Strumming, palm muting, rapid tremolo and ambient effects - jazz guitar doesn’t immediately spring to mind when considering the above, but on her second album Unraveler, Latvian guitarist Ella Zirina employs all of these devices on a solo record that sits well within the jazz tradition whilst also giving it a good nudge forward. With titles such as “Etude Trills”, Zirina seems to be sharing with us a set of tunes borne of the practice room, but the music delivers much more than mere studies – fluttering melodies, explorations of timbre and shimmering textures all combine for a beautiful listening experience that highlights Zirina as an important emerging composer and improviser. With two records dropping in 2023, Unraveler follows on from Zirina’s debut release Intertwined, and judging by the album titles there are some common themes at play across both releases - the standard “A Flower is a Lovesome Thing” even appears on both albums. For the solo version of the Stayhorn ballad, we are presented with some pillars of Zirina’s sound; a dark sibilant tone, cascading arpeggiated passages, themes emerging from above and below the dominant texture, and a strong melodic voice expanded upon by intricate ornamentation. There is also a strength to the articulation that is particularly noticeable both in single note lines, and in moments when bursts of rapid palm muted harmony interject across the record. As a graduate of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Zirina brings not only her own individual style to the music, but also sounds and language unique to players connected to the Dutch jazz guitar tradition. There is something common to guitarists that have developed their craft in the Netherlands; strong articulation and single note bounce paired with the ability to adapt all facets of the guitar for use in diverse settings all feature. Of particular note is the use of open strings and strumming in swinging settings - an approach prevalent in the playing of artists such as Jesse van Ruller, Martijn van Iterson and Maarten van der Grinten (all of whom studied under Wim Overgaauw back in the day and have since been developing an impressive roster of graduates for some years at the CvA). The newer generation of players such as Reinier Baas (a tutor of Zirina) and Ella herself are pushing things even further by incorporating elements from various rock, indie and neo-soul styles. Unraveler presents us with a set of tunes that each sit within particular sound worlds, honing in on specific textures, sounds, and general vibes for each track. If Intertwined presented us with Zirina’s voice enmeshed within an ensemble context, then Unraveler allows us to hear a highly individual voice in a more focused setting, where ideas are unpicked to their fullest. At the midpoint of “Etude 7ths” a punched-in overdriven guitar soars above some dense chordal figures on the track, typifying what is most exciting about this music; unique ideas that expand on the potentials of the instrument itself, a language that blurs the line between improvisation and composition, and an ability to create soundscapes full of energy and atmosphere. - review by paul simmons Unraveler by Ella Zirina RELEASED: 2023 LABEL: Independant STREAM: Spotify / Apple Music Purchase and support Ella Zirina on Bandcamp: (s)tnc - jazz and improv reviews, news, articles and playlists all featuring in our coverage. Get in touch with us via email or through our instagram page.

On their latest release Reduce, Max Andrzejewski’s HÜTTE generate expansive scenes with minimalist leanings. The German band made up of Andrzejewski on drums and composition, Johannes Schleiermacher on saxophone, Tobias Hoffmann on guitar and Andreas Lang on bass all work across lots of diverse projects, but come together on this record to showcase a deep ensemble language developed over many years of working together. Crystalline lines folding down into beautiful open resonances greet us on the opener “Fleißen”, foreshadowing much of what is to come for the album; intricacy, stillness, and a probing melodic quality tempered by harmonic warmth. Although the music on Reduce projects a slow-moving veneer, operating a level below are strong currents of energy and activity. On “Risse” we hear this in action; chiming chords from both acoustic and electric guitars pan around the texture, providing a bed for the band to present a questioning melody that eventually gives way to some high velocity, free leaning group improvisation. This is music that blends contrasting material to arrive at a singular result – minimal grooves underpinning intricate melodic passages, and slow-paced harmonic loops sitting atop fast-moving free textures. As a drummer and composer, Andrzejewski brings a deep knowledge of many styles and genres to the table: we can hear the jazz tradition, various free styles, shades of experimental pop, and aspects of 20th Century classical composition all at play. Max has emerged as a native speaker to the post Jim Black world of drumming, across many traditions but doing so in a 2020s context: a beautiful sound at the kit, sparse free grooves and explosive dynamic passages all feature. Speaking to the record on Bandcamp, Andrzejewski provides some context for the music stating that the album title Reduce refers to a few ideas, one being the need to “reflect on where we can limit ourselves a little in view of the impending climate collapse”. In the paired back composition and playing style across the record, parallels to this call for reflection ring true, there is also a gravity to the music that aligns with such big themes all over the album. Each HÜTTE member brings much to the table. With an approach sitting alongside players such as Bill Frisell and Marc Ribot, the guitar playing of Hoffmann provides the framework for much of what goes on, bringing warm-toned folkloric language and uniquely lithe lead playing to the music. Schleiermacher presents a beautiful Berlin horn language, combining delicate and breathy melodic material with rapid passages that weave inside and out, whilst the interaction between Lang and the ensemble provides some of the album’s best moments - the interplay between bass and band on “Gemini” is a particular highlight. Special mention must also be made of the recording/production team of Tobias Ober on engineering, Daniel Feitag on mixing and Martin Ruch on the master as the album sounds amazing, the combination of in-room intimacy blended with post-production depth and warmth serve the music incredibly well. In asking the listener to consider consumption and climate, HÜTTE have provided us with a beautiful listening experience on Reduce, one that weaves stillness, warmth and energy. Despite the thematic seriousness there is much optimism to be found here - there is a moment on the track “Lylan 1” where a sung melody appears sitting just atop the texture that brings together much of what is important about this record: a quiet melancholy, but one full of vibrancy, energy and hope. Highly recommend checking out this record. - review by paul simmons Reduce by Max Andrzejewski’s HÜTTE RELEASED: 2023 LABEL: Independant STREAM: Spotify / Apple Music Purchase and support Max Andrzejewski’s HÜTTE on Bandcamp: (s)tnc - jazz and improv reviews, news, articles and playlists all featuring in our coverage. Get in touch with us via email or through our instagram page.

Introducing our first regularly updated playlist - the (s)tnc best new releases list, featuring all of our favorite new tracks coming out of the jazz and improvised music world. Each week we'll add a handful of tracks that move us, with tunes coming from as many diverse scenes as possible. Listen on spotify or apple music. 2024 has proved amazing for new music. The new Otis Sandsjö Y-OTIS TRE record moves their sound forward even further, leaning more into production and electronics than on previous outings, whilst Cornelia Nilsson serves up some of the hardest swinging creative music that's passed our ears in quite some time. The recent Dayna Stephens single Bubbly has got us super excited for the upcoming album (the band playing on this track is incredibly deep), and hearing Reinier Baas debut on banjo on Wild Bill was an unexpected turn but as with all his music, the outcome is full of energy and some downright exhilarating playing. Full reviews for all of these recs coming up this month. Consider supporting the artists via bandcamp should the music move you. Find the (s)tnc best new releases playlist on spotify or apple music - tracks as follows: Wild Bill - Reinier Baas Loomy - Otis Sandsjö John's Abbey - Cornelia Nilsson The Tower - Mary Halvorson CCTV - Joe Webb Nature's Piano - Earth Flower Papir Freedom - De Beren Gieren Children with Pitchforks - Kit Downes The Solitary Seeker - Melissa Aldana Prologue - Kamasi Washington Annular - Elias Stemeseder & Christian Lillinger Early - Joel Ross (s)tnc - jazz and improv reviews, news, articles and playlists all featuring in our coverage. Get in touch with us via email or through our instagram page.

We're super pumped to launch a new music coverage project called sometimenochanges! Our name comes from the concept of playing 'time no changes' - a free-ish approach to improvising in certain jazz contexts. We cover jazz, improvised music and other adjacent styles. Reviews, news, articles, and playlists all featuring in our coverage. Get in touch with us via email or through our instagram page. ​ ​