Paul Booth - 44 (Forty Four) April 15, 2022 Ubuntu Music

Following on from my album ‘Trilateral’, recorded when I was 33 years old, 11 years later I thought ‘why not carry on with a theme’. My good friend Andrew Bain (also one of the drummers on this album) suggested recording a double quartet album, with both quartets playing at the same time. I began the challenge of trying to write for such a line-up. Although I have written for large ensembles before, writing for two bass players and two drummers was another story. I did some research, looking for inspiration, and found some good records. However, there aren’t too many albums out there with two bass players. I decided to use the electric and occasionally the upright as another ‘horn’ in some sections and then swapping roles in others, occasionally letting them play together. With the fine artistry of Flo and Dave, there never seems to be a moment where they are in each other’s way. In my opinion, it’s simply clean and classy. The same can be said for the two drummers who seamlessly worked together as if they had been doing it their whole lives. I just let them get on with it and they figured out how to make each piece work in a matter of minutes.

Ross and Oli provided beautiful colours throughout the album, with blinding solos while always complementing one another and the whole band in their accompanying roles. In choosing the musicians who appear on this album, I wanted to have a combination of some of my long-standing friends/collaborators and some of the younger musicians from the UK jazz scene who have really impressed me. This brings us to Alexandra, the youngest from this ensemble, who played so exquisitely with a maturity way beyond her years. I’m extremely proud of this whole ensemble and the music we created in one afternoon and ‘live’ in one room. 

1. Blues In The Square

2. Four Candles

3. Tale Of Tetra

4. Quad Rant

5. 4 Her

6. Summer Of 44

7. Quartal Quarantine

8. Four

Paul Booth - tenor/soprano saxophones

Alexandra Ridout - trumpet/flugelhorn

Ross Stanley - piano/Hammond B3 Organ/Wurlitzer electric piano

Oliver Mason -guitars

Flo Moore - electric bass

Dave Whitford - upright bass

Shane Forbes - drums

Andrew Bain - drums

Recorded at Challow Park Studios on the 2nd August 2021 by Will Biggs & James Towler

Mixed by James Towler at Wincraft Studios

Mastered by John Webber at Air Studios

Artwork by OG Media

Photography by Monika S. Jakubowska

Produced by Paul Booth

Executive Producer - Martin Hummel

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Giuseppe Paradiso & Meridian 71 - Parallel Dimensions (April 15 2022 Ubuntu Music)

Boston’s popular cross-cultural music project Meridian 71, led by the versatile Italian drummer and composer Giuseppe Paradiso, to release 3rd album Parallel Dimensions

Meridian 71 is a cross-cultural music project created and led by Giuseppe Paradiso since 2012. The project name comes from Boston’s longitude: the 71st meridian that passes precisely through the eastern part of the city. Parallel Dimensions (Ubuntu Music, drops April 15 2022) the band’s third album, features original compositions by Giuseppe and performances by an eclectic and multicultural ensemble of well-established Boston-based musicians. 

“Boston is the location where I met musicians from different parts of the globe. We are deeply connected and spoke the common language of music together”, reflects Paradiso. “It felt like I had known for a long time that at some point in my life I would have met musicians just like them, way before moving across the Atlantic in 2008. Meridian 71 became the creative laboratory and space to develop this music.”

Meridian 71 is more than a conceptual band; it’s a dynamic and ever-changing musical project with a revolving lineup and a driving vision to use music and sound to inspire, bridge cultures and create links within different traditions. 

Blending music genres that range from jazz and improvised music to Mediterranean and West African styles, Parallel Dimensions features Giuseppe on drums, percussion, electronics & vocals; Mark Zaleski on alto & soprano sax/clarinet; Utar Artun on piano & keys; Phil Sargent on electric guitar; James Hazlewood-Dale on upright, electric and fretless bass; and Malick Ngom on West African sabar drums, percussion and vocals.

The first single from Parallel Dimensions, the groove-heavy “Tony” (Feb 18) brings the cultures together in an instantly recognizable sense. Inspired by and written for the late Fela Kuti drummer Tony Allen, “Tony” is obviously informed by young Giuseppe checking out his family’s and friends’ African music records- but even better lessons in that vast genre come from the decade Giuseppe has spent drumming for a Nigerian church. “It’s very fun and enlightening to play in such a context, especially for a drummer, because you have to have a groove,” he says with a laugh. “It’s a learning experience, especially when you have to combine your drumming with the dancing of the people in the congregation- you have people moving with your rhythms, and that’s always a very deep and powerful experience for me. I have always been inspired by and learnt so much from the relationship between dance and percussion over the years.”

“Tony” opens with an overdriven bass line that sounds almost like it’s lifted straight from a Tony Allen tune, while Giuseppe’s muscular drumming patterns deftly underpin Wayne Shorter-ish harmonies and a lithe, flowing melody. One can hear the drums reacting to and pushing the soloists to new heights in this pure fusion of world & jazz. Capped by an energetic drum/percussion duet, “Tony” is an exciting and highly danceable tune that Tony Allen himself would have sounded right at home on.

The ‘interesting times’ that we as a society currently find ourselves in are reflected in Parallel Dimensions’ second single “Memories of the Future” (March 18). “I began composing “Memories of the Future” during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in April 2020,” reflects Giuseppe. “This was a time when many events were unfolding uninterruptedly almost on a daily basis. It felt like everything was going to fall apart, and we were being bombarded with news. So imagine yourself in 15, 20 years, having these memories of being inundated with so much information every day. It’s a moment I wanted to capture.”

Classical sounding in its exposition, “Memories of the Future” is a studied contrast between tradition and modernity. Utar Arun’s delicate piano opening sets up Hazlewood-Dale’s bowed upright bass melody that blends effortlessly with the ensemble and creates a beautifully serene mood that evokes pre-pandemic recital hall concertizing. Just as you’re lulled into a sense of relaxation it all comes tumbling down into tense group improvisation, and those media voices break into our mood. Despite the return of the opening material, the world is never the same.  

Parallel Dimensions’ opening track, and the album’s focus track, is named for the Japanese philosophy of continuous change for the better. Kaizen (April 15) also signifies Giuseppe’s personal search through his mother’s Romani heritage, which he suspected was the reason that odd time signatures come naturally to him. “I’ve been doing a lot of research about the whole history of the Roma people, these nomads who started in India and went all the way to France. It’s so wide and deep, with so many different styles of music that came from generations of living in different countries,” muses Paradiso. “’Kaizen’ starts with this look at my roots, and moves along until over the course of the song we arrive at my present day reality.”

Evoking the Eastern origins of the Roma, Kaizen opens with a muezzin-like call over a drone- before quickly opening up into relentlessly shifting grooves roiling under a buoyant and playful melody, flawlessly performed by Zaleski and Sargent’s tight unison. After Artun and Sargent trade solos, the ensemble hurtles towards the future with only a brief glance back.

Although born of a pandemic Parallel Dimensions offers the feeling of hope and optimism that fills the human spirit. It’s a product of multiculturalism filtered through life in one of the oldest cities in America during a society altering pandemic that can be the salve that soothes the weary soul. A fusion of music, to be sure, but also a fusion of something intangible that makes us want to keep creating together in these ‘interesting times’. 

Parallel Dimensions will be released in digital and CD formats on April 15 2022 on the Ubuntu Music label, with distribution through The Orchard.

01 - Giuseppe Paradiso & Meridian 71 - Kaizen

02 - Giuseppe Paradiso & Meridian 71 - Memories Of The Future

03 - Giuseppe Paradiso & Meridian 71 - Joriki

04 - Giuseppe Paradiso & Meridian 71 - It's Only The Beginning

05 - Giuseppe Paradiso & Meridian 71 - Parallel Dimensions

06 - Giuseppe Paradiso & Meridian 71 - Tony

Mark Zaleski - alto and soprano sax, clarinet

Phil Sargent - electric guitar

Utar Artun - piano & keys

James Hazlewood-Dale - upright, electric and fretless bass

Malick Ngom - sabar drums and percussion (on track #1, #5 and #6), vocals on track #6

Giuseppe Paradiso - drum set, percussion and electronics (vocals on track #6)

Recording, editing and mixing engineer: Joel Edinberg.

Mastering engineer: Martina Abano.

Recorded at Q Divisions Studios in Somerville, MA (USA) on March 5, 2021, and at The Record Co. in Boston, MA (USA) on June 17-18, 2021.

Artwork and photos: Samantha Bruce.

Executive Producer: Martin Hummel.

www.giuseppe-paradiso.com    www.weareubuntumusic.com

Nadav Berkovits - Waking the Heart (December 10, 2021 Ubuntu Music)

In his Debut Album 'Waking the Heart’, Nadav is exposing a variety of influences from Straight Ahead Jazz to North African Rhythms, and Afro Cuban music, influenced by his musical journey to Cuba. The album features some of the best Israeli Jazz musicians including Itamar Borochov on Trumpet, Yuval Drabkin on Tenor Sax, Omri Bar Giora on Guitar, Oz Yehiely on Bass, Shai Yuval on Drums and Nadav Berkovits on Piano.

Nadav on the album: "For me ‘Waking the Heart’ was a spiritual journey started back in 2018 when I traveled to Cuba where I was exposed to a new world of culture and music. This experience led me to an inner search and compose my own music. Some of the tunes were written in Havana and some of them in India, Sinai (Egypt), and Jerusalem. In 2020 when covid-19 started and everything stopped I had the opportunity to get in the studio with some of my best friends and best musicians around.

I really hope it will inspire you.

Yours Truly, Nadav"

1. The Dream

2. Ras (feat. Itamar Borochov)

3. España

4. Song for Avi

5. Eurydice

6. Ensof

7. Lament

Nadav Berkovits - Piano

Itamar Borochov - Trumpet (Tracks 1,2)

Yuval Drabkin - Tenor Saxophone (Tracks 1,5,7)

Omri Bar Giora - Guitar (Tracks 1, 4)

Oz Yehiely - Bass

Shai Yuval - Drums

All compositions by Nadav Berkovits

Recorded at Yellow Submarine

Sound Engineer - Shalom Benizri

Mix - Yaron Mohar

Master - Helik Hadar

Track 4 'Song for Avi' is dedicated to two of my biggest teachers in life- Avi Feiler and Avi Adrian

Album cover art - Nadav Berkovits

Graphic Design - Noy Elitzur, Talia Hamburg

Produced by Nadav Berkovits

Executive Producer: Martin Hummel

Ubuntu Music

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Chris Maddock Quartet - The Hunt (October 15, 2021 Ubuntu Music)

The band's debut release through Ubuntu Music, 'The Hunt' is a contemporary, groovy take on the classic Hammond Organ-driven rhythm section, featuring the original compositions and arrangements of saxophonist and bandleader Chris Maddock.

1. Emily

2. The Hunt

3. Song of Myself

4. At Least He Never Walked

All compositions by Chris Maddock apart from Track 01 Emily (Mercer/Mandel)

Chris Maddock: alto and tenor saxophones

Liam Dunachie: Hammond organ

Tobie Carpenter: Guitar

Edward Richardson: Drums

Daniel Casimir: Double Bass (track 4 only)

Recorded by Lester Salmins at The Bunker, March 2020

Mixed by John Prestage

Mastered by Cicely Balston at AIR Studios

Artwork by Daniel Strange

Producer: Martin Hummel

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The Kevin Brady Electric Quartet - Plan B (October 8, 2021 Ubuntu Music)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the release of The Kevin Brady Electric Quartets upcoming worldwide album release entitled PLAN B on the 8th of October.

The Kevin Brady Electric Quartet has a clear aim of creating and producing new contemporary jazz and the impact of this has been immediate. Their performances have been critically acclaimed for their dynamism and musicality. Touring regularly, they have consolidated their worldwide reputation as a compelling live act. As quoted by The Telegraph UK, “This group display an enviable poise and togetherness”, winning the appreciation of discerning jazz audiences in the USA, Europe, UK, China. Their music embraces imaginative creativity and contributes to the evolution of exciting and engaging improvised music.

Plan B is the latest studio album by acclaimed drummer and composer, Kevin Brady. It features the stellar musical talents of U.S. saxophonist Seamus Blake, Bill Carrothers on Fender Rhodes, and bassist Dave Redmond. Brady’s ambition was to record an album that consisted of new, original compositions that explore improvisation in an electric quartet format. While tipping their collective hat to the music of the 1970s Miles Davis Group, along with the groove and funk based music of Herbie Hancock, many of the musical themes deal with the impact of what is happening in the world as we know it now. The music is hypnotically insistent, all with a lasting story of experience and optimism. 

1. Airbourne 06:25

2. Plan B 05:39

3. Short 'n' Sweet 08:55

4. Spindle Top 05:19

5. Suicide Squeeze 05:42

6. Quiet Beach 08:22

7. Out of the Blue 06:21

8. Wanderlust 09:02

Recorded & Mixed by Hally Music & Kevin Brady at Arthouse Studios, Naas, Co.Kildare,Ireland February 2020.

Assistant Engineer Fionn Shelley.

Mastered by Thomas Schmidt at Schmidt-Thon Studios,Munich,Germany.

Photography by Daragh Mc'Donagh www.daraghmcdonagh.com Art Direction and Design by Dseny www.dseny.es

Produced by Kevin Brady

Executive Producer Martin Hummel

Tracks 2,4,5,6,7 Composed by Kevin Brady

Tracks 1,3,8 by Bill Carrothers

Kevin Brady Endorses Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks & Evans Drumheads.

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Sean Gibbs - When Can I See You Again? (August 13, 2021 Ubuntu Music)

This album is a collection of music written in the year 2020. It’s largely about celebrating the human connections that I’d sometimes taken for granted, many of which became sorely missed with the pandemic. It was an immense privilege to record these pieces with some of my favourite musicians, big thanks to them and everyone else who made it possible.

1. Internal Conflict

2. Happy Hour

3. Mary

4. The Grand Parade

5. That’s Your Lot

6. Camperdown

7. When Can I See You Again?

Sean Gibbs: Trumpet

Riley Stone-Lonergan: Tenor Saxophone

Rob Brockway: Piano

Calum Gourlay: Bass

Jay Davis: Drums

All compositions by Sean Gibbs

Produced by Sean Gibbs

Executive Producer: Martin Hummel

Tracks 1-3 recorded at Sansom Studios on 9th March 2020

Tracks 4-7 recorded at Sansom Studios on 22nd November 2020

Recorded and mixed by Olly Sansom

Mastered by Peter Beckmann

Design by Tyrone Stoddart

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Alex Western-King - SideSlip (June 25, 2021 Ubuntu Music)

I have always found music the best way to communicate in moments of emotional turmoil. This album is a snapshot of one year of my life, documenting my growth out of a dark place and into the light.

This album would not be what it is without the incredible creativity and musicianship of Sam Leak on Piano, Jonny Wickham on Bass, Jay Davis on Drums and James Copus on trumpet.

I would like to give special thanks Alex Garnett for his guidance, for being a great friend and for being an inspiration to so many on the London Jazz scene. A special thanks also goes to Jonny Wickham for lending me his ear in the tune writing and mixing process and to Georgina Williams for the album artwork.

1. Make Way 05:11

2. Disorder Reordered 05:18

3. Dark Space 05:41

4. Inner Eye 06:57

5. SideSlip ft. James Copus 08:07

6. Toe The Line 05:11

7. The Long Road 05:25

Alex Western-King - Saxophone and Compositions

Sam Leak - Piano

Jonny Wickham - Bass

Jay Davis - Drums

James Copus - Trumpet

Produced by Alex Garnett

Mixed by Alex Bonney

Mastered by Peter Beckman

Album Art by Georgina Williams

Recorded by Ben Lamdin @ Fish Factory on 14th and 15th of September 2020

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Richard X Bennett - RXB3 (May 28, 2021 Ubuntu Music)

Fresh out of New York City, Ubuntu Music is proud to release RXB3, the  new album from innovative pianist Richard X Bennett, bringing to the  world his unique brand of ‘Bounce Jazz’ and ‘Theme & Destruction’. 

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of the Brooklyn-based pianist Richard X  Bennett for the worldwide release of his next album ‘RXB3’, on 28th May 2021. The  inspirations for Richard X Bennett’s lively work evolve from a wide range of unlikely  sources, from contemporary visual art to ancient metaphysics influenced by years  performing in India, where he recorded a series of critically acclaimed raga-jazz albums for  Times Music, India’s largest record label. At points on RXB3, Richard X Bennett might adopt  the triplet pattern of rhythm made popular by leading contemporary rap group Migos, or  channel the vibe of pre-LP era Duke Ellington, but ultimately he follows his own muse. His  pieces are short takes on the classical ‘theme and variation’, given an edge by deconstructing  said themes in a whirlwind of improv, transforming this long-standing technique into ‘theme  and destruction’!  

Richard X Bennett recorded RXB3 during the lockdown period with long-term collaborator  Adam Armstrong on bass and new drummer Julian Edmond on drums, who originally comes  from a gospel background. The synergy between the trio is more than apparent on the  album. On RXB3, Richard reimagines the trio as a vehicle for his tuneful songs and weighty,  poly-rhythmic, groove-centric piano explorations. He explains: “Each song begins as a bespoke  piano pattern. The melodies evolve from these patterns, resulting in a multitude of ideas that exist  together. I create modern music with a melodic and funky fabric and then tear it apart. My  expectation is that you can listen, dance or vibe to this music at your leisure and pleasure. Listen  closer and you will hear jazz, contemporary classical and Indian raga elements threaded throughout.  The rhythm section has that bounce I like. I met drummer Julian Edmond during the middle of the  pandemic and immediately knew that he could raise the music to a new level. He plays a stripped  down drum set so there’s more air. Adam Armstrong (bass) has that big jazz sound that roots us in  the tradition.” 

The songs are all by Bennett with the exception of Tum Hi Ho , which is a Bollywood  standard written by Mithoon for the movie, Aashiqui 2. Richard elaborates: “In 2019, I played  Tum Hi Ho as a lighter encore for my raga concerts in India. Ballads should be all about the feel. If  you’re noticing my technique, then I’ve done something wrong.” Richard X Bennett has adopted a  multimedia approach to his art, by creating a series of music video’s (partly inspired by  Beyonce’s ‘Lemonade’!) that conjure up a range of moods from the comic to the abstract  that perfectly compliment his musical endeavours.  

Richard X Bennett has released music on Ropeadope, Times Music and now Ubuntu, fast  growing in both repertoire and reputation as one of the hottest jazz labels of recent times. Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, gives his perspective on the Label’s latest  signing: “Richard’s is, undisputedly, a unique and eclectic breed of the modern piano trio. His  compositions are an intoxicating mixture of inviting, seductive melodies which are underpinned by a  take-no-prisoners collision of funk-meets-raga-meets-jazz. It’s an addictive musical cocktail for the  head, the heart and the feet. We’re only too happy to have Richard join the Ubuntu Music Family.”

Roy Mor - After The Real Thing (May 2021 Ubuntu Music)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of the exceptional Israeli pianist/composer/arranger Roy Mor, for the worldwide release of his debut album, After The Real Thing.

Roy’s music has been described as “modern and daring yet remains firmly rooted in the jazz tradition, cutting seamlessly across many moods” (La Repubblica). His playing has been referred to as both “melodic” and “energetic”, and his compositions as having “a genuine quality that flows seamlessly from his inner voice as a player - strong, evocative, harmonically complex and rhythmically alive”.

Roy’s artistic journey illustrates his varied facets and interests: after a stint studying acting, serving as a military paratrooper, and earning a university degree in Philosophy with honours,  he left a career as a software engineer with Microsoft to move to New York and pursue his true passion: music. 

While in NYC, Roy performed as both a leader and sideman at many of the city’s best jazz venues and collaborated with some of New York’s most acclaimed and up-and-coming artists, including Francisco Mela, Tyshawn Sorey, Stacy Dillard, Anat Cohen and Jazzmeia Horn, among others.

Before moving to New York, Roy led his own trio and quartet, wrote music for theatrical productions, played as a pianist with The Israeli Big Band and performed at major festivals in Israel. He also had the privilege of studying and performing with saxophonist and educator Arnie Lawrence at the International Center for Creative Music in Jerusalem.

In New York he had the chance to complete his musical studies at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music under a generous merit scholarship, during which he was placed on the Dean’s List, and had the opportunity to study under the mentorship of renowned jazz masters and some of his personal musical heroes. His recordings received regular airplay on Jazz FM Radio and BBC radio, and he won the Eubie Blake Foundation award two years in a row, and has performed his music internationally in Italy, Denmark, Canada, Spain and Cuba.  

Since his return to Israel Roy has led several groups of musicians playing his compositions which draw from many influences - from hard-bop through classical music to West African styles - and fuses them into what he calls a “biblical sound”, inspired by Israeli multiculturalism and his own Middle Eastern roots. In addition to original music, Roy’s bands continue to explore new interpretations of Israeli classics and fresh renditions of standards. He leads a trio, quartet and sextet that plays regularly in Israel and internationally. 

In the last few years Roy has recorded and performed with celebrated oud and guitar player Amos Hoffman (winner of the Landau Prize for the Arts) and with renowned flutist, Avichai Ornoy, and collaborated on special projects with artists such as Avishai Cohen (trumpet), Ofer Ganor, Alon Oleartchik, Anat Cohen, Ehud Ettun, Noam David, Gregory Rivkin, Yuval Cohen and Gilad Ronen. He has also performed with Esperanza Spalding, Roberto Gatto, Dave Douglas, Ben Wendel, Eli Degibri, Greg Tardy, Tivon Pennicott, Deantoni Parks and others.

Together with renowned saxophonist and vocalist Abate Berihun, Roy formed the “Addis Ken Project” in 2018, a unique world music and Ethio-jazz ensemble that plays deeply spiritual soul music inspired by age-old Jewish-Ethiopian prayers, afrobeat and the blues. The project’s music was recently described as "an encounter between ancient Jewish Ethiopian traditions and the spirit of a modern jazz ensemble, employing musical adventurousness, rich harmonies, and heartfelt blues" and has received acclaim in the press. The group has performed internationally in jazz festivals in Panama, Denmark, Canada and Israel and won the Israeli Ministry of Culture’s highest artistic grant in 2020.

Roy is a recipient of the Eubie Blake Foundation award for 2013 and 2014, and of the Dodge Foundation Grant for 2012, 2013 and 2014. He is a recipient of the Rabinovich Foundation for The Arts award for 2015, and an Outstanding Artist Grant from the Israeli Ministry of Culture in 2016. In 2019, he received an artistic award from Mifal HaPais Council for the Culture and Arts.

In terms of his newly formed relationship with Ubuntu Music, Roy continues, “I am delighted and thankful for having Ubuntu Music as a home for this album and my music. I first came to know Martin Hummel a few years ago when we met to discuss a collaboration on a different project, and I was struck by his passion for the music and his professionalism. Since then, I have been following the amazing growth of Ubuntu Music and the way Martin has been realizing an ambitious vision of building a unique label like Ubuntu, which is both admirable and inspiring. Martin’s dedication, enthusiasm, and attention for the musicians is very evident, and this creates a relationship of trust, where I feel the Label understands my needs and goals as an artist. And I really relate to the idea behind the Label’s roster, which is selective and yet at the same time so diverse, representing such incredible talent from around the globe and across many genres and styles in Jazz. I’m honoured to be part of the Ubuntu Family and I’m excited about things to come.”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, shared his thoughts: “I was first introduced to Roy and his music through Jazz FM’s Ruth Fisher, and I subsequently embarked on a journey of Roy, his music, his collaborations and the essence of the man as a dedicated artist to his trade. He’s a tireless, consummate professional who is now ready to share his music with the world, and I am certain the world is ready to embrace ‘After The Real Thing’ in a very big way.”

1. The Echo Song 06:26

2. After The Real Thing 04:30

3. Jerusalem Mezcla 07:27

4. Nikanor 06:12

5. Daybreak 00:50

6. Solar Reimagined 05:13

7. Speak Low 06:05

8. Do You Know The Way 04:05

9. The Follower 05:06

10. Playground 04:31

11. The Nearness of You - Live 07:28

Roy Mor - piano on all tracks, Fender rhodes and piano on (4).

Amos Hoffman - oud (1), (3), (8). Guitar (6), (9).

Myles Sloniker - bass on all tracks except (2), (5), (7), (11).

Itay Morchi - drums on all tracks except (2), (5), (7), (11).

Davy Lazar - flugelhorn (4).

Also with:

Marty Kenney - bass (2), (7).

Peter Traunmueller - drums (2), (7).

Joel Kruzic - bass (11).

Jeremy Dutton - drums (11).

All compositions by Roy Mor except 1 ,7 ,8 ,11.

All arrangements by Roy Mor.

Produced by Roy Mor

Executive Producer: Martin Hummel

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QOW TRIO - The Album (2021 Ubuntu Music)

Tradition ain’t what it used to be.

QOW TRIO’s debut release is not so much an album of standards as an infectiously joyful compendium of vintage tunes bursting from the heart of the music, like so many blood-red silk handkerchiefs gushing from the chest of a mime at the firing squad. Given that all of creation exists as a simultaneous roar of perfection, think of this sax-bass-drums trio not as old-fashioned but timeless: Sonny Rollins is still perched on the bridge, blowing long, cold lines into the wind and always will be, after all. Hear how Riley’s loquacious sax quips a nonchalant quote from Bird’s ‘Cool Blues’ about 90 seconds from the end of the hip, dancing ‘Cheryl.’ Dig Spike’s crisp snare ‘n’ cowbell funk and Eddie’s hump-backed bass drone opening up a power swing on their namesake tune, a crashing dive through Dewey Redman’s ‘Qow,’ with Riley growling up a real out moan.

Catch yourself sighing in beautiful melancholy for ‘God Bless The Child,’ with bells and cymbals shimmering like Frank O’Hara’s lost cigarette end in the great, black night. Right now, it’s about eight months since I last really heard any live music, the world shudders and groans. But these sounds are the real virus: always alive, always mutating, indestructible. Daniel Spicer

1. Slow Boat To China (F.Loesser) 06:06

2. Qow (D.Redman) 05:54

3. Serenity (J.Henderson) 05:06

4. Cheryl (C.Parker) 04:54

5. Qowfirmation (R. Stone-Lonergan) 04:54

6. God Bless The Child (B.Holliday/A.Herzog) 05:40

7. It's Alright With Me (C.Porter) 04:04

8. Pound For Prez (R.Stone-Lonergan) 07:15

9. You Do Something To Me (C.Porter) 06:07

10. Qow 05:54

Riley Stone-Lonergan - tenor sax

Eddie Myer - bass

Spike Wells - drums

Recorded by Ben Lamdin at Fish Market Studio

Produced by Ben Lamdin and Qow Trio

Executive Producer - Martin Hummel

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Jay Phelps - Live At The Cockpit (March 2021 Ubuntu Music)

Trumpeter, composer, band leader, educator and writer – Jay Phelps has performed with some of the world’s top names. With an instantly recognisable warm and projecting tone, Canadian born Phelps is a household name on the Jazz scene in the UK and his international presence is steadily growing. 

1. L.S.G 07:46

2. EVERYONE'S ETHNIC 08:12

3. AMPHITRITE'S BOUNTY 11:11

4. ANGEL 05:45

5. SPREAD 10:47

Jay Phelps - Trumpet

Rick Simpson - Piano

Will Glaser - Drums

Ferg Ireland - Bass

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Solstice - Food for Thought (2021 Ubuntu Music)

1. Hermetica 07:16

2. P.T.S.D 07:54

3. Dreams 09:22

4. The Three Omegas 08:13

5. Close to home 10:28

6. Quetzalcoatlus 06:28

7. Familiar Fractals 09:56

8. Haven't Met You Yet 03:35

Tori Freestone - Tenor Sax, flute, alto flute

Brigitte Beraha - vocals

Jez Franks - guitar

John Turville - piano

Dave Maningotn - double bass

George Hart - drums

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Yoko Miwa Trio - Songs of Joy (February 2021 Ubuntu Music)

Yoko Miwa Trio offers a beacon of optimism during dark times on spirited new album 

Songs of Joy, due out February, 2021 via Ubuntu Music, features the pianist’s longtime trio with drummer Scott Goulding and bassist Will Slater on songs by Billy Preston, Thelonious Monk, Richie Havens and Duke Jordan alongside new original compositions

“Yoko Miwa has been gifted with both extraordinary musical skills and the pure spirit that is necessary for great art. We love her musical gifts and her beautiful spirit as well.” – Ahmad Jamal

"The group dynamic bounces with joy… Oscar Peterson and Benny Green come to mind stylistically, with Miwa’s always engaging melodies dancing around propulsive rhythms." – Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz

“Miwa is a virtuoso pianist with dazzling technique always in the service of interaction and exchange of ideas.”  – Donald Elfman, NYC Jazz Record

2020 was a trying year for all of us, and pianist Yoko Miwa suffered more than her fair share of challenges. Like most musicians during this unprecedented pandemic, she suddenly found herself without the opportunity to perform. The recording of her new album was postponed and her trio’s longtime home base, Les Zygomates Wine Bar & Bistro in Boston, closed its doors for good. Worst of all, her father passed away after a battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

So Miwa would certainly have been forgiven if her delayed return to the studio had resulted in an uncharacteristically somber set of music. Instead she emerged with Songs of Joy, a welcome dose of optimism and uplift that shines like a ray of hope through the dark clouds overhead. Due out February 12, 2021 via Ubuntu Music, Songs of Joy features Miwa’s longstanding trio with bassist Will Slater and drummer Scott Goulding, along with a guest appearance by bassist Brad Barrett, another regular collaborator. The album combines songs that have provided solace and inspiration to Miwa with five original pieces composed as a means of escape from the lockdown routine.

“Once the pandemic started, I decided to write something every day,” Miwa explains. “I just tried to sit down at the piano and play whatever I felt on that day. Of course I was frustrated, but I tried to stay positive.”

The songs that emerged from this less-than-ideal incubator reflect Miwa’s persevering spirit, her jazz-inspired spontaneity and her classically-trained virtuosity – all characteristics that have been recognized by no less an authority than legendary pianist Ahmad Jamal, one of Miwa’s idols. “At 90 years plus, I have known and heard most of the great pianists, [including] Art Tatum, Oscar Dennard, Phineas Newborn, Nat Cole, Dodo Marmarosa, Johnny Costa, Erroll Garner, and on and on,” Jamal says. “Not to mention the pianists performing the European Classical works that I have followed as well. In Pittsburgh where I was born, and where some of the aforementioned are also from, we had to study both American Classical Music as well as the European Classical forms. Yoko Miwa is the result of both worlds. She is amazing and will continue to grow.”

The Yoko Miwa Trio has been performing together regularly for a decade and a half, with a Saturday night residency at Les Zygomates for much of that tenure. For the past several years they’ve also spent Friday nights at the Cambridge sushi bar The Mad Monkfish. At least once a year they perform there with legendary singer Sheila Jordan, who introduced Miwa to Billy Preston’s “Song of Joy.” The tune, which also inspired the title of the album, is suffused with warmth and deep emotions in the trio’s intimate, reverent rendition. The idea expressed in Preston’s simple, heartfelt song – “With every note I play, I play with love… With all the happiness this melody brings” – provided the guiding spirit of the session.

The album opens with Richie Havens’ “Freedom,” which the singer-songwriter performed at Woodstock (as captured in the famed concert film). Miwa’s thunderous left hand reveals the inspiration of McCoy Tyner, and the tune’s mood channels the ecstatic spirituality of the classic John Coltrane Quartet.

Tyner is one of several formative influences to whom Miwa pays tribute through her original pieces on Songs of Joy. The boisterous swing of Bobby Timmons and Benny Green, two of the pianists whose brilliant sound was forged in the crucible of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, anchors the finger-snapping groove of “Small Talk.” The bright, dancing “The Rainbirds” was inspired by the compositional style of Kenny Barron. And the lush, elegant “Inside a Dream” bears the unmistakable imprint of perhaps Miwa’s most important idol, Bill Evans.

Naturally, Miwa’s compositions couldn’t help but be affected by the times in which they were written. The steely “Largo Desolato” feels haunted yet determined, evoking the unnaturally empty streets of New York City at the height of the pandemic. The gorgeous ballad “The Lonely Hours” is dedicated to Miwa’s father, who spent many of his final days alone due to quarantine conditions. “I couldn't go back to Japan to see him because of the pandemic,” she laments. “He was in the hospital alone; even my family couldn't be with him when he passed away. It was really sad.”

The rollicking “Tony’s Blues” was penned for Miwa by Tony Germain, former assistant chair of the piano department at Berklee College of Music, where Miwa is an associate professor. “Tony wrote this song for me right before the original recording date, and I really liked it,” Miwa says. “He just retired, so this is a great present for him.”

The work of Thelonious Monk is a constant in Miwa’s repertoire, and here she performs a muscular take on one of her favorites, “Think of One.” Sheila Jordan also provided an entrée to the blistering “No Problem,” a piece by the singer’s ex-husband, pianist Duke Jordan, that has become a staple of the trio’s sets. The album ends with a reflective take on the folk classic “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You,” by way of the famous Led Zeppelin version and graced by Brad Barrett’s entrancing arco playing.

Despite a few months of enforced time off, the Yoko Miwa Trio hasn’t lost a step on Songs of Joy, their exhilarating chemistry evident and lively throughout the album’s many moods. Circumstances may have been far from ideal (“This is definitely the first album I recorded with a mask on,” Miwa laughs), but it ends up offering a balm for beleaguered audiences. “When we went into the studio, it had been four months since I’d played with my trio,” Miwa recalls. “I was a little bit nervous, but once we got there I felt so excited and inspired by being together again. That joy and happiness came up from my music. Everything was joy, and I hope the listener can hear it too.”

1. Freedom (Richie Havens)

2. Largo Desolato (Yoko Miwa)

3. Song of Joy (Billy Preston)

4. Small Talk (Yoko Miwa)

5. The Lonely Hours (by Yoko Miwa)

6. No Problem (Duke Jordan)

7. The Rainbirds (Yoko Miwa)

8. Think of One (Thelonious Monk)

9. Inside a Dream (Yoko Miwa)

10. Tony’s Blues (Tony Germain)

11. Babe I’m Gonna Leave You (Anne Bredon)

Yoko Miwa - piano

Will Slater - bass

Scott Goulding - drums

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New York All-Stars (feat. Eric Alexander & Harold Mabern) - Burnin' in London (UBUNTU MUSIC September 7, 2018)

"Mabern really is a remarkable talent. At 81, he’s still playing with the passion of a man at least half his age and his ace pupil Eric Alexander continues to grow." Jazzwise

The New York All-Stars feature Eric Alexander on saxophone, Harold Mabern on piano, bassist Darryl Hall and drummer Bernd Reiter.  They play energetic and swinging music on the highest level, presented with the utmost professionalism and uninhibited enthusiasm.

Recorded at the legendary Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho, London on 20 & 21 November 2017, Burnin’ in London, features six classic tunes including Harold Mabern’s own ‘Nightlife in Tokyo’ and a beautiful interpretation of Gershwin’s classic ‘Summertime’.

“The music on this album speaks for itself.  The interplay between Eric and Harold is magical, supported by the rock solid bass lines from Darryl and the exacting rhythmic underpinning of Bernd’s precision-like drumming,” says Martin Hummel, Ubuntu Music Director.  “…the album captures a moment in time when Eric was anchored in his musical sweet spot while the band – and the audience – hung on and coasted with every note along the blissful, energetic journey.”

Brandon Allen - The Gene Ammons Project (UBUNTU MUSIC 2018)

"I've been a huge fan of Gene Ammons since I first discovered jazz 25 years ago. Something about his sound and phrasing, it's always moved me.

When I listen to the first Gene Ammons album that I bought 25 years ago it still sounds just as great to me!

The Gene Ammons project developed organically after a series of gigs, each focusing on the work of an individual legendary saxophonist.

In preparation for these concerts I'd listen constantly, transcribe their solos, learn a bunch of tunes the way that they played them and then put a set together. I'd then perform that set of music on the nights that I hosted the Late Late Show at Ronnie Scotts...

more info...

brandonallen.co.uk

Mark Kavuma - Kavuma (UBUNTU MUSIC June 22, 2018)

 

Born and raised in Uganda, Mark Kavuma is a key young trumpet player on the British jazz scene and leads his own band, Kavuma & The Banger Factory, as well as playing with Jean Toussaint's Young Lions, Jazz Jamaica and the Nu Civilisation Orchestra. In 2012, Mark was featured as Guest soloist with Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Centre Orchestra. He also played the support slot for Wayne Shorter at the Barbican.

Kavuma & The Banger Factory is a London – New York collective that delivers soulful jazz whose purpose is to get people to dance, by feeling the music’s heart and soul. Mark’s debut album, Kavuma, will be released on the Ubuntu Music in the spring of 2018.

Into The Darkness

Carolina Moon

Modibo

Barbar G

Papa Joe

Abide With Me

Church

Mark Kavuma: trumpet

Mussinghi Brian Edwards, Ruben Fox: tenor saxophone

Artie Zaitz (2-4): guitar

Reuben James (1-5, 7): piano

Conor Chaplin: bass

Kyle Poole: drums

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Michela Marino Lerman: tap dancing (7)

Alina Bzhezhinska - Inspiration (UBUNTU MUSIC 2018)

“On Inspiration (the Alina Bzhezhinska Quartet) bathe deeply in the spirit of Alice and John’s majestic, meditative music, yet also use it as a point of departure for new personal directions. The journey is within, to a better place for humanity.”  Kevin Le Gendre

Internationally renowned harpist Alina Bzhezhinska releases her new album Inspiration on Ubuntu Music this June. “I set myself on a mission to tell Alice and John Coltrane’s story in my own words, through my own interpretation of their music and my compositions,” explains Bzhezhinska. “The idea for my new album came to me at the beginning of 2017, the year when the world paid tribute to Alice Coltrane for her amazing contribution to music, celebrating her 80th birthday and paying respect to her memory.”

After studying Alice Coltrane’s music and digging deeper into the history of Jazz and her place in contemporary music, Bzhezhinska realised that Coltrane’s legacy could not be underestimated nor overlooked. “Coltrane is a true role model whose art was an example of endless potential and creative possibilities and whose life journey was dedicated to finding the meaning of human existence and universal consciousness,” says Bzhezhinska.

Bzhezhinska chose to work with musicians who share her fascination with Alice and John Coltrane and who opened a new world of possibilities to showcase the harp in a very unique way - award winning saxophonist Tony Kofi, double bassist and composer Larry Bartley and virtuoso drummer Joel Prime.

Inspiration features four original compositions including ‘Lemky’, a piece inspired by the traditional music of Lemky, the tribe from the Carpathian Mountains that was forced to leave its homeland never to return. The album also features fine interpretations of music by both Alice and John Coltrane. ‘Journey in Satchidananda’ by Alice Coltrane is one of the most important pieces on my album,” says Bzhezhinska. “I discovered this music a long time ago and it took me on my own personal journey that I’m still experiencing and would encourage everyone to explore its beauty and depth. John Coltrane’s ‘After The Rain’ strikes me by its beauty and I think it works wonderfully with the sound of the rain and a storm that can be imitated on the harp so naturally.”

“With my instrument I don’t try to fit into any kind of styles or trends in jazz. I try to be truthful and remember what Alice Coltrane said - “In music, I don’t think I have real preferences about the form… when you express your heart, it has to come from you,”” concludes Bzhezhinska.

1 Wisdom Eye 2:52

2 Blue Nile 5:40

3 Los Caballos 7:49

4 Spero 2:17

5 Annoying Semitones 4:33

6 Winter Moods 4:29

7 Following a Lovely Sky Boat 4:49

8 Lemky 8:02

9 After the Rain 4:48

10 Journey in Satchidananda 9:03