New In 2024

When I see the title of a thread, "new in 2024", I will only list actual new music.

No reissues, archival material, etc.

Too much great new music to keep up with, to spend time and money on endless reissues.

Mary Halvorson - Cloudward / brand new release by this very creative jazz guitarist. A little bit more contemplative than 2023’s Amerylis, but no less intriguing. Amarylis was my favorite jazz release of 2023, Cloudward has a quick start as my favorite of 2024.

Everything Oscillating — The Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are / Instrumental prog/fusion trio from Seattle. Touches of math-rock, and 80’s King Crimson.

Semiramis - La Fine Non Esiste / So, to try to make a long story short, in the 70’s, Italy produced some prog as good as many of their Brit counterparts (Yes, Genesis, etc), but of course, singing in Italian held them back. But make no mistake, these bands were musically world class. Some of these bands, were only able to produce 1 album, then broke up. Semiramis was one such band. They were all in their teens in ’73 when they released their album, Dedicata A Frazz. Now, in 2024, after reforming for some live gigs, they recorded this album of new material. Don’t expect any surprises, just beautiful, energetic (retro) prog, played with great musicianship.

Luz de Riada - Rizoma / From Mexico, a bit of an avant-prog feel on this, with Mexican folk melodies, and a bit of ’80 King Crimson sneaking in.

Rob Mazurek Exploding Star Orchestra - Spectral Fiction /. pretty avant-garde jazz, but still kind of approachable.

Tomeka Reid Quartet - 3+3

This is simply fantastic!

Complex jazz, with great melodies, great playing.

Jazz quartet lead by cellist, Reid. This also has the always exceptional Mary Halvorson on guitar.

I only recently discovered Reid from her incredible playing on sax player, Ingrid Laurbrock’s latest releases, but I am very happy to see Reid has an extensive catalog to explore. Well, maybe my bank account is not so happy.

To be released on 7/26/2024.

Perpetual Mutations by, Gavin Harrison (King Crimson, Porcupine Tree) and Antoine Fafard (one of the best jazz-fusion bass players on the planet).

With:

Jean-Pierre Zanella: Soprano Saxophone
Dale Devoe: Trombones and Trumpets
Joasia Cieslak: Cello
Isodora Filipovic: Cello
Reinaldo Ocando: Marimba & Vibraphone
Pier Luigi Salami: Piano and Rhodes
Tadeusz Palosz: Handpans and Log Drum
Ally Storch: Violin
Rodrigo Escalona: Oboe

Haven’t heard the entire recording yet, but what I have heard sounds pretty killer. Incredible musicianship, great melodies, interesting textures, complex and creative.

Kind of straddles the line between fusion and prog. 

Here’s a brand new released (7/26), and a great one!

Perpetual Mutations

Gavin Harrison - drums (King Crimson, Porcupine Tree, Pineapple Thief, others)

Antoine Farfad - bass (one of the best bass players on the planet)

Killer prog-fusion. Complex, great melodies, and incredible musicianship by all involved.

With:

-Jean-Pierre Zanella / Soprano Saxophone
- Dale Devoe / Trombones and Trumpets
- Joasia Cieslak / Cello
- Isodora Filipovic / Cello
- Reinaldo Ocando / Marimba & Vibraphone
- Pier Luigi Salami / Piano and Rhodes
- Tadeusz Palosz / Handpans and Log Drum
- Ally Storch / Violin
- Rodrigo Escalona / Oboe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmgrJdb_T54

Here’s a couple of new discoveries for me.

As with my earlier posts, all new music composed and recorded in 2024.

Here’s some more new and notable new music from 2024.

Greco Bastián - With a Little Hell from MORE friends / Bastian is Mexican composer and musician in the prog subgenre of avant-prog. This is a complex, sophisticated music, with incredible musicianship and depth of emotion. 

Aurora Cora - IV / For fans of Return to Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra. Fiery jazz fusion, with major chops by this band from Madrid, Spain. Some great flute playing too.