On Reflections, a co-led sextet recital comprising two charts
from Russian tenor saxophonist-bandleader Igor Butman and six from
trombonist Conrad Herwig.
For the tenth CD that Herwig has either led or co-led for Criss Cross
since 1997, he recruits trumpeter (and Criss Cross veteran)
Alex Sipiagin to round out the front line, and a killer rhythm section
comprising pianist David Kikoski,
bassist Kenny Davis
and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts.
Well-known as the leader and guiding intelligence of the
Moscow State Jazz Orchestra,
Butman, in a rare sideman appearance with a combo of New York A-listers,
brings his A-game, improvising with heat and logic that his partners match throughout.
On his second Criss Cross leader date, Prelude to Real Life, drummer Donald Edwards picks up where he left off with the next installment of an autobiographical narrative in notes and tones.
Whereas in his debut, Evolution of an Influenced Mind (Criss 1365), Edwards conveyed the story of his formative years as a musician with eleven original compositions, here he addresses themes of love, family and fatherhood with an engaging suite comprising six kinetic, diverse originals of his and one by Alex Sipiagin, two personalized standards (Thelonious Monk's Skippy; Benny Golson's Stablemates); and three textural drum interludes.
Rejoining him from the first date are pianist Orrin Evans and tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III, both Criss Cross veterans, guitarist David Gilmore, while rising star Luques Curtis assuming the bass chair. Edwards' old friend Nicholas Payton plays keyboards on three tracks, and eminent New York singer Vivian Sessoms lends her voice to three selections.
Edwards unifies the proceedings with the big beat, impeccable taste, and creative spirit that have made him a New York first-caller since he moved to the Apple 15 years ago.
For his second Criss Cross release, 'Spring Feelings', pianist Misha
Tsiganov presents a program containing five originals and four
standards, each bearing Tsiganov's sui generis arranging stamp, tailored
to the tonal personalities of his world-class personnel.
Returning from his successful debut, 'Artistry of the Standard'
(CRISS1367CD), are trumpeter Alex Sipiagin, tenor saxophonist Seamus
Blake and drummer Donald Edwards, with bassist Hans Glawischnig joining
the team.
As on the first recording, the musicians surefootedly, virtuosically
navigate the blend of mixed meters, shifting tempos, changing keys and
reharmonisations with which Tsiganov dresses up his beautiful melodies
in order to insure, as he stated in the liner notes of 'Artistry of the
Standard', "that something is happening always, so the listener doesn't
fall asleep."
I
became interested in the concept behind this record years ago, when I
read a commencement address by Kurt Vonnegut. He spoke about how
historically, we've lived with our extended families our whole lives in a
clan-like setting. We were surrounded by people who we knew deeply, and
who we could rely upon.
Moving away from our families at 18, or
even younger, is a recent societal trend. Kurt recognized the necessity
of creating a synthetic family, in order to fulfill our biological
desire for closeness with others.
I’ve been fascinated with this
concept ever since, and I’ve felt a drive to be a part of a sub
community of likeminded individuals ever since I arrived here in Miami.
As this has come to fruition over the past few years, it has become
fully evident to me just how powerful this concept is.
What Kurt
spoke of goes far beyond stemming the tide of loneliness. As people’s
lives collide, we meet many, get to know some, and fall deeply intwined
with a certain few, and with their support, the possibilities are
endless. This project was born solely through collaboration with these
people that I am so blessed and honored to call my Inner Circle. - Zach
Larmer
1. On The Dock 08:49 2. Garden Of Eden 3. Same As It Ever Was 4. Inner Circle 5. I Left It Bayou 6. Friedrichshain 7. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise
Zach Larmer - Guitar John Daversa - Trumpet, EVI Brian Lynch - Trumpet Aldo Salvent - Saxophone Tal Cohen - Keyboards Juan Pablo Diaz - Bass Jermaine Walden - Bass Rodolfo Zuniga - Drums David Chiverton - Drums
Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit Records proudly announces the January 29 release of
“Vol 1”, the first of three EP’s saxophonist and composer Jonathan
Greenstein plans to release over the course of this year. Inspired by
the speed in which Indie and Electronic musicians can now produce new
material, Greenstein has turned his focus to releasing more music,
documenting his artistic journey and connecting faster to his growing
audience. The three part series is an exploration of modern jazz drawn
from a palette of modern sounds. Along with Greenstein, Vol 1 features
guitarist Gilad Hekselman, pianist Victor Gould, bassist Or Bareket and
drummer Mark Whitfield Jr.
With an emphasis on the song,
Greenstein’s music offers a fresh take on lyrical melodies and dynamic
uses of space against flexible frameworks that push the boundaries of
the traditional jazz form. Vol 1 begins the cycle with its roots
planted firmly in the modern jazz idiom with a wink of the grooves to
come in Vol 2, eventually concluding with a distinct new beat to be
heard on Vol 3.
“Vol 1 is a summarization of the past few years
of my life and dreaming of what’s to come in song,” says Greenstein,
“…it’s a quest to become part of the listeners life.”
Greenstein’s influences range from Rock and Hip Hop to Electronic and
Alternative- all of which can be heard in varying degrees on the jazz
foundation he’s laid in Vol 1’s six tracks. This cross-genre exploration
is evident not just throughout the EP but also throughout the songs
themselves. Particularly "Helpdaynastephens.org in Gm, Prelude” takes the listener from atmospheric Electronica to a
hard-hitting rhythmic cacophony fronted by the captivating Whitfield
before settling into a pulsing groove reminiscent of J. Dilla. Equally
entrancing is Greenstein’s reimagining of Bjork’s ethereal “Who Is It”
where he trades her signature cathedralesque bells for intricate
reworking performed by his innovative quintet.
Contributing to
his identifiable style are his jaw-dropping, energetic live shows that
are known the bring audiences to their feet. Vol 1’s release will be
marked by a special engagement at New York City’s famed Rockwood Music
Hall on January 28.
1. Opening 03:44 2. Mechanics 07:22 3. HelpDaynaStephens.ORG in Gm, Prelude 02:43 4. Yuval's Cubism 05:01 5. Some Of These Guys (Read Books For Fun) 08:11 6. Who Is It (Bjork) 04:41
Jonathan Greenstein Gilad Hekselman Victor Gould Or Bareket Mark Whitfield Jr.
Life to Everything is the new live album by Anglo/Scandinavian trio Phronesis, recorded over three shows ‘in the round’ at The Cockpit, London as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival in November 2013.
Since the success of their fourth album ‘Walking Dark’ two years ago, the trio have been on a meteoric rise, gaining acclaim from fans over two tours of the USA and Canada and a tour of Australia, whilst also rising to the forefront of the European club and festival scene. With so much time spent on the road and a reputation for spell-binding roller-coaster live performances, (which led to Jazzwise once describing them as one of the most exciting bands on the planet), it was natural for the band to want to record their fifth album in front of a live audience. In Høiby’s words – ‘performing live has been the strength of this trio from the start – it sparks an extra focus, excitement and joy. As the album title suggests – it’s where everything comes to life’.
Released April 7, 2014
Recorded by Matt Robertson on 16th & 17th November 2013 over three performances at The Cockpit, London as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival.
Mixed by August Wanngren in Copenhagen, December 2013. Mastered by Thomas Eberger in Stockholm, December 2013.
Photographs and cover by Dave Maric Produced by Phronesis
JASPER HØIBY double bass
IVO NEAME piano
ANTON EGER drums
01. Urban Control (Anton Eger)
02. Phraternal (Ivo Neame)
03. Behind Bars (Jasper Høiby)
04. Song for Lost Nomads (Ivo Neame)
05. Wings 2 the Mind (Jasper Høiby)
06. Nine Lives (Jasper Høiby)
07. Deep Space Dance (Ivo Neame)
08. Herne Hill (Anton Eger)
09. Dr Black (Anton Eger)
Bonus tracks
10. Charm Defensive (live from Jazzhouse, Copenhagen)
Gutbucket consists of Ty Citerman on guitar, Ken Thomson on saxophone, Adam D. Goldon drums and Pat Swoboda on bass. For over fifteen years they have been playing an energetic brand of music that blends the virtuosity of avant garde jazz with the volume of progressive rock. This is a live recording from The Stone in New York City and it shows how exciting the band can be in that setting. “Luton” opens the album with thick bass and strong drumming, adding squalls of electric guitar and saxophone, pushing the energy level to a cool modern free jazz and fusion combination with snaking rhythm and complex playing. The energy level is very high and exciting, and reaches a great crescendo of gushing music.
The fast nature of the music continues on “Exercise” developing very well with the band kicking hard. The band is moving into blistering tempos, with the saxophone digging and snarling guitar keeping pace. On this track they prove themselves to be a wailing powerful juggernaut of a band. “Rum Spring” has a little bit slower and milder saxophone developing a nice rhythm with the drums, building to a more complex choppy section of improvisation with the music rising in pitch to the full band reaching a secure medium-up tempo punctuated by exclamations of saxophone, then finishing at a blistering pace.
There is a skull crushing riff to “So Many Little “ then quiet abstraction before building to a dynamic of heavy metal sludge, thudding drums, thick reaching sax, and blasts of all out powerful music calling out amidst the slabs of raw sound. “Bounce Clap Shasta!” has a nice funky feel from the bass and drums as they develop a fun feel to the music then promptly subvert it with a more nervous disjointed section. Citerman takes a growling guitar solo over very powerful bass and drums, which makes for a very wild interlude, before the bands downshift to a quiet and somber conclusion. The band develops a craggy sensibility for “Buseve” led by fast and very nimble guitar and saxophone along with lithe bass and drums.
It makes for very exciting music because everything is so fast and the band very tight and compact, like a skater pulling her arms inward to spin ever faster. This music is fast tight modern jazz very good collective improvisation everybody pulling together. On “2 Is Not Enough” the set and the album ends super fast full band riot, it’s great stuff full of humor and grace and rolling inexorably forward making a short howling blast of energy. This album worked very well, the group worked hard to make the small cramped club into a theatre for their unique music and it captured them at their finest.
A native New Orleans band. Our music comes from jazz and integrates other genres like hip hop, punk rock, folk and R&B. Founded with the desire to express our artistry and creativity in improvisation without being chained to the limitations of a single genre.
The SFJAZZ Collective is an all-star ensemble comprising eight of the finest performers/composers at work in jazz today. The group’s new limited edition two-disc live CD, which was recorded live at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco this past October, features new arrangements of Michael Jackson classics like "Thriller", "Smooth Criminal", "Human Nature", "This Place Hotel" and more, as well as eight new original compositions by the band. The 22-page booklet contains exclusive photos, interviews and commentary from the band.
· Limited edition 2-CD set available exclusively through SFJAZZ – not available in stores.
· Each CD set is numbered.
· Booklet contains exclusive photos from the live performances at the SFJAZZ Center, liner notes by jazz journalist Jesse Hamlin, insights by the musicians and artist bios.
· The compositions of King of Pop Michael Jackson, arranged by members of the Collective.
· New compositions by individual Collective members commisioned by SFJAZZ.
A brief breath of bass explodes into a lush groove led by drummer Zane Rodulfo and decorated by an impressive line-up of Dayna Stephens (tenor saxophone & EWI), Nir Felder (guitar), Marvin Dolly (guitar), Noble Jolley (piano & Fender rhodes). “Trismegistus” may begin quite simply with Luques Curtis’s
bassline plucking its way along a string of milliseconds, but the
remainder of the track’s 4 minutes and 8 seconds venture into the
stretches of Rodulfo’s musical mind. Born
and raised in Trinidad and Tobego, Zane Rodulfo left his home for the
undergraduate program at Oberlin College & Conservatory, ultimately
completing his Masters at New York University. This web of geographical
influences crop up across the entirety of Rodulfo’s upcoming Pathways EP, including this lead track, “Trismegistus.” In crafting Pathways,
“I explored and utilized some of what I heard growing up in Trinidad
& Tobago and then in the States, where I moved in my late teens,”
Rodulfo said. He went on to explain, “I decided to pay homage to
Caribbean rhythms, motifs as well as more contemporary Afro-American,
so-called Jazz, ideas and sounds.” But fear not, the tourist-baiting
steel pan sound on which commercial calypso banks makes no appearance:
the kit (courtesy of Victor Provost and Earl Brooks Jr.) is
respected alongside his own drums, layered into the sound rather than
tacked on top in hopes of adding “Caribbean flavor.” These Caribbean
rhythms and motifs meld effortlessly with Rodulfo’s “so-called Jazz,”
creating a feel that could only flow from an artist entrenched in a
global network of sounds.
“Trismegistus” traverses its way through this young artist’s journey,
taking its listeners along as it pulses with soft-spoken vibrancy. The
rhythm tumbles forward, driving the piece forward as each section
unfolds into something new, eventually unveiling a climactic EWI solo by
Stephens. The piece fades nearly as quickly as it begins, drifting into
quiet swells of sound until nothing remains. Zane Rodulfo’s Pathways will be released February 26th, and is available for pre-order February 1st.
Justin Piper currently resides north of
Boston where he teaches, composes and performs. He is the musical
director for the band Ripcord, and also leads his own group, the Justin
Piper Group, who perform improvisation based music and his own
compositions , often on 8-string guitar. Justin also performs solo
regularly, playing 20th century classical music and instrumental
arrangements of popular music. His musical interests have led him into a
love of Eastern music, thus studying both the Oud and the Sarod. Justin's
philosophy as a teacher and educator is to instill his students with
the joy of playing music while also nurturing an interest in the
theoretical aspects of music.
C’est une histoire de coïncidences. De marées hautes, de traditions. De Nord et de Sud, de Baltique et d’Adriatique. Mare Nostrum est un poème en trois temps, une collaboration des plus fortuites entre l’accordéoniste français Richard Galliano, le pianiste suédois Jan Lundgren et le trompettiste italien Paolo Fresu. Un parcours sinueux en contact avec une Méditerranée paisible, bercail d’une musique évocatrice, où les genres les plus surprenants se rencontrent, s’entrelacent. Au loin, on entend des échos de Charles Trenet, des fragments de chansons traditionnelles suédoises et des airs baroques à la Monteverdi. Une douce mélancolie caresse les compositions de ce trio d’explorateurs qui racontent cet instant de grâce précédant l’orage.
Paolo Fresu / trumpet & fluegelhorn
Richard Galliano / accordion, bandoneon & accordina
Jan Lundgren / piano
01. Apnea (Fresu, Paolo) 05:05
02. Blue Silence (Lundgren, Jan) 05:09
03. Aurore (Galliano, Richard) 03:57
04. Christallen Den Fina (trad., arr. by Lundgren, Jan) 05:49
05. Giselle (Galliano, Richard) 05:09
06. E Varie Notti Tre Vie Notai (Fresu, Paolo) 04:30
The
Daniel Karlsson Trio have since their album debut Das Taxibåt in
September 2013 established themselves as one of the most interesting
constellations in Swedish jazz. Not least through the magnificent hat
trick brought home by their sophomore release Fusion for Fish, released
in August 2014. The album ended up winning the Swedish Radio’s Jazz
Group of the Year Award 2014, Swedish jazz magazine OJ’s Golden Disc
2015 as well as the Swedish Jazz Grammy 2015. Ears have been opened
abroad as well, their music met with press accolades and frequent
airplay in Germany, but also in the UK and Ireland.
This does not mean that the trio are resting on their laurels. New
music has been recorded through the Fall of 2014 and the Spring of 2015
on the island of Runmarö in the Stockholm archipelago and then honed to
perfection at the brus & knaster studio in Stockholm. The result is
now ready to be sent off into the world.
On this, their third outing, there’s a also new member in the band.
Double bass player Kristian Lind has moved to Turkey and has been
replaced by his namesake Christian Spering, an outstanding musician and
an exceptionally well known name for those in the know of the Swedish
jazz scene. As always the new album contain a collection of exciting
original compositions by Daniel Karlsson. Nine new songs (we had to drop
one title on the LP version) with a more or less pronounced lucullic
theme apparent in the song titles. Soundwise there is no reason to
worry, the trio’s distinctive characteristics are very much in place,
only even more so this time around. A slew of analogue synthesizers and a
rare instrument in jazz settings, the Mellotron, frequently adding to
the soundscape. This is not a first in jazz however, Herbie Hancock’s
Mwandishi years of the early 70s featured Mellotron on both the
Crossings and Sextant albums.
The preeminent guitarist Andreas Hourdakis makes cameos on two tracks
just as on Fusion for Fish and Daniel’s sister, Rebecka Karlsson,
baroque violinist, is also featured on one track.
And as on Fusion for Fish the brilliant artist Richard Johansson has
lent us one of his out of this world oil paintings for the cover.
1 Chilly Chili 5:41 2 The Daily Döner 5:30 3 Rolls For Rolling 5:44 4 Folke Bengtsson Won A Trip 5:00 5 Two Blocks Away 4:07 6 Sambal Cymbal 4:23 7 Viggo's Veggie 4:21 8 La Baguette (Kampsången) 3:18 9 Recycling Society 7:59
Daniel Karlsson - Crumar Organ, Mellotron, Roland D50, Piano Christian Spering - Double Bass, Tar Shehnai Fredrik Rundqvist - Drums, Percussion Andreas Hourdakis - Electric Guitar (tracks: 7, 9) Rebecka Karlsson - Violin (tracks: 2)
The Cologne music scene has always been fertile ground for sensational
projects. International stars from many genres have made the city their
home, and met local heroes as well as emerging talents. Culture, clubs
and concerts are the pulse of this city. Musicians see each other on
stage and in sessions, and sometimes when they get together it sparks
from the very first meeting. That's exactly what happened with the Dirk
Schaadt Organ Trio, who are now presenting their debut album Time To
Change.
Already recognised masters of their craft, the three musicians, Dirk
Schaadt (Hammond organ), Martin Feske (guitar) and Marcus Möller
(drums), immediately sensed that they were also on the same wavelength
musically.
"The high-energy, homogenous trio sound was there from our very first
note together. It was immediately and compellingly clear to us all that
this must be the start of a sensational new band!" quipped Schaadt with a
wink.
Having chosen Cologne as his adopted home, Dirk Schaadt has played
across Europe for years with international artists such as Mirja Boes,
Tom Gaebel, Marla Glen, Sydney Youngblood, Sister Sledge and various
talent show winners on stage, in the studio or in front of the TV
camera. His instrumental version of the AC/DC classic "Highway to Hell",
produced together with a Cologne soul-DJ, received airplay worldwide,
including in the USA, Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom.
The guitarist Martin Feske, trained in Cologne and Texas, has worked
with numerous renowned musicians throughout his career. These include
such diverse talents as Till Brönner, Jeff Lorber, Kirk Whalum, Lew
Soloff, Gary Grainger, Peter Fessler, Tom Gaebel, Jose Carreras, Andrea
Bocelli, Peter Kraus. His concerts and tours have taken him to the
Berlin and Leverkusen jazz festivals, among others, and across Europe.
He has also worked as a lecturer in jazz/pop guitar at the Münster
University of Music.
A native of northern Germany, drummer Marcus Möller enjoys a reputation
as one of the most versatile drummers there is. Over the years, his
truly incredible stylistic versatility has seen him work with such
renowned artists as Marc Marshall, Marla Glen, Lars Danielsson, Roy
Hargrove, Nils Landgren, Inga Lühning and Giovanni Costello (The Voice
of Germany).
With the ten original songs on Time To Change, the high-energy trio
presents an immense variety of styles, from funky soul-jazz, to finely
worked ballads, to groovy and swinging jazz compositions. These songs
combine to create a dynamic, coherent and therefore unique and
unmistakable trio sound. All of the trio's recordings are played live
without overdubs. "By using this set-up, we were best able to capture
the musical energy and the dynamic, homogenous trio sound" said Schaadt.
Titles like "Eddie Likes It" have a bass line and drum groove
reminiscent of the saxophonist Eddie Harris, and on "Seven Dance", the
threesome manages to get an audience of 1000 people to move their feet,
even in tricky 7/4 time. "She's Late" is playfully dedicated to an organ
student who constantly turns up late. And yet it's actually this
tardiness, this "scatterbrained dawdling", which becomes the song's
focus, expressed through its "teetering" 5/4 groove and its clever
melody. The ballad "Time to Change" sensitively and forcefully deals
with life's more borderline situations. It's skilfully done too, with
light melodic lines and modern harmonies, and it also points out the
more positive aspects that are inherent to such moments. "You Think You
Know It" seems vaguely familiar… Or is it? Stylistically, it's a tribute
to Benny Golson. And then there's "Just an Option". Originally planned
for a much larger line-up, the trio version has evolved into a wonderful
"chamber music" soul-jazz pearl.
On some of the pieces, the Dirk Schaadt Organ Trio invited musicians
known to them from the Cologne jazz scene to play along: Ludwig Nuss
from the WDR Big Band (trombone), Denis Gäbel (tenor saxophone) and
Matthias Bergmann (trumpet, flugelhorn). They were only too happy to
accept the invitation and have enriched the music with their fresh
sounds.
How good it is that they met...
The Dirk Schaadt Organ Trio – with their distinctive debut "Time To Change", they've been a real boon for the music scene!
01. Eddie Likes It (5:54) 02. Tristesse Royal (6:33) 03. You Think You Know It (6:37) 04. Seven Dance (6:45) 05. Both Of You (6:31) 06. She's Late (5:57) 07. Keep The Flow (5:53) 08. Time To Change (7:22) 09. Just An Option (6:19) 10. Gut Gelaunt (6:10)
Dirk Schaadt - hammond organ Martin Feske - guitar Marcus Möller - drums Matthias Bergmann - flugelhorn Denis Gäbel - saxophone Ludwig Nuss - trombone
