Juan Bayon - Vidas Simples (EARS&EYES RECORDS 2018)

Fernando Rios, ArgentJazz says of ‘Vidas Simples’, “Juan is one of the most important jazz musicians of our generation...” 

In 'Vidas Simples', "Juan's writing fluctuates between waves of inputs and outputs; They make it clear that experience as a composer of all subjects is the dominant force that prevails as the central axis in the final result," says Impronta de Jazz. 

Juan Bayon is one of the hardest working and creative contrabassists in Buenos Aires, Argentina where a strong influential ‘modern’ jazz scene has been flourishing for years and presents incredibly fresh sounds and ideas. Juan is one of the leaders of this movement having played and/or recorded with locals like Paula Shocron, Eleonora Eubel, Adrián Iaies, Ernesto Jodos, Eloy Michelini, Bernardo Baraj, Damián Bolotín, Francisco Rivero, Mariano Loiacono, Ricardo Cavalli and with internationals such as Tony Malaby, Ches Smith, Cecilia Todd, Andrew D'Angelo, Jakob Bro, Matija Dedic (another ears&eyes recording artist), Tommy Smith, Danny Grissett, William Winant, Eva Klesse, Judy Niemack, Paolo Di Sabatino y Darmon Meader. He’s also a part of one of the most supportive local indie labels, KUAI Music, where he along with others part of this “collective” release an array of what the Buenos Aires avant-jazz scene has to offer. 

ears&eyes Records feels incredibly lucky to help share Juan’s newest and third as-leader release, Vidas Simples, where he’s joined by a fine set of musicians including one of my favorite alto saxophonist in Buenos Aires, 26-year old Lucas Goicoechea, Chilean vibraphonist Diego Urbano who attended the Monk Institute alongside Josh Johnson and who is a member of Wayne Shorter-produced group Holophonor, Argentine-born NYC-based pianist Santiago Leibson who has recently recorded with Billy Drummond and Drew Gress, and hard-working drummer Sergio Verdinelli who’s performed with Argentine-famed rock bassist Spinetta, among 100s of other prominent names through Argentina. This is not only a record documenting the explosiveness that exists here in Buenos Aires at the moment, but also takes on a more international legacy. 

I won’t deny as someone who now lives in Buenos Aires that I’m biased but I’ve been following Juan’s playing ever since he played with (another ears&eyes artist) Croatia's pianist Matija Dedic. Matija was in town playing at the International Jazz Fest in 2016 and needed a bassist that could fit in perfectly with his new bop and virtuosic chops with a looseness that would be needed to make the set feel nature, relaxed but with an intensity Matija often utilizes. Juan was just that and ever since I’ve been wanting to release something of his. He presented this recorded set of tunes, and I jumped at the chance. -Matthew Golombisky 

Lucas Goicoechea - alto sax

Diego Urbano - vibraphone

Santiago Leibson - piano

Juan Bayon - double bass

Sergio Verdinelli - drums

1. Cumbia de Gambartes 08:31

2. Pausa 01:23

3. Aural 06:01

4. Rupturas 05:27

5. Ego 01:57

6. La Vida Simple 06:55

7. Fortaleza 06:44

Compositions by Juan Bayon

Todos los temas pertenecen a Juan Bayon

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Florencio Justo in Doctor F Studio, Buenos Aires

Art/design by Nicolas Gaggero Brajcich

Ingeniero de grabación, mezclado y masterizado por Florencio Justo en Doctor F, Buenos Aires

Arte de tapa: Nicolas Gaggero Brajcich