The Tony Lustig Quintet - Taking Flight (2016)

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Critics, Listings, Features

Tony Lustig 

Taking Flight

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“Tony is an exceptional talent. He has a big, beautiful sound 

with just the right amount of edge.” 

-Joe Temperley Baritone Saxophone, Jazz @ Lincoln Center Orchestra

“The world is ready for Tony Lustig. He’s the baritone 

saxophonist I’ve been waiting for all my life.”

-Wessell “Warmdaddy” Anderson Alto Saxophone 

“Tony is one of the most talented, dedicated, and hardest working people I have ever had the opportunity to work with. When he picks up his horn you know it’s Tony Lustig. With his strong character, integrity, and determination 

the sky is the limit to what he can achieve.”

-Rodney Whitaker Bass, Director of Jazz Studies

Michigan State University

BIOGRAPHY BRIEF

Originally hailing from Detroit, Michigan, Tony Lustig is a dynamic saxophonist who believes strongly in warmth and groove. Taking Flight is a manifestation of those beliefs. Tony began playing violin in grade school. Learning to play the saxophone was almost an accident. Being as there wasn’t a strings program in his school, Tony needed to find an alternate means of expression. His parents offered an alto saxophone left in a dusty corner, abandoned by his older sister. As soon as the horn met his lips he felt that was it – that is what he had been looking for. He spent his childhood years playing around Detroit where he had the opportunity to play with and learn from such Detroit greats as: Marcus Belgrave and Rodney Whitaker. These experiences would lead Tony to further his quest for musical knowledge at both Michigan State University and the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City.

Upon making New York City his home, Tony has performed with some of the biggest names in the country - appearing with: Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Christian McBride Big Band, Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Birdland Big Band, George Gee Swing Orchestra, Patti Austin Big Band, Cab Calloway Orchestra, even Gloria Gaynor, amongst others. His playing has brought him all across the United States, France, England, Japan, Colombia, Brazil, Panama, and elsewhere. Tony is a fiery character who attacks his music fiercely and passionately. He writes with the intention of stirring the soul. His melodies are memorable and his sound is moving. He strives to inspire all who listen and bring a smile to everyone he meets.

CD DESCRIPTION 

I believe in creating music that people of all musical interests and backgrounds would enjoy listening to. For this album, it was my goal to write 8 incredibly different tunes that represent what jazz music means, while still making it enjoyable for someone who has never listened to jazz before. I wanted this album to feel good above all else. The players for the band were easy to decide on because they are all incredible musicians who believe in the same thing - creating music at the highest level possible while still keeping the mainstream ear interested. I believe bridging the gap between musical styles is very possible, and this album is the first step in my journey to make that happen. I believe in inclusion, warmth, and groove. This project is the manifestation of those beliefs.

Track Time & Times

Change is Comin’ 5:49

Fraytown 8:47

Prometheus 8:33

For Wayne 5:56

Taking Flight 6:22

Serving it Up 6:18

On the Wings of Icarus 9:46

Burnin’ Grease 4:31

All compositions by Tony Lustig 

Player and instrument:

Tony Lustig – bari sax, bass clarinet

Mike Dease – trombone

Samora Pinderhughes – piano

Ben Williams – bass

Ulysses Owens – drums

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ROJ TEAM

Playlist for TOM OSSANA / DANE BREWER – The Thin Edge – March 30, 2016 MST 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

http://www.kzmu.org/listen.m3u ~ Use this link to access the show online

"Watermelon Man" was Herbie Hancock's first major hit. Can you think of anyone better to cover than the Tasmanian tubist, Tim Jones? He gets help from Australia's finest: Stephen Magnusson, Frank Di Sario and Niko Schauble - guitar, bass and drums. Next we get two versions "Kattorna" by Poland's most famous jazz/movie composer, Krzysztof Komeda. The first, from the 2005 Tomasz Stanko Quartet live at JazzBaltica-Festival, featuring Stanko on trumpet and the blazing piano of Marcin Wasilewski with his usual trio mates. Then Germany's premiere jazz pianist, Joachim Kühn, and his trio perform Komeda's tune from his new ACT release, Beauty & Truth. Frequently heard pianist, Marc Copland, completes this set with his quartet's take on Duke Ellington's "Mystery Song" from his 2016 Innervoice Jazz Zenith featuring the trumpet of Ralph Alessi.

The mid-westerner drummer, Matt Kane, begins the second half with his sextet's cover of Pat Metheny's "Question and Answer" from his new Bounce-Step release Matt Kane & The Kansas City Generations Sextet ~ Acknowledgement. From Manfred Eicher's 2016 ECM we get Continuum from Nik Bartsch's Mobile improvising around Nik's penned "MODUL 4". Influential 1980/90s pianist, Anthony Davis, together with flautist James Newton and cellist Abdul Wadud give us an ethereal treatment of Charlie Mingus' "Eclipse" (We've heard the vocal version in a 50s Debut recording.) from their 1990 Gramvision release, Trio 2. Brian Haas, an American jazz pianist, composer, band leader, and producer, leads Nolatet, a quartet - piano, vibes, bass & drums - performing the Haas tune, "Dogs", a musical tribute to man's best friend. from his Royal Potato Family 2016 release of the same name.

Altoist Lee Konitz gets together with Swedish artists, notably pianist Bengt Halberg, in a performance of Lenny Tristano's oft covered "317 East 32nd St." - the address of a NYC jazz venue currently known as gallery café - from his 1951 Membran Audio recording Sax of a Kind. From their 2016 muzoic recording Defuser, The Giving Trio covers Tristano's tune featuring Konitz-sounding Alex Kerwin on alto. Brian Bromberg, sounding like a guitarist on his piccolo bass, gives us another cover of Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" from his new Mack Avenue release, Full Circle. Jack DeJohnette's 1994 Blue Note Extra Special Edition concludes the third half-hour performing DeJohnette's "Seventh D" featuring the great Gary Thomas on tenor. Little-known Michael Cain is impressive on piano. Wiki explains: Most typically, minor seventh chord refers to where the "seventh" note is a minor seventh above the root (a fifth above the third note). Aren't you glad I checked?

Sweden's Rigmore Gustafsson's ACT 2005 On My Way to You kicks off the Romantic Half-Hour with a vocal treatment of Legrand/Alan & Marilyn Bergman's "How Do You Keep the Music Playing". Trombonist Nils Landgren solos and vocalizes as well. Nina Hoss does a curious take on Kurt Weil's "Speak Low" in which she sings from weak to convincing, to help her betrayer understand that she "knows." (The opening line "Speak low when you speak, love" is a play of words on a line in William Shakespeare's comedy Much Ado About Nothing (1600), in which Don Pedro says "Speak low if you speak love." ~ Wiki) After 2:38 the instrumental begins taking your breath away, especially if you had seen the German film Phoenix (A haunting portrait of identity, loss and the search for answers in post-WWII Berlin.). Mark Murphy, one of J. D.'s and my favorite male vocalists, is next with Till Bronner and Murphy's "Love Is What Stays" from Mark's 2007 Verve pressing of the same name. Till shows up on trumpet/flugelhorn. Bill Charlap Trio's Impulse 2016 Notes from New York is next with a cover of Harold Arlen and Truman Capote's "A Sleeping Bee", written for the 1954 musical House of Flowers. June Christy gets us ready for bed with her romantic spin on Duke Ellington's "Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me" from her 1959 Ballads for Night People.

A special thanks to the troops @ RoJ for their help putting our shows together: Agenor (BRA), Chris do Brasil (BRA), Domi & Victor (SPA), GAB (BEL), JR (SPA), Javi (SPA), Jazzzz61 (SPA), Lira (BRA), Luisa, Menos Que un Perro (ARG), Marcos (BRA), Melokan (VEN), Raz (ISR) and Sonia (SPA)

TOM OSSANA

Pram Trio - Saga Thirteen (2016)

About

Pram Trio is a Toronto-based ensemble formed in 2009. Awarded the 2014 Grand Prix de Jazz from the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal by a unanimous panel, it is a collective of three Ontario-born musicians: Mark Godfrey on bass, Jack Bodkin on piano and Eric West on drums. Dan McClenaghan of Allaboutjazz.com describes Pram Trio as: “edgy and interactive, often urgent, and very much in the school of the modern-leaning piano trios.” Influenced by a wide range of traditional and current jazz artists as well as many other styles, their music is “very contemporary, composed and multi-sectional” (Peter Hum/Ottawa Citizen Jazz Blog). Pram Trio puts a strong focus on collective improvisation and creates an experience that appeals to listeners both familiar and unfamiliar with jazz. 

 “…it’s not enough to play very well; you have to do something that’s actually going to be compelling and original.  Pram Trio was like that.” - Michael Bourne, Newark New Jersey’s WBGO 88.3 FM

Founded by Mark Godfrey and Jack Bodkin, they released their debut album in the fall of 2013. The album garnered rave reviews with particular emphasis on their writing style. Specifically, Pram Trio’s compositions “often develop into territories unlike from whence they began and elicit a sense of drama from the relative peacefulness of the piano trio environment” (Dave Sumner/17 Dots Blog, eMusic). Eric West first performed with the band on their CD release tour that year and officially joined the group before their 2014 Canadian Jazz Festival tour.

In March 2016, Pram Trio will be celebrating the release of their new EP with a Canada-wide tour. This will be the first EP that includes the current lineup of the band. The group has been featured at jazz festivals across Canada including Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, Rimouski and Prince Edward County and they are very excited to take their music on the road once again.

Mark Godfrey - Bass // Jack Bodkin - Piano  // Eric West – Drums

pramtrio@gmail.com

Saga Thirteen is a six-track album recorded by Pram Trio in July 2015. This collection of compositions represents a period of constant change in the ensemble’s history. Featuring all original music composed by bassist Mark Godfrey and pianist Jack Bodkin, Saga Thirteen is the group’s second official release.




The record chronicles a period in which Pram Trio’s approach to writing and performing was in a state of flux as they developed their new sound with the addition of drummer Eric West. The music takes the listener on a journey exploring the breadth of Pram Trio’s compositions, visiting hard-hitting grooves (Mrs. Kim Visits the Living Room Alone, Undercurrent), soulful melodies (Bucket List), elaborate improvisations (April, Treptower Park) and a simple through-composed ballad (Control). Saga Thirteen is a small sample of the group’s new musical direction and further establishes Pram Trio as a strong artistic voice in the Canadian jazz landscape.

Released March 8, 2016 

Jack Bodkin - Piano 

Mark Godfrey - Bass 

Eric West - Drums

1. April 07:01

2. Bucket List 04:36

3. Mrs. Kim Visits the Living Room Alone 03:36

4. Control 02:46

5. Undercurrent 05:42

6. Treptower Park 07:05

Recorded July 10th and 11th, 2015 at the Canterbury Music Company. 

Mixed by Jeremy Darby (Canterbury Music Company), mastering by Peter Letros (Wreckhouse Mastering), artwork and design by Camille Lauren.

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ROJ TEAM

Lubos Soukup & Points Septet - Lubos Soukup & Points Septet (2015)

Lubos Soukup & Points Septet, the third album of the Czech band Points, presents a collage of 12 truly unique compositions, that represent the European contemporary jazz music and free improvisation. All compositions are written by saxophonist and clarinettist Lubos Soukup who tailored the music to the band members. He has managed to magnificently elevate their individual personalities through his work. The result is a fresh, creative and playful universe of sounds.

The band Points Septet was created as a special project arising from several concerts of the internationally successful quartet Points. They were the winners of the Spanish jazz competition in Getxo in 2009. Although the septet has a bigger sound, it retains the characteristic features of the original band: the absence of a harmonic instrument and their focus on storytelling in compositions. The initiative to record a new CD came from saxophonist and composer Lubos Soukup, currently based in Copenhagen, Denmark, who helped to realize this special project. Rather than Soukup’s international approach seen in his earlier projects, he chose to work exclusively with Czech musicians on this album. The core of the new band consists of five horn players including Soukup himself: trumpeter Oskar Torok, saxophonist Petr Kalfus, trombonist Jan Jirucha, and bass clarinetist Marcel Barta. They are accompanied by a unique rhythmical duo of bass player, Jaromir Honzak and drummer, Tomas Hobzek.

All 12 pieces featured on the album are written by Soukup. The music is tailored to the aforementioned musicians who have worked closely together on various projects during the last years and so have a keen understanding of each other’s individual style. Taking a closer look at the compositions, one can divide them in two different groups according to their concept. The first group contains more conventional compositions, which crosses borders between
jazz, classical music and exotic folk music.

The track called Gruzie, which translates to “Georgia”, is a piece inspired by traditional Transcaucasian music, while Jesterka, which translates to “Lizard”, is a piece in which Soukup makes a reference to the original roots of jazz i.e. African music. Choral is an ambient composition reflecting European church music, WTF is a vivid number based on a catchy groove, and finally Alegría is inspired by South American melodies and it is dedicated to one of the Soukup’s favourite musicians, Wayne Shorter. The second group is a collection of music sketches with an open concept and elements of free improvisation and no harmonic form. Starting with letters VZ, they represent an infinite universe of sounds (Vesmir zvuku) that can be accessed only through the absolute connection and openness of the magnificent seven who are courageous enough to immerse deeply into themselves and explore unknown areas in the musical cosmos.

“I aimed for fresh and creative music. The band name (Points) symbolizes us, the band members. Each of the musicians is a separate point on the scene. These points come together and create certain energy that works well together. To cumulate this kind of creative energy and to deepen our connection during the performance, we stand in a semicircle, which is not common for a jazz ensemble,” explains Soukup.

ALBUM INFO

Artist Lubos Soukup & Points Septet

Title Lubos Soukup & Points Septet

Catalogue Number ANI 051-2

Format CD

Label Animal Music

Barcode 8594155992881

Style File Under Jazz

Country of Origin Czech Republic

Release Date Oct 30th 2015

SOUND

Recorded by Milan Cimfe (Sono Records,Nouzov)

Mixed by August Wanngren (We Know Music Studios, Islands Brygge, Copenhagen)

Mastered by Pavel Karlik (Sono Records,Nouzov)

Oskar Torok . trumpet & flugelhorn

Petr Kalfus . soprano & alto saxophones

Lubos Soukup . tenor saxophone & clarinet

Marcel Barta . bass clarinet & tenor saxophone

Jan Jirucha . trombone

Jaromir Honzak . acoustic bass

Tomas Hobzek . drums

1. Black Monolith

2. Ještěrka (Lizard)

3. VZ 1

4. VZ 4: Interlude

5. Léto 1985 (Summer 1985)

6. Gruzie (Georgia)

7. Rhythm

8. VZ 6

9. Alegría

10. VZ 3

11. WTF

12. Choral (Chorale)

Total time: 54:45

All compositions by Lubos Soukup

Contact

Artist booking@lubossoukup.com

Label info@animalmusic.com

Visit www.lubossoukup.com/pointsseptet for more information, a free track and more.

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Official website of Points Septet

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Hashtag: #pointsseptet

ROJ TEAM

SNARKY PUPPY - WORLD TOUR 2015 - Collector's Edition Box Set (2016)

Label: GroundUp

Source: Snarky Puppy

To commemorate their 3-month 2015 World Tour, Snarky Puppy has created an extremely limited-edition, fully-customized box-set featuring their favorite 16 tour shows in their entirety.

The World Tour 2015 Collector's Edition Box Set includes 32 CDs (2 discs per show) in custom made wallet cases, along with a custom made, limited edition outer box.  PLUS - since we know you can't wait for the CD Box Set to arrive...you'll also get a FULL box-set download from our friends at livedownloads.com.  You will receive your code when you complete check out (and you'll also get it in your email).

We've also thrown in a downloadable & printable certificate for gifting purposes - or you can keep it for yourself, of course...

Box-set shows include: Raleigh, NC (late show) - Los Angeles, CA - Bristol, UK - London, UK - Cergy, FR - Tourcoing, FR - Utrecht, NL - Groningen, NL - Warsaw, PL - Vienna, AT - Bremen, DE - Oslo, NO (late show, second night) - Paris, FR - Istanbul, TR - Buenos Aires, AR - and Santiago, CL.

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Dave Anderson - Dave Anderson's Blue Innuendo (2016)

Label: Label 1

Source: Gapple Gate Guitar Blog

To get to it straight off, this is NOT a guitarist's album. So why am I posting it on this blog? Because it is a very together organ band headed by a very together tenor man, and as that it is a model for such things today, the guitarist's role being played to perfection, as is the role of the organist, the drummer, and...of course the tenor.

Dave Anderson is the tenor (and soprano) man in question. He leads the band through a set of hiply swinging originals on Blue Innuendo (Label 1 2003-2). This is music rooted in the toughness of hard bop, yet fully modern in its tang of the beyond. It is no accident that Dave dedicates one of the numbers to Joe Henderson, for there is some of that sophisticated, hard-driving facility going on here, plus Dave himself showing his own way through nicely.
Dave Anderson sounds great, with plenty to say on both horns and a way of saying it that channels sax soulfulness and a true sense of what matters, yesterday and today.
Pat Bianchi on organ is a model for the extensions of organ bop-soul into now. He makes me smile as he always seems to. Tom Guarna, the guitarist, has a perfect presence in the ensemble and solos with authority. He also in his own way channels bop-and-after giants yet sounds original and contemporary.
Matt Wilson on drums comes through as he ever does as the swinging giant so necessary for the success of this kind of thing.
It's a model for how the organ-band roots can be enacted but with the modern complexities brought to the fore at the same time. A blazer, a hip disk is this! Hear it.

1. Urban Dilemma 07:54
2. 22 Doors 06:51
3. 12-Step Blues 05:25
4. Parallel Present 05:06
5. Genealogy 05:31   
6. Stuck 04:36
7. The Phantom (for Joe Henderson) 04:56
8. Two-Tone Tune 03:39
9. Blue Innuendo (for Joey D) 06:42
10.Redeye 06:56
   

Dave Anderson - tenor & soprano saxes
Tom Guarna - guitar
Pat Bianchi - organ
Matt Wilson - drums  

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THIS SUMMER AT SFJAZZ | ALL EVENTS

THIS SUMMER AT SFJAZZ |  ALL EVENTS

43 Concerts in 13 Days 

This year's 34th Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival 

features 43 concerts in 5 different venues in Hayes Valley over 13 days. Tickets are now on sale!

LINEUP INCLUDES

McCoy Tyner Tribute w/ Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner + more · 

Los Van Van · Joey Alexander Trio · Yemen Blues

California Honeydrops · Ravi Coltrane & The Void ·

Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band · Roy Ayers ·

Freshlyground · Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band ·

Zoë Keating · Miles Electric feat Sean Jones + many more!

Also This Summer at SFJAZZ

Our summer concert series, SFJAZZ Summer Sessions 2016,

 features six weeks celebrating the great songbooks from across the Americas, the exploration of film with live music and the funkiest band on the planet.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

Dr. John · Snarky Puppy · Paula West ·

Gonzalo Rubalcaba · Pedrito Martinez ·

Lila Downs · Kim Nalley · Alfredo Rodriguez

Tierney Sutton · The Jazz Loft w/ Jason Moran

 Buckwheat Zydeco · CJ Chenier · Dakhabrakha

Harold Lopez-Nussa · La Santa Cecilia + many more!

Gwilym Simcock: Delta Saxophone Quartet - Crimson! (2016)

The new work Crimson unites Gwilym Simcock, one of the UK's most imaginative jazz composers with the Delta Saxophone Quartet, one of Europe's most distinguished new music ensembles.

Following Delta's most recent première Run Riot by Mark-Anthony Turnage, Crimson continues this 30 year legacy of excitement, innovation and excellence.

The quartet has worked closely with many leading composers having commissioned works from Gavin Bryars, Steve Martland, Joe Duddell, Hugh Hopper, Mike Westbrook, Mark-Anthony Turnage and Michael Finnissy to name a few. The quartet has always looked to extend the range/repertoire and possibilities of what a quartet of saxophones can present, combining a variety of musical genres and styles with a dynamic and informative presentation.

Musical accolades are no stranger for Gwilym Simcock too, being a winner of the Perrier Award, BBC Jazz Awards 2005 and British Jazz Awards 2005. Gwilym was also the first BBC Radio 3 New Generation jazz Artist. His performances with Bill Bruford's Earthworks gives Gwilym the inside-edge and knowledge, which adds a real gravitas to this exciting project.

The quartet is delighted that Gwilym has accepted their invitation, as part of its 30th anniversary season, to compose this new work Crimson, (supported by PRSF), which combines the skills and tastes of music which will certainly sit somewhat beyond the shores of classical, jazz and rock.

Gwilym Simcock - p

Graeme Blevins - ss

Pete Whyman - as

Tim Holmes - ts

Chris Caldwell - bars

1. A Kind of Red (Gwilym Simcock) (8.52)

2. VROOOM/Coda: Marine 475 (music by King Crimson) from THRAK 1995 (6.17)

3. The Night Watch (Fripp, Wetton, Palmer-James) from Starless And Bible Black, 1974 (8.43)

4. Dinosaur (music by King Crimson, words by Adrian Belew) from THRAK 1995 (10.59)

5. Two Hands (music by King Crimson, words Adrian Belew) from Beat, 1982 (4.37)

6. The Great Deceiver (Wetton Fripp, Palmer-James) from Starless And Bible Black, 1974 (4.48)

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Domi

Crimson! - Delta Sax Quartet with Gwilym Simcock from Basho Music on Vimeo.