Lilaila Records is a new record label set up by saxophonists Maria Grand and Camila Nebbia plus pianist Marta Sánchez and which is dedicated to work that brings musicians from different backgrounds together .
Its first release, Altered Visions, features the three founders of the label plus bass player Kanoa Mendenhall, a bass player born in Japan, but raised in California, and drummer Iago Fernández. All five members of the group are young players already making their mark on the contemporary jazz scene.
The recording came about because all five happened to be in Basel between gigs and were enthusiastic about playing together. Their aim was to celebrate togetherness and there is a considerable amount of collective improvisation on the only full track on the album, the 33-minute Wild Marks.
A 33-minute straight-through track might seem a little daunting for an online or CD listener as compared with a live situation. Nonetheless, my experience was that the playing is varied and moves between so many different approaches that I did not lose concentration. There is indeed some really fine playing.
As is often the case with free improvisation, the music constantly changes and goes through a series of episodes: mostly collective improvisation from all five players, or in duo or trio passages, but also some straightforward soloing with saxophone playing over the rhythm section. There are also at certain points vocals from Maria Grand..
‘Altered Visions’ is released today, 6 December 2024.
