captivates with its content. A great project by three outstanding artists that should not be ignored.

An album created by double bassist Joëlle Léandre and pianist Andrzej Karałow. These artists, from different generations, are united by their exceptional creativity. The recording took place at Studio S4 of Polish Radio in Warsaw, resulting in nine tracks lasting together just under forty minutes. Those nine "flints" emerged from spontaneous improvisation. While there are moments of heightened expression, the duo's conversations mostly feel quite restrained. That said, it is Andrzej Karałow who exhibits a bit more restraint, while Joëlle Léandre contrasts this beautifully with the heightened intensity of her presence. The artistry of both musicians shines through in their ability to perfectly sense how to behave—when to remain in the background and when to highlight their playing. They masterfully transition from speaking with one voice to clashing their individual instrumental narratives. The whole album unfolds as a fascinating, imagination-stirring record of a meeting of musical mastery.

Helena Casella is a Belgian-based singer/keyboardist with a Brazilian background who writes her own songs, which she recorded for her debut with a host of musicians. In drummer Euan Jenkins, bassist Joel Svedberg, guitarist Johnny Biner and Halfpastseven alongside her on keys, she has an excellent and very smoothly playing band together. Pit of Impression is one of those albums that convinces in its international atmosphere, both in compositions and vocals, playing and production. Without further knowledge you could say that Casella recorded the album with a selection of great London jazz guests and that she herself is also in the middle of that scene. This is all the more interesting since she studied in Amsterdam as well as in Belgium. Casella has found a global vibe in her music that is full of confidence and conviction. And the way the musicians around her fill out her songs, with guitarist Biner always in a cool heroic role, sounds equally convincing. Cool how she often builds up her songs in languid atmospheres and builds them out with her band.