Pot Pourri

Towards the Light
Les Arrivants
Independent (lesarrivants.com)

This is the second release from acclaimed Montreal-based instrumental ensemble Les Arrivants. Musicians Amichai Ben Shalev (bandoneon), Abdul-Wahab Kayyali (oud) and Hamin Honari (percussion) each moved independently to Montreal during COVID, where they met and started making music together. Their 2022 first release Home resounded with their personal, resettlement and expertise of styles like tangos, classical Arabic music, traditional Persian rhythms, contemporary and improvised music. Here their development artistically expands in inspirational sounds.

Each musician is also a composer, arranger and improvisor. Phoenix Landing is Les Arrivants’ “short but sweet” conversational improvisation featuring bandoneon swells/lines, oud runs and drum rhythms. The title track is a group improvisation with guest Didem Basar (ganoun) that has touches of atonal melodies, strums, faster lines leading back to tonal short uplifting melodies. Each instrumentalist is equally memorable.

The opening track City of Ashes is composed by Honari. A Held note begins the piece moves to faster, rhythmic, dance along, happy tune touching on different styles; colourful instrumental answering back and forth, accented chords and held note swells illuminate the unique sound. Shalev’s composition Bagelissimo (Miles End Tango) has original yet traditional-based tango bandoneon, drumming bangs keeping it together along with guests Reza Abaee (ghaychak) and Pierre-Alexander Maranda (double bass). Kayyali’s Hayrah (Confusion) opens with a sad oud melody above bandoneon held notes/vibratos, then faster happier two instrumental leads with emotional cymbal splashes. Guest composer/arranger/bass clarinetist Charles Papsoff is featured on Apatride.

Les Arrivants mesh countless stylistic musical sounds together in perfect performances.

Listen to 'Towards the Light' Now in the Listening Room

Air Cake and other summery occupations
Catherine Cary
Orchard of Pomegranates (catharinecary.bandcamp.com/album/air-cake-and-other-summery-occupations)

France-based American Catherine Cary has had many careers including economist, visual artist, story writer, improviser and performer. During COVID she would phone her nephew and improvise quirky children’s stories. Orchard producer Ayelet Rose Gottlieb suggested adding music to them. Here Cary energetically tells/improvises/sings nine of her children’s stories for all ages about three young children – Leila, Grecian and Manu – on an adventurous French beach summer vacation. Playful, spontaneous, tight, free improvised music by Montrealers Eric Lewis (cornet, bass clarinet, percussion) and Eyvin Bamford (drums, percussion) complement the stories.  

Daisy Day opens with drums, then matching percussive rhythms to energetic speaking from loud to almost whisper. Loud speedy cornet during the going home segment softens to high note at home ending. Lazy Day is their tired day after collecting daisies. Cornet held note and intervals interspersed with more dynamic spoken words build to closing softer “you are just quiet” with distant drum roll ending. Climbing the Rhune features rock drumming and rhythmic spoken words, with a few almost sung, about the three going out for walk to incredibly tired back home hilarious loud boom crash ending. Contemplative Air Cake has wind sounds, pitched clarinet and drums backdrop to “I want to make cake but there is nothing in the house, nobody went shopping. It is all air.” High pitched atonal sounds and drums build and get softer to the final closing cymbal hit.

Be prepared to be “blown away” by this unbelievable, funny, one-of-its-kind release. Multiple listenings increase the joy! 

Mountain Air
Harry Bartlett
(harrybartlett.bandcamp.com)

Canadian guitarist and composer Harry Bartlett grew up in the Pacific northwest, studied jazz guitar at the University of Toronto and currently lives in Nashville. I reviewed his superb album Wildwood when it was released in 2023. Streaming and digital releases have become commonplace so releasing an “album” no longer means the standard 30 to 40 minutes of music. This increased flexibility allowed Bartlett to spend an afternoon in Toronto playing and recording the contemplative and exquisite Mountain Air with Aline Homzy (violin) and Andrew Downing (upright bass). All three pieces are original compositions and are presented with a delicacy combining classical, string band and jazz elements. Trail Song has elegant solos from all three players and the music is both percussive, up-tempo and expressive. A Sun Beneath the Clouds is slower and more sombre, and Eagle River seems to be the most folk influenced of the three. Mountain Air works well as an EP-length contained suite; Bartlett’s compositions exquisitely balance the guitar, violin and bass and all three players contribute their subtle performances. I’m happy Bartlett did not wait to release Mountain Air as part of a larger project.

Chasing the Sun
Colin James
Stony Plain SPCD1499 (stonyplainrecords.com/colinjames)

This is exciting music by renowned Canadian blues singer, songwriter and guitarist Colin James in this, his 21st release. Many famous guests also perform and compose here with James in seven blues/rock originals and four covers. 

Opening Protection grabs one’s attention as James (electric guitar, vocals) Colin Linden (electric guitar), Darryl Jones (bass) and Charlie Drayton (drums) perform energetic grooves, and James is joined by legendary singer/songwriter Lucinda Williams who co-wrote the tune. A contrasting quieter vocal verse leads to a loud chorus with backup singers Ann and Regina McCreary, instrumentals, guitar solos and James’ wailing vocals to upbeat ending. Instrumental Devilment, composed by Linden and Paul Reddick, starts with repeated descending guitar lines and drums. An elaborate harmonica solo by guest Charlie Musselwhite follows and gradually becomes syncopated bluesy swing and morphing into classic closing bass line and final drum crash. 

In My Own Dream by Paul Butterfield is a trio with James and Linden on guitars and Janice Powers on keyboards. This song has slower close ensemble playing with James singing, guitar flourishes and reflective feel. Closing track Open Your Mind by James and Tom Wilson is a group performance with James’ clear vocals and words, interest boosting Drayton drums, straightforward James and Linden guitars and Jones bass instrumentals, and McCreary backup vocals. Colourful performance to gradual decrescendo softer ending and fade to James’ closing words. 

James’ amazing musicianship keeps developing new blues sounds and Chasing the Sun is fun, energetic blues-to-rock music.