Justin Brown - Nyeusi (BIOPHILIA RECORDS 2018)

After years as an essential member of groups led by Ambrose Akinmusire, Thundercat, and Flying Lotus, – he’s also been tapped to round out the sound for Esperanza Spalding, Terence Blanchard, Bilal, Vijay Iyer, and many others – Brown is finally ready to extend his reach beyond the drumset to lead his own band, NYEUSI. 

Rounding out NYEUSI are Jason Lindner and Fabian Almazan on keyboards, Burniss Earl Travis on bass, and Mark Shim on electronic wind controller. Brown on drums is the engine propelling an intoxicating synthesis of varying influences that offers deep groove and charged improvisations. “I cannot think of a more highly anticipated debut by an artist right now that is also a lynchpin in today’s creative music scene,” says WBGO’s Simon Rentner.

1. Jupiter's Giant Red Spot 01:48

2. Lesson 1: DANCE 02:31

3. Lots for Nothin' 04:00

4. Waiting (DUSK) 01:18

5. Waiting on Aubade 06:23

6. At Peace (DAWN) 01:02

7. Lesson 2: PLAY 02:27

8. Entering Purgatory 05:18

9. Replenish 02:44

10. FYFO 03:31

11. Circa 45 06:07

12. Burniss 00:32

13. Lindner's in your Body! 02:37

Justin Brown | Drums, Fender Rhodes, Synths, Yamaha DX7

Mark Shim | Wind Controller

Jason Lindner | Moog Synth, Prophet, Mopho, Schoenhut Piano

Fabian Almazan | Fender Rhodes, Mopho, Wurlitzer, Laptop

Burniss Travis | Bass

Brooklyn Recording Studio: June 24 and 25, 2015

Engineer: Andy Taub

Assistant Engineer: Adam Tilzer

Electric Indigo Studios August 15, 2017

Engineer: Jesse Fischer

Assistant Engineer: Morgan Guerin

Mixing: Andy Taub | Tracks 1-8 & 11-13

Mixing: Jess Fischer | Tracks 9-10

Mastering: Colin Girod

Artwork: Roland Nicol

Layout: Aestheticize MediaJustin Brown

Now Vs Now - The Buffering Cocoon (September, 14 2018)

Jason Lindner, a keyboardist with eclectic musical sensibilities that intermesh to create a unique voice that has served as a key ingredient for numerous projects, including David Bowie's final album "Blackstar", presents his New York-based band's third album (and first for Jazzland), 'The Buffering Cocoon'.

Broad in scope, grand in ambition, and possibly a wormhole to a different musical dimension, the album takes the listener on the musical journey and experience that defies clear classification by any traditional measures. If music is about ideas expressed via the right notes in the best possible configuration using the best sounds, this is what Now Vs Now delivers. The ideas are focused on the future: the future of humanity, society, the planet. The themes of each track are interconnected, and their musical expression is perfectly attuned accordingly: no excess notes in the name of ego-based skill exposition, no scarcity of sounds where the concepts demand them. From the moment you press play, to the final drone and tick-tock of "Buffer Failed. Restart" you are taken on a journey with a perfectly planned and executed itinerary, a journey from an uncertain present to possible futures.

Genres become grist for Now Vs Now's musical mill, stylistic compass points to orient the listener. Chick Corea's description of Lindner as a "musical universe" is shown here to be a truth rather than mere hyperbole. They produce electronic music tinged with jazz, funk and soul, with nods to relaxing vaporwave ("Accelerating Returns"), analog synth-pop (the percolating "Cloud Fishing"), danceable darkwave (the propulsive, '80s-reminiscent "Motion Potion"), and modern electro-R&B ("The Scarecrow"). On other songs, IDM's taut beatkeeping, jazztronica's livewire energy, and elements of the cutting-edge Wonky subgenre popularized by Flying Lotus and J Dilla contribute verve and velocity.

In addition to fronting Now Vs Now - whose lineup also features bassist Panagiotis Andreou and drummer Justin Tyson - Lindner is a sound designer, composer, arranger, and producer. Originally from Brooklyn, he taught himself piano by ear before studying formally, simultaneously finding expression on electric guitar and saxophone. An apprentice of New York's elder jazz masters, his musical career began in jazz and sasla clubs. But he soon proved to be a voracious student of many types of music, eventually leading to synthesizers and electronics. Lindner currently tours and records with saxophonist Donny McCaslin - whose band, including Lindner, was enlisted by David Bowie for the recording of his final album, the Tony Visconti co-produced Blackstar - and is in a particular niche to serve as keyboardist for Angelique Kidjo's Talking Heads Remain in Light project and with Ethiopean Jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke. He also embarks on solo and collaborative electronic projects under the name Oscillations.

"Rhythm provides more than a heartbeat for Jason Lindner. It also seems to fuel his respiratory functions and digestive activity, and maybe his neurons...What matters to him is groove, however it comes." - The New York Times

"Will this alien music make you want to dance? Absolutely, but be warned: once you step into the group's intoxicating, alternate universe, you may find it hard to leave." - NPR Music

"...an open minded kid from Brooklyn [Lindner] became one of jazz's most interesting keyboardists, with an identity spanning genres, cultures, formats and technologies." - JazzTimes

1. Buffering 3% 01:08

2. Cloud Fishing 05:26

3. Glimmer 07:21

4. Motion Potion 07:05

5. Silkworm Society 05:26

6. Buffering 43% 00:59

7. Dichotomy 08:32

8. Pergamos 06:42

9. Squoosh 00:50

10. 400 PPM 06:24

11. The Scarecrow (Silkworm Society Remix) 02:33

12. Accelerating Returns 05:52

13. Buffering Failed - Restart 00:38

Donny McCaslin - Beyond Now (2016) MOTÉMA MUSIC

Deeply influenced by the extraordinary experience of collaborating with David Bowie on his final release, 'Blackstar', Donny McCaslin steps forward with 'Beyond Now'. 

Recorded a few months after Bowie's passing, it is a heartfelt dedication to the Starman. Alongside Bowie's 'Last Band' (Jason Lindner, Mark Guiliana, Tim Lefebvre and McCaslin himself), Donny reimagines two Bowie songs, tracks by Deadmau5 and MUTEMATH, plus powerful originals, displaying the rich musicality and innovation that originally led to him working with one of the most creative artists of all time.

"It was like a dream except it was something I never could have dreamed of," reflects McCaslin on working with Bowie. "David Bowie was a visionary artist whose generosity, creative spirit and fearlessness will stay with me the rest of my days. 'Beyond Now' is dedicated to him and to all who loved him."

Comprised of core 'Blackstar' personnel, bassist Tim Lefebvre (Tedeschi Trucks Band, Saturday Night Live), drummer Mark Guiliana (Me'shell Ndegeocello, Brad Mehldau) and Jason Lindner (Now Vs Now), along with guitarist Nate Wood and producer David Binney, 'Beyond Now' is comprised of two Bowie songs, covers of Deadmau5 and MUTEMATH as well as compelling McCaslin originals that include the title composition, inspired by a track inspired by a song McCaslin recorded for 'Blackstar' that didn't make the album.

With three GRAMMY nominations and 11 albums to his name, McCaslin's path to Bowie and 'Beyond Now' can be traced back to 2011 and the release of his album 'Perpetual Motion', taking on an electric direction for the first time in contrast to his previous acoustic projects. Two subsequent albums 'Casting for Gravity' (2012) and 'Fast Future' (2015) released with his working band were directly influenced by electronica artists (covering groups such as Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, and Baths), which netted McCaslin a 2013 GRAMMY nomination for 'Best Improvised Jazz Solo'.

The (as it turned out) once in a lifetime opportunity to work with Bowie came after composer Maria Schneider, a longtime collaborator, recommended McCaslin and his group to Bowie. Schneider and Bowie were collaborating on the track 'Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)', which featured McCaslin as a soloist. In June 2014, Bowie heeded Schneider's advice and made a visit to hear McCaslin and co at the 55 Bar in Greenwich Village. Soon after, Bowie began corresponding with McCaslin over email and sending music, forming a new collaboration and friendship that transpired through the recording of 'Blackstar' until Bowie's passing. The result is 'Beyond Now', which documents the 'Last Band' as they were processing both their grief and Bowie's distinctive impact.

"This new album is an expression of that journey for all of us," says McCaslin. "David allowed 'Blackstar' to be what it was going to be regardless of how people might have categorised it. More than anything, it was his fearlessness in crossing musical boundaries and genres in his music and life that inspired the risks I'm taking in 'Beyond Now'. I am indebted to Bowie for showing me the risks and rewards of going for your uncompromising musical vision."

1 Shake Loose

2 A Small Plot of Land

3 Beyond Now

4 Coelacanth 1

5 Bright Abyss

6 Faceplant

7 Warszawa

8 Glory

9 Remain

Donny McCaslin, tenor sax

Jason Lindner, piano

Tim Lefebvre, bass

Mark Guiliana, drums