Selection of new releases
Thierry Lang: Lyoba Revisited
Swiss ethnic jazz. Lyoba is the ancient word for cow in Canton Fribourg, western Switzerland, the homeland of pianist Thierry Lang. Lyoba Revisited is his third album entirely devoted to traditional sounds and sheperd chants of the region. Late reverend Joseph Bovet composed countless still very popular pieces for choir in this rural style. Lang uses them as vehicle for his subtle jazz approach. Two similiar pieces by both Pierre Kaelin and the leader himself complete the repertoire. Along with his longtime partners bassist Heiri Känzig and Mathieu Michel on flugelhorn and an earthy, sometimes ethereal sounding cello quartet Lang creates cloudy and sweet atmospheres, which are garnished with lyrical solo work. This album appeared at the trendy Munich label Act.
Albert Landolt: The Outernational Three
Modal jazz. Reeds player Albert Landolt from Flawil in eastern Switzerland has just cut a distinct recording along with Italian bass eminence Furio di Castri and drummer Bill Elgart from the US. They play out of the modal bag with a directness and spontaneity which sometimes links you to an Ornette Coleman. Apart from the tracks with Landolt on saxophone these with him on flute deliver nice contrasts and satin like atmospheres. Albert Landolt (saxophones; flute); Furio di Castri (bass); Bill Elgart (drums).
Contreband
Electric jazz. Contreband are a threesome from Berne now in its 10th year. Colin Vallon (keyboards), Lenz Beyeler (bass) and Raphaël Pedroli founded the unit when still students at the Swiss Jazz School. Besides originals they explore in their programmes pop classics from the 90s by Nirvana or Radiohead. This live recording from a Bernese jazz club highlights vintage electronical sounds and equal contribution of each player to the music process.
Anthology
Jazz in Switzerland (Vol. 1)
The early years from 1930-1950 - Since the early twenties, jazz was played and recorded in Switzerland. Listen to the sound of the "Lanigiro Syncopated Melody Kings" from Basel. A recording dating back to the year of 1929(!). This edition's 1st volume traces back early jazz in Europe and Switzerland.
Jazz in Switzerland (Vol. 2)
The Fifties, era of amateur jazz - In the jazz clubs, which were mostly the haunts of jazz purists, substantial schisms were opening up between traditionalists and modernists, amateurs and professionals. This evolution took place at Switzerland's top jazz event of these years: the Zurich Amateur Festival.
Jazz in Switzerland (Vol. 3)
From crises to a new self-confidence in the years 1963-74 - In the sixties, modern jazz became the preferred music of a new fraction of jazz fans. A develpoment, which divided the jazz audiences into two parts forever. This 3rd volume spotlights modern jazz in Switzerland in its many facets.
Archive
The Swiss Jazz Scene - Swiss Themes in Jazz (MH 50/1973)
From the rather limited musical and melodic scope of popular standards, jazz in its evolution has also progressed towards more ambitious and more individual compositions of its own.
The Swiss Jazz Scene - Traditional Jazz (27/1973)
Here is a feature on the happy sound of traditional jazz.
