Dustin Laurenzi - Natural Language (EARS & EYES RECORDS 2016)

Dustin Laurenzi's Natural Language is a band of four like-minded improvising musicians. The quartet weaves its way through original compositions that bring to mind the idiosyncratic melodicism of drummer/composer Paul Motian as well as the melancholy folk songs of Nick Drake. Each member brings his own distinct voice as an improviser, but no single member outshines the group. Melodies are passed between the musicians, creating contrapuntal textures with simmering intensity. 

"Laurenzi has already achieved one of the toughest things to do in jazz without overdoing it: a genuine presence." - Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader 

"...a compelling portrait of an agile quartet." - Izzy Yellen, DownBeat Magazine 

"This superb album is another milestone in [Laurenzi's] brilliant career." - Hrayr Attarian, All About Jazz

Little Wheel

J.P.

Counterpoint

Weller

Folk Song

Walter's Song

Big Talk

Dustin Laurenzi: tenor saxophone / compositions

Jeff Swanson:guitar

Mike Harmon: bass

Charles Rumback: drums

BIO

Chicago saxophonist Dustin Laurenzi has developed a distinctly personal approach to improvisation and composition that has garnered the attention of the city's creative music community. Recognized for his "offbeat approach to articulating harmonies and constructing melodies" (NextBop), Dustin's music is inspired and informed by jazz, folk, improvised music, and contemporary classical music. His wide range of influences and inventive improvisational sensibilities have made him a sought-after musician in many circles of Chicago's rich music scene.

Dustin has been a leader/co-leader of his own projects, Twin Talk, Snaarj, and Natural Language, and a member of the Marquis Hill Blacktet, the Quentin Coaxum Quintet, and Katie Ernst's Little Words, among others. He has released several albums featuring his original compositions, including Twin Talk’s eponymous release, praised by Chicago Jazz Magazine as “a cohesive and original album that brims with a vibrant fluidity and a poetic sense.”

Dustin earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and a Performer's Certificate from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music in 2011. He has performed or recorded with Jeff Parker, Matt Ulery, Russ Johnson, Jeff Hirshfield, Corey Christiansen, Lil BUB's Big Show, the Dave Lisik Jazz Orchestra featuring Tim Hagans, and has recently been featured at the Chicago Jazz Festival, the Hyde Park Jazz Festival, and the Kennedy Center. Dustin’s debut album as a leader, Natural Language, will be released in September 2016 on ears&eyes Records.

Jobic Le Masson Trio + Steve Potts - Song (2016)

djamlarevue
Le plus odieux dans la formule journalistique est moins son implacable débilité, que le constat que de temps à autre, bien plus rarement qu'on ne l'utilise, elle convient. Elle idoine même. Elle sied. Donc oui, Jobic Le Masson est bien « le secret le mieux caché » du jazz parisien, depuis trop longtemps pour trouver cela normal. Mais je m'arrêterai là, dans le cadre de ma thérapie contre la quérulence chronique de ces chroniques.

Revenons au pianiste : deuxième album de ce trio après Hill en 2008, mais cette fois avec Steve Potts aux saxophones en plus de Peter Giron et John Betsch (basse et batterie). Soit un line up très marqué par Steve Lacy, parfaitement. Deuxième album en leader pour ce pianiste bientôt cinquantenaire qui a pourtant joué avec beaucoup de monde, notamment les camarades de la scène parisienne de sa génération et notamment ceux passés par le free. Or, Jobic ne joue pas là du free, quoique les incursions plus out aient plus qu'un droit de cité dans l'album (voir le solo de Steve Potts sur « Double Dutch Treat », composé par John Betsch). Song est une caravelle gonflée d'universelle musicalité navigant dans la mer des Sargasses d'une histoire du jazz idéale, sans recherche de concept ni de référence que ceux qui viennent sous les doigts. Sous les heures et les années d'improvisation à quatre, sous la complicité et l'entente qui ont pris leur temps.

Song est peut-être une chanson, filée par un propos très narratif dont les solistes fournissent une trame captivante et soubresauté de mille plateaux : ballade langoureuse à la pulsation bancroche (« Idania »), marche antimilitaire à la solennité fantasque et créatrice (« Tangle »), up tempo dont l'évidence masque la précision de l'arrangement et de l'interprétation (« Cervione »), etc. Song est peut-être la somme des influences de son leader, revendiquées ici à travers Waldron et Monk (j'aime ce type,!), suggérées dans le jeu de chacun des solistes.

Song est peut-être sa diversité musagète, peut-être plus que la somme de quatre individualités fortes dont chaque solo touche juste, c'est-à-dire au cœur de tout ce qui fait que nous écoutons de la musique, dans la simplicité d'une tonalité comme dans la touffeur ésotérique de vocabulaires plus complexes. Song est peut-être tout cela, et plus encore tout ce qu'on ne peut écrire ni dire, parce que Song est. Ça suffit bien à préserver cette vie de toute attaque journalistique, dont le plus odieux reste de réifier les êtres vivants. Alors faisons silence, devant la chanson de ce quartet précieux.

01. Cervione

02. Round Table for Four

03. Song

04. Tangle

05. C

06. Waldron Well

07. Brook

08. Double Dutch Treat

09. Indian

10. Backache

11. You Must Think I'm Crazy

Jobic Le Masson : piano

Steve Potts : saxophones

Peter Giron : contrebasse

John Betsch : batterie

Jentsch Group Quartet - Fractured Pop (Fleur de Son Label January 13, 2017)

Composer/guitarist Chris Jentsch releases Fractured Pop

new CD/DVD with Jentsch Group Quartet

Available January 13, 2017 on the Fleur de Son label

"The interesting thing is that he's using avant-garde techniques, but in a traditional framework."   Will Friedwald, NY Sun

Guitarist/composer Chris Jentsch - "Ša composer who can convey his ideas on a grand scale, swings with the grace of Duke Ellington and rocks with the nuance of Frank Zappa," (Mark F. Turner, All About Jazz)  - releases Fractured Pop, a double album length studio recording accompanied by extras including a DVD of a short live set.  The recording, Jentsch's fourth, will be out January 13, 2017 on the Fleur de Son label.   

Fractured Pop features Jentsch Group Quartet with longtime compatriots Jim Whitney (double bass) and John Mettam (drums), and multi-instrumentalist Matt Renzi.  It's accompanied by a DVD of a short live set recorded at Context Studios in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and chock full of extras like alternate takes, slide show music videos, a high-resolution FLAC file of the audio CD, PDF lead sheets of the tunes, and four of the composer's own remix/mash ups.

As Bill Milkowski writes in the album's liner notes, in Fractured Pop "Jentsch re-examines some of the same tunes that appeared on his large ensemble outings with a lean quartetŠ The title track, for instance, has a whole web of guitars, from acoustic strumming on the intro to clean electric lines played in unison with Renzi's sax on the intricate head to Jentsch's distortion-laced guitar solo. The moody and atmospheric 'Radio Silence' also makes use of crafty guitar overdubs throughoutŠ'Are You Bye?' Jentsch's clever contrafact of 'Bye Bye Blackbird,' is underscored by Mettam's supple brushwork and culminates in some fiery call-and-response between sax and guitar at the tagŠ. 'Route 666,' a hard-hitting groover with angular lines, is fueled by bassist Whitney and sparked by a twisted distorto solo from JentschŠ. Tenor sax and distorted guitar lines weave together near the end of 'Meeting at Surratt's', building to an ecstatic crescendo."

Chris Jentsch is a Brooklyn-based composer, bandleader, and guitarist working primarily in jazz and contemporary improvisational forms. Based in NYC since 1999, his main ensemble is Jentsch Group in its various configurations. As a composer, he has been the recipient of grants, commissions, or fellowships from American Composers Forum (3), New Music USA, Meet the Composer, New York State Council on the Arts (3), Ucross Foundation (2), and most recently, Chamber Music America/Doris Duke New Jazz Works, which commissioned his new work Topics in American History. 

The work will have its world premiere on Friday, December 2 at ShapeShifter Lab in Brooklyn, NY. The piece will also be performed on Sunday, January 8 at iBeam, 168 7th St., Brooklyn. Performing is Jentsch Group No Net, a nine-piece chamber jazz ensemble conducted by JC Sanford with Jentsch on guitar, Michel Gentile on flute, Mike McGinnis on clarinet, Jason Rigby on saxophone, David Smith on trumpet, Brian Drye on trombone, Jacob Sacks on piano, Jim Whitney on bass, and Eric Halvorson on percussion.

As a bandleader and sideman Jentsch has performed in clubs and concert halls throughout the East Coast, and has worked with such diverse musical personalities as George Russell, John Cage, Maria Schneider, and Chris Wood. He appears as a guitarist on the CD John Cage, Volume 11 (Mode Records 41). He is also featured in Scott Yanow's book The Great Jazz Guitarists (2013 Hal Leonard). Jentsch has released four CDs as a leader.

Jentsch attended Berklee College of Music and has liberal arts and jazz guitar degrees from Gettysburg College, New England Conservatory, and the Eastman School of Music. He earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Jazz Composition from the University of Miami in 1999 and is published by the University of Northern Colorado Press, Advance Music, and Fleur de Son Records.

2017 Chris Jentsch Events

January 8, 2017 - Jentsch Group No Net at iBeam, Brooklyn NY - follow up performance of Topics in American History.

January 13, 2017 - Fractured Pop CD/DVD release, Jentsch Group Quartet.

Ongoing This fall was the debut of Jentsch's new YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/JentschChris. Six hours of content including an entire 2012 set from Jentsch Group No Net (HQ), selections from a 2015 trio date, two jazz orchestra records, modified aleatoric music for two mixed chamber quartets, and more.

ChrisJentsch.com

Topics in American History by Christopher Jentsch and Jentsch Group No Net has been made possible with support from Chamber Music America's 2015 New Jazz Works Program funded through the generosity of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Nick Finzer & Chris Ziemba Live in Memphis (Outside in Music 2016)

An award-winning composer, arranger, and trombonist, Finzer is bringing the joy and power of Jazz to both traditional fans and the most modern 21st century audiences. He’s on a mission to be a passionate voice defining the sound of Jazz in this age while also bringing street cred to the trombone with a bold, tight sound. 

Born into the musical world (Mom Sherry Finzer is an international flutist), Finzer developed a fascination for the music of Duke Ellington and found himself, in high school, performing at the annual Essentially Ellington competition of Jazz at Lincoln Center. It was then that he decided to pursue a life in music himself. His budding talent was recognized by Wycliffe Gordon who began a life-long mentorship by writing four pieces for the young Finzer while he attended the Eastman School of Music. Nick went on to get his masters at Juilliard’s prestigious Jazz program where he was mentored by the trombone legend Steve Turre. 

In 2011 Nick was the winner of the Eastern Trombone Workshop’s National Jazz Trombone Competition and was a finalist in the 2010 International Trombone Association’s Carl Fontana Jazz Trombone Competition. 

In January of 2013 Nick released his recording debut as a bandleader and composer with “Exposition” (Outside In Music). Two tracks appearing on the album garnered Finzer a pair of accolades: The prestigious American Society of Composers and Performers (ASCAP)’s Herb Alpert Award for young composers (2013 & 2015) 

In 2014, Nick composed a new album-length work, “The Chase.” Nick's sophomore album debuted in July of 2015 on Origin Records to rave reviews, a feature article in Downbeat Magazine, and peaked at #6 on the JazzWeek Charts. 

Famed trombonist and mentor Wycliffe Gordon called Finzer “a new voice [in] the pantheon of upcoming trombone greats in the making” and added “Nick's CD is a glowing example of things to come.” 

When away from NYC, Finzer can be found touring the globe not only with his own projects, but as part of YouTube sensation, Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox. Finzer has joined the group on television, in viral videos with millions of views, and on tours across North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.  

Finzer has performed at top Jazz clubs and concert halls with Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Lucas Pino’s No Net Nonet, Ryan Truesdell's Gil Evans Project, Bob Stewart’s Double Quartet, Frank Wess, Terrell Stafford, Lewis Nash, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Walt Weiskopf, Slide Hampton, Frank Kimbrough, Carl Allen, Steve Turre and many more. 

1. Conception 05:26

2. Manhattan Lullaby 07:19

3. Stella By Starlight 04:09

4. Echer's Loop 07:08

5. Stablemates 06:34

6. While You're Gone 05:01

7. Nobody Else But Me 06:30

8. Chant 06:29

9. Just Passed the Horizon 06:19

Nick Finzer - Trombone 

Chris Ziemba - Piano

Dan Arcamone - Evolve (ARC 2016)

Artists Recording Collective artist, Dan Arcamone is a guitarist/composer hailing from Norwalk, CT. As a composer and performer, Arcamone’s powerful yet elegant style has been winning over audiences and critics alike. A diverse player, Arcamone is equally at home creating beautiful, arcing melodies on a ballad as he is taking the reins on a burning, rock-fused solo, qualities that have caused him to make waves as both a leader and sideman. Dan has performed and/or recorded with Sean Nowell, Mark Small, Brad Mason, Jen Allen, Thierry Arpino, Marko Djordjevic, Henry Lugo, Rich Zurkowski, Nathan Peck, Janek Gwizdala, Justin Vasquez, Martin Bejerano, Thomson Kneeland, Kenny Grohowski, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, Joe Abba, Damian Curtis, Zaccai Curtis, and Damon Grant, among other great musicians. Arcamone's musical style is hard to pin down with a single term, needless to say it is the result of years of focused study and  performances. These experiences have culminated in a personalized approach to the guitar that challenges the listener to think outside of their common expectations.

1. In View

2. Arrows 

3. Burst 

4. Highline

5. Leviathan 

6. Perigee 

7. Two Sides 

8. Apogee 

9. Out Vie

Dan Arcamone- Guitar

Sean Nowell -Saxophone

Henry Lugo- Bass

Kenny Grohowski- Drums

Enrico Pieranunzi Quartet - New Spring (Live At The Village Vanguard) CAMJAZZ 2016

DONWBEAT

A live performance took place at the Vanguard in New York one night in April 2015: Enrico Pieranunzi played in quartet with Donny McCaslin on sax, Scott Colley on double bass and Clarence Penn on drums. In the sold-out club, the lights were dimmed, the audience stopped talking and, that night in New York, jazz started to flow out from the only Italian artist who has played as a leader three times on that legendary stage. The concert was recorded and released on CAM JAZZ.

The music Pieranunzi and his quartet deliver here is all portrayed in the CD title, “New Spring”: renewal, vital energy, promises that come true, in the city that has always been the cradle, school and springboard for, but also and again the point of arrival of jazz, the city whose breath is perceived, between tracks, in the clapping hands of the audience at the Vanguard.

This is a modern, internationally-oriented jazz, entirely featuring original tracks, except for the standard “I Hear A Rhapsody”, and resulting from the interplay among four real jazz giants, who skillfully blend their forceful personalities into excellent music. The Vanguard is the shrine of American jazz and here, in the amazing harmonies and unexpected melodies of Pieranunzi’s superb, creative piano, you can feel it throbbing. You can almost see Scott Colley filling that small historic stage with his double bass, grinding out rhythm and weaving passionate, moving melodies. You can picture the audience captivated by the scratchy voice of Donny McCaslin’s saxophone that soars with soft phrases and mingles with Clarence Penn’s rich, full drumming, while Lorraine Gordon, the legendary owner of the Vanguard, seated in a corner of her reign, attentively listens to each note.

“New Spring” is ever-evolving music with an immediate impact on the listeners’ emotions. It is a small great journey through New York, Italian, American and European jazz: a picture, a photograph, a moment, a film clip, a night to be enjoyed and breathed wherever you like that then makes you really want to pick up and go to the place where jazz is, maybe precisely in spring, hoping for another beguiling April in New York.

Under the supervision of music producer Ermanno Basso, New Spring was recorded live in April 2015 at The Village Vanguard, NYC, by SoundByte Engineer Paul Zinman and mixed by James Farber at Sear Sound in NYC, and mastered by Danilo Rossi.

Amsterdam Avenue

New Spring

Out Of The Void

Permutation

Loveward

I Hear A Rhapsody

The Waver

Enrico Pieranunzi: piano

Donny McCaslin: tenor saxophone

Scott Colley: bass

Clarence Penn: drums

Kirk Knuffke Trio - Little Cross (SteepleChase Productions ApS 2016)

The leader of this new album Kirk Knuffke has just been voted “Rising Star (trumpet)” of 2015 by the prestigious DownBeat Magazine’s Critics Poll.

Kirk moved to NYC just 10 years ago and he has firmly established as one of the most sought after cornetist / composer on the scene.

Kirk chose for this his 6th leader/co-leader album somewhat special material (music that relates to spirituality of passing (=funeral)) and executed beautifully with superb support from B-3 organ player Jamie Saft and legendary drummer Hamid Drake.

KIRK KNUFFKE cornet

JAMIE SAFT Hammond B3, syntheziser

HAMID DRAKE drums

1 OH LOVELY APPEARANCE OF DEATH (Traditional) 5:13

2 CITY CALLED HEAVEN (Dwight Bigler) 6:05

3 CHINA TOWN SUITE (Kirk Knuffke) 12:21

4 LITTLE CROSS (Kirk Knuffke) 5:12

5 ELEPHANT BOAT (Kenny Wollesen) 5:03

6 FARMER ALFALFA (Henry Grimes) 5:12

7 POEM (Kirk Knuffke) 5:17

8 BLUES FOR FRED (Kirk Knuffke) 7:20

9 JULY HYMN (to Don Cherry) (Matt Wilson) 2:48

10 DONALD’S WAKE (Kirk Knuffke) 6:50

Total Playing Time 61:44

Kenny Burrell and The Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra Unlimited - Unlimited 1 (Live at Catalina's) HIGHNOTE RECORDS 2016

Kenny Burrell has appeared on so many essential jazz recordings that jazz history and his biography seem irretrievably intertwined. He has recorded 97 albums under his own name and several hundred with other artists including Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Tony Bennett, Billy Holiday, Sonny Rollins, Jimmy Smith, Art Blakey, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, and Louis Armstrong. On Unlimited 1 Burrell is captured live at the West-Coast jazz mecca, Catalina's, with a well-oiled big band, The Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra Unlimited, which is made up of some of the West Coast's greatest jazz men and studio players.

Burrell leads the group, solos and sings through a set list of original tunes, standards and, of course, what would a Kenny Burrell record be without some some Duke Ellington?

Michael Dease - All These Hands (POSI-TONE RECORDS 2016)

Trombonist Michael Dease delivers a unifying message about the Jazz diaspora and the impassioned assistance of “All These Hands.” The program’s message is carefully constructed to provide listeners with a musical narrative about the evolution of the jazz art form as it spread through the different regions and localities of America. To provide assistance in bringing his vision to fruition, Dease assembled an all-star lineup of musicians including trumpeter Etienne Charles, alto saxophonist Steve Wilson, pianist Renee Rosnes, bassist Gerald Cannon, and powerhouse drummer Lewis Nash, along with a number of special guests like Rodney Whitaker, Randy Napoleon and Rufus Reid.

With a thoughtful program of original compositions and an uplifting message of inclusivity, “All These Hands” remains insightfully straight forward, steadily swinging, and refreshingly melodic enough to evoke a wide assortment of bright moments to discerning jazz fans everywhere." 

Michael Dease Website