Johan Berke Upstairs Five - Live at Fasching - June 1, 2017 (2018)

This album - the twelfth with the group - contains a live recording from the Stockholm jazz venue Fasching.

The tunes are written by myself, with the exception of Short, But Sweet no 28, which was a collaboration with Yasuhito Mori who provided the "lyrics" and the voice in japanese for the electronic soundscape used in live performances of the tune. The studio version contains a longer spoken voice feature by Mori-san.

The tunes we play are mainly taken from our 2017 album: SIMPATICO, but "The Big Krumbukto", a staple of our live set, was first recorded on EASTERN SCENE IN GREY MINOR (2008) and on the live: OPEN DOOR (2012), which was recorded at another Stockholm jazz venue: Glenn Miller Café. The tune "Pushover" was premiered on that album too. 

For more info on earlier albums, please visit gasonjazz.nu

Fredrik Nordström – tenor & alto saxophone 

Alberto Pinton – baritone, alto & soprano saxophone, clarinet 

Johan Berke – electric guitar, electronics, composer 

Robert Erlandsson – double bass 

Fredrik Rundqvist - drums 

Recorded (of course!) June 1 2017 at Fasching, Stockholm by Johan Nordin and Pawel Lucki. 

Mixed and mastered by Johan Berke July, 2017 and November, 2018. 

Cover design by Johan Berke, photos by Leif Johansson musikfoto.leifjohansson.nu 

Produced by Johan Berke

1. While We're...Jong! 08:14

2. The Big Krumbukto 10:23

3. Comfort Zone D 09:52

4. Summer Ghosts 04:44

5. Pushover 09:51

6. Short, But Sweet no 28 (Oyatsu no jikan) 08:46

7. Mola Mola 10:02

Cotovelo - Cotovelo

Cotovelo é o relato de dois casos de ciúmes e de discórdia: entre três homens, escravos trazidos do Brasil para Portugal, no séc. XIX; e entre um homem e uma mulher, criados no palácio real. O tema é do passado, mas a forma é do presente. Ou ao contrário. O relato é feito por uma actriz e quatro músicos, através de palavras e notas. Nuno Trocado convidou Jorge Louraço para escrever e Catarina Lacerda para actuar, e liderou um quarteto com Tom Ward, Sérgio Tavares e Acácio Salero. O espectáculo, de cruzamento entre texto e música, foi o resultado de uma colaboração entre os seis durante uma residência artística no âmbito da edição de 2017 do Festival Guimarães Jazz, produzida em parceria com a associação Porta-Jazz.

Catarina Lacerda

Cotovelo is the account of two cases of jealousy and discord: between three men, slaves brought from Brazil to Portugal in the 19th century; and between a man and a woman, raised in the royal palace. The theme is from the past, but the form is from the present. Or the other way around. The story is told by an actress and four musicians, through words and notes. Nuno Trocado invited Jorge Louraço to write and Catarina Lacerda to act, and fronted a quartet with Tom Ward, Sérgio Tavares and Acácio Salero. The performance, a combination of text and music, was the result of the collaboration between the six in an artistic residence that took place in the 2017 edition of the Guimarães Jazz Festival, produced with the partnership of the Porta-Jazz association. 

Catarina Lacerda: voz / voice 

Nuno Trocado: guitarra e electrónica / guitar and electronics 

Tom Ward: flauta, saxofone alto, clarinete baixo / flute, alto saxophone, bass clarinet 

Sérgio Tavares: contrabaixo / double bass 

Acácio Salero: bateria / drums 

Jorge Louraço Figueira: texto / text 

1. Sentada no escuro 06:25

2. Que lhes terá acontecido...? 04:15

3. Quando D. João VI regressou a Portugal 03:20

4. Os três pintavam a cara de branco 02:09

5. Estou há mais de meia hora (I) 01:58

6. De que adianta? O rei tem de morrer!... 04:11

7. Lundu 07:35

8. Desejo de subversão 02:59

9. Açúcar não aguentou de ciúme 02:01

10. Estou há mais de meia hora (II) 04:00

11. Como é que eu podia escolher um dos três? 05:51

Charlie Dennard - Deep Blue (2018)

New Orleans based keyboardist (who is also a longtime musical director for Cirque du Soleil) provides a very introspective selection of original compositions that invoke a deep sense of melodic harmony and dark beauty.

Charlie Dennard (composer, arranger, producer, keyboards)

Doug Belote (drums)

Max Moran (bass)

Steve Masakowski (guitar)

Ray Moore (saxes, flute)

Eric Lucero (trumpet, flugel horn)

Marc Solis (saxes, bass clarinet, flute)

Jason Mingledorf (tenor sax, bass clarinet)

Josh Geisler (bansuri flute)

Andrew McLean (tabla, sarod)

Brian Seeger (guitar)

Rick Trolsen (trombone)

Brad Walker (tenor sax)

Carlos Lopez (percussion)

1. St Charles Strut 05:18

2. Mojave 05:54

3. Wanderlust 05:14

4. Deep Blue 03:51

5. Trois Fois 05:13

6. Joe's Crusade 04:59

7. Father 05:54

CD artwork and layout by Caroline Mendez