Double 'web' and a 'Web Max II' sounds like the long awaited follow up to 'Web Max' is finally with us and it's definitely been worth the wait.
Whilst YATM were 'off-blog' (Ed. the equivalent of radio's "off-air"), Compost Records released the 'Web Max' in the summer of 2001: a collaboration of jazz group Web Web (that includes Roberto Di Gioia - see review of his album with Peter Kruder HERE) and songwriter and producer Max Herre. It was 'modern modal' with original tracks and guests like Yusef Latef (wow!), Mulatu Astatke (wow!!) and New York harpist, Brandee Younger.
It might have gone under a few radars as it's in such compilation stronghold competition like Jazzman's Spiritual Jazz series so it comes as no surprise that Herre and the band have upped their game on this all new/no covers 10 track album; plus one very special guest.
Paying tribute to the predessors ('Perennial Journey') that they absorb might a more than healthy not to Sun Ra Arkestra's (in all forms) to Cinematic Orchestra (OST/Library) to Afro-jazz/gospel and more; like bass clarinet, bassoon and the original sampler from the 70s, the mellotron!
This sounds like something that internationally renown artist Carlos Niño would be proud to be a part of I hear you say. And he is! Mr. Niño you will recall from startig out in Hip-hop to collaborations with Dwight Trible and then orchestral projects celebrating Dilla with Miguel Atwood-Ferguson to open-water swim swimming (well, that's what he was into 14 years ago when I interview him). Of late, he's been more of an abient percussion frame of mind but he's not far from those original L.A.spaceways on both 'La Planète Fantastique' and 'Ólobo'.
It's a shame 'Artist Unknown' is a little short as it's got that 'out-there' Art Ensemble of Chicago horn element (let's have an Afro-disco 12" extension edit with the quiet bit as the introduction I say) but 'Zutuma' (very Astatke) and the closing track, 'Look Beyond The Sun' (very 60s psych-LA hippy Niño) more than make up for it.
'The 6th Dimension' is the modal jazzdance killer track (the longest on the album) and worth the price of the album alone, which I'm convinced is going to be a "collectors item" (even the black one; there's a limited edition red one), so I'd get two copies if I were you.
Artist: WEB WEB x MAX HERRE
Title: WEB MAX II
Release date: 27th October, 2023
Label : Compost Records
Catalog Number : CPT 623 LP / Digital / Bandcamp
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