Tony Moreno Quintet - Short Stories (2016) MAYIMBA MUSIC (2 CD)

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Born in Manhattan, Tony Moreno, was raised by his mother, Nina Dunkel Moreno, who was considered one of the great American harpists of her day, as well as an accomplished pianist, musicologist and teacher. His early upbringing proved a perfect backdrop to pursue a career in music. By the age of three, Moreno began playing the piano. By the age of ten, he received his first drum set from Elvin Jones.

Jones became Moreno’s early mentor and teacher. In later years, other teachers included Art Blakey, Al “Tootie” Heath, James Priess, Freddie Waits and Bob Moses.

When Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast shore in 2012, Moreno lost his entire musical life – his instruments, possessions, the library of his compositions and treasured, archival possessions bequeathed from his mother.

“After Hurricane Sandy destroyed my studio, I was offered a monthly residency at The 55 Bar for the Quintet,” says Moreno. “This record is a way of expressing my gratitude for the outstanding support and love I received within the music community – from colleagues, organizations and fans alike.”

“The band is made up of artistic companions who have performed together over four years,” the drummer explains. “Since I lost my drum set, I purchased a small keyboard and began composing again. It was, of course, cathartic. It was time to document the group. We had enough music for two CDs. I had to clean the slate and move on.”

This record, featuring Marc Mommaas, Ron Horton, Jean-Michel Pilc and Ugonna Okegwo, represents the rebuilding process of Tony Moreno’s shattered life. Re-assembling the pieces seemed impossible but soon it began taking shape.

On October 8th the Quintet will celebrate the record release of Short Stories at the 55 Bar in New York City with two sets at 9.30 pm and 11.30 pm. With admission, every guest will receive a double-disc album for free.

Moreno teaches at New York University’s Jazz Performance Program and Columbia University’s Louis Armstrong Jazz Studies Program as well as at City College of New York. He has performed and toured extensively. The drummer lived and worked in Europe for six years, and appeared on over 100 recordings, as well as television, DVDs and radio broadcasts.

Moreno has recorded with the likes of Jaki Byard, Dave Liebman, Ravi Coltrane, Art Lande, Richie Beirach, Chris Potter, and has performed with Eddie Gomez, Arthur Blythe, Sonny Fortune, Eddie Henderson, Mal Waldron, Barry Harris, Richard Bona, Paul Bley and Elvin Jones, to name just a few.

Tony Moreno endorses Paiste Cymbals and plays Sonor Hi Lites, Pro Lites and Q2 drums.

Disc 1 

1. Foxy Trot / Kenny Wheeler

2. Little One / Marc Mommaas

3. The West's Best / Tony Moreno

4. Erroll Garner / Tony Moreno

5. 55 Scotch / Tony Moreno / arranged by Ron Horton (For Cueva Lutz)

6. Susan's Dream / Tony Moreno / arranged by Marc Mommaas (For My Wife Susan)

7. No Blues To You / Tony Moreno 8. C Jam Blues / Duke Ellington / arranged by Art Lande and his students at C.U. Boulder

Disc 2

1. Three For D'reen / Kenny Wheeler

2. Oh Henry / Tony Moreno / arranged by Marc Mommaas

3. Grovelling / Ron Horton

4. El Rey / Tony Moreno / arranged by Marc Mommaas (For Elvin Raymond Jones and Keiko Jones)

5. M.O. / Tony Moreno (For Miles Okazaki)

6. Pueblo De Lagrimas / Tony Moreno (For Ketil Bjørnstad)

7. El Rey Take #2 / Tony Moreno (Duos/Trios)

Marc Mommaas - Tenor Saxophone

Ron Horton - Trumpet

Jean-Michel Pilc - Piano

Ugonna Okegwo - Bass

Tony Moreno - Drums

Michel Camilo & Tomatito - Spain Forever (2016)

Michel Camilo & Tomatito have been gathering each other for more than 30 years in an almost predestined way. They first met back in 1984 at Madrid´s Sports Hall dressing rooms, during the city´s Jazz Festival. Michel was the pianist of Paquito D'Rivera´s Quintet while Tomtit was guest artist of Puerto Rican percussionist Ray Barretto. They came across each other but yet did not hang out. Then they met again in 1990, when Michel was producing Ketama’s album Pa’gente con alma (Philips, 1991). At that time, they were working on different projects but Tomatito recalls feeling really intrigued by the sounds he heard from the adjacent recording studio.

It was at the 1998 Barcelona International Jazz Festival and thanks to their invitation to collaborate that both artists finally performed two songs together at the Palau de la Música which were later featured in their celebrated first album, Spain (Lola Records, 2000): Chick Corea´s "Spain" and the Mexican standard by Consuelito Velázquez, "Bésame mucho".

Their amazing performance was both hailed by critics and public who enthusiastically shared their enjoyment, cementing both artists willingness to take the challenge of embarking on a project together.

As one of the most praised contemporary music duos tells us, the beginning was not easy. Guitar and piano had not traditionally merged in fruitful alliances due to the preconception that these instruments’ sonorities would not jell. Michel Camilo & Tomatito overcame that prejudice with absolute respect for each other´s sound and instrument, eventually creating a new canon. Aroused by each other´s performance, each other´s search of spaces and their mutual delicacy in building harmonies, they both agreed to record Spain selecting the finest repertoire which served as the perfect tip on what their next installment artscape would take them: Latin sounds, Jazz, Flamenco and Cinema were the 4 cornerstones of such a seminal record.

The resultant international tour in support of the album was a stunning audience and critical success on each and every stage of the 5 continents they performed, becoming also the catalyst for its natural follow up, Spain Again (Emarcy / Universal, 2006). Michel Camilo & Tomatito tested their future repertoire by introducing new songs in their live performances every night without prior notice. Subsequently, Spain Again features, after the public granted a warming welcome, an Astor Piazzola´s rendition (with a long suite dedicated to the Argentinian composer), an homage to the finest Latin songs ("El día que me quieras"), as well as to the Classic Jazz standards ("Stella by Starlight") and obviously a wink to the responsible for much of it all, Chick Corea ("La fiesta"). As they had done previously, also this time around Michel Camilo & Tomatito started working on testing their repertoire live for their next release (the latest stage of their saga).

In Spain Forever (Universal Music Spain, 2016) there is a relevant aesthetic quality that differs from their previous works. There is a calmer tone to it that radiates from the deeper knowledge of a long time relationship. The duo’s language is wiser, there are more silences, more pauses and there is respect for the individual space but also the aim for more complexity in the shared grounds. Almost 20 years have passed and Spain Forever keeps good track of it like a rear view mirror snapshot of the two starring characters. Michel Camilo & Tomtito open the new album with a personal homage paid to one of their favourite artists, Brazilian guitarist and composer Egberto Gismonti, making a lyrical version of his classic "Agua e vinho". The next tribute to the late double bass player Charlie Haden takes the form of an intimate rendition of his "Our Spanish Love Song". And then the Spain Again link is settled with a dramatically beautiful cover of the notorious Astor Piazzolla´s milonga "Oblivion" with an almost orchestral arrangement. Erik Satie´s "Gnossienne no 1" opens the repertoire to the Mediterranean Sea in an Arabic style of melodic originality as minimalistic as impressionistic.

When revisiting Cinema Paradiso´s musical themes, Camilo and Tomatito chose an atmospheric sea mood with the aim to bring the Mediterranean lights palette and colors into the score. As a search of their personal imprint, their version is an improvisation of the famous love song full of spaces and freedom (with original music by Ennio Morricone). One of the album surprises is the track "Nuages" by jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. Tomatito is a self confessed admirer and Michel is an early jazz piano or stride piano connoisseur (Scott Joplin, but also the later versions done by Art Tatum or Oscar Peterson) making a smart and rhythmic signature version of a classic jazz manouche. "Manhã de Carnaval" (Luiz Bonfá / Antônio Maria) is the central theme of the famous film Black Orpheus (Marcel Camus, 1959): Camilo and Tomatito departed from Paco de Lucia's notorious version (along with John McLaughlin and Al Di Meola) and carried it from there towards a more melancholic land, rich of harmonies inspired by the romantic day after Rio de Janeiro´s Carnival- music and photography. “About you" is an original lullaby penned by Michel Camilo that proves to fit perfectly on a carnival´s tail- a quiet chilling space, a track where Tomatito shows his skills as a flamenco master on classical guitar. 

Then the ending number for the 3rd installment, which is a tribute to one of the saga forerunners: "Armando's Rumba", an original by Chick Corea dedicated to his father, which the duo kicks in stillness till a sudden mid-stream burst of rhythm and fire exploding uncompromisingly while blending Flamenco & Latin Jazz as a perfect ending to the 3rd chapter of the Spain trilogy... But, who knows?

We can´t but wait that Michel Camilo & Tomatito shall want to try yet a new repertoire before worldwide audiences in this brand new tour so that the seeds for their future new work would bloom at the right time. The door is still open.

1. Água E Vinho (Egberto Gismonti)

2. Our Spanish Love Song (Charlie Haden)

3. Oblivion (Astor Piazzola)

4. Gnoissienne No. 1 (Erik Satie)

5. Cinema Paradiso (Ennio Morricone)

6. Love Theme Cinema Paradiso (Ennio Morricone)

7. Nuages (Django Reindhart)

8. Manhã de Carnaval (Black Orpheus) (Luiz Bonfá)

9. About You (Michel Camilo)

10. Armando’s Rhumba (Chick Corea

Michel Camilo, piano

Tomatito, spanish guitar

Michel Camilo Website

Bugge Wesseltoft - Somewhere In Between (2016) JAZZLANDREC

Bringing a thoroughly contemporary sound to the piano and keyboards, Bugge Wesseltoft made a huge impact in his homeland during the '90s. After that, he toured internationally, working in both jazz and rock contexts. In the early '90s he was a member of Arild Andersen's band, and played on Jan Garbarek's Molde Canticle, a commission from the Molde Jazz Festival. With both of these artists, he blended in well with the postmodern concepts of ECM Records. Other artists with whom he worked during these years were guitarists Terje Rypdal and Jon Eberson, and singer Sidsel Endresen. With the latter, he was on her commissioned project for the Molde Jazz Festival, which was recorded for ECM. His own commissioned work, A Little War Story, was performed at the 1993 Vossa Jazz Festival. In 1995, Wesseltoft formed his own band, New Conception of Jazz, and the Jazzland record label, the first album from which was awarded a Spellemannprisen (the Norwegian equivalent of a Grammy) in the following year. In the mid-'90s he toured and recorded with Billy Cobham, Endresen, and Garbarek again, appearing on the latter's Rites.

During these years and on to the end of the decade, his music found an audience among those who inhabited Norway's techno and dance music scenes. This connection with the club world led to the 2000 release of Jazzland Remixed, which enhanced his reputation even more with that audience. Firmly committed to electronic music, Wesseltoft completely eschewed acoustic forms and was just as adamant that he would not be tied by genre boundaries, bringing hip-hop and other contemporary dance music forms into his concept of contemporary jazz. On 1998's Sharing, he raised some eyebrows by his extensive use of club DJs and scratchers.

Disc 1

1 Existence (Wesseltoft) Sharing (1998) 2016 version

2 Hope (Youssef, Wesseltoft, Lönna, Gensollen) Film Ing (2004) 2016 version

3 Hands (Wesseltoft) – Playing (2008) 2016 version

4 Oh Ye (Wesseltoft) – Film ing (2004

5 Yoyk (Boine, Wesseltoft) IM (2007) 2016 version

6 Wy (Mowadi, Wesseltoft) IM (2007) 2016 version

7 Out Here in there – (Endresen Wesseltoft )- Out here In There (2002)

8 Try – out here in there 2001 – (Endresen – Wesseltoft) – Out Here. In There 2002

9 Den fyrste songen (trad) (Kraggerud -Wesseltoft) – Last Spring (2012)

10 Kammermusik (Wesseltoft – Schwarz) – DUO (2011)

Disc 2

1 Round Midnight (mingus) – (Wesseltoft, Schwarz, Berglund) – Trialogue (2014)

2 Sender (ONE) (Wesseltoft, Saunders, Hutchinson). Unreleased (2013)

3 Turner (TWO u click) (Wesseltoft) Unreleased (2014)

4 How High The Moon (Hamilton, Lewis) Songs (2011)

5 Breed it – (Wesseltoft). Bugge and Friends – Play It (2015)

6 Mamullah (Yassine) – OKWORLD – (2014)

7 You Might Say – (Endresen, Wessetoft) Sharing (1998) New Version 2016

8 Mitt Hjerte Alltid Vanker – Its Snowing On My Piano (1997)

9 Yellow Is the Colour (Wesseltoft) – Moving (2001)

10 Somewhere In Between (Wesseltoft) New Conception Of Jazz (1996)

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Paolino Dalla Porta Future Changes Quartet - Moonlanding (2016) TUK MUSIC

After being a wonderful partner for Paolo Fresu in his Devil Quartet, Paolino Dalla Porta decides to make a different journey.

WIth three young and talented musicians he usually plays with, his debut with Tuk Music is a perfect musical bridge between past and present, contemporary and jazz.

1. CAMPO MAGNETICO

2. SCRITTE LUNARI

3. CORALE MARE SERENITATIS

4. THE LOOP

5. LUNAR TIDE

6. SLOW DANCE OF THE HIDDEN SIDE

7. RED SHIFT

Paolino Dalla Porta (Bass)

Nicolò Ricci (Tenor Sax)

Dario Trapani (Electric Guitar)

Riccardo Chiaberta (Drums)

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EDITION RECORDS: Catch up with our 2016 releases

2016 Album Round Up

2016 has been a great year for us. 16 releases in all! That's almost double what we have done in previous years. As we approach the year's end and the last (but not least) records for 2016, we thought we would remind you of the great recordings we've released this year. Thanks

Dave Stapleton, EDITION RECORDS

GERARD PRESENCER / DANISH RADIO BIG BAND Groove Travels

Release Date: 29th January 2016

Cat No: EDN1065 (CD) / EDNLP1065 (LP)

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“Presencer, whose playing blasted from every radio in the land in 1993 (remember the Us3 hit ‘Cantaloop’?) delivers the most intensely vital album of his career” THE ARTS DESK (UK)

ANDRE FERNANDES Dream Keeper

Release Date: 12th February 2016

Cat No: EDN1066

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“Sun drenched guitar, silky grooves and slinky themes” THE FINANCIAL TIMES (UK)

AKI RISSANEN Amorandom

Release Date: 4th March 2016

Cat No: EDN1067

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Video 

“Aki Rissanen Trio’s album is a Finnish jazz classic” ILKKA (FI)

PER ODDVAR JOHANSEN Let's Dance

Release Date: 25th March 2016

Cat No: EDN1068

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Video

“an album which combines warmth of tone with a decidedly Nordic splendour.” THE SCOTSMAN (UK)

NORTHERN EDITION - CURATED BY FIONA TALKINGTON

Release Date: 25th March 2016

Cat No: EDN1069

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'a tribute to the innovative Edition label' GUARDIAN

PHRONESIS - PARALLAX:

Release Date: 8th April 2016

CD Cat No: EDN1070 / LP Cat No: EDNLP1070

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“…Parallax opens a new chapter full of musical riches from this most complete and compelling of bands.” JAZZWISE ****

JASON REBELLO - HELD:

Release Date: 29th April 2016

Cat No: EDN1071

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“One of the greatest piano players not only in the UK but in the world…[Jason] really manages to create something deeply emotional. He tells an incredible story throughout the record just with his fingers on the  keyboard. It’s really up there with my favourite solo piano albums….it’s lovely to hear it…” JAMIE CULLUM, BBC RADIO 2

TIM GARLAND - ONE

Release Date: 6th May 2016

Cat No: EDN1072

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'Few world-class jazz improvisers are comparably imaginative composers, but the British reeds player Tim Garland is that rarity'. GUARDIAN

EYOLF DALE - WOLF VALLEY

Release Date: 10th June 2016

Cat No: EDN1073

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'Wolf Valley, is a really great album. Not only does it contain well written and original compositions...it’s also full of creative instrumentation and virtuoso performances from the strong 8-piece orchestra'. JAZZNYTT

JASPER HØIBY ‘Fellow Creatures’

Release Date: 15th July 2016

Cat No: EDN1075

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'The varied compositions cohere extremely well as a programme. Some…recall Herbie Hancock classics like Maiden Voyage, which is high praise'. BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE *****

ELLIOT GALVIN - PUNCH

Release Date: 29th July 2016

Cat No: EDN1076

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'Packed with pop, jazz and contemporary classical references, it’s typically whimsical-sounding Galvin music (there’s a real Punch and Judy show sample in the opener) but steered by an unblinking artistic focus that has nothing whimsical about it at all'. GUARDIAN

LAURA JURD - DINOSAUR

Release Date: 9 Sept 2016

Cat No: EDN1078

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"Such a great record!" BBC RADIO 6 MUSIC GILLES PETERSON

"...this beautifully played and effortlessly confident collage of contemporary styles." 5 STARS, THE GUARDIAN *****

ODDERANG - AGARTHA

Release Date: 23 Sept 2016

Cat No EDN1079

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“...coherent and epic scale of work. Melodic, melancholic and meditative…” HELSINGIN SANOMAT

SLOWLY ROLLING CAMERA - ALL THINGS

Release Date: 4 Nov 2016

Cat No: EDN1080

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“…wildly talented group of young musicians…love that, very epic track…” JAMIE CULLUM​

MOSAIC 'Subterranea'

Release Date: 18 Nov 2016

Cat No: EDN1080

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Subterranea is the debut album from six piece ensemble Mosaic, led by 2015 Kenny Wheeler Jazz Prize winner and British vibraphonist Ralph Wyld. A musician of real depth and creativity, Ralph Wyld has been described by Jazzwise Magazine as ‘one to look out for’ and has been praised by the FT for this ‘rhythmic accuracy and panache’. 

STUART McCALLUM / MIKEK WALKER - THE SPACE BETWEEN

Release Date: 25 Nov 2016

Cat No: EDN1080

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The Space Between is the second album by long-term friends & guitarists Stuart McCallum and Mike Walker, The Space Between is an album that expresses McCallum and Walker’s abiding love of melody and space, their friendship and respect, and the multifarious sounds and timbres that their instrument has to offer.