Frederic Borey - BUTTERFLIES Trio (FEATURING Lionel Loueke) 2021 Fresh Sound Records

FREDERIC BOREY

« BUTTERFLIES » TRIO

FEATURING

LIONEL LOUEKE

With this brand new CD on Fresh Sound Records, the 8th under his name, Frédéric Borey joins ambition, musicality and friendship.

Following the first album (©2019), and almost 80 concerts since 2018, BUTTERFLIES Trio has built, together and with the public, a strong relation.

Based on this human and musical complicity, he dreams big and decides on this second album, to invite world-class musician Lionel Loueke (Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Dave Holland, Charlie Haden, Joe Lovano, Chris Potter, Esperanda Spalding, Robert Glasper, Sting, Gretchen Parlato…) and faithful friend met 26 years ago.

« This idea comes from a collective desire, to keep renewing ourselves. The trio is the foundation, around which we think interesting (for ourselves and for the public) to permanently create, innove, have fun and take some risks. It also correspond to a certain form of spontaneity, improvisation and surprise that makes the essence of Jazz music.

The idea of inviting Lionel has been revealed as an evidence. The three of us having the highest respect for his career, it was also, beyond his musical personality, about keeping human’s relation on the center of our group »

In this new record of 11 songs, including 8 in quartet and 3 in trio, we find Frédéric’s compositions, of course, but also pieces from his partners, who have all composed for this project.

Each songs has it own strong identity. We can easily recognize Frédéric’s writing on 'Don’t Give Up', 'Lou' (duo between Frédéric & Lionel) or 'Insomnia' (with two drums and two guitars recorded at the time) that brings a new sound to his repertoire. 'Do Hwe Wutu' (« Thanks to you » in Beninese) expresses Frédéric’s gratitude and friendship towards Lionel. We can also recognize Loueke’s unique touch with « Camille » that he wrote and sings here.

It results a beautiful diversified recording, balanced, in which we clearly feel their humanity and complicity

The Butterflies invites Lionel Loueke and spreads their wings together. « That’s all we are trying to be, 4 butterflies that meet and fly together during a dance »

01. Don' Give Up (Frédéric Borey)

02. Camille (Lionel Loueke)

03. Wish (Frédéric Borey)

04. Commencement (Stéphane Adsuar)

05. Insomnia (Frédéric Borey)

06. Gentlemen's Agreement (Damien Varaillon)

07. Cube (Damien Varaillon)

08. Do Hwe Wutu (Frédéric Borey)

09. Lou (Frédéric Borey)

10. Clews (Frédéric Borey)

11. Snowscape (Damien Varaillon)

The Line up :

Frédéric Borey (tenor saxophone)

Damien Varaillon (doublebass)

Stéphane Adsuar (drums)

Lionel Loueke (guitars, vocals)

All songs, except 03, 07, 11

Recorded by Julien Reyboz

Ohm Sweet Ohm Studio, Paris

Mixed and Mastered by Dave Darlington

Bass Hit Recording, New York City

Album Artwork ©Maria Jarnyza

Frederic Borey Site   Spotify   Youtube   Fresh Sound Records

Michael Feinberg’s HARD TIMES (w/ Orrin Evans, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts) is out October 22 via Fresh Sound

Bassist Michael Feinberg Releases Provocative New Album HARD TIMES, due out October 22, 2021 via Fresh Sound

Bassist and composer Michael Feinberg issues Hard Times, out on October 22, his eighth album as a leader spotlighting a fiercely integrative sound. At once stark and uplifting, the Fresh Sounds release expresses his layered response to the pandemic that, “offered some challenging opportunities,” according to the New York-based artist, who contends Hard Times “is the culmination of those challenges and opportunities.”

Primed for spontaneous expansion, the collection of largely original compositions reflects an aesthetic containing multitudes. “It’s a pretty diverse album in terms of the music,” he says. “It’s pretty eclectic.” Serving as co-producer alongside Jordi Pujol, Feinberg booked David Amlen to record the music at Sound on Sound Studios in Jersey, and Michael Perez-Cisneros to mix and master the album at Big Orange Sheep. 

For Feinberg and his collaborators, Hard Times offers room to wail and room to contemplate and, at its core, room to stretch. As a result of the lockdown, he seized an opportunity to assemble a band of perennially touring artists, including Leo Genovese on keyboards and synths, Billy Buss on trumpet, Godwin Louis on alto, Noah Preminger on tenor, Gabriel Globus-Hoenig on percussion, Orrin Evans on piano and special guest Randy Brecker for one texturally lavish, melodious track. 

Once he secured Jeff “Tain” Watts for the studio date, Feinberg began composing much of the music as well as the arrangements with the drummer’s nuanced expression in mind. “He’s someone who I’ve listened to for so long and have such deep respect for,” says Feinberg. “I wanted to bring out elements of his playing I really like.” 

Partly for Tain, partly in service of his own expression, Feinberg sought to create a groove-driven album that welcomes dualities and apparent contradictions. “A lot of the interest I have in music comes from disparate worlds combining — the order in the chaos,” he says. “Not that it’s always chaos [laughs]; it can be beautiful, tranquil.” Hard Times presents structured concepts of patterns and groove, allowing Feinberg and his fellow artists to respond with an elasticity and a pervading freedom to take scripted music and spontaneous melodies wherever they mean to go. “It creates the tension and release within the ensemble,” he says, “rather than just with the notes on the page.” 

Photos of Michael Feinberg courtesy of the artist

From opening colors on track one’s dedication to master forgers Pei-Shen Qian and Rudy Kurniawan, Hard Times reveals inquiry within the music. In addition to his strength and subtlety on the kit, Tain’s attention to leaving and creating space for idea development persists across the album. Through his arrangement of “Nardis,” Feinberg seeks to honor the pivotal apprenticeship gig with Russell Gunn he landed when he was coming up in Atlanta. Full on the low-end, the groove swells and recedes, arcing the music from one section to the next. “Husafell Stone” hits the listener with a fullness up front. Taking the first solo, Evans allows the composition’s syncopated melody to serve as point of origin before Buss delivers his own swinging response. 

Twin McCoy tracks “Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit” and “Three Flowers” pay tribute to a recently departed hero of Feinberg’s, the latter piece featuring a dualism is his bass solo characteristic of the entire record: strength in sensitivity. “These performances are intended as a tribute to him, as well as keeping the flame lit for those who love his music,” he says in his album notes. Written as a feature for Louis and Buss, “Janky in the Middle” spotlights the artists’ interplay, offering each opportunities to play with, alongside and against what the other proffers. The resulting dialogue creates smaller arcs in the music that punctuate the movement of the tune. Feinberg has played together with both artists for the past decade and a half. “We have that comfort to take those chances,” he says, “knowing we can find our way back once we get out there [laughs].” 

Flush with lamentation, “Every. Damn. Day. (Burn it down blues)” acknowledges and honors the continued generational trauma inflicted on the Black community as a result of racism, police brutality and gun violence. “Lauren’s Song” features another of Feinberg’s beautiful and tender melodies. In his signature language, Brecker speaks in full voice on “Monkeys Never Cramp.” Concluding on a note of jubilance and healing, “Hard Times” features Feinberg’s resonating walk and swinging melodies. He admits, however, he can only make suggestions; in the moment, sound is fluid. “Everything’s always in flux in the music,” he says. “It can go anywhere at any time, and everyone in the band knows that so we’re ready for it.” 

Fresh Sound Records Website

Peter Zak - One Mind (feat. Marcos Verela) FRESH SOUND RECORDS 2018

"Peter Zak is a pianist of extraordinary talent and virtuosity. His latest CD exhibits mature, sensitive and high level creativity at its best."

Dr. Eddie Henderson (trumpeter)

01. For Sonny 8:22

02. Backseat Driver 6:33

03. George Washington 7:03

04. I Wish I Lived in LA 7:01

05. Where the Wild Things Are 7:52 

06. Moonlight Over Saturnvelen 7:35

07. Textures 5:52

08. So In Love 7:02

09. Reflections 4:51

All compositions by Peter Zak, except #5 by Marcos Varela; #7 by Herbie Hancock; #8 by Cole Porter, arranged by Peter Zak; #9 by Thelonious Monk.

Peter Zak (piano)

Seamus Blake (tenor sax)

Marcos Varela (bass)

Billy Drummond (drums)

Recorded at Tedesco Studios, Paramus, New Jersey, on May 26, 2017

Sound engineer: Tom Tedesco

Mixed & mastered by Katherine Miller

Cover art by Josh Pazda

Produced by Peter Zak & Marcos Varela

Executive producer: Jordi Pujol

Adam Kolker & Russ Lossing - Whispers and Secrets (FRESH SOUND RECORDS 2018)

01. Lost (Wayne Shorter) 8:00

02. Seven Bar Tune (Adam Kolker) 7:51

03. Only One (Adam Kolker) 6:57

04. Beautiful You (Billy Mintz) 5:43

05. Whispers (Russ Lossing)  7:29

06. Flight (Billy Mintz) 7:03

07. Gnash (Adam Kolker) 10:26

08. Secrets (Lossing-Kolker) 2:28

Adam Kolker (tenor & soprano saxophones, bass clarinet)

Russ Lossing (piano)

Masa Kamaguchi (bass)

Billy Mintz (drums)

Recorded at Charlestown Road Studio, Warren, New Jersey, on May 26, 2014

Engineered by Paul Wickliffe

Mixed & mastered by Paul Wickliffe at Skyline Productions

Cover photo by Russ Lossing / Band photo: Debbie Lossing

Liner notes: Russ Lossing

Produced by Peter Zak & Marcos Varela

Executive producer: Jordi Pujol

Lou Levy - I m Old Fashioned (FRESH SOUND RECORDS 2018)

Issued in 1983 as The Kid s Got Ears , this album is one of the best and rarest that legendary Chicago pianist Lou Levy (1928-2001) recorded during his long and successful career. Guess I ve been lucky in music, he smiled. It seems like I was in the right place at the right time all my life, getting to play with Stan Getz, Woody Herman, Tommy Dorsey, Terry Gibbs... And then, of course, there were the great vocalists I ve worked with Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, Nancy Wilson, Frank Sinatra...

Levy s attack is rapid-fire and many-noted, while his left rumbles at the chord progressions. His playing was known for its smooth sophistication and subtle swing. From the way I play, I suppose you could say that Bud Powell has been my biggest influence. Art Tatum s approach to harmony certainly influenced me too. It was so... so rich. But, of course, there are many other pianists I have great admiration for. Oscar Peterson, for instance. Naturally, other instrumentalists made a great impression. Certainly, Charlie Parker. And Dizzy, Miles, and Al Cohn. 

There s a reason I m Old Fashioned gives title to this album. Levy admitted to have a soft spot for this tune. I did that solo. I figured maybe I could handle that since it s my favorite tune. And it is a beautiful effort indeed. Be it solo, in a duet with bassist John Heard, or in a trio with drummer Shelly Manne, Levy shows his remarkable blend of lyricism and swing at each step. A model of taste, where the execution goes hand in hand with the creativity of this vastly underestimated pianist.

01. High On You (Al Cohn) 3:41

02. I Won't Dance (Kern-Hammerstein II-Harbach) 4:24

03. I'm Old Fashioned (Kern-Mercer) 4:33

04. Limehouse Blues (Philip Braham) 5:34

05. Take the ‘A’ Train (Billy Strayhorn) 5:15

06. Estate (Martino-Brighetti) 4:38

07. I'm All Smiles (Mickey Leonard) 5:16

08. You Say You Care (Styne-Robbins) 4:01

09. Wait 'Til You See Her (Rodgers-Hart) 2:45

10. Ding, Dong, the Witch Is Dead (Arlen-Harburg) 2:43

All tracks previously issued as “The Kid’s Got Ears!” (Jazzizz JIR 4002)

Lou Levy, piano

On #1,4,6,8: John Heard, bass; Shelly Manne, drums

On #2,5,7: John Heard, bass

On #3,9,10: Lou Levy, solo piano

Recorded at Sage & Sound Studios, Hollywood, November 27 & 28, 1982

Recording engineer: Jim Mooney

Original recordings produced by Jim Brown

Liner notes: Jordi Pujol / A. James Liska

Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol

Stereo · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered

Gildas Scouarnec - Live at Radio France (FRESH SOUND RECORDS 2018) 2-CD

You can almost hear their restlessness: listen the two saxophonists enter the arena, Peter King on alto, Jean Toussaint on tenor. Playfully, they try to reach each other’s registry—the alto scraping for its lower notes while the tenor goes through the higher octaves. And in two of the tunes they have the young Sylvain Beuf join in for the games. At the piano? Alain Jean-Marie, immediately recognizable by his unrivaled touch and swing, by the elegance without flourishes that he has always represented. The many colors of Tony Rabeson on drums: revel in his solo on Minor Mood. And in some tunes George Brown replaces him with his bold, unpredictable swing, unrivaled in the history of Parisian jazz! And behind this beautiful scene Gildas Souarnec, composer and bassist. Not all the tunes are his —for example Shorter, composed by Peter King, who quotes Nefertiti with admiration and a hint of mischief—but you can hear the leader’s hand in most of them: his enthusiastic proposals, the interplay between the voices of the saxophones, the melodic charm of Valse pour Margot…

And through all of it, a beautiful bass, natural, fair and full bodied, unfiltered by amplification, delivering the sound of the fingers and the string—a real taste of the authentic without added colorings and preservatives, as fresh today as the day it was made!

CD 1

01. Mr. Silver

02. Modjo

03. Minor Mood

04. U.Turn

CD 2

01. Shorter

02. First Kick

03. 93/94

04. Valse pour Margot

05. Blues for Sylvain

All tracks composed by Gildas Scouarnec, except CD1 #1 by Peter King

Gildas Scouarnec (b)

Peter King (as)

Jean Toussaint (ts)

Alain Jean Marie (p)

Tony Rabeson (d)

On CD 1, tracks #1 & 4: Sylvain Beuf (ts), Georges Brown (d)

Recorded at La Maison de Radio France, Paris, June 11, 1996 (CD1 #1 & 4: Broadcast “Jazz Vivant,”) & February 11, 1994 (Broadcast “Transcontinentales”)

Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol

Stereo · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered

Gael Horellou Quintet - Coup De Vent (FRESH SOUND RECORDS 2017)

01. Melody 9:18

02. The Gale Force 6:42

03. Roy 5:28

04. GK 7:10

05. Spiral Dance 7:51

06. Moral de Fer 9:41

07. Blame It on My Youth 6:39

08. The Gale Force (Alternate take) 6:08

Gael Horellou (alto sax)

Jeremy Pelt (trumpet)

Etienne Déconfin (piano)

Viktor Nyberg (bass)

Antoine Paganotti (drums)

Recorded at Studio des Egreffins, France, July 3 & 4, 2017

Sound engineer: Nicholas Charlier

Mix engineer: Dume Poutet

Photography by Maëlle Truffa

Produced by Gael Horellou

Executive Producer: Jordi Pujol

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Arturo Serra - Locomotive (FRESH SOUND RECORDS 2017)

Arturo Serra fue el primer vibrafonista en toda España que se atrevió a adentrarse en el complejo mundo del jazz. Artista entre dos mares, trabaja como Profesor Músico de la Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga desde hace más de veinte años y es uno de los docentes más considerados en los cursos de jazz que se imparten en toda España. 

Él se define como “un músico que nada entre dos mundos, el clásico y el jazz”. Lo cierto es que este inquieto vibrafonista compagina los concietos que ofrece dentro de la orquesta de Málaga con actuaciones de jazz en las que ha compartido escenario con músicos muy reconocidos, nacionales e internaciones, de la talla de Jerry Bergonzy, Dave Santoro, Joe Magnarelli, Dick Oatss, David Pastor, Juan Galiardo, Pedro Cortejosa, Miquel Casany, Albert Palau, Perico Sambeat, Francisco Blanco Latino y un largo etcétera. 

01. Dual Force (Buster Williams) 7:58

02. El Gaucho (Wayne Shorter) 4:31

03. I Waited for You (J.J. Johnson) 6:06

04. L’s Bop (Lenny White) 4:10

05. Locomotive (Thelonious Monk) 5:50

06. Wild Flower (Wayne Shorter) 6:42

07. Little Melonae (Jackie McLean) 7:13

08. Rounder’s Mood (Booker Little) 4:53

09. So Far, So Near (Bennie Green) 7:01

10. Giant Steps (John Coltrane) 6:00

Arturo Serra (vibes)

Enrique Oliver (tenor sax)

José Carra (piano)

Bori Albero (bass)

Ramon Prats (drums)

Recorded at FJR Studios, Granada, December 3, 2015

Recording engineer: Fernando J. Romero

Photos by Luis Tentor

Album artwork: Margot Coca

Produced by Arturo Serra

Executive Producer: Jordi Pujol

Jonathan Saraga - Lourney to a New World (FRESH SOUND RECORDS 2017)

Manhattan, NYC native, trumpeter and composer Jonathan Saraga has been said by All About Jazz to possess the musical “wisdom and maturity of veterans more than twice his age,” and that “his chops, lust for musical life and don't-box-me-into-a-stylistic-corner mentality make him seem like the musical offspring of trumpeters Dave Douglas and Ambrose Akinmusire."

Jonathan's professional music career officially began in 2002 when he was cast as an orchestral trumpeter in the Paramount film, Changing Lanes. That same year he would begin performing at the Jazz Standard (NYC) with their Youth (jazz) Orchestra. In '05, after receiving the Fred Mazart Music Award as he began his collegiate studies, Jonathan Saraga would win the 2007 International Trumpet Guild Jazz Solo Competition, and shortly after receiving his Bachelor of Music degree, he competed again, this time as one of five finalists in the 2009 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Competition. Saraga was also one of two trumpeters selected from an international pool to participate in the 2010 School for Improvisational Music summer intensive program, just before completing graduate school. Read more...

01. Uprising 9:28

02. The Great Journey 10:52

03. Firm Roots 8:56

04. Sabbath Prayer 9:53

05. The Guardians 8:49

06. Lullaby 7:16

07. The Fool On the Hill 9:17

08. New World 9:29

All tracks composed and arranged by Jonathan Saraga, except #3 composed by Cedar Walton, #4 by J.Bock-S.Harnick and #7 by J.Lennon-P.McCartney

Jonathan Saraga (trumpet)

Remy Le Boeuf (alto sax)

Aki Ishiguro (guitar)

Chris Pattishall (piano)

Rick Rosato (bass)

Kenneth Salters (drums)

Recorded at Peter Karl Studios, New York City, on November 25, 2015

Recording Engineer: Peter Karl

Mastering by Dave Darlington at Bass Hit Recording

Photos by Tayla Nebesky

Produced by Jonathan Saraga

Executive Producer: Jordi Pujol

Unitrio - Picasso (FRESH SOUND RECORDS 2017)

“PICASSO”, the third effort by UNITRIO, was born on the road, somewhere between here and there, while the trio was touring. Our daily exchanges revealed a common wish to write music based on the work of another artist… a musician, painter, cinema director…

Very soon we were drawn towards the art of painting, and then naturally to Picasso, his work, his paintings and designs reached us and talked to us. The fact that just his name summons a whole different universe, using such a powerful , uniquely personal language, made the choice easier.

In addition to pushing us out of our comfort zone, this exercise gives the listener a singular approach to the works of Picasso we have chosen: it allows him to “read” a canvas while being guided by the musical highlights proposed by UNITRIO, and to “travel” inside the music while looking at a pictorial score, the original source.

"Buste de femme" and "Femmes d’Alger d’après Delacroix" become then three different versions, with each composer proposing his own interpretation of the painting. “L’Acrobate,” on the other hand, is told by par Frederic Borey, “La nouvelle ronde de la jeunesse” by Alain Tissot and “Massacre en Corée” by Damien Argentieri.

We hope this album will take you somewhere you may not have gone by yourselves, a place where your imagination, ours and who knows, maybe even Pablo Picasso’s, meet. Have a good listen and a good trip.

Buste de Femme

01. Vu par Alain Tissot 4:22

02. Vu par Damien Argentieri 5:34

03. Vu par Frederic Borey 6:01

La nouvelle ronde de la jeunesse

04. Vu par Alain Tissot 5:40

L’Acrobate

05. Vu par Frederic Borey 6:14

Femmes d’Alger d’après Delacroix

06. Vu par Damien Argentieri 5:48

07. Vu par Frederic Borey 5:23

08. Vu par Alain Tissot 5:55

Massacre en Corée

09. Vu par Damien Argentieri 2:53

All tracks written and arranged by Unitrio

UNITRIO are:

Damien Argentieri (Hammond organ)

Frederic Borey (tenor sax)

Alain Tissot (drums)

Recorded, mixed and mastered at Studio Mesa, Soignolles-en-Brie (France), January 13, 14 & 15, 2017

Sound engineer: Charles Frossard

Graphic Design: Yves Juillerat, Moutier (Switzerland)

Paintings reproductions by Peter Cox & Bridgeman Images

Thanks to Picasso Administration, Paris - Sandra Houel

Produced by UNITRIO

Executive Producer: Jordi Pujol