"Morning/mourning" by Jessica Ackerley is a collection of solo guitar pieces recorded over a 4 year period. Dedicated to both of Jessica's guitar mentors who passed away last year "Morning/mourning" documents feelings of isolation, sadness and melancholy with intense emotional feeling. Deeply personal with album art by Jessica herself, this is a haunting and introspective collection of tunes that will touch and emotional core deep inside. Featuring liner notes by Wendy Eisenberg.
1. Henry
2. Inner Automation
3. Conviction
4. Departure Into Sound Memory
5. mourning
6. Untitled 3
7. much gratitude to you, for you
8. Coaxial II
9. Morning
All tracks produced, recorded and written by Jessica Ackerley
Anche se all’interno del GuitArt Quartet l’hammond riveste un ruolo importante, sono due chitarristi a guidarlo, come il nome del gruppo lascia chiaramente intendere. Si tratta di Antonio Tosques, foggiano, classe 1965, e Dino Plasmati, materano, classe 1972, entrambi con un importante percorso artistico alle spalle. Lo fanno con lucida autorevolezza e splendido interplay, così che i dieci brani di «On Air» scorrono fluidi e senza intoppi, non diventando mai motivo di competizione per vedere “chi suona più veloce”. C’è grande rispetto per i nove standard selezionati, appartenenti sia alla grande canzone americana che ad autori più moderni come Rollins, Coltrane e Coleman.
Rispetto che non vuol dire loro riproposizione accademica o mero sfoggio di tecnica strumentale, ma piuttosto omaggio sincero ed originale ad una tradizione, quella del jazz, che i due musicisti conoscono e amano profondamente. Il grande impatto sonoro prodotto dalle due chitarre – suonate comunque con tecnica tradizionale, senza l’ausilio dell’elettronica – colpisce subito, sin dalle prime note di un’incalzante ed allo stesso ipnotica Airegin, ma esprime tutta la sua efficacia anche quando l’atmosfera si fa più rilassata, come nell’unico brano originale dell’album, Boundless Energy, di Dino Plasmati, in cui viene dato spazio anche all’eccellente organo bluesy di Bruno Montone.
Sono esemplari sia il relax con cui le due chitarre affrontano la suadente In Your own Sweet Way, sia la riflessiva delicatezza che circonda l’esecuzione di I’ve Accustomed to Her Face, grazie anche all’efficace lavoro svolto da Montone. Si conferma discreto e sempre pertinente, in ogni traccia del disco, il drumming di Marcello Nisi, a suo agio anche con i ritmi latini di When Sunny Gets Blue. Il blues colemaniano di Turnaround, eseguita in modo superbo dai due chitarristi senza sezione ritmica, chiude nel migliore dei modi un album da ascoltare tutto d’un fiato, godibile quanto ricco di contenuti.
1. Airegin 06:48
2. Everything I Love 04:45
3. Lazy Bird 06:19
4. Boundless Energy 05:43
5. In Your Own Sweet Way 09:02
6. I’ve Accustomed to Her Face 06:39
7. My Secret Love 04:34
8. When Sunny Gets Blue 07:20
9. Who Can I Turn To? 07:16
10. Turnaround 05:31
Dino Plasmati (electric guitar)
Antonio Tosques (electric guitar)
Bruno Montone (hammond organ)
Marcello Nisi (drums)
Recorded, mixed and mastered at Lab Sonic Studio, Matera, Italy,
Pat Van Dyke is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and band leader. Pitchfork calls Pat’s most recent LP; “Hello, Summer” an “album that comes to feel something like Count Basie directing a big band dedicated to lost Roy Ayers compositions; it is highly, almost restrictively controlled, but nonetheless dedicated to the funk."
1. Nautilus 03:28
2. Love You Inside & Out (feat. Melinda Camille) 04:00
Seit dem Januar haben wir fleißig an fast jedem Freitagnachmittag in Alsterdorf bei unserem Schlagzeuger geprobt und aufgenommen und freuepräsentieren nun stolz das Ergebnis. Wir freuen uns darauf zu erfahren, wie Euch die Musik gefällt.
1. Kennst du die große Stadt (1) 05:29
2. Peaks 08:03
3. Katja 05:14
4. So Did Wes 05:21
5. David's Bike 03:29
6. Blues 14 05:14
7. Na Datscha 06:08
8. Ganz weit 05:21
9. Should Print! 05:05
10. Well Fed & Save 05:20
Axel Burkhardt - Bass
Jörg Berger - Schlagzeug
Jürgen Kok - Gitarre u. Komposition
Aufgenommen und gemischt von Jörg Berger u. Jürgen Kok
Brings Forth Life Affirming Cross-Genre Collaboration
New Album Serves as a Revelatory and
Politically Charged Album Set for July 2 Release
on BMG's Modern Recordings Imprint
Six time GRAMMY® Award-winner, and 34-time nominee, Vince Mendoza is considered the foremost arranger of his generation, working with legends such as Björk, Elvis Costello, Sting, and Joni Mitchell. In a new star-studded release, Mendoza returns to his roots as a composer and conductor with a remarkable collaboration—highlighting the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, soprano Julia Bullock, guest artists Joshua Redman, Antonio Sanchez, Derrick Hodge, and The Roots' premier MC Black Thought—for his forthcoming album, Freedom Over Everything, on BMG’s Modern Recordings label imprint.
The album's first single, “Freedom Over Everything,” (available now) features Mendoza’s collaboration with acclaimed MC Black Thought, where he and Mendoza embodied the collective shift of consciousness that spread across the world following COVID and the murder of George Floyd, all laid out over the groove from Derrick Hodge and Antonio Sanchez. It’s a moment that brings eloquence and beauty to a world seeking much needed healing from the cycle of constant trauma over the past year.
As Aristotle once said, that “Music has the power of producing a certain effect on the moral character of the soul,” then Vince Mendoza’s Freedom Over Everything is sure to be received as a welcome addition to the times in which we live.
Klaus Koenig studied at the Acoustic Institute of the University of Music in Detmold, which he left in 1962 with a degree in sound engineering (with a distinction). He worked as a recording manager for the Swiss radio station SFR in Zurich until 1997. Alongside this he developed several hundred shows for the jazz department. In 1964 the radio station made him responsible for accompanying guest soloist in the radio concert series "Jazz Live".
His "Jazz Live Trio", the most important players in which included Isla Eckinger, Peter Frei as a bassist, Peter Schmidlin and Pierre Favre as drummers - could be heard in more than 100 live broadcasts with soloists from around the world until 1982. The performers included many top American and European musicians such as Art Farmer, Dexter Gordon, Slide Hampton, Clark Terry, Benny Bailey, Phil Woods, Cliff Jordan, Kenny Wheeler and Albert Mangelsdorff. A 12-CD series by TCB documents this series of concerts. Longer-term links were established with Johnny Griffin, Lee Konitz, Sal Nistico, Franco Ambrosetti, Gianni Basso, Roman Schwaller and others. The group "Magog", made up of Hans Kennel, Andy Scherrer, Paul Haag and the Jazz Live Trio, was formed on his initiative in 1973 and enjoyed a great degree of international success. The collaboration with the actor and reciter Gert Westphal in a "jazz and lyrics" programme spanned several decades. A "classics and jazz" programme developed over several years with the classical pianist Annette Weisbrod.
Participation in around 25 commercial recordings. Work on musical theory (on the tempering of keyboard instruments in old music) and musical education (piano voicing). In 1998 he had to stop his musical activity due to an illness in both of his hands. After many years of therapy, the 2012/2013 season with the old/new "Jazz Live Trio" and the 2013/2014 season with the "Seven Things" quintet with Dani Schenker, Christoph Merki and the trio meant a return to the music scene.
CELEBRATED JAZZ VOCALIST & COMPOSER JACQUI NAYLOR’S 11TH AND LONG-AWAITED ALBUM THE LONG GAME
Released on Ruby Star Records
Acclaimed jazz vocalist and songwriter JACQUI NAYLOR’s 11th album, THE LONG GAME, is filled with both original and timeless love songs. The recording highlights the singer’s magnificent songwriting and deeply rich and soulful voice on thoughtfully arranged songs, all selected by Naylor’s fans via ballots distributed at her performances, a process she used for her prior four albums.
The title of the album was born from one of Naylor’s philosophies of life: “Keep going, stay hopeful and enjoy your life. If you continue to make positive efforts, happiness is sure to emerge. We have to play life for the long game, never give up, and win in life and in love.” This sentiment rings especially true today as the country deals with the global pandemic.
Naylor is best known for her ability to interpret a diverse repertoire, bringing together music from different genres and generations. THE LONG GAME features ethereal jazz arrangements of rock classics from David Bowie (“Space Oddity”), Peter Gabriel ("Don't Give Up") and Coldplay ("Fix You") that pair well with Latin treatments of standards from Kurt Weill (“Speak Low”) and Charlie Chaplin (“Smile”). Interwoven throughout are the singer’s own compositions, co-written with long-time pianist, guitarist, and arranger (and Naylor’s husband), ART KHU. “Her songs are Joni Mitchell good,” writes JazzTimes.
“Love Look What You’ve Done” is an original, personal, and hopeful song about finally finding love after a long journey. Naylor officiated at her sister’s wedding in November and sang this song to the couple from afar during a recent Livestreamed concert. Naylor wrote “All My Life” for her partner, Art Khu. The song celebrates the difficulties of maintaining relationships and how important it is to truly appreciate one another. “When my days are over, I’ll be happy that I spent all my life with you.” She placed this song at the end of the album to serve as the celebration of a great journey.
Naylor gained attention with an arranging technique she coined “acoustic smashing,” where she sings the lyrics and melody of a jazz standard over the groove of a well-known rock anthem or vice versa. “Acoustic Smashing marks a turning point in her career,” writes The Wall Street Journal. On THE LONG GAME, she uses the technique on “Fix You” from Coldplay while the band plays a Miles Davis-inspired “It Never Entered My Mind.” “Naylor has the chops and sensitivity to pull this off,” writes New York Magazine.
The musicianship and camaraderie of Naylor and her longtime bandmates, JON EVANS, bass (Tori Amos, Paula Cole, Sarah McLachlan), JOSH JONES, drums and percussion (Don Cherry, Omar Sosa, Steve Coleman), and ART KHU, piano, organ and guitar (arranger and producer for multiple artists and composer of “The Symphony of Souls” for The Oakland Symphony), shine brightly throughout this thoughtfully produced album.
When describing the synergy of these talented players, Khu says, “Each member of this band is an accomplished musician and storyteller, sensitive to Jacqui’s mission and lyrics, supportive, intuitive and compassionate. Decades of work culminate in THE LONG GAME as each band member uses their individual talents to contribute, shine and support each other. Jacqui’s interpretations are deep, thoughtful but also human and unpretentious.”
Most of the songs were captured in the studio in just one take, including the vocals. Naylor explains that “Like Someone in Love,” the first track on the album was also the first song we recorded in the studio, and we used the first take. I knew in that moment we would create something special.”
To support the album, Jacqui and Art have been inviting fans into their home as part of their monthly Livestream concert series they call Home2Home (no mask required). They created the concert series after an extensive tour that started with six shows at the SF Jazz Center and ended after a multi-city European tour was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic. The concerts are available for 48 hours following the broadcast for ticket holders.
Naylor tours regularly throughout the world with her quartet, headlining esteemed venues and festivals, including the Monterey Jazz Festival, Germany’s Women In Jazz Festival, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, The Vancouver Jazz Festival, London’s Ronnie Scott’s, Berlin’s Quasimodo, New York and Hamburg’s Birdland, and the Blue Note Jazz Clubs worldwide in New York, Milan and Tokyo.
Naylor’s original music has been featured in national advertising campaigns and her signature song “Celebrate Early and Often” was named by Martha Stewart Weddings as one of the best new wedding songs. The singer’s music has also been featured in television and film including a full-length documentary about her called Lucky Girl. Her version of REM’s “Losing My Religion” was featured in the hit reality series “So You Think You Can Dance” and the artist’s many albums have been named in the “Top 10” lists of USA Today, Jazziz Magazine, and The Washington Post, among others.
Danny Moss belongs to the best European saxophone players of all times. He later lived in Perth, Australia and toured the world only for a few months each year. His idol is definitely Coleman Hawkins and the great "Hawk" would have been proud of him. Danny Moss has played with such illustrious names like Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra. He is such an excellent musician and great personality that he was ennobled by the Queen of England and the initials M.B.E. (Member of the British Empire) were added to his name.
Antti Sarpila clarinet and saxophone is a scholar of the famous clarinettist and sax player Bob Wilber and one of the outstanding jazz musicians Finland’s. He lives in Helsinki, comes from a musician’s family and is already know today as one of the best clarinettists in the world. He plays his instrument unbelievable fluently with a nice tone and a remarkable swing. He has performed in New York’s Carnegie Hall, leads his own band in Finland and is on his way to a great international career.
Brian Dee is an Englishman and a very sensitive and swinging accompanist and soloist. Besides Lemon he is the pianist in England who is often accompanying American musicians when they come to Europe and visit his country. Therefore, he has played with nearly all the big names in the jazz scene.
1. All the Cats Join In 07:41
2. Buckin' the Blues 05:19
3. Stompy Jones 06:11
4. Willow Weep for Me 04:27
5. Toot Sweet 05:35
6. Robbins Nest 07:51
7. Stealin' Apples 06:14
8. A Ghost of a Chance 04:06
9. Professor Jazz 06:26
10. Fiesta in Blue 03:38
11. Jumpin' at the Woodside 06:05
12. Blue and Sentimental 06:51
13. It Don't Mean a Thing 09:06
14. Sabine's Jazz Arena 06:54
15. Satin Doll 04:10
16. Crossing the Border 08:07
17. Lean Baby 05:15
18. If Dreams Come True 06:15
Danny Moss - tenor sax
Antti Sarpila - clarinet, soprano sax, tenor sax
Brian Dee - piano
Randy Sandke - trumpet
Harry Allen - tenor sax
Scott Robinson - baritone sax
Jerry Tilitz - trombone
Len Skeat - bass
Oliver Jackson - drums
Butch Miles - drums
plus
Jeannie Lambe - vocals
Recorded live 1993 and 1994 at the Fabrik, Hamburg, Germany
Dabin Ryu’s debut album Wall features ten original compositions entirely composed, arranged, and produced by the pianist. The compositions settle within the jazz tradition, yet refuse the conventional instrumentations of a traditional jazz album. In this album, she captures the traces her life-long practice of music have left on her. Wall Pt. 1 and Wall Pt. 2 are written out entirely, abandoning the tradition of improvisation, exploring the intentionality and structure of a through-written composition.
Temple Run, comparatively, falls squarely within the realm of hard bop jazz and showcases Ryu’s stylistic flexibility. While the compositions are diverse in terms of styles, they meld to communicate the strong characteristics of Ryu’s artistic vision.
„Incognita“ ist für uns das Dokument einer spannenden gemeinsamen Zeit auf Tour - einer Zeit voller Freude, Überraschungen und Inspiration.
Wir, Leandro Irarragorri, Benedikt Jäckle, Calvin Lennig und Jonas Kaltenbach, sind die Band Vibe und freuen uns sehr, dass mit Félix Rossy ein einzigartiger Musiker zu uns gestossen ist, der die Philosophie der Band ideal verkörpert. Mit seinem ausdrucksstarken Spiel bereichert er unsere pulsierende, spontane Musik, die größtenteils auf Eigenkompositionen basiert.
Die Aufnahmen für „Incognita“ sind während unserer Tournee im Herbst 2019 im Kölner Loft und im Mehrspur in Zürich entstanden.
1. Singular 05:04
2. Jurassic Space 05:49
3. Sleeping In A Dream 04:41
4. Pinocchio 04:35
5. Incognita 06:23
6. Subletting 07:25
Félix Rossy - Trumpet
Benedikt Jäckle - Saxophone
Leandro Irarragorri - Piano
Calvin Lennig - Bass
Jonas Kaltenbach - Drums
Tracks 1, 2 and 5 recorded November 5th 2019 by Nicolas Müller at Mehrspur, Zürich
Tracks 3, 4 and 6 recorded November 11th 2019 by Stefan Deistler at Loft, Köln
Eric Marienthal, Jimmy Haslip, and Dave Weckl Join Guitarist Gabor Lesko On His New Release "Earthway"
Fusion guitarist and keyboardist Gabor Lesko performs a well-rounded set of energetic yet melodic music.
With such guests as soprano-saxophonist Eric Marienthal, bassist Jimmy Haslip, and drummer Dave Weckl among others, Lesko explores a wide variety of moods and grooves in his fresh originals.
GABOR LESKO “EARTHWAY”
Gabor Lesko is an inventive and talented guitarist, keyboardist and composer from Italy who is well worth discovering. While he had previously recorded a series of fine sets, Earthway serves as a perfect introduction to his musical magic.
Joined by several different bassists and drummers plus guest Eric Marienthal on soprano and the Milwaukee Brass Ensemble on two numbers, Lesko contributed all eight selections and performs on a variety of guitars and keyboards and, as he puts it, “everything else.”
The colorful set begins with “Earthway,” a piece that pays tribute to the wonders of both music and outer space. Dave Weckl’s drums are prominent in the ensemble while Lesko’s blazing guitar is mostly in the lead, sometimes hinting a little at Pat Metheny. Next is “Fiesta,” a happy but sophisticated piece with solos from Lesko on guitar and synth plus Marienthal on soprano.
Just when one might be thinking of Gabor Lesko as primarily a high-powered fusion guitarist, he performs the quietly fiery ballad “Still Here For You” and the relatively mellow “Igor.” His “Gently Obsessive,” a jazz waltz with a sweet melody, is one of the main highpoints. More contrast is offered on the assertive “Push It !” (a passionate and rockish piece that is comprised mostly of ensembles) and the relatively straight-ahead “Mickey Mouse Loves Jazz.” Earthway concludes with “Air (Lost Key Part Two),” which progresses from a lyrical statement from Lesko’s wailing guitar to an orchestral piece that perfectly wraps up the memorable set.
Gabor Lesko was born and raised in Italy. He studied classical guitar, piano and composition at the Conservatory of Bergamo, later also having further studies in Budapest, at the Civic Jazz School of Milan, and in the United States at Berklee and the Musician’s Institute. Since then, he has worked with many top artists (including Tony Levin, Simon Phillips, Steve Vai, and Chad Wackerman), written and performed for motion pictures and television in Italy, and starred at many European festivals and clubs.
Earthway is Gabor Lesko’s eighth album as a leader. His consistently inventive playing and writing show that there is still plenty of life to be found in fusion, and that he is an important voice in the modern jazz world.
1. Earthway (5:52)
2. Fiesta (4:48)
3. Still Here For You (4:15)
4. Igor (6:57)
5. Gently Obsessive (4:32)
6. Push It ! (6:25)
7. Mickey Mouse Loves Jazz (6:12)
8. Air (Lost Key Part Two) (5:24)
Gabor Lesko - Guitars
Dave Weckl, Marco Fuliano, Sophie Alloway, Eugenio Mori, Gergo Borlai - Drums
Hadrien Feraud, Federico Malaman, Jimmy Haslip - Bass
