Uli Lenz - Rainmaker’s Dance (February 2022 Arkadia Records)

“He is a magician.” – Rolling Stone

The discovery of renowned German Jazz pianist Uli Lenz’s Arkadia Records CD, “Uli Lenz: Rainmakers Dance”, is a thought provoking and moving event. Rarely will you hear a Jazz album with a combination of such power and grace. From the spellbinding delicacy of A Perfect Couple to the stormy heights of Traumatic Experiences with Bavarian Trapdoors, Uli Lenz unique sound and writing style make him a rising star on the Jazz horizon. His songs, One Year After and Umbrella Indoors, were featured on the soundtrack of the award-winning film “Sideways”, starring Paul Giamatti.

““…capable of dizzying solo flights but is also adept at the use of space… colorful and respected presence.”

 – David R. Adler, All Music Guide

Already renowned internationally, Lenz is joined on his U.S. debut by music masters Ira Coleman on bass, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez on drums, with Arkadia label mate alto saxophonist T.K. Blue on several cuts as well. With a formidable command of the keyboard, composition and style, “Uli Lenz: Rainmakers Dance” not only represent the best of Jazz’s past, present and future, but masterfully displays the pianist’s playful sense of time and melody on this impressive album.

“…the precision with which Uli Lenz actually seems to imprint those racy, intense figures into the piano keys is almost unbelievable.” 

– Rheinpfalz Magazine

“The breadth of Lenz’s pianistic and compositional skills are astounding. He swings.”

– F. Norman Vickers is Executive Director of the Jazz Society of Pensacola FL 

1. Traumatic Experiences with Bavarian Trapdoors 04:37

2. Rainmaker’s Dance 06:01

3. Umbrella Indoors* 04:55

4. 1, 2, 3 Cuckoo! 05:01

5. RIP (Rest In Peace) 06:37

6. Subway to Vanilla City 04:14

7. A Perfect Couple 05:45

8. Brake for the Wild Boar Blues 05:03

9. One Year After* 04:22

10. Orange Coalition 05:07

11. My Foolish Heart (Victor Young, Ned Washington) 06:24

12. Little Ostrich* 04:53

(* featured in the Fox Searchlight film, “Sideways”, starring Paul Giamatti)

Al songs composed by Uli Lenz, except as indicated.

Uli Lenz: Piano

Ira Coleman: Bass

Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez: Drums

T.K. Blue: Alto saxophone on tracks 1, 4, and 8

PRE-ORDER

John Esposito - Lyra (SUNJUMP RECORDS 2018)

It certainly took me a long time to get around to recording these 17 compositions! They were composed in the 80’s while I was working in the great multi instrumentalist Arthur Rhames’ band. They reflect my thoughts on the work required to survive being on the bandstand with Arthur.

Arthur played a combination of Bebop perennials like Cherokee, modulating every chorus down in minor thirds but starting at the bridge so that the last ‘A’ and first 16 bars would be in the new key until the next modulation at the bridge. We played his teacher Gigi Gryce’s Minority, up in minor 3rds, and I Got Rhythm, up in 4ths. He also employed American Songbook tunes like I’m An Old Cowhand and Swinging On A Star, both reharmonized drastically. We played Coltrane compositions like Giant Steps, through keys and reharmonized; Mr PC, up in 4ths; and Impressions, also up in 4ths. Some of Arthur’s most emotionally intense work involved Negro Spirituals like I Want Jesus To Walk With Me and Soon I’ll Be Done With The Troubles Of This World. We also played a number of his highly structured originals.

Playing that music with Arthur steadily for three years and sporadically for several years after that raised my technical abilities as a pianist. It also got me thinking about many things like the relationship between form and content, making melodies with harmonic clarity, playing with rhythmic drive, extended solos with emotional intensity and reinterpreting the Blues.

During the first half of the decade I composed extensively, experimenting in my own way with what I had learned. I worked with the tensions between symmetry and asymmetry, explored chord sequences and their emotional meaning, and devised new relationships between the melodies and the chords. I also started to play drums to better understand what I was hearing in phrasing.

I didn’t record much during that time but continued to work the ideas out on gigs, especially with Second Sight in the second half of the decade.

In the summer of 2014 I workshopped these pieces and a number of others in order to revisit some of these ideas and find out what they meant to me so many years after they were written.

I also did this because old friends kept requesting that we play them. By that point I was having trouble remembering the tunes they were referring to.

So after going through the archives and relearning and making a few edits, we spent two days in NRS Studios recording and subsequently played some concerts. It was an interesting walk through the past but it also.

My thanks to Arthur Rhames who, although he has moved on to another plane, is always present in my thoughts and music. Thanks to the musicians for their enthusiasm and commitment to the work, to Scott Petito for his impeccable engineering and to my partner Laura Steele for her design work and her endless support and inspiration. I dedicate this music to her and our three year old daughter Lyra who is an inspiration to both of us and I thank Lyra for her album art. 

John Esposito

1. Always Present 9:08

2. King of Kings 11:00

3. Sacrifice 9:19

4. Lyra 7:48

5. Forsaken 5:49

6. A Minor Setback 7:08

7. The Invisible 8:05

8. Phineas Returns 6:50

9. Pursuit 11:52

10. A Backward Glance 10:16

11. Arthur Rhames 8:10

12. Soulmates 11:55

13. Cerulean 5:11

14. World of Mirrors 6:45

15. Its the Upward Path 5:15

16. Speak Memory 6:45

17. Victory Blues 6:50

18. Always Present II 8:51

Greg Glassman, trumpet

Stacy Dillard, saxophones

John Esposito, piano

Ira Coleman, bass

Peter O'Brien, drums

New Christmas Jazz CD From Chris Pasin and Friends "Baby It's Cold Outside"

New Christmas Jazz CD

From Chris Pasin and Friends

"Baby It's Cold Outside"

Jazz trumpeter Chris Pasin spreads warm holiday spirit with his new CD

of seasonal classics, Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Artist: CHRIS PASIN AND FRIENDS

Title: BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE

Label: Planet Arts

Artist Website: www.chrispasin.com 

Release Date: OCTOBER 6, 2017

UPC Code: 820428301714

Track listing w/ track time

1. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 5:44

2. Santa Claus is Coming to Town 5:21

3. We Three Kings of Orient Are 6:31

4. Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel 6:34

5. Baby It’s Cold Outside 4:22

6. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear 4:41

7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 4:48

8. Greensleeves 4:10

9. Christmas Time is Here 4:24

10. I’ll be Home for Christmas 3:24

11. The Christmas Song 7:18

Musicians

Chris Pasin - trumpet, ugelhorn, vocal

Armen Donelian - piano

Ira Coleman - bass

Je Siegel - drums

Rich Syracuse - bass

Peter Einhorn - guitar

Patricia Dalton Fennell - vocal

From subtle to sexy to swinging, Chris Pasin and friends shine a brilliant light on the best yuletide favorites

Nothing gets music lovers in a celebrating mood like listening to their favorite carols, and this brand-new CD, Baby, It’s Cold Outside, delivers a whopping dose of holiday cheer. On 11 of the most-beloved sounds of the season, trumpeter Chris Pasin and friends show they have a real gift for making such familiar material their own, while maintaining the spirit and warmth that’s such a major part of the yuletide celebrations.

Equally comfortable on both trumpet and ugelhorn, leader Chris Pasin has proved himself among the most versatile of musicians. Besides fronting his own bands, he’s been a mainstay of ensembles led by the likes of Buddy Rich, Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin, George Russell, and Brother Jack McDu . Pasin has also appeared with legendary gures including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme and Ray Charles, to name a few.

For Baby, It’s Cold Outside, Pasin has assembled a stellar ensemble of some of the most in-demand musicians on the New York jazz scene. Among them: pianist Armen Donelian (Sonny Rollins, Chet Baker, Paquito D’Rivera); bassists Ira Coleman (Freddie Hubbard, Betty Carter, Herbie Hancock) and Rich Syracuse (Mose Allison, Bernard Purdy, Kurt Elling); drummer Je Siegel (Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette, Sheila Jordan); singer Patricia Dalton Fennell (Dave Holland, Giacomo Gates, Pete Levin); and guitarist Peter Einhorn (Joe Lovano, Placido Domingo, Jim Hall).

Highlights from Baby, It’s Cold Outside include:

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”: Here’s a subtle, sensitive and understated version of a classic that steers clear of the overly sentimental, right from Donelian’s heart-felt piano opener. “We Three Kings”: Uptempo and bursting with energy, the band brings great drive and brilliant feeling to this beloved carol, which features an excellent solo from leader Pasin. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”: Check out the sexy and playful collaboration between Pasin and vocalist Patricia Dalton Fennell. The twosome demonstrate their wit and camaraderie as they work their seductive skills on the lyrics. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”: A very welcome new take on a traditional tune turns it into a cooker; the great rhythmic drive makes it downright danceable. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”: Pasin and Einhorn shine on solos in this unique treatment of a 1940s-vintage hit.

Pasin and friend’s fresh take on the greatest songs of the season celebrate the beloved classics in an original and vastly appealing style. Listeners will enjoy old favorites in a new way this holiday season, thanks to the great renditions performed by this talented and creative ensemble.

NATIONAL PRESS CAMPAIGN

JIM EIGO, JAZZ PROMO SERVICES,

272 State Route 94 South #1,

Warwick, NY 10990-3363

Ph: 845-986-1677 jim@jazzpromoservices.com • www.jazzpromoservices.com

“Specializing in Media Campaigns for the music community, artists, labels, venues and events.”

Bovet-Coleman Trio - It's Time to Go (2016)

Source & Label:

Genre: Modern Creative / Post-bop

GAB's Rating: ★★★★★

Over the last years, Cedric Bovet composed several nice jazz pieces. Cedric and his brother Lucien expressed a common wish to have them recorded someday, the challenge being to find a bass-player able to upgrade them in a trio formula. Ira Coleman gently accepted to join us for a recording session and a few concerts. Ira, a fantastic and creative bass-player who played with famous musicians as Herbie-Hancock, Tony Williams, Freddy Hubbard and Betty Carter during his career accepted the challenge to play Cedric’s music with us. After rehearsing some Cedric’s compositions it clearly appeared that some of them required a richer musical background to fully express their substance. We therefore asked our great friend and impressive trombonist Samuel Blaser and the young talented pianist Mathieu Scheuber to be part of the recording session for some pieces. Finally the alchemy between us turned out to be so effective that we recorded enough music for two CD’s, one in trio and the second in a quartet or quintet package. We hope that our musical and human experience will touch you as much as it filled us with positive sensations, peace and love.

 

 CD 1:
01. Lacustre 30:30
02. Serenade for a Black Moo04:19
03. Sangsue amoureuse 03:20
04. It's Time to Go 04:13
05. Esquisse 05:10
06. Senza Piu 05:42
07. Sans facon 03:34
08. Hongroiserie 05:51
09. Serenade for a Black Moon (2nd Version) 04:22

CD 2:
01. Etat de Choses 04:38
02. Point of No Return 03:25
03. Pierre avoi 04:02
04. Nardis 03:33
05. Jungle Blue 04:16
06. Pas sans monk 04:33
07. Few Miles Away 03:59
08. Etat De Choses (Live) 12:43
 

Cedric Bovet: tenor and soprano saxophones
Ira Coleman: acoustic bass
Lucien Bovet: drums
Samuel Blaser: trombone
Mathieu Scheuber: electric piano  

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