Introducing KIMBROUGH:
A 61 Track Collection of Jazz Composer and Teacher Frank Kimbrough’s Compositions, Featuring 67 World-Class Artists
Newvelle Records is proud to release this 61-track digital anthology of Frank’s original compositions, recorded as the New York jazz scene reopened in May 2021
Newvelle Records today is releasing KIMBROUGH, a collection of 61 original compositions by jazz artist and educator Frank Kimbrough, who passed away in December 2020. Featuring tributes from 67 of Frank’s former bandmates, students, and friends across multiple generations, KIMBROUGH was recorded over three and a half days in New York as the musical world began reawakening in May 2021. All proceeds from this definitive collection of Frank’s music, available on high-quality digital download on Bandcamp, will benefit the Frank Kimbrough Jazz Scholarship at The Juilliard School.
“Frank was a genuine ‘musician’s musician’ whose talent as a player, composer, and teacher fueled generations of artists in the New York jazz community,” said Elan Mehler, cofounder and artistic director of Newvelle Records, and a student of Frank’s at New York University in the 1990s. “There is something miraculous about attracting 67 world-class artists together in a studio, just as the world began emerging from the pandemic. Only someone of Frank’s impact could inspire such an ambitious project.”
Frank famously never practiced piano and wrote nearly all of his compositions wandering through New York. He implored students to spend less time in the practice rooms and more time on the subway platforms, bar stools, and park benches that sparked so much of his own musical inspiration.
Blending four generations of jazz musicians – from artists who played with him in his earliest years in North Carolina, to students he taught over Zoom during the pandemic – KIMBROUGH features 55 different bands across 61 tracks. Some had begun playing together 40 years ago, while others were meeting in the studio for the first time. All volunteered their time as tribute to a man they knew for his generosity, perspective, and creativity.
“Every moment with him on the stage was just beautiful,” said Steve Wilson, who appears on tenor saxophone on four tracks. “Not only was he supporting you, he was collaborating with you in the moment.”
Clockwise from top: 1) Frank Kimbrough, Immanuel Wilkins, Dezron Douglas, Glenn Zeleski and Allan Mednard, Scott Robinson, Joe Lovano and Donny McCaslin
Photos courtesy of Newvelle Records. (c) Anna Yatskevich
1. The Call 07:34
2. C Minor Waltz 04:58
3. Kudzu 07:24
4. Elegy for P.M. 04:35
5. Falling Waltz 05:13
6. Forsythia 06:49
7. Quickening 04:04
8. Whirl 03:32
9. Wings 04:15
10. Hope 06:41
11. Clara's Room 05:34
12. For Duke (Instrumental) 04:15
13. Lullabluebye 07:26
14. For Jimmy G. 05:54
15. November 06:49
16. Adrian's Way 05:42
17. Sadness 05:13
18. Helix 05:59
19. The Breaks 05:06
20. 20 Bars 07:30
21. Ancestors 06:12
22. Kids Stuff 04:57
23. Meantime 05:37
24. Capricorn Lady 05:37
25. Waltz for Lee 04:43
26. 727 04:52
27. Beginning 04:47
28. Southern Lights 04:56
29. Regeneration 07:08
30. A & J 05:48
31. Eventualities 06:15
32. Moonflower 02:24
33. Just Suppose 05:01
34. Reluctance (Quartet) 06:55
35. Areas (Trumpet, Piano, Bass) 03:36
36. The Spins 05:31
37. Sanibel Island 05:04
38. Fubu 06:55
39. Cascade Rising 05:14
40. Over 03:57
41. Blue Smoke 03:47
42. Air 04:22
43. Affirmation 04:17
44. Quiet as it's Kept 06:09
45. TMI 07:57
46. Time Will Tell 06:42
47. Areas (Piano, Bass, Drums) 04:41
48. Noumena 05:15
49. Sloppy Seconds 05:20
50. Reluctance (Solo Piano) 04:11
51. Grass Valley 06:20
52. Questions the Answer 05:28
53. Lucent 06:06
54. No Radio 04:26
55. For Carla 03:24
56. Ode 03:40
57. St. Mark's Place 05:24
58. Ca'lina 05:56
59. Hymn 04:05
60. Svengali 11:05
61. For Duke (Vocals) 04:56
Artists
Piano: Addison Frei, Fred Hersch, Sean Mason, Elan Mehler, Samora Pinderhughes, Ben Rosenblum, Jacob Sacks, Scott Spivak, Helen Sung, Craig Taborn, Isaiah J. Thompson, Dan Tepfer, Micah Thomas, Gary Versace, Elio Villafranca, Joel Wenhardt, Glenn Zaleski
Bass: Ben Allison, Jay Anderson, Alexis Cuadrado, Dezron Douglas, Michael Formanek, John Hébert, Marty Jaffe, Rob Jost, Rufus Reid, Tony Scherr, Martin Wind, Ben Wolfe
Guitar: Steve Cardenas, Ben Monder, Todd Neufeld
Drums: Jeff Cosgrove, Billy Drummond, Jeff Hirshfield, Tim Horner, Douglas Marriner, Allan Mednard, Francisco Mela, Tony Moreno, Clarence Penn, Rich Rosenzweig, Satoshi Takeishi, Dave Treut, Jeff Williams, Matt Wilson
Clarinet: Ted Nash
Alto Saxophone: Allan Chase, Patrick Cornelius, Alexa Tarantino, Immanuel Wilkins, Steve Wilson
Baritone Saxophone: Allan Chase
Soprano Saxophone: Steve Wilson
Tenor Saxophone: Michael Blake, Evan Harris, Joe Lovano, Donny McCaslin, Ted Nash, Rich Perry, Noah Preminger, Scott Robinson
Trumpet: Dave Douglas, Noah Halpern, Ron Horton, Kirk Knuffke, Riley Mulherkar, Jesse Neuman
Trombone: Ryan Keberle
Vocals: Olivia Chindamo
Arrangement (on "Waltz for Lee" and "Svengali"): Ryan Truesdell
The album, available on Bandcamp for $20.00 and streaming everywhere , was recorded and mixed by Marc Urselli on May 10-14, 2021 at EastSide Sound, mastered by Colin Bryson at The Bunker Studios, and produced by Elan Mehler. All songs were written by Frank Kimbrough, Kimbrough Music BMI. Executive produced by Maitland Jones, Jim Harvey, Steve Satterfield, Matt Steinfeld and JC Morisseau.
