John Zorn - Heaven and Earth Magick (2021 Tzadik)

Heaven and Earth Magick showcases Zorn’s fabulous and compelling blending of classical virtuosic instrumental writing with the improvisational world of Jazz. Completely notated works for piano and vibraphone brilliantly performed by Steve Gosling and Sae Hashimoto are set against a dynamic improvisational rhythm section of Jorge Roeder and Ches Smith. An exciting new musical world filled with an exhilarating sense of drama and a mischievous wit. Zorn’s unique mastery of instrumental writing and wild improvisational conducting skills are here in all their thorny complexity. Essential!

1. Auto-Da-Fé  7:59 

2. Acéphale  10:36 

3. Asclemandres  8:14 

4. Descent Into The Maelstrom  8:26 

5. Konx Om Pax  10:05 

6. Casting The Runes  9:07

Jorge Roeder - Bass

Ches Smith - Drums

Stephen Gosling - Piano

Sae Hashimoto - Vibraphone

All music composed, arranged and conducted by John Zorn 

Produced by John Zorn 

Associate Producer - Kazunori Sugiyama 

Recorded and mixed September to October, 2020 by Ryan Streber at Oktaven Audio, Mount Vernon, NY 

Mastering - Scott Hull 

John Zorn Portraits – Scott Irvine

Design - Chippy (Heung Heung Chin)

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Julian Lage - Squint (June 11, 2021 Blue Note)

Guitar virtuoso Julian Lage has shared “Boo’s Blues,” the second song from his Blue Note Records debut album, Squint, out June 11. The loping swing feel of “Boo’s Blues” exemplifies Lage’s ability to write with his bandmates in mind while echoing his influences: “I like to imagine this music being played by the tans of bass and drums,” Lage says. “I’m imagining Billy Higgins, I’m imagining Art Taylor, I’m imagining Wilbur Ware, even though I’m writing explicitly for Dave and Jorge.”

Squint is a striking full-length that weds incisive, expressive songwriting with the profound interplay Lage has honed over the past few years with his de trio featuring bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer Dave King (The Bad Plus). The album was heralded last month with the release of the album’s lead single “Saint Rose.” Squint is available now for pre-order on vinyl, CD, or download.

“I absolutely love improvised music, and I’ve always been fascinated by singer-songwriter music,” says Lage. “For me, the jazz that came out of Blue Note always engaged both sides of that. It had incredible improvisational vocabularies and performances, but when I think of albums from Grant Green’s Idle Moments to Joe Henderson’s Inner Urge to McCoy Tyner’s Time for Tyner with Bobby Hutcherson – all these records that I love so much also have such great songs. I felt like this was an opportunity to present new music born out of the Blue Note tradition as I’ve interpreted it.”

Lage was recently featured on the GRAMMY Museum’s COLLECTION:live interview series, watch here. The guitarist will also be continuing his popular series of masterclasses with upcoming sessions on April 11 and April 18. A 30-minute solo performance will follow each class. Tickets are available here.

Shai Maestro / Jorge Roeder / Ofri Nehemya / Philip Dizack - Human (ECM Records)

In its review of pianist Shai Maestro’s ECM leader debut The Dream Thief, All About Jazz spoke of “a searching lyrical atmosphere, emotional eloquence and communal virtuosity that serves the music.” All of which also applies to Human, where Maestro’s outgoing, highly-communicative band with fellow Israeli Ofri Nehemya on drums and Peruvian bassist Jorge Roeder becomes a quartet with the inspired addition of US trumpeter Philip Dizack. Shai’s expansive pianism is well-matched by Dizack’s alert, quick-thinking approach to improvising. And, as ever, Maestro is taking the music forward while also respecting its sense of tradition. Near the end of a programme comprised almost entirely of Maestro originals, exploring a range of temperaments, the quartet offers its own take on Duke Ellington’s “In A Sentimental Mood”, while Shai’s tune “Hank and Charlie” pays tribute to the musical empathy shared by the late Hank Jones and Charlie Haden. Human was recorded at Studios la Buissonne in the South of France in February 2020, and produced by Manfred Eicher.

1. TIME (Shai Maestro) 03:23

2. MYSTERY AND ILLUSIONS (Shai Maestro) 08:32

3. HUMAN (Shai Maestro) 02:34

4. GG (Shai Maestro) 04:44

5. THE THIEF’S DREAM (Shai Maestro) 07:53

6. HANK AND CHARLIE (Shai Maestro) 04:41

7. COMPASSION (Shai Maestro) 03:24

8. PRAYER (Shai Maestro) 04:26

9. THEY WENT TO WAR (Shai Maestro) 05:22

10. IN A SENTIMENTAL MOOD (Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Manny Kurtz) 05:47

11. IMA (FOR TALMA MAESTRO) (Shai Maestro) 05:32

Shai Maestro: Piano

Jorge Roeder: Double Bass

Ofri Nehemya: Drums

Philip Dizack: Trumpet

CONCERTS

April 08

Shai Maestro Trio Theatre de la Manufacture Nancy France

April 15

Shai Maestro Trio Tourcoing Jazz Tourcoing France

April 16

Shai Maestro Trio La Briqueterie Schiltigheim France

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Shai Maestro / Jorge Roeder / Ofri Nehemya - The Dream Thief (ECM September 28, 2018)

The first ECM leader date for Shai Maestro (following his label debut with Theo Bleckmann on Elegy) features the gifted pianist fronting his superlative trio with fellow Israeli Ofri Nehemya on drums and Peruvian bassist Jorge Roeder, and also playing alone. A solo interpretation of Matti Caspi’s “My Second Childhood” opens the curtain on a programme of characteristically thoughtful Maestro originals, each one with a story to tell.  “Hearing the Shai Maestro Trio is like awakening to a new world”, All About Jazz has suggested. “Expressions of joy, introspective thoughts and heightened intensity all come to the fore.” Maestro’s differentiated touch is special; he can convey a range of fleeting emotions in a single phrase. A deconstruction of “These Foolish Things”, the album’s sole standard, serves as a prelude to “What Else Needs To Happen”, a sombre meditation on inner city violence and its aftermath.  The Dream Thief was recorded at Lugano’s Auditorio Stelio Molo RSI in April 2018, and produced by Manfred Eicher, and issued on the eve of a European tour with concerts in Spain, Germany, Netherlands,  Sweden, Belgium, Italy, France, and Switzerland.

Shai Maestro, Piano

Jorge Roeder, Double Bass

Ofri Nehemya, Drums

1 MY SECOND CHILDHOOD (Matti Caspi) 04:39

2 THE FORGOTTEN VILLAGE (Shai Maestro) 06:21

3 THE DREAM THIEF (Shai Maestro) 08:29

4 A MOON'S TALE (Shai Maestro) 02:36

5 LIFELINE (Shai Maestro) 03:54

6 CHORAL (Shai Maestro) 03:50

7 NEW RIVER, NEW WATER (Shai Maestro) 06:59

8 THESE FOOLISH THINGS (REMIND ME OF YOU) (Jack Strachey) 04:24

9 WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO HAPPEN? (Shai Maestro) 06:56

The Notet - Silent D (SHIFTING PARADIGM RECORDS April 20, 2018)

Although The Notet is a collective musically, I was the organizer of the project. Having worked with JC, Jorge and Jeremy in various contexts for a number of years (and they with each other), I had a good idea of the level of musical compatibility that would be evinced in a recording situation.  The idea was to be spontaneous and unplanned—just four close musical associates playing familiar tunes and occasionally making one up on the spot. To enhance the natural feeling of connection, we recorded with everyone in the same room, old school. We didn’t plan anything, no arrangements, no discussion of who was doing what; just picked a tune and a tempo, then counted it off. And since we were playing in the same room, no edits were possible. We recorded several sessions and chose our favorite tracks for release.

1. Body and Soul

2. Alone Together

3. Along Came Betty

4. Stella By Starlight

5. Silent D

6. Falling Grace

Jeremy Udden - alto saxophone

JC Sanford - trombone

Andrew Green - guitar

Jorge Roeder - drums