Giovanni Mattaliano - Spirit (JAZZLIVEIMPROVISATION 2017)

Giovanni Mattaliano ensemble e il suo Spirit

Giovanni Mattaliano, clarinetto, clarinetto basso e composizioni

con

(Enzo Puccio pianoforte e sinth, Davide Mazzamuto violino, Giovanni Punzi clarinetto,

Antonino Anzelmo clarinetto basso, Gianluigi Cristiano chitarra classica, Gabriele Giambertone chitarra acustica,

Daniele Schimmenti hang drum e percussioni, Massimo Patti contrabbasso, Giuseppe Urso batteria.)

Si chiama Spirit il nuovo lavoro discografico dell’eclettico clarinettista e compositore siciliano Giovanni Mattaliano, prodotto dall’etichetta jazzliveimprovisation (www.jazzliveimprovisation.com) e realizzato con la partecipazione di alcuni sensibili musicisti, con i quali collabora da diversi anni alla ricerca di dimensioni creative. Un richiamo all’anima e alle sue poliedriche emozioni sonore. Undici brani strumentali che sfiorano vari mondi, dal pop al jazz, dal concertismo neoclassico a quello etnico, dal tango alla liricità gridata. Ricerche d’arte, ricordando il suono dei numerosi viaggi vissuti in variegati paesi, dai balcani al nord Africa, dalla Cina al nord Europa. Spirit, Il giorno della vita, Bannata, 25 aprile, Zeta World, Volo one, Rif Lif e Gea, sono i nuovi brani composti da Mattaliano per intercettare i suoni e le arti degli uomini, oggi più che mai in movimento sul pianeta, riverberi di paesaggi preziosamente immaginari, di un’umanità che vive tra gli incroci di culture ben assimilate pronte a mettersi in discussione, tra le preghiere di un’arte futura in ripristino. Completano il disco un brano in duo con il pianista/compositore Enzo Puccio (Tired) e infine due brani della tradizione bulgara e sefardita. La fotografia è curata da Giuliana Torre.


Spirit verrà presentato in concerto con il Giovanni Mattaliano Ensemble il 30 luglio a Cefalù nell’ambito del Clarinet Sicily Festival e il 5 agosto a Palermo per la stagione estiva di Palazzo de Gregorio.

GIOVANNI MATTALIANO (CENNI BIOGRAFICI)

“Musicista di rara bellezza creativa…” così lo ha definito il regista francese Richard Martin (tournée della pace 2003 in 14 paesi del Mediterraneo). Ha superato i 3000 concerti, metà dei quali con produzioni di proprie musiche rappresentate in giro per il mondo (Usa, Cina, Bulgaria, Romania, Norvegia, Francia, Olanda, Belgio, Italia, Tunisi, Marocco, Algeria, ecc..), esordisce giovanissimo con il concerto K622 di Mozart per il bicentenario (1991). Insegna dal 2010 clarinetto jazz al Conservatorio di Palermo (prima cattedra in Italia). Vanta collaborazioni solistiche con artisti della canzone come Tosca, Sting, Claudio Baglioni, Beppe Servillo, Etta Scollo, Rossana Casale, Natalie Cole, Marco Massa, Aida Satta Flores, I fratelli Mancuso e grandi nomi del jazz come Gunther Schuller (Ia europea dell'opera Epitaph di C. Mingus- Orchestra Jazz Siciliana), Natalie Cole, Giorgio Gaslini, Paolo Lepore, Charles Floyd, Clarke Terry, David Miller, Bill Russo, Paolo Fresu, Enzo Randisi, Billy Childes, ecc.

Partecipa dal 2005 al 2008 come clarinettista/attore/improvvisatore alla pluripremiata produzione “Romana” (omaggio a Gabriella Ferri), con più di 200 repliche. Nel 2007 partecipa con la Nica Banda e Tosca al festival di Sanremo (7° posto), in diretta su Rai 1 e con una lunghissima tournée in Italia e all’estero. Fiatista siciliano, creativo e poliedrico collabora come compositore ed esecutore con i registi Michele Perriera, Renzino Barbera, Massimo Venturiello, Richard Martin, ecc. A lui sono state dedicate numerose partiture per clarinetto e orchestra ed ensemble da compositori quali: Marco Betta, Marcello Biondolillo, Oscar Del Barba, Antonio Fortunato, Ruggiero Mascellino, Ennio Morricone, Cesare Picco, Gaetano Randazzo, Giovanni Sollima, Paolo Ugoletti e molti altri, tutte eseguite in prima assoluta. Nel 2015 ha pubblicato il suo primo libro di poesie sul suono “ReMaRe” presentato in concerto il 21 marzo a Bologna in occasione della giornata mondiale della poesia. Ha prodotto e curato i testi, le musiche e la regia dei suoi recenti spettacoli “Quell’unico fiato”, “Colori d’anima mediterranea”, “Storie musicate di un amanuense”, “I suoni dell’isola”, “Fiati di corde”, “Soteira”, “Viaggiando”, “Spirit”. Ha inciso tre lavori discografici con proprie musiche: Voci del dove (2008), ..Soteira (2012), ..Spirit (2017) per l’etichetta indipendente jazzliveimprovisation records e collaborato a numerose incisioni con altri solisti d’arte. In questi ultimi anni si dedica alla composizione di brani per i suoi fiati (clarinetto, clarinetto basso, sax soprano), eseguiti dal Giovanni Mattaliano Ensemble e da altri solisti del panorama clarinettistico internazionale. Dal 2016 è uno degli artisti della Buffet Crampon di Parigi, storica casa di produzione di strumenti a fiato per la quale realizza dei workshop di clarinetto creativo con proprie musiche.

www.giovannimattaliano.com

Scenes - Destinations (ORIGIN RECORDS 2017)

"After 15 years of performing together, the rapport between the legendary Portland guitarist John Stowell, and Seattlites, bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop, has reached such a level of intimacy and connectedness, they transcend the traditional concept of a "guitar trio." Whether performing their intriguing originals or the thoughtful reimaginings of less-done classics, each piece is a ticket to somewhere unique, like a travelogue of where the trio's members have been and where they would like to go. Documented on five albums for Origin Records, their music continually inspires comments from reviewers bordering on the poetic: "Whispers of intelligent messages." Jazz Weekly 

"A long standing guitar trio of Portland/Seattle cross pollination, their sound and vibe only deepens with each outing. A solidly burnished set that stands toe to toe with any modern genre highlight, this is sitting down jazz that gets you standing up and cheering. Smart, angular stuff that'll more than bring out the high tone, up market listener in you." CHRIS SPECTOR, MIDWEST RECORD

1. The Mandy Walk (4:40)

2. Long Prairie (5:18)

3. Solar (6:27)

4. Für Heide (5:25)

5. Pretty Boy Floyd (5:03)

6. T.I.O. (6:34)

7. Psalm (7:15)

8. You And The Night And The Music (6:48)

9. Simple Pleasures (5:55)

10. Tapioca Time (4:27)

John Stowell - guitar 

Jeff Johnson - bass 

John Bishop - drums

Produced by Scenes 

Recorded & mixed by Floyd Reitsma at Studio Litho, Seattle, WA 

on September 8, 2016 & March 9, 2017 

Mastered by Dan Dean at DDP Studio, Mercer Island, WA 

Cover Art by Rudy Bagozzi 

Photography by Eric Malfait, Carlos Pinto 

Cover design & layout by John Bishop

The Pogo Problem - The Pogo Problem (2017)

The Pogo Problem is an Icelandic/Danish collaboration under the leadership of Icelandic guitarist/composer Steinar Guðjónsson. He is accompanied by Anders Hellborn (Billow) on electric bass, and Kristoffer Tophøj (Tako Lako, Wangel, Interfoam) on drums. Their music is a fusion of instrumental pop, Nordic jazz, and progressive rock. The guys first met in Stockholm 2011 for the Young Nordic Jazz Comets Final, where Steinar’s Icelandic quartet Skver and Kristoffer’s Danish band Interfoam participated. The two guys later teamed up with Anders in Copenhagen.

They received a nomination as “Icelandic Music Award, Jazz composition of the year” for their tune “Difference of Opinion”.

Anders Hellborn - Bass 

Kristoffer Tophøj - Drums 

Steinar Guðjónsson - Guitar, keys 

All compositions by Steinar, exept "Over Time" by Anders and "Miderbarn, Teenager" by Kristoffer. 

Recorded and mixed by Thor Madsen and The Pogo Problem 

at Millfactory studios, Copenhagen, june 2016. 

Mastered by Finnur Hákonarson 

Photos by David Valentin Schweiger @schweigerphoto 

Layout by Schnauzer

Alex Goodman - Second Act (LYTE RECORDS June 23, 2017)

Guitarist / composer Alex Goodman Opens a New Chapter Featuring a Stellar Band of Next-Generation Jazz Voices on Second Act

On his fifth album, out June 23rd on Lyte Records, the Toronto native

stakes his claim on the New York City jazz scene alongside Matt Marantz,

Eden Ladin, Rick Rosato and Jimmy Macbride

"Excellent technique, a full, rich guitar tone and a definite unique musical voice." - Vince Lewis, Guitar International

 "Goodman has acquired a signature style that's definitely like no other...a jazz phenomenon the world over." - The Birmingham Times

"Shuns convention while merging disparate forces into a harmonious union...."

- Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz

After five years in New York City, Alex Goodman has not only established himself as a rising star and significant voice in the jazz mecca, but has gathered together a gifted group of peers, each of whom are quickly forging a path forward for the music's next generation. The guitarist/composer began his career in his native Toronto, becoming an integral part of the scene in the Canadian city and receiving a wealth of accolades across the country. The CBC News hailed him as having "taken the jazz world by storm [and] attained a level of fame and success in the insular jazz community that few other Canadian guitarists can match." In 2014 he received international recognition winning both first prize and the Public's Choice Award at the Montreux Jazz Festival International Guitar Competition in Switzerland.

Goodman's last release, Border Crossing, documented his initial reactions to his move to NYC and his acclimation to a new setting. With his fifth album, Second Act, Goodman looks poised to make a similar impact in his adopted home, revealing a vision shaped by the Big Apple's thriving modern jazz scene and by the dedicated and accomplished group of musicians with which he has surrounded himself.

As the title implies, Second Act (out June 23rd via Lyte records) signals a new beginning as much as the closing of a particular period, and the album's eleven striking compositions more than live up to that promise. A stunning departure from the chamber-jazz style of Border Crossing, the music on Second Act balances inventive composition and thrilling improvisation, with pieces that boast exhilarating, fluidly angular melodies and intricate architecture but which spark electrifying spontaneity from Goodman and his deft quintet.

"Second Act is my first CD comprised of a New York City based band that was assembled around the member's similar artistic vision," Goodman says. "All the music was written while I've been living here, and it all relates to the things that happen in the life of a musician living in New York City."

Given the agility of the playing and the depth of communication throughout the album, Second Act features a band that has obviously spent a good deal of time getting to know each other's sonic personalities. Goodman is joined by four peers who have also come to the city from a variety of disparate places and experiences: saxophonist Matt Marantz (Texas), pianist Eden Ladin (born in NYC but raised in Israel), bassist Rick Rosato (Montreal) and drummer Jimmy Macbride (Connecticut). They've each formed relationships with such envelope-pushing artists as Avishai Cohen, Will Vinson, Lage Lund, Nir Felder, Terence Blanchard and Jonathan Batiste, while working together in a variety of settings, spurring each other onward into exciting new territory.

"Everybody in the band is on the same wavelength both musically and personally," Goodman says. "I think we all share the same creative mindset, where everybody has a very firm foundation in the tradition of jazz but is also very creative and adventurous. Each one of them brings some of their own personality and identity to their playing, which I really value, but they're also very well rounded musicians who can do a lot of different things."

To enhance the music's already wide-ranging palette, Goodman added layers of human voice to the pieces after the initial studio sessions, writing new parts for the wordless vocals that interweave with not only his originally written material, but also the band's in-the-moment interpretations. He enlisted a talented pair of fellow Canadians to sing the parts: Felicity Williams, a longtime collaborator who also appears in a similar role on Border Crossing, and Alex Samaras, a key contributor to the Canadian jazz and new music scenes. Goodman often layers the two vocalists' contributions, offering him the option of employing sinuous lines or lush, swelling choruses as desired.

Rosato's knotty bass initiates "Questions," the album's brisk opening track, highlighted by the sauntering swing of Ladin's piano solo. "The First Break" is fueled by Macbride's intense, mechanistic rhythms and the composer's serrated guitar, while the infectious "Departure" gradually accumulates from a tenuous solo intro passed off from Goodman to Ladin, which finally unfurl into the piece's memorable melody. The leader's ringing, resonant solo playing provides an extended overture for the exultant "Losing Cool," a showcase for Goodman's alluring vocal writing.

"Empty" erupts from the outset with an overdriven rock urgency, contrasted by the mysterious, ethereal hush of "Heightened," before that piece gives way to sheer, joyous swing. Marantz wends a boldly eloquent solo through the bustling "Sharon," while Goodman's fleet fretwork and Ladin's burbling Rhodes intermingle rapturously on "Welcome To New York." "Apprehension" adds soaring vocals to an already lyrical melodic cascade before "Acrobat" closes the album on a wistful, free-floating note.

The bliss and brusqueness that Goodman balances throughout Second Act are an apt portrait of life in the jazz metropolis, reflecting what the composer calls "a tension that exists in living and being a musician in New York City. It's difficult and crazy and sometimes out of control, but at the same time there's something fulfilling and exuberant about it. It's so inspiring to see the level at which everything is happening all around you. Just to be a part of that has been really powerful and life affirming."

Alex Goodman has been hailed as "a definite musical voice" (Guitar International), "a jazz phenomenon the world over" (Birmingham Times), "genius" (La Presse) and "among the best in jazz today" (Improvijazzation). The Toronto native released his leader debut, Roots, in 2007 and his 2013 album Bridges was nominated for a JUNO, Canada's highest musical honor, as Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year.

Since moving to New York in 2012, Goodman has recorded with artists including John Patitucci, Dick Oatts, Kevin Hays and Rich Perry and performed with a variety of notable jazz musicians including Charles Lloyd, Eric Harland, Ari Hoenig, Jane Monheit, Ben Wolfe, John Ellis and John Riley. He was awarded a 2013 ASCAP Herb Alpert Jazz Composer Award, has written a book of solo guitar etudes and has composed extensively for jazz groups, chamber groups, orchestras, big bands, and string quartets. Along with performing at top New York City jazz clubs such as Smalls, the Appel Room at Lincoln Center, Mezzrow, 55 Bar, Smoke, National Sawdust and Cornelia Street Cafe, Goodman has toured the world, playing prestigious international venues such as the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Massey Hall in Toronto and Club Unterfahrt in Munich. He's also performed on the stages of prestigious international jazz festivals including Winter Jazz Fest in New York, the Montreal Jazz Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival. He is a graduate of the Master's Program in Jazz Performance at the Manhattan School of Music.

Charnett Moffett - Music from Our Soul (MOTÉMA MUSIC 2017)

1. Music From Our Soul

2. Freedom

3. Mood Indigo

4. So What

5. Come and Play

6. Love in the Galaxies

7. We Are Here to Play

8. Mediterranean

9. For Those Who Know

10. Just Need Love

11. Celestial Dimensions

12. Sound World Suite

13. Freedom Swing

14. Love for the People Encore

For his 30th Anniversary as a recording artist, Charnett Moffett delivers a far-reaching set of his distinctly original jazz featuring an all-star cast of long-time collaborators from his distinguished career. 

Featured artists (in varying trios and quartets) 

Pharaoh Sanders (tenor sax)

Stanley Jordan (guitar and piano)

Cyrus Chestnut (piano and keyboards)

Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums)

Victor Lewis (drums)

Mike Clark (drums)

Oriol Vallès & Joan Casares - Smack 7 Dab (feat. Perico Sambeat & Toni Belenguer) FRESH SOUND RECORDS 2017

01. Harmony of the Seas (Lluc Casares) 6:09

02. La Unió Ortopèdica (Oriol Vallès) 6:52

03. Raval Hip Attitude (Oriol Vallès) 7:43

04. The Hero of the Day (Joan Casares) 5:48

05. Small's Special (Joan Casares) 2:16

06. Nostàlgia (Oriol Vallès) 7:16

07. Rita's Strut (Joan Casares) 5:00

08. Lluc's Nightmare (Oriol Vallès) 7:10

09. Por mi fe en los cuentos (Oriol Vallès-Hugo Astudillo) 5:56

Oriol Vallès (trumpet)

Joan Casares (drums)

Lluc Casares (tenor sax)

Joel González (piano)

Pau Sala (bass)

Guest

Perico Sambeat (alto sax on #3,4,6)

Toni Belenguer (trombone on #3,4,6)

Hugo Astudillo (vocals & alto sax on #9)

Recorded at Estudis Ground, Girona, Spain, on July 3 & 4, 2016

Sound engineer: Jaume Figueres

Mixed & mastered by Quim Puigtió 'Kato'

Photography: Cristobal Quesada & Joan Casares

Graphic design: Joan Casares

Produced by Oriol Vallès & Joan Casares

Executive producer: Jordi Pujol

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Rob Burke / George Lewis / Paul Grabowsky / Mark Helisa - Shift (2017)

Released June 20, 2017 

The music on this CD is the result of four musicians with a background in jazz coming together to experiment and create music without the need for critical approval either from institutional oversight or industry-enforced norms and prerequisites. And because each is free to express himself as a collaborating individual without genre-based limitation, the music they create is ‘free’ music. As well as the analogue instruments, the music has input from the shapeshifted voice of the Ableton controller, a machine operated by George Lewis that records phrases and snippets of music in situ, digitally alters them and feeds them back into the music-making process, providing the musicians with another cue to which they can react.

The music, as all music does, starts with an idea and the enthusiasm of the players to chase it, to play with it as well as to play it, to use their expertise and experience to de- and re-construct it, to improvise around it and eventually to reconcile it in a synthesis that satisfies them and gives the willing listener a new and exciting aural experience. This is music that liberates. -Andrys Onsman

01. Shift 5:54 Quartet 

02. Move 8:16 Quartet 

03. Carry 6:19 RB, GL, 

04. Transfer 6:11 GL, MH 

05. Transport 5:10 RB, GL, PG 

06. Convey 6:01 RB, GL, PG 

07. Relocate 9:01 GL, PG 

08. Displace 4:15 RB, MH 

09. Rearrange 4:30 Quartet 

10. Reposition 5:15 Quartet 

11. Modify 5:57 PG, MH 

Rob Burke – Tenor and Soprano Saxophone 

George Lewis – Trombone and Electronics 

Paul Grabowsky – Piano and Snare Drum 

Mark Helias – Acoustic Bass 

Recorded 26th July 2014 

Eastside Sound Recording Studio – Lower Eastside – New York USA

Engineered: Marc Urselli 

Mixed: April 14 2016, Mastered: Dec 2016 by Andrea Benassai 

Sonoria Recording Plant, Prato Italy. 

Produced by Robert Burke 

Art work by Atia Cader 

Special Thanks to: the musicians, Atia Cader, Yasmin Burke, Hanna Burke, Amali Burke – for inspiration and patience. To Monash University and the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music for the ‘research support’, Andrea Benassai for his tireless work and to Andrys Onsman for the wonderful discussions about what this all means. 

©Robert Burke 2017