Andre Petersen Quartet: Downtown Jazz Sessions (September 2021)

In this recording produced for the inaugural Downtown Jazz Sessions series in June 2017 in downtown Johannesburg, pianist, arranger, composer and Jazz educator Andre Petersen leads his own quartet to a sublime performance. Downtown Jazz Sessions was a 13 episode series produced in 2017 for South African TV channel Mzansi Magic, and showcasing some of the most exciting talents on the South African jazz scene. The recording demonstrates, if need be, the entire palette of talent that Andre had acquired over the years through his rigorous classical and jazz training, and through his constant, generous and curious exposure to a variety of music genres in South Africa and around the world. It is a beautiful reminder of the type of performer the world of Jazz has lost but we are grateful that, through his music, Andre Petersen Lives!

1. Wars of Perception 10:08

2. Vow to Praise 07:57

3. I Fall In Love Too Easily 06:33

4. Cape Doctor 03:31

5. Evidence 08:29

6. D'Julle Ons En Hulle 05:14

Band:

Andre Petersen - piano

Romy Brauteseth - double bass

Ayanda Sikade - drums

Sisonke Xonti - tenor and soprano saxophones

Produced by Militia Broadcast

Executive Producers - Eban Olivier, Aymeric Péguillan and Lance Sther

All revenue from sales will go to Andre's wife and daughter Chan and Zion

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Lucas Santana 5tet - Reflections (September 2021)

Versatility, energy and musicality define Lucas Figueiredo Santana, 1993. Saxophone and flute player, the young Brazilian musician based in Amsterdam has shown a unique way to express himself through music, crossing over the Brazilian samba-jazz, Bossa Nova and Choro with Jazz.

International award winning musician such as Downbeat student award 2021, Keep an Eye Records - 2020 and and Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation - 2016, Lucas had the chance to share stage with big names of the jazz and Brazilian scene, for example Miguel Zenón, Dick Oatts, Seamus Blake, Jasper Blom, Hermeto Pascoal, Metropole Orkest and Four Tops and Temptations.

For the coming year Lucas is dedicating his time to the release his debut album named "Reflections" and will be out on April 23rd. “Reflections” is an album composed and recorded during the lockdown period of 2020 due to the Covid-19 world crises and aims to deliver some of Lucas’ personal reflections of himself and of the world through his music.

1. Intro 03:11

2. Heritage 06:16

3. Dear George 06:26

4. Trouble Maker 06:45

5. As if we were just friends 06:52

6. Alma 07:12

7. Around the world 07:48

Lucas Santana: Alto saxophone and compositions

Tijs Klaassen: Double Bass

Tim Hennekes: Drums

Davor Stehlik: Guitar

Jetse de Jong: Piano

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Charley Rose Trio - Charley Rose Trio (September 2021)

Charley Rose Trio né à Paris, créateur de jazz foncièrement expressionniste. Un saxophone polymorphe qui déconstruit son son de la voix lyrique au crépitement d'élytre, une batterie presque immanente comme un feu de vie en toute chose et un piano d'une verticalité vertigineuse s'approprient les musiques d'aujourd'hui et en expriment le jazz par le prisme d'une subjectivité galopante.

1. Arrêtes le temps 05:05

2. Porky 04:36

3. If I should loose you 03:19

4. Pig's mess 06:34

5. Polish Poem 05:35

6. Hommage à la fonction OH 06:55

7. Blues Vache 03:39

8. No sé como te llama 07:11

9. Pit's belly before the great "Yes" 02:25

10. U.M.M.G. 03:34

Enzo Carniel: piano, MS20

Ariel Tessier: drums

Charley Rose: Alto saxophone

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Andy Hay - Another Sun (September 2021)

1. Another Sun. 04:45

2. Hey Ra ! 05:47

3. Ramsey 06:06

4. Delta 04:30

5. Donalds Byrds 03:08

6. Passage 03:41

7. The Question of the human sound. Pt 1 and 2. 11:58

Andy Hay - Drums, percussion spoken words

Chris Cruicks - Congas, Bongos, hand held percussion

Nicki Dupuy - Double Bass, percussion

John Ellis - Piano, guitar

Matt Nickson - Tenor sax, Flute

Helen Pillinger - Tenor Sax

Judy 'Little' Green. Spoken Words

Helena Summerfield - Flute , Soprano sax

Ben Walker , Pipes, Flute

Johnny Haycock - Kora

Clive Hunt Electric bass

Peter Churchman Guitar

Sound engineer and mixing mastering - Will Falkiner

Recorded at Limefield studios, Middleton Greater Manchester

All music copyright- Andy Hay

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Rönkä / Sommer - Varo (with Remmel & Sarikoski) September 10, 2021 Eclipse Music

1. Introduction to Sörnäinen

2. Sörnäinen

3. Blues

4. Varo

5. November

6. Beyond

7. What If?

8. En mi bémol

Artturi Rönkä - piano

Daniel Sommer - drums

Heikko Remmel - double bass

Kasperi Sarikoski - trombone (tracks 2 & 6)

All music composed by Artturi Rönkä except "Sörnäinen" by Daniel Sommer

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Hirofumi Asaba - Live at Izumiya (September 2021)

Live at Izumiya is the fourth solo jazz guitar album by Hirofumi Asaba.

5 tracks in this work are his favorite and Hirofumi played them as he likes.

It expresses free atmosphere which is different from the previous albums he has ever released so far.

Enjoy his free-floating album!

1. Fly me to the moon 03:31

2. Smile 03:57

3. I found a new baby 02:03

4. If I had you 04:44

5. I got rhythm 02:35

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Mark Jenkins & Friends: Live at Armstrong Auditorium (2021)

Born to a family of musicians, Oklahoma-based pianist, singer, composer and arranger Mark Jenkins has performed alongside such greats as Branford Marsalis and Brian Stokes Mitchell. He is joined by an all-star lineup of acclaimed Oklahoma musicians for this album.

Mark has been featured on 9 albums, and he has starred in leading roles in 6 musicals staged at Armstrong Auditorium.

1. Sweet Georgia Brown 06:06

2. How Deep Is the Ocean 04:45

3. The Next Day 06:02

4. On the Street Where You Live 02:54

5. Summertime 05:53

6. Take the A Train 08:01

7. Hallucinations 01:52

8. Stardust 06:00

9. Mozartin' 04:59

10. Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans? 05:11

11. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square 04:31

12. The Very Thought of You 08:40

13. Encore: Basin Street Blues 08:13

Mark Jenkins, piano and vocals

Jemar Poteat, drums

Raul Reyes, bass

Vince Norman, tenor and baritone saxophone

Floyd Haynes, clarinet and alto saxophone

Zac Lee, trombone

Jay Wilkinson, trombone

Ryan Malone, vocal

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Richard D. Johnson - "First Glance" via Afar Music 2021

Pianist Richard D. Johnson Presents His Expressive New Release, First Glance

via Afar Music

Pianist and composer Richard D. Johnson is proud to announce the release of his latest recording, First Glance, via Afar Music. The product of a spontaneous recording session, this all-original program showcases the Chicago-based pianist and composer at his musical prime. Touching on the overwhelming sensation that the sight of beauty can elicit, First Glance promotes a positive worldview and a melting pot of experiences.

Inspired by a rollover window of studio time, Johnson’s sixth release as a bandleader took form spontaneously after the pianist joined saxophonist Sharel Cassity for her 2020 recording Fearless. The ensemble, comprised of ace bassist Alex Claffy and high-powered drummer Mark Whifield Jr., had just finished recording Fearless on day one out of two booked at Victorian Studios in Chicago. With the spirit of Cassity’s album in mind, the crew seized the remaining studio session to record eight of Johnson’s own tunes, learning them all in one evening. With organist Paul Mutzabaugh added to the lineup, First Glance is a luminous display of individual talents melded into one cohesive whole.

Much of the material on First Glance calls upon Johnson’s time spent traveling and performing in the Midwest and Middle East. The album opener, “The Cut Off,” specifically observes Johnson’s period in Doha, Qatar, amidst a moment where he witnessed the country’s driving spirit to survive at all costs and become self-sufficient.

Photo Courtesy of Richard Johnson

Traversing decades of rich life experience and musical creation, “Soprano Blues” is a song Johnson stumbled upon when convening the album, a tune he wrote at the age of seventeen with a simple ¾ waltz tune. Speaking more to the present, “No WiFi” is a commentary on a distinctly modern sensation that arises when there is no internet to be found. As this expression tends to get repeated over and over, Johnson wrote in a looping part at the end, influenced by the sound of a “broken record” skipping repeatedly on the same part. 

One particular highlight for Johnson is “Last Minute,” a track he wrote as a tribute to his mentor, Mulgrew Miller. This original pays homage to Miller’s track “The Eleventh Hour” and features several musical elements that Johnson learned from his mentor. 

“Sunday Devotion,” closes off the album with a nostalgic tone. Celebrating his upbringing in the Baptist Church, the younger Johnson would play piano alongside his father on organ. Evoking a Sunday morning service, feelings of gratitude and discipline flow alongside the resonant keys of Mutzabaugh’s organ.

“First Glance is really about people who see something and are overwhelmed with the beauty right at first glance,” Johnson shared. “The album is a journey through that first glance and each song is an individual experience translated into music.” 

1. The Cut Off (5:44)

2. First Glance (4:00)

3. Soprano Blues (4:02)

4. No Wifi (3:22)

5. Sunset (6:08)

6. Trapped (5:30)

7. Last Minute (5:08)

8. Sunday Devotion (5:49)

All music composed by Richard Johnson

Richard Johson, piano

Sharel Cassity, alto (1,2,4,7), soprano (3,5,6), tenor (8) saxophone

Alex Claffy, bass

Mark Whitfield Jr., drums

Paul Mutzabaugh, organ

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