Fredrik Ljungkvist: Yun Kan 12345
Swedish saxophonist Fredrik Ljungkvist is a prolific free-jazz artist in his homeland, but his many projects include a collaboration with Chicago standout sax player Ken Vandermark.
Leading Yun Kan 5, Ljungkvist combines experimental passages with more-traditional melodies, often leaning on pianist Klas Nevrin and bassist Mattias Welin. A good portion of this album should appeal to melody-focused jazz fans.
Leng Tch'e / Fuck the Facts: split 7"/CD (Power it Up)
Ottawa extreme metal outfit Fuck the Facts unleashes six new tracks of brutality (two only on the CD release) on this split with Leng Tch'e, a Belgian four-piece of equally harrowing grindcore.
Both groups have releases on Relapse, but this joint effort is specially prepared by German metal label Power it Up. Leng Tch'e also has two bonus tracks that only fit on the CD.
Leng Tch'e: "1-800-Apathy"
Leng Tch\'e: \"1-800-Apathy\"
Fuck the Facts: "The Wrecking"
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Alfonso Ponticelli & Swing Gitan: Caravan (self-released)
Inspired by Django Reinhardt, the legendary face of Gypsy jazz guitarists, Alfonso Ponticelli and his backing band create swinging numbers that hearken to the 1930s — both in style of his originals and in covering Reinhardt and a number of other classic musicians.
Ponticelli is also a talented flamenco guitarist, and he often infuses the styles together in a fun, percussion-less mixture that includes violins, accordion, bass, and more guitar. This 18-track re-release of the group's 2004 album contains three Reinhardt tunes, a Duke Ellington cover, a rendition of "Sweet Georgia Brown," a handful of originals, and much more.
Alfonso Ponticelli & Swing Gitan: "Mademoiselle de Bucharest/Tziganskaia"
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Lord Sitar: s/t (Silo [France])
Originally released by Capitol 40 years ago, this only release by Lord Sitar takes pop hits of the day and turns them into sprawling psychedelic renditions that feature, naturally, sitar. Led by sitar master Big Jim Sullivan, the group's tripped-out covers include "Eleanor Rigby," "I Can See For Miles," "Black is Black," and "I am the Walrus."
