New Music From Gerald Clayton, Hiromi, The Darkness, And More
On an all-new episode of Discologist, Eduardo and Kevin check in on jazz pianist Gerald Clayton and his latest boundary-pushing release, Ones & Twos; award-winning Japanese pianist Hiromi’s collaboration with Sonicwonder on Out There; and, just to prove we’re not obsessed with pianos, Dreams On Toast, the latest from rock and roll saviors, The Darkness.
Featured Albums
Ones And Twos
Gerald Clayton
Hip hop continues to wield a strong influence on modern jazz, and on Ones & Twos, Gerald Clayton’s dynamic follow-up to 2022’s Bells On Sand, the award-winning pianist explores that connection to its fullest. While that previous release focused on spreading a peaceful vibe, this latest collection of songs is firmly rooted in the groove. Clayton enlists an all-star band featuring Joel Ross on vibraphone, Kendrick Scott on drums, and others to bring this vision to life. However, the album’s mission goes beyond the groove. Drawing inspiration from turntablism, Clayton set out to create a work where corresponding tracks could be layered to form an entirely new composition. That alternate version of the album is set for release in the coming months, but—spoiler alert—it works, making Ones & Twos stand as not just another modern jazz triumph from Clayton, but proof that music holds an infinite universe of possibilities just waiting for us to dream them into existence. — Kevin
OUT THERE
Hiromi
Hiromi Uehara returns with a follow-up to her 2023 foray into electric fusion. On her new album OUT THERE, the pianist, best known for her concert hall-grade grand piano mastery, continues her exploration of organs and synthesizers, yielding dizzying results. While a Hiromi recording always showcases intricate compositions and knotty time signatures, her collaboration with Sonicwonder (a trio featuring Hadrien Feraud on bass, Gene Coye on drums, and Adam O’Farrill on trumpet) dives deeply into space and texture. Anchored by a connected suite (“Takin’ Off,” “Strolling,” “Orion,” and “The Quest”), Hiromi also makes room for a track inspired by her favorite food that will leave you wanting to skank and eat ramen at the same time.
Piano runs so complex they seem to require eight hands remain a signature of Hiromi’s work, but on OUT THERE there’s a newfound upbeat playfulness that will have you gazing out onto a saturated, technicolor interior landscape. Jazz’s recent turn toward intentionality and spiritual seeking has brought incredible works, but Hiromi's OUT THERE reminds us how joyful it can be to simply sit in the sun and listen to a combo cook. — Eduardo
Dreams On Toast
The Darkness
Have you heard recently that rock and roll is dead? Well, England’s The Darkness would like a word with those naysayers. On their 8th album Dreams on Toast, the Justin Hawkins-led quartet (now featuring Queen’s Roger Taylor’s son Rufus on drums) isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, they’re just looking for a good time. Never one to shy away from wearing their influences on their sleeves, The Darkness is at their most Thin Lizzy in years, and it suits them well. Tracks “Hot on My Tail” and “Don’t Need Sunshine” explore the heartfelt struggles of the common man in the grandest of Lynott traditions, but it’s not all reverent revisionism. Elsewhere on the album, the band goes full-on Country with “Cold Hearted Woman” and ventures into orchestral bombast on album closer “Weekend in Rome.” All of it is delivered with just the right amount of tongue-in-cheek humor from Hawkins that makes it impossible for even the most jaded rock and roll fans not to crack a smile. — Kevin
Show Notes
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