Massimo Biolcati - Momenta (2021)

A first-call accompanist, producer, composer and bandleader, New York bassist Massimo Biolcati is known as a founding member of Gilfema, the acclaimed collective trio with Hungarian drummer Ferenc Nemeth and West African guitarist and vocalist Lionel Loueke.

1. Dario Immaginario 06:07

2. Adaptation 07:16

3. Emma's Dilemma 06:41

4. Love Is Stronger Than Pride 05:00

5. Along Came Betty 07:25

6. Estate 05:14

7. Momenta 05:34

8. Gumbo Blues 05:40

9. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning 04:13

Massimo Biolcati - Bass (all tracks)

Tracks: 1, 4, 5, 7, 9

Phil Dizack - Trumpet

Kevin Hays - Piano

Kendrick Scott - Drums

Recorded at Bunker Studios in Brooklyn, NY by Nolan Thies on February 27, 2020.

Track 3

Jaleel Shaw - Alto Sax

Lex Korten - Piano

Clarence Penn - Drums

Recorded at Bunker Studios in Brooklyn, NY by Alex Conroy on February 8, 2020.

Tracks: 2, 6, 8

John Ellis - Tenor Sax

Mike Moreno - Guitar

Rodney Green - Drums

Recorded at Bunker Studios in Brooklyn, NY by Aaron Nevezie on November 4, 2020.

Produced by Massimo Biolcati

Mixed and mastered by Dave Darlington at Bass Hit Recording, New York, NY

Cover artwork by María José Benvenuto

Cover design by Miranda Danusugondo

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Pianist James Francies Returns with New Album "Purest Form" out May 21; Hear the 1st Single "713"

Pianist, producer, and composer James Francies has released “713,” a vivid tribute to his Houston hometown that is the first single from his forthcoming album Purest Form, an expansive opus due out May 21. The album is available for pre-order now on CD and digital formats.

Since his debut album Flight entranced listeners in 2018, Francies has expanded personal explorations of sound bending and orchestral approaches to the music. Collaborations across stylistic realms — including those with Childish Gambino, Pat Metheny, Mark Ronson, The Roots, YEBBA, Chris Potter, Common, Eric Harland, Marcus Miller, DJ Dahi and Ms. Lauryn Hill — have enhanced his development and refined his sound. In issuing Purest Form, his second Blue Note release, Francies accesses intimate chambers of his artistry across 14 tracks, interpreting love, grief, frailty, and fortitude.

The album’s core trio includes Francies’ longtime collaborators Burniss Travis on bass and Jeremy Dutton on drums—three Houston-raised artists who have been playing together and developing alongside one another for more than a decade. Additional musicians featured throughout include his Blue Note labelmates alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins and vibraphonist Joel Ross, as well as guitarist Mike Moreno and vocalists Elliott Skinner, Peyton, and Bilal.

Francies’ expression blooms across false borders of genre and style. He nurtures a celestial fascination with melody and texture. “Music, in its purest form, is an honest space we’re trying to get to where there are no preconceived ideas of what we think something should sound like,” he says. “When you really tap into who you are on the inside, musically and as a person, that energy supersedes anything else.”

For Francies, Purest Form is more than a recording. It’s an essence. “I hope that what I was trying to go for — an immersive, multidimensional experience — really reaches people. I hope that for 56 minutes, they step into this world of sounds and textures. That’s the idea. And [laughs] I hope it sounds good on every speaker.”

1. Adoration

2. Levitate

3. Transfiguration

4. Blown Away Feat. Peyton

5. Rose Water Feat. Elliot Skinner

6. My Favorite Things

7. Stratus

8. 713

9. Melting

10. Where We Stand

11. Freedmen’s Town

12. Eyes Wide Shut Feat. Bilal

13. Still Here

14. Oasis

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Charlie Porter - Hindsight (2021 OA2 Records)

Internationally acclaimed GRAMMY Award Winning trumpeter and composer Charlie Porter first cut his teeth on the New York jazz scene, while simultaneously studying classical trumpet performance at The Juilliard School under the tutelage of famed trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis.

Not a stranger to the idea of infusing one's art with examinations of societal conditions, Grammy-winning trumpeter Charlie Porter follows 2019's "Immigration Nation" with thoughts of how we act in hindsight to deal with the collateral damage of 'progress' and the centuries-old struggles with racism, inequality and corruption. Born during the upheavals of 2020, "Hindsight" reflects the tumult, uncertainty, and fiery emotions of the times, yet with the recent birth of his son, and thoughts of how we're going to leave the planet for the next generation, his "For Ellis" closes the album with a gospel choir and a hymn of hope. Joining Porter on the wide-ranging set of originals are saxophonist Nick Biello, pianist Orrin Evans, guitarist Mike Moreno, bassists David Wong & Damian Erskine, Behn Gillece on vibes, drummer Kenneth Salters, along with several guest performers. "Porter's playing is fluid, expressive, and magnificent." - DOWNBEAT

1 Tipping Point 5:49

2 Hindsight 7:00

3 Walking The Plank 6:51

4 Things Fall Apart 7:53

5 Requiem 7:38

6 In Short Supply 9:45

7 Going Viral 5:55

8 Paradise Lost 5:33

9 For Ellis 4:18

All music by Charlie Porter

Porter House Music (ASCAP)

(4) lyrics by Majid Khaliq

(6) lyrics by Madelaina Piazza

Charlie Porter - trumpet

Nick Biello - alto & soprano saxophones (1,6,8), keyboards (7,8)

Mike Moreno - guitar (3-6,8)

Behn Gillece - vibraphone (2,6)

Orrin Evans - piano/keyboards

David Wong - bass

Damian Erskine - fretless electric bass (4)

Kenneth Salters - drums

Jimmie Herrod - vocals (4,6)

Rasheed Jamal - rap vocals (6)

Majid Khaliq - violin (4)

Bassekou Kouyate - ngoni (African traditional guitar) (6)

Mahamadou Tounkara - ntama (African talking drum) (6)

Hallowed Halls Gospel Choir (9)

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Stefon Harris + Blackout - Sonic Creed (MOTEMA MUSIC 2018)

The album is Stefon Harris and Blackout’s first recording since Urbanus (which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album in 2009), and 2004’s Evolution. The conception and birth of Sonic Creed came about as a result of Harris bursting with this music, this sound, and this album, inside of him. “What pushes me to release a new album is the answer to the question, if I don’t record this music will the sound of this music exist in the world? And if the answer is no, then we have to go into the studio!”, said Harris.

Sonic Creed is about music that chronicles the story of a people and their time on earth. It aims to be a reflection of African American life in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. And, it is a sonic manifestation and creed of family, community and legacy. “These core assets of the Black community are the messages of Sonic Creed, and we honor our legacy by exploring the music of masters such as Bobby Hutcherson, Abbey Lincoln, Wayne Shorter and Horace Silver. Their music is timeless and is the literal aural expression of those community assets”, said Harris.

The album therefore serves as a representation, through Stefon Harris and Blackout’s existence and experience, of Black American life in the present. “I want to document our time on the planet in the here and NOW! What is the sound of ‘Black Lives Matter’ for example? What is the sound of electing the first African American President of The United States? What is the sound of right now? This is what I’m interested in Blackout representing and reflecting. It’s art for our sake”, stated Harris.

Mike Moreno - Three for There (CRISS CROSS RECORDS 2017)

On his third Criss Cross leader date, Mike Moreno convenes drummer Kendrick Scott, who played on his fellow Houstonian's prior Criss Cross outings (Third Wish [Criss 1303] and First In Mind [Criss 1338]) and bassist Doug Weiss, who played on Third Wish.

They frame the 39-year-old guitarist's sui generis tonal on a program culled from the corpuses of a multi-generational cohort of heroes: jazz songs by Charlie Parker ("Perhaps"), Wayne Shorter ("The Big Push"), Joe Henderson ("Serenity") and Mulgrew Miller ("For Those Who Do"); songbook gems by Michel Legrand "You Must Believe In Spring"), Johnny Mandel ("A Time For Love") and Vernon Duke ("April In Paris"); plus one apiece by Radiohead ("Glass Eyes") and Lo Borges ("Clube Da Esquina No.1").

As always Moreno finds fresh pathways through familiar sonic landscapes on a date that is a master class in triological conversation.

1. The Big Push (Wayne Shorter)  6:54

2. For Those Who Do (Marcus Miller)  6:27

3. You Must Believe In Spring (Michel Legrand)  7:10

4. Clube Da Esquina No. 1 (Lo Borges)  5:37

5. April In Paris (Vernon Duke)  9:24

6. A Time For Love (Johnny Mandel)  8:15

7. Perhaps (Charlie Parker)  6:35

8. Glass Eyes (Radiohead)  5:19

Mike Moreno (G)

Doug Weiss (B)

Kendrick Scott (D)

CONCERTOS PORTA-JAZZ: Este Sábado 14 de Outubro MIKE MORENO TRIO - Sala Porta Jazz !

MIKE MORENO TRIO -  WORKSHOP + CONCERTOS

14-Outubro Mike Moreno Trio - Sábado Sala Porta Jazz 

Workshop -  17.00h - 18.00h 

Concerto - Duas sessões que iniciam às 19:00h e às 22:00h

Mike Moreno é uma figura que dispensa apresentações. O norte americano é reconhecido como uma das mais predominantes vozes da guitarra no jazz, tanto como líder ou como sidemen.

Tem participado com figuras de renome mundial tais como Joshua Redman Elastic Band, Lizz Wright Band, Nicholas Payton Quartet, Stefon Harris Sonic Creed, Me'Shell N'Degeocello, Jason Moran, Terence Blanchard, Robert Glasper, Ambrose Akinmusire, Gretchen Parlato, Aaron Parks, Claudia Acuña, Greg Osby 4, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Jeremy Pelt, John Ellis, Myron Walden, Kenny Garret, entre muitos outros.

Neste dia vem apresentar na PortaJazz musicas do seu ultimo trabalho "Lotus", Imperdível.

Mike Moreno - guitarra

Demian Cabaud - contrabaixo

Marcos Cavaleiro - bateria

www.mikemoreno.com

Neste workshop, Mike Moreno vai partilhar com os presentes as suas experiências como sidemen de artistas como Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman ou Kenny Garret. Falará da sua abordagem harmónica / melódica tanto nos standards como nos originais e a interação entre a secção ritmica e os solistas.

Tópicos como Improvisação, comping , composição e de como gerir uma carreira musical nos dias que decorrem também serão abordados.

Será uma oportunidade unica para interagir com uma das vozes mais predominantes da actualidade na guitarra jazz Nova Iorquina.

Jimmy Greene: Flowers – Beautiful Life, Vol. 2 (MACK AVENUE RECORDS 2017)

Every musician, I assume, has a prime source for inspiration. For saxophonist and composer Jimmy Greene, that’s been his daughter Ana, who had given him that inspiration during her life and in the aftermath of her shocking, tragic death that made international news. More than four years after the Sandy Hook massacre that cut short Ana Greene’s life, Ana continues to be a muse for her father. Flowers – Beautiful Life, Volume 2 (April 28, 2017, Mack Avenue Records) finds Jimmy Greene in a better spot in his life, because he chose to turn misery and grief into music that’s a celebration of the spirit of Ana and the forces of good.

Thusly, Flowers isn’t a low key affair that A Beautiful Life was at times, but jazz through the cheerful, carefree lens of a six year old. Greene, rest assured, is still making the same polished, attenuated music that endeared himself to us back in ’09. The difference now is that he makes the music a little more playful and lighter on its feet, music that someone at both six and sixty could dance or at least bob their head to.

You can hear him having a good time recording the 6/8 Brazilian samba festival tune “Stanky Leg” or the Nola-inspired second line “Stink Thumb” (apparently putting forth a notion that if it smells bad, it must sound good). On the former, pianist Renee Rosnes spins a tastefully flowing piano solo and the latter is livened up by Ben Williams’ pocket aware bass and Otis Brown III’s jumpin’ snare drum. On both, Greene delivers a happy, prancing soprano sax.

Other songs are inspired by Ana’s own words: “Big Guy” is what she called her 6’6″ father and the song of that name swings in a unique, dynamic way. “Fun Circuits” (“Don’t let them suck your fun circuits dry, Mom!”) has complex rhythms and Mike Moreno’s guitar with Rosnes’ Fender Rhodes give it a rock-jazz flair but also characterizes childlike exhilaration and unpredictability.

“December” is a song with a multidimensional complexion to portray the range of emotions that occur at the Greene household during this month every year (holiday season without Ana, anniversary of the Newtown massacre). But even here Greene is pushing forward; the song works through the mixed emotions with vigor and Brown’s drums make sure of that.

Sometimes words are needed to fully explain the feeling, and accordingly, a couple of vocal turns are included. Sheena Rattai takes on the task on the titular “Flowers” with words inspired by Ana’s book of flower drawings intended as an expression of love to her father. Greene offers what he calls “some humble advice to parents” as conveyed by Jean Baylor on the sweet ballad “Someday” while Greene’s cool, assuring tenor sax flutters around.

The only song Greene didn’t compose came instead from Level 42. Greene had revealed to us before that there was “something about Ana” so you might say he turned this 1986 hit “Something About You” into a message about her. Greene gets really creative with the middle of it, practically making up a whole new section where he again drops down chops from his soprano sax.

There’s talent galore on this album: besides Rosnes, Moreno, Williams and Brown, there are also appearances by Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts, John Patitucci, Rogerio Boccato and Kevin Hays. They all do their part to help make Flowers – Beautiful Life, Volume 2 a worthy successor to Greene’s gorgeous tribute Beautiful Life. But Jimmy Greene’s biggest help comes from within. Inside his heart, where Ana Grace Greene lives and thrives.

1. Big Guy

2. Stanky Leg

3. Flowers

4. Second Breakfast

5. Fun Circuits

6. Stink Thumb

7. Someday

8. December

9. Amantes

10.Something About You

11.Thirty-Two

Jimmy Greene

Renee Rosnes

Mike Moreno

Ben Williams

Otis Brown III

Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts

John Patitucci

Rogerio Boccato

Kevin Hays

Jason Palmer - Beauty 'N' Numbers (The Sudoku Suite) 2016 SteepleChase Records

Trumpeter / Composer / Arranger / Educator / Actor, Jason Palmer is one of the most in demand musicians of his generation. This Fall Jason will be on tour in Portugal, Spain and will be featured on the East Coast Tour of The Miles Davis Experience 1949-1959, a Collaboration with Blue Note Records, managed by Cami Music, see "Schedule" for dates. This past summer Jason toured Austria, Germany and was featured in multiple festivals in the East Coast and Canada with the Grace Kelly Quintet, spent a week in residence with FLY at Langnau Jazz nights in Langnau Switzerland. 

Also in 2011 Jason is an awarded Fellow in composition for the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Jason has worked with icons such as Roy Haynes, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Smith (the organist), Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Kurt Rosenwinkel (first trumpeter ever hired by this highly acclaimed guitarist), Ravi Coltrane, Geri Allen, Patrice Rushen, Clarence Penn, Jeff Ballard, Kenny Barron, Phil Woods, Common (hip-hop icon), Roy Hargrove, and Lewis Nash.

Jason took 1st Place ($10,000 prize) in the 2009 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition. The June 2007 issue of Downbeat Magazine cited Jason as one of the "Top 25 trumpeters of the Future".

In addition to performing on over a dozen albums as a sideman, Jason has recorded three albums under his own name and is currently a Steeplechase Records Recording artist. His debut recording entitled "Songbook" (Ayva Musica) features guest saxophonists Ravi Coltrane and Greg Osby. The record garnered rave reviews upon its' release and appeared on several "Best of 2008" lists including All Music Guide's list for best jazz album.

Jason is has toured the world extensively with Greg Osby, Grace Kelly's 5tet, Matana Robert's Mississippi Moonchile, The Round Trip Trio (France), as well as projects lead by bassist Michael Janisch, performing at major jazz festivals in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Finland, Croatia, Serbia, Bratislava, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, France, Malta, The Netherlands, and numerous clubs and major jazz festivals in the U.S. Jason's quintet has been leading the house band every weekend at Boston's historical Wally's Jazz Café for the past eleven years. His band was nominated as one of the "Best Jazz Act" by the Boston Phoenix in 2011. He has presented his band at the Tanglewood Jazz Fest, Sculler's Jazz Club, the Stone and the Jazz Gallery in NYC, the Studio in Hartford Ct, as well as numerous venues throughout New England.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council selected Jason as an Artist Fellow in Music Composition for 2011. In 2007 Jason Palmer was commissioned by the Festival of New Trumpet Music in NYC to premier a new work (based on a Sudoku game) for his quintet at the Jazz Standard.

In addition to a heavy performing schedule, Jason Palmer continues to maintain a busy schedule as an educator. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Ensembles at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. The '08-'09 school year also saw Jason commuting from Boston to New York City to serve on the faculty at the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music. Jason has been teaching trumpet and directing ensembles in the Prep and SCE division at New England Conservatory for the past eleven years and has been the woodwind and brass director at the Mission Hill School for the past six years. He was faculty member at the Aquinas College Jazz Camp (Grand Rapids, MI, 2004-2010). Mr. Palmer has given master classes in Portugal, France, the UK, and Mexico.

Applying his trumpeting skills in a new medium, Jason is the lead actor in Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench, written and directed by Damien Chazelle. The movie received great reviews after premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2009. Since then the film has been screened at film festivals in Greece, Denmark, Austria, Australia, Bratislava, Martha's Vineyard (MA), Houston, Denver, Seattle, Los Angeles, Calgary (Canada), Minneapolis, Mill Valley (CA), was released in select theaters in North America and is released worldwide on DVD.

Recorded December 2015

01. Beauty 'N' Numbers 5:05

02. Obsessive 4:05

03. Compulsive 5:35

04. Disorder 7:18

05. Is 5:40

06. Now 6:36

07. Under 2:44

08. Control 4:56

09. Thanks 2:12

10. To The 2:08

11. Guidance 6:16

12. Of Fun and Games 5:39

13. So 6:13

14. If You Would 5:25

15. Allow Me To Be 5:08

16. In The Moment 0:45

Jason Palmer(tp)

Mike Moreno(g)

Edward Perez(b)

Lee Fish(ds)

Jason Palmer Website