BABEL IN 2014

Babel ended 2013 with a flurry of new releases that carried on into 2014. There were the high-spirited compositions and energetic surges of SPY BOY by Brass Mask, and the sprightly melodies and Afro-Cuban rhythms of TOWER CASA by Nick Smart's Trogon. Early in 2014 these were followed by Step Wide, Step Deep, Opabinia, Parallel Moments and others. It was also the year that Babel celebrated its 25th Anniversary. In an interview with Textura to mark the occasion, the Director of Babel, Oliver Weindling  gave the following short but sweet interview.

Identity: The Babel Label was started by me, Oliver Weindling, twenty years ago. I like to call it a “jazz” label, reflectingan attitude and approach that j azz can have, in terms of pushing boundaries but without necessarily being unapproachable. That frequently overlaps with London's Vortex, where I help with the programming. Only part of this will be the traditional view of “jazz.”

Distinguishing characteristics: The label primarily reflects my taste (whatever it may be at any time). If the music has individuality, creativity, commitment and personality, with something unique to offer, then that's what really thrills me.

Proudest accomplishments: Survival for twenty years and releasing 
over 120 albums. Thus helping one aspect of musicians on the scene
 in London releasing their music to the world. Jack Massarik of The
 Evening Standard said about Babel, “It brings to the public for 
twenty years music that it doesn't want to hear.” My additional 
word to that is “YET”! So all Babel releases rank more or less
 equally as my proudest accomplishments.

Currently promoting: Alexander Hawkins: Solo and Ensemble, with 
a new trio due next year; Dan Messore's new Indigo Kid;
 Woven Entity; Whahay: bassist Paul Rogers' take on Charles Mingus;
 Bourne Davis Kane (with Paul Dunmall); Sylvain Darrifourcq / Valentin
 Ceccaldi / Manu Hermia; Brassmask: Tom Challenger's brass band with 
influences of Haitian rara and Henry Threadgill. That's enough for
 now.

Future: Continuing to survive and find exciting music.

What's coming in 2015 in brief...

Good things eventually come to all who wait... there's a new album by WHAHAY (Paul Rogers, Robin Fincker and Fabien Duscombes) with it's Charles Mingus inspired theme. A live performance of the album at the Vortex Jazz Club in this December received a rave review from Richard Williams who said,  The album was terrific but the gig was a monster... Unsurprisingly , The Guardian's John Fordham described the trio as on of Jazz's best kept secrets. 
A second helping of Dan Messore's Indigo Kid with the title 'FIST FULL OF NOTES' and is due for release soon.This second album shows that Messore has really come into his own as a leader and composer. Bruno Heinen and Kristian Borring's came together for POSTCARD TO BILL. This was a project centred around compositions of the great pianist Bill Evans, recorded live at the Vortex, and arranged by the duo who took inspiration from Evans’famous duo recordings with guitarist Jim Hall. 

Releases in 2014

Babel would like to thank reviewers who chose Babel releases as part of their best of 2014. Peter Quinn, musician and music writer, who cites Emilia Martenssen's ANA and Black No 1 amongst his selection of outstanding releases for 2014, The mercurial interplay, surging counterpoint and textural 
shifts of Black Top's debut # One combines boundary-pushing improv with brilliant musicianship, while subtle arrangements, exquisitely beautiful songs and a voice of remarkable expressive depth mark out Ana, the second album from the London-based Swedish vocalist, Emilia Mårtensson.
Marlbank also chose Babel's Emilia Martenssen as #3 of his best of 20 jazz vocals for 2014. Textura  also chose ANA as #20 of its 20 top albums. 
Bird is the Worm who chose Step, Wide Steep Deep as #17 of it's 30 best albums in 2014. To be included in the top 30 releases the music had to engage - elicit a cerebral connection, evoke intrigue, show personality, be different and embrace the best qualities of creativity.  

NOW’s THE TIME III
(Compilation focusing on France)
Not yet available

Preview:
John Fordham  http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/dec/11/nows-the-time-iii-focus-on-france-jazz-review

WOVEN ENTITY (Dec/14)

by Woven Entity
https://babel-label.bandcamp.com/album/woven-entity

Reviews:
Marlbank   http://www.marlbank.net/reviews/2274-woven-entity-woven-entity-babel-recommended
Chris May  https://www.jocksandnerds.com/articles/woven-entity-cd

NO. 1 WITH SPECIAL GUEST STEVE WILLIAMSON (Jul/14)

by Black Top
https://babel-label.bandcamp.com/album/no-1-with-special-guest-steve-williamson

Reviews:
Gapplegate
http://gapplegatemusicreview.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/black-top-with-steve-williamson-no-1.html

A collation of Black Top reviews

shttp://www.thecentreofattention.co.uk/black-top-2/news/what-they-have-been-saying/

 ANA (April 2014)
by Emilia Mårtensson
https://babel-label.bandcamp.com/album/ana


Reviews:
John Fordham  http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/apr/24/emilia-martensson-ana-review
Dave Kelly  http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/apr/20/emilia-martensson-ana-review-jazz
http://www.londonjazznews.com/2014/04/cd-review-emilia-martensson-ana.html

Mark Corroto
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/ana-emilia-martensson-babel-label-review-by-mark-corroto.php

Peter Quinn
http://www.jazzwisemagazine.com/pages/jazz-album-reviews/13087-emilia-martensson-ana

Peter Bacon
http://thejazzbreakfast.com/2014/04/09/emilia-martensson-ana/

Ian Mann
http://www.thejazzmann.com/reviews/review/emilia-martensson-ana/

Other review links

http://emiliamartensson.com/blog/

STEP, WIDE, STEP DEEP (Feb 2014)
by Alexander Hawkins Ensemble

Reviews
Bird is the Worm
www.birdistheworm.com/recommended-alexander-hawkins-ensemble-step-wide-step-deep/
London Jazz News
www.londonjazznews.com/2014/04/cd-review-alexander-hawkins-ensemble.html
All About Jazz (Karl Ackermann)
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/step-wide-step-deep-alexander-hawkins-babel-label-review-by-karl-ackermann.php
Adrian Pallant
https://adrianspallant.wordpress.com/tag/step-wide-step-deep/
All About Jazz (Phil Barnes
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/alexander-hawkins-step-wide-step-deep-by-phil-barnes.php

SONG SINGULAR (Feb 2014)
Alexander Hawkins

Reviews
Guardian (John Fordham)
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/feb/27/alexander-hawkins-song-singular-review
All About Jazz (Karl Ackermann)
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/song-singular-alexander-hawkins-babel-label-review-by-karl-ackermann.php

OPABINIA (Feb 2014)
Dominic Lash Quartet

Reviews
The Jazz Mann
http://www.thejazzmann.com/reviews/review/dominic-lash-quartet-opabinia/
London Jazz News
http://www.londonjazznews.com/2014/03/cd-review-dominic-lash-quartet-opabinia.html
All About Jazz (John Sharpe)
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/opabinia-dominic-lash-babel-label-review-by-john-sharpe.php

PARALLEL MOMENTS (Feb 2014)
Raymond MacDonald & Marilyn Crispell



Reviews
Gapplegate Music Review
http://gapplegatemusicreview.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/raymond-macdonald-and-marilyn-crispell.html
All About Jazz (Glenn Asitara)
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/parallel-moments-marilyn-crispell-babel-label-review-by-glenn-astarita.php
Jazz Times (Scott Albin)
http://jazztimes.com/community/articles/128237-parallel-moments-raymond-macdonald-marilyn-crispell
The List
https://www.list.co.uk/article/57705-raymond-macdonald-and-marilyn-crispell-parallel-moments/

Thank you for your support and wishing you all peace, love, prosperity and more in the coming new year.

 Happy New Year!