Maisha are a London-based ensemble led by drummer/producer Jake Long. Their music brings a fresh slant to the lineage of modal jazz from the 60’s and 70’s. Fusing these influences with music and cultures that inspires them, they cross between genres with a focus on genuine improvisation and expressive experimentation. Maisha have carved their place as a pioneering force in the London Jazz scene.- I may bring another piece later. Let's see . .

Nick:  Adenine  “Haar”  There are moments in this where you hear Celtic influence in the harping.  There is a slight bit of background sound that is not harp.  Very subtle keys?  Or whistles, way back in the mix.  Thoroughly enjoyable to my ear, but you all know that I’m partial to harp.  Violin or viola added in about halfway, elevates the piece into more hopeful, yet melancholy territory, out of meditative.  Listening as the sun is rising, perfect morning music.

Greg:  Michael Hedges “Aerial Boundaries”  This one I’ve heard before, but it is a lovely addition.  He really pioneered this style of playing, so deft and light, yet with percussive elements.  The piece begins fairly remote feeling and gradually grows “closer,” in feel, like something that you can’t quite see, but it is on it’s way.  Definitely captures an uplifting sense of wind, perhaps coming up a canyon. 

Christian:  The Beg Sans Nipple “A Free…”  Lots of percussive, yet light bells start the piece with some heavier thuds and then little plinkies begin dotting about.  Vocalisations, back in the mix start, certainly not in English, more of a chanting.  Light vibes enter the scene, for even more lightness, airiness.  Handclaps come along, this feels like a exaltation of some sort of religious sort of group, an Oriental sense to it.  Distorted keys or guitar joins in the dance, as the tension increases.  Everything pulls back to some bass kind of notes and twinklies, but swells again with the distorted chorus of voices before the ending. 

Lorenzo:  Gotan Project “Triptico”  Live recording, begins with some spoken word and concertina-like instrument, along with a rhythmic pattern being set in the background with synths?  The pace picks up a bit, and very light and airy acoustic piano begins.  The concertina comes again to the fore, one gets quite the feeling of driving along with the top down, along the coast.  There are some whiiiiiiings on vioin, it looks to be?  Acoustic guitar comes along for a moment, then back to the jazzy solo piano and drums.  Sense of joyousness here.  Halfway there is a concertina solo, maybe they’ve stopped along the coast to take a spectacular view for a bit.  There are some whirls and swirls on the violin.  And back to the drive, as everyone joins in the fun and the violin becomes very shimmery and upbeat.  A bright, summery piece of music.

Greg:  Julia Holter “Words I Heard” Echo-y plaintive and silvery female vocalist.  Shiny, slippy strings and minimal piano deep chords underneath.  Sensation of wide-open air, infinite skies, and distance.  Sort of a crescendo about a third in.  Very dense and lush production.  Begins to sound like the vocalist is taking wing, then the piece comes to a halt, before launching back skyward.  Almost indescribably lovely to my ear. 

Ronstein:  Alan Parsons feat. Eric Stewart “Blue Blue Sky Pt. 1”  Nature sounds at first, then sparse vocals, with some acoustic guitar underneath.  Pretty, contemplative song, with a sense of longing.    Ends with jet sounds.  Short and sweet.

Mila:  Maisha “Azure”  Flute (bamboo?) and finger cymbal *tings*, with some plucked strings under, piano scattered about here and there.  Also some percussive sounds, the flute sounds more like a metal flute later, with echo effects.  Percussion begins to become a more regular beat.  The sounds become less oriental and more African, a bit jazzier to me.  There are swells of some sort, then back to sort of an Oriental feel, with strings.  Fluttery flute continues and the backing becomes a bit more discordant, in waves of sound.  Two thirds in becomes decidedly jazzy, with acoustic and electric piano, bass and drums. The strings are back, in a discordancy again.  Back to flute and strings together, reprising the sort of Oriental feel with swelling strings.  Then back to jazz and back again to the recurrent theme.  Ends on a kind of upswell.

George:  Band on the Can All Stars “Sago An Ya Rev”  This one starts with a sort of sonic swirling, not sure on what (keys?  Synths?).  There is a definite tension to this one, unlike all of the previous pieces, which were more airy.  However, wind is not always a lovely little zephyr.  Tension continues to build, one can imagine being on a ship and seeing a storm in the distance, maybe even starting to hear it, as the waves begin to ominously rise all around.  There are some really deep maybe synth?  Maybe vocal?  Sounds, incoherent and eerie.  Strings kind of come to the fore, in a bee-like buzzing sound.  Makes me think of how your ears can pop when near tornadic pressure.  The storm decides to move away, as the piece ends.   

Kees:  Michel Portal “Histoire de Vent”  Bass and high-hat start this one off, with horns quickly joining in.  This is also not a placid wind, but not as menacing, more bracing in feel.  There are little eddies of the bass, bubbling underneath, one gets the impression of it being refreshing breeze, as opposed to veering a little closer to storm quality, impish and mercurial.  There are a few little whongs underneath it all, about 2/3rds through.  The wind has picked up a bit, but still not a squall.  Horn section is back again for the final minute, the storm here, too, has passed. 

Cristi:  Echo “Cradles (from Cradles of the Past”  Wind sounds and electric guitar picking out a melody, with a full band kicking in after a couple of repeats of the melody.  Electric lead comes along, with the melody.  Male vocalist, with some vocal harmonies begin a tale.  There are echoes of psychedelia here.  The songs is in a verse/chorus standard frame.  The playing is impassioned, as are the vocals.  Cool organ passage comes in, as a solo.  Song dies back a bit, about halfway in, to percussion and chorded organ.  Then acoustic guitar with cymbal shimmers create a bridge.  Drums and organ percuss a bit together, then bass joins in again and we are off to a psych style electric lead, switching to organ, electric piano, then all over again interspersing amongst them.  The vocalist returns and the piece ends on the rainbows in a child’s tear.  Really enjoyed this, thank you!

2 Nick:  Adenine  “Haar”  Almost first spot, with it being harp, and a new artist to me.  There are moments in this where you hear Celtic influence in the harping.  There is a slight bit of background sound that is not harp.  Very subtle keys?  Or whistles, way back in the mix.  Thoroughly enjoyable to my ear, but you all know that I’m partial to harp.  Violin or viola added in about halfway, elevates the piece into more hopeful, yet melancholy territory, out of meditative.  Listening as the sun is rising, perfect morning music.

3 Cristi:  Echo “Cradles (from Cradles of the Past”  And this made the Top 3, as it was a surprise.  A bit less hard-edged than many of Cristi's choices, this one just hit a certain nostalgic nerve for me.  Wind sounds and electric guitar picking out a melody, with a full band kicking in after a couple of repeats of the melody.  Electric lead comes along, with the melody.  Male vocalist, with some vocal harmonies begin a tale.  There are echoes of psychedelia here.  The songs is in a verse/chorus standard frame.  The playing is impassioned, as are the vocals.  Cool organ passage comes in, as a solo.  Song dies back a bit, about halfway in, to percussion and chorded organ.  Then acoustic guitar with cymbal shimmers create a bridge.  Drums and organ percuss a bit together, then bass joins in again and we are off to a psych style electric lead, switching to organ, electric piano, then all over again interspersing amongst them.  The vocalist returns and the piece ends on the rainbows in a child’s tear.  Really enjoyed this, thank you!

Honorable Mentions:  

Christian:  The Beg Sans Nipple “A Free…” 

George:  Band on the Can All Stars “Sago An Ya Rev”