New Paris-based label Komos pays tribute to four jazz greats
Over the past few weeks, the newer Paris-based jazz label Komos have released four brilliant records paying tribute to iconic artists that highly influenced the French jazz scene, including Henri Texler, Marion Brown, Don Cherry, and Randy Weston.
Each recording features a different tribute by a different artist or group, providing their own take and/or reinterpretation of the music. This series of releases not only highlights four jazz icons, it also features some of the most innovative musicians on the scene today including Lyon-based psychedelic jazz outfit Palm Unit (paying tribute to Henri Texler), Guadeloupean pianist Jonathon Jurion (paying tribute to Marion Brown), Cosmic funk multi-instrumentalist Gary Gritness (paying tribute to Don Cherry), and Malian pianist and one of the founders of the legendary Rail Band Cheick Tidiane Seck (paying tribute to Randy Weston).
Overall, this is an incredible new jazz series from Komos that pays homage to the trailblazers of the past, while providing an opportunity for some of today’s most forward-thinking artists to push these legends’ compositions and influence to new heights. All records are highly recommended!
Here a few notes from each release:
Palm Unit — ‘Don’t Buy Ivory Anymore! The Music of Henri Texier’
Following up last year’s breakthrough tribute to French composer Jef Gilson, the quartet featuring keyboardist Frédéric Escoffier, tenor saxophonist Lionel Martin, drummer Philippe ‘Pipon’ Garcia, and percussionist Abraham Mansfarroll pay homage to double bassist Henri Texier, who explored different folkloric traditions from around the world in his compositions. The Lyon-based ensemble’s reinterpretations fuse together freewheeling jazz with psychedelic melodies and hypnotic comic grooves.
Jonathon Jurion — ‘Le Temps Fou: The Music of Marion Brown’
Pianist Jonathon Jurion incorporates his Caribbean musical roots into his arrangements of legendary avant saxophonist Marion Brown. Backed by a stellar quintet, the session brings together Jurion’s acoustic piano melodies with traditional Guadeloupe Ka drums, and driving bass grooves. The record definitely has a solid Afro-Caribbean jazz feel throughout.
The Gritness Acoustronics — ‘Mahakali: The Music of Don Cherry’
On this seven-track recording, synth wiz, beat maker, and producer Gary Gritness re-imagines some of Don Cherry’s most notable works from the late 70s and early 80s including “Universal Mother,” “Degi Degi,” “Malkauns,” “Mahakali” and others. Recorded live in one-take in a trio format with spacey synths, lo-fi drum machine grooves, and saxophone melodies, this session is a solid dose of electronic-influenced cosmic jazz.
Cheikh Tidiane Seck — ‘Timbuktu: The Music of Randy Weston’
This heartfelt tribute to Randy Weston, who is one of the pioneers of Afro-jazz, is led by well-accomplished Malian pianist Cheikh Tidiane Seck. The session also includes a number of special guests including French hip-hop artist Abd Al Malik, and another Afro-jazz legend in saxophonist Manu Dibango. The recording brilliantly fuses Tidiane Seck’s soulful piano melodies with African-influence percussion rhythms and spiritual grooves.
