Pat Bianchi - In The Moment (SAVANT RECORDS November 2018)

Capable of everything from vibrato-laden intimate murmurings to sermonizing at a roaring volume, the jazz organ can sometimes be strangely dispiriting - like being stuck at a bar with a non-stop talker. Pat Bianchi will have none of that, eschewing all the clichés and displaying the instrument's versatility with a set list that ranges from Chick Corea to Patsy Cline to Monk and Billy Eckstine. 

For this, Bianchi's first recording on Savant, the leader has brought along a number of friends and colleagues including Pat Martino, Joe Locke, Carmen Intorre, Jr. the late, lamented Kevin Mahogany and others making for an extra-special debut recording.

Pat Bianchi (organ)

Paul Bollenback (guitar)

Byron Landham (drums)

With special guests:

Peter Bernstein (guitar)

Carmen Intorre Jr (drums)

Joe Locke (vibes)

Kevin Mahogany (vocal)

Pat Martino, (guitar)

1. Humpty Dumpty

2. Blue Gardenia

3. Don't You Worry 'bout A Thing

4. Mr. PM

5. Barracudas (General Assembly)

6. Crazy

7. No Expectations

8. I Want To Talk About You

9. Fall

10. Four In One

Jeff "Tain" Watts - Travel Band - Detained in Amsterdam (June 29, 2018)

Tain spent his formative years with Wynton & Branford Marsalis and his writing skills now command equal attention, highlighted by a 2017 Guggenheim Fellowship in Music Composition. Watts has recorded and toured with George Benson, Harry Connick Jr, Kenny Garrett, Michael Brecker, Kenny Kirkland, Courtney Pine, Geri Allen, Alice & Ravi Coltrane, Greg Osby, McCoy Tyner, Steve Coleman & Fort Apache.

1. Brilliant Corners

2. 14E Intro

3. 14E

4. Brekky with Drecky

5. Ice Age Intro

6. Ice Age 07:11

7. Brainlifter 06:01

8. Vodville 05:15

9. A Wreath for John T. Smith

10. Merango Nights

11. Snarchasm Rant

12. Snarchasm

13. Blakzilla Intro

14. Seed of Blakzilla

15. Blutain

Recorded live at the Bimhuis, Amsterdam on Saturday Feb 11, 2017.

Released by Dark Key Music June 29, 2018.

Jeff "Tain" Watts - drums and compositions

Paul Bollenback - guitar

Orlando le Fleming - double bass

Produced by Jeff "Tain" Watts 

Recording Engineers: Onno Prillwitz and Marc Schots 

Mix Engineer: Patrick Smith 

Mastering Engineer: Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound NYC 

Additional edits by Laura Watts 

Package design by Jeff Watts and Laura Watts

Todd Marcus - On These Streets (a Baltimore Story) 2018

Since 1997 Marcus has lived a double life as a community activist and leader of the west Baltimore nonprofit Intersection of Change, while also carving out a career as one of the world’s preeminent jazz bass clarinetists. His album On These Streets offers a musical portrait of his neighborhood of 20 plus years which was thrust into the national spotlight in 2015 due to the civil unrest following the death of fellow community resident Freddie Gray.

Self taught in jazz theory and composition, Marcus’ straight-ahead playing has carved out a unique voice for the bass clarinet in modern jazz. The New York Times writes, “Mr. Marcus is probably the most inventive bass clarinetist working in straight-ahead jazz today…[and] lives in Baltimore, where he is a guiding light on the city’s jazz scene who doubles as an activist and organizer.”

While the New Jersey native’s work over recent years has focused extensively on his Egyptian heritage by incorporating Middle Eastern influences in jazz, his current efforts have focused on his experiences at home in Baltimore as On These Streets seeks to portray both the challenges and strengths of his community.

1. On The Corner 08:28

2. An Intersection of Change (Intro) 02:04

3. An Intersection of Change 07:21

4. Ground Zero (at Penn. & North) (Intro) 01:32

5. Ground Zero (at Penn. & North) 08:48

6. I Surrender All (Intro) 00:40

7. I Surrender All 05:14

8. Fear of the Known 06:14

9. PTSD In the Hood (intro) 00:22

10. PTSD In The Hood 05:50

11. Pennsylvania Avenue Hustle (Intro) 01:42

12. Pennsylvania Avenue Hustle 04:55

13. It Still Gets Still (Intro) 00:33

14. It Still Gets Still 06:51

15. Covered In Snow 06:11

16. NJ '88 (Ode to the 80s) 06:20

Todd Marcus - bass clarinet

Warren Wolf - vibraphone & drums

Paul Bollenback - guitar

George Colligan - piano

Kris Funn - bass

Eric Kennedy - drums & vocal