Damon Smith + Peter Kowald, Joëlle Léandre & Bertram Turetzky - Bass Duos 2000​-​2007 (January 15, 2021 Balance Point Acoustics)

I met Joëlle Léandre when she was a visiting professor at Mills college in 2002. This was very exciting, as I had been collecting her albums since I started to play the double bass and she was an important influence on my work. I had a bass lesson scheduled with her the day we lost Maestro Kowald. She was very close to him and it was devastating to her. For me, it meant losing a role model; for her, it was losing a close friend and supporter. We had a long phone conversation and she told me many stories about him. A few days later, Henry Kaiser graciously offered to let me record a solo for Kowald in his home studio. I thought a bass duo with Joëlle would be more fitting and I believe it was. Still, the sadness surrounding the session kept us from dealing with it for many years. I would get it out and try to consider track order or titles, maybe email Joëlle about it, and that would be the extent. Both her work and his remain a guide for me as I continue my work in the music. I am glad to finally get this session out into the world!

The reason I started playing music was because of seeing the great Mike Watt play with the band fIREHOSE. His extremely physical and multi-textured approach to the bass guitar logically pushed me to improvised music and the double bass. In the 1990s I had formed a bass quartet with George Cremaschi, Lincoln Smith, and Morgan Gubberman and we decided to ask Watt for a composition for our next performance. Watt replied saying he has lots of compositions and that he would just come up and play them with us. The music he brought consisted of his pieces from the monumental minutemen album Double Nickels on the Dime. I am a bit too young to have seen the minutemen so this was an incredible experience: the first time I heard these songs live was playing them with Watt! I should mention that Watt's bass duo DOS, with the great Black Flag bassist Kira Roessler, is now his longest running band and the first time I ever heard a bass duo was one of their albums! We got quite a nice guarantee for the show and I asked Watt if we could spend half of it bringing Bertram on board.

Watt was excited by the idea! Bert was into playing a rock club and said "I used to play places where you had to check your guns and knives at the door. It will be great!" At the show a punk rocker yelled, "Play louder" during a break in his set that night. Bert replied, ”You listen louder.” I ended up getting lessons from Bert, organizing many Bay Area concerts and workshops for him, and we developed a friendship. For me as a young bassist, he was very generous with his time. His commitment to improvised music was very inspiring as was his tireless effort to catalog the available timbres and techniques for the instrument, resulting in his book The Contemporary Contrabass. Originally meant as a resource for composers, it is an incredible guide for improvisors trying to deepen their relationship to the instrument. During a phone conversation one of us casually suggested a duo album. The magnitude of recording with this master did not sink in until just a few days beforehand! It was originally released in an edition of 100 CDRs that sold out pretty quickly.

These experiences are formative for me and have shaped the way I work with the instrument in improvised music. Not everyone has the opportunity to go directly to the source of the area they are working in, and these duos are certainly the source for me. Dave Holland and Barre Phillips made the first improvised double bass duo LP. It seems to me that Kowald's series of three LPs on FMP with Barre Phillips, Maarten van Regteren Altena and Barry Guy solidified it as a working method, and this meant having the duo as an available format in which I could work. My longest running bass duo is with the Texas bassist Thomas Helton, and hopefully an album will come out of our work as well.

Damon Smith

1. Peter Kowald & Damon Smith - Broken Mirrors April 28th 1 15:34

2. Peter Kowald & Damon Smith - Broken Mirrors April 28th 2 16:07

3. Peter Kowald & Damon Smith - Reflections on April 28th 1 03:45

4. Peter Kowald & Damon Smith - Reflections on April 28th 2 03:58

5. Peter Kowald & Damon Smith - Reflections on April 28th 3 03:12

6. Peter Kowald & Damon Smith - Reflections on April 28th 4 04:38

7. Peter Kowald & Damon Smith - Reflections on April 28th 5 02:32

8. Peter Kowald & Damon Smith - Reflections on April 28th 6 03:57

9. Peter Kowald & Damon Smith - Reflections on April 28th 7 07:20

10. Joëlle Léandre & Damon Smith - Throw off the Husk 04:35

11. Joëlle Léandre & Damon Smith - Ancestor & the Future 03:04

12. Joëlle Léandre & Damon Smith - Lost & Lucid 03:24

13. Joëlle Léandre & Damon Smith - Time Dries Up (DS solo) 01:18

14. Joëlle Léandre & Damon Smith - Mirrors Without Dust 02:34

15. Joëlle Léandre & Damon Smith - Uweaving the Threads (JL solo) 04:50

16. Joëlle Léandre & Damon Smith - Listening to the Same Blood 02:46

17. Joëlle Léandre & Damon Smith - Hive of Instants (DS solo) 02:19

18. Joëlle Léandre & Damon Smith - Building our Erosions 03:31

19. Joëlle Léandre & Damon Smith - Flowers Without Venom 03:05

20. Joëlle Léandre & Damon Smith - Unfingers its Grasp 04:22

21. Joëlle Léandre & Damon Smith - Sky Without Birds 01:58

22. Bertram Turetzky & Damon Smith - Vulturegrip 04:12

23. Bertram Turetzky & Damon Smith - Coalmarked 10:37

24. Bertram Turetzky & Damon Smith - Chalkravine 06:35

25. Bertram Turetzky & Damon Smith - Woodsong 02:05

26. Bertram Turetzky & Damon Smith - Slickensides 06:14

27. Bertram Turetzky & Damon Smith - Southbright 10:51

28. Bertram Turetzky & Damon Smith - Northtrue 08:27

Damon Smith Bass Duos

Peter Kowald 2000

Joëlle Léandre 2002

Bertram Turetzky 2007

Disc One:

Peter Kowald double bass

Damon Smith double bass

Broken mirrors:

Recorded on 28 April 2000 at Gallery 2310 Oakland, California; this is one piece with an index point for convenience only.

Reflections on April 28th 2000:

Recorded on 3 May 2000 in Oakland, California

Remastered by Weasel Walter 2021

Front cover drawing (reproduced above) by Peter Kowald; design by Kowald and Jürgen Schäfer.

Disc Two:

Joëlle Léandre double bass

Damon Smith Jdouble bass

Recorded by Henry Kaiser September 2002

DAT transfer by Ryan Edwards

Mixed by Maikol Seminatore 2020

Mastered by Weasel Walter

Titles from English translations of poems by Andrée Chedid

Disc Three:

Bertram Turetzky double bass

Damon Smith double bass.

Remastered by Weasel Walter 2021

Recorded on 11 November 2007 at 1510 8th St. Performance Space, Oakland, California, tracks 1-5 in studio, tracks 6-7 live.

Front cover photograph (reproduced above) by Damon Smith; design by Alan Anzalone.

Titles are English translation of invented German compound words by Paul Celan

Front cover drawing by Peter Kowald

Overall design by Allen Anzalone

Thanks to Clifford Allen for editing help!

PDF of full cover art & liner notes including the original Mirrors, Broken, But No Dust notes included with all downloads

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Paul Hartsaw / Damon Smith / Jerome Bryerton - Precipitation of a DecisIon (January 2022 Balance Point Acoustics)

1. Demarcation of Contents 05:38

2. Memory Prop 04:12

3. Sea of Reeds 06:08

4. Empty Time 05:28

5. Dissolution Through Expansion 02:41

6. Bits of Heat 04:05

7. Elimination of Empty Spaces 08:28

8. Light in the Pool 04:06

9. Reversal of Loss 06:12

10. Trickling from Dripping Wounds 04:25

11. Memory not Reliable 04:38

12. Paul Hartsaw / Damon Smith - Ghost with Necktie 02:41

13. Paul Hartsaw / Damon Smith - Flour in the Sausage 05:06

14. Paul Hartsaw / Damon Smith - To Each His (Own) Palm Tree 11:19

15. Paul Hartsaw / Damon Smith - Potato Pyramid in Zwirner's Cellar 04:43

16. Paul Hartsaw / Damon Smith - Higher Beings Command-Paint an Angel 02:35

17. Paul Hartsaw Damon Smith - Knitted Alps 01:27

18. Paul Hartsaw / Damon Smith - Untitled (Platypus) 04:53

19. Paul Hartsaw / Damon Smith - Protocol from the 29th of July 07:44

Cover Art:

Eliot Daughtry Postcard 1 & 5

Photographs by Melissa Venator

Design by Alan Anzalone

Disc 1 Precipitation of a Decision (track 1-11)

Artist: Paul Hartsaw – Damon Smith – Jerome Bryerton

Title: Precipitation of a Decision

Recorded: Bird Cloud Studio in St. Louis, MO

Date: May 15, 2021 (05/15/2021)

Recording Engineer: Ryan Wasoba

Paul Hartsaw – tenor saxophone;

Damon Smith – double bass;

Jerome Bryerton – percussion

Ttitles from Anselm Kiefer's Notebooks

Disc 2: The Ride on the 8 Of Infinity (tracks 12-19)

Artist: Paul Hartsaw – Damon Smith

Title: The Ride on the 8 Of Infinity

Recorded: 1510 Studio in Oakland, CA

Date: February 2, 2008 (02/02/2008)

Recording Engineer: Scott Looney

Mastered by Weasel Walter

Paul Hartsaw – soprano & tenor saxophones;

Damon Smith – double bass, laptop, field recordings

For Sigmar Polke

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Ronald Shannon Jackson and The Decoding Society - Live 1989 Koln, Germany (January 2022)

RONALD SHANNON JACKSON is best known as a jazz drummer of the first rank, having worked with both Ornette Coleman and Cecil Taylor. But he is becoming better known as the leader, composer and arranger for the Decoding Society, one of the most progressive and influential jazz-rock bands now performing and recording. Mr. Jackson was Prime Time's original drummer. 

1. Ronald Shannon Jackson | LIVE | KOLN, GERMANY | 1989 | 1 12:09

2. Ronald Shannon Jackson | LIVE | KOLN, GERMANY | 1989 | 2 11:02

3. Ronald Shannon Jackson | LIVE | KOLN, GERMANY | 1989 | 3 02:34

4. Ronald Shannon Jackson | LIVE | KOLN, GERMANY | 1989 | 4 03:59

5. Ronald Shannon Jackson | LIVE | KOLN, GERMANY | 1989 | 5 09:56

6. Ronald Shannon Jackson | LIVE | KOLN, GERMANY | 1989 | 6 21:24

7. Ronald Shannon Jackson | LIVE | KOLN, GERMANY | 1989 | 7 27:56

8. Ronald Shannon Jackson | LIVE | KOLN, GERMANY | 1989 | 8 32:24

Anthony Peterson Guitar

David Gilmore Guitar

Ramon Poser Electric Bass

Ronald Shannon Jackson Drums

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Avishai Darash (feat. Marmoucha Orchestra) - Andalusian Love Song (January 15, 2022)

'For me, Andalusian music is the origin and core of Western music. I want people to learn and discover Andalusian music and let them find their own voice in this vast and rich tradition.' So says Avishai Darash, Artistic Director of Amsterdam based Marmoucha Orchestra and creative vision behind Andalusian Love Song.

Reflecting the rich cultural diversity of the Netherlands, Marmoucha is a cultural organisation that is made up of artists from that country, North Africa, the Middle-East, the Maghreb and the Mediterranean. Andalusian Love Song is a love letter to Andalusian music and its journey and evolution through the MENA region and into southern Spain. It fuses traditional sounds and rhythms with Jazz and represents a fresh outlook on tradition and innovation created by musicians with a passion for diversity and the languages of musical styles.

1. Andalusian Love Song 04:37

2. Kartana 06:26

3. She's The Perfume In The Wind 04:07

4. Longing-Sadness 06:52

5. Twishya Hijaz El Kbir 03:59

6. Prakriti 04:15

7. Mohamed's Blues 03:06

8. The Day After 06:12

9. Arriving Home 03:32

Avishai Darash - Piano/Composition/Arrangement

Mohamed Ahaddaf - Ud

Jessy Hay - Guitar

Pablo Martínez - Trombone

Maripepa Contreras - Oboe/Layouts/Arrangement for "The Day After"

María Cristina González - Flute

Gidon Nunez Vaz - Trumpet

Claudia Valenzuela - 1st Violin

Sophie De Rijk - 2nd Violin

Oene Van Geel - Viola

Lucas Stam - Cello

Arin Keshishi - Bass

Emad Ghajjou - Darbuka

Mehdi Nassouli - Krakeb

Udo Demandt - Percussion

Yoran Vroom - Drums

Managing Director - Said Salhi

Financial Director - Peter Bander

Production manager - Taraneh Pour Yousef

Recorded and Mixed by - Paul Pouwer for POwerSoundStudios

Mastered by - Joris Wolff for Wolff Media

Cover Design - Madelon Timmers

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Dave Liebman - John Coltrane’s Meditations (January 2022 Arkadia Records)

“…the music is simply terrific. Water is Liebman’s first recording with Metheny, and it’s a solid combination… if he just keeps making records as engaging as this one, that’ll be libation enough: a tall glass of water.”

– Downbeat Magazine

20-time Grammy Award winner Pat Metheny plays alongside saxophone virtuoso David Liebman as he leads this remarkable quartet, that includes Jazz architects Cecil McBee and Billy Hart, as they examine the expansive and elusive nature of the primordial element, Water. From impressionistic ballads to tsunamis of sound, David Liebman’s Arkadia Records album, The Elements: Water is probably the most ambitious project of Liebman’s career.

“Here’s a Jazz concept album that actually works quite well… The combination of Liebman and Metheny is particularly strong, ranging from soft, ethnic-sounding passages to roaring avant-garde explosiveness – a potent reminder that there is far more to Jazz in the ‘90s than the more frequently heard, retro examinations of the past.”

– Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times

“They produce a greater variety of timbres and textures than most quartets due to Liebman doubling on tenor and soprano sax and wood flute and Metheny employing several guitars: acoustic, electric, guitar synth, and Pikasso guitar. Each group member plays impressively. Liebman has a bright, attractive soprano sound and displays considerable rhythmic grace when playing the instrument. On tenor he’s powerful; his solid full lower register work deserves special attention. And what a nice, big flute sound he produces.”

– Harvey Pekar, JazzTimes Magazine

Teaming up with guitar prodigy Pat Metheny, reedist David Liebman, who plays tenor saxophone, soprano sax, and wood flute, explores through music the various aspects and facets of water, giver of life and refresher of souls. The combination of Liebman and Metheny on this album is stunning. While the Arkadia Records album, Dave Liebman: The Elements: Water, leans towards Jazz’s less traditional sensibilities, it also contains an earthy quality that connects it to the sounds of nature, and in doing so creates an organic yet contemporary album that’s both accessible and inventive. 

1. Introduction 00:52

2. The Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost 13:44

3. Compassion 10:55

4. Love 12:24

5. Consequences 07:35

6. Serenity 09:24

Composed by John Coltrane

Transcriptions by Caris Visentin

David Liebman: Tenor sax

Vic Juris: Guitar

Jamey Haddad: Drums and percussion

Phil Markowitz: Piano and synth

Tony Marino: Bass

With Special Guests:

Billy Hart: Drums

Cecil McBee: Bass

Tiger Okoshi: Trumpet

Caris Visentin: Oboe

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Mary Pearson - You and I (January 2022 Arkadia Records)

“…fresh interpretations and insights… zesty… entertaining as well as romantic, as much fun as it was creative.”

– George Kanzler, Newark Star Ledger

“Long overdue – stunning and original.”

– Aaron Fensterheim- WXEL- FM 90.7

On this Arkadia Jazz recording of intimate duets, entitled “Mary Pearson: You and I”, Jazz singer Mary Pearson’s voice weaves a seamless tapestry of romance. Mary and her all-star partners Fred Hersch, Lynne Arriale, Harvie Swartz, David Lahm, Steve Davis and guitarist John Hart create a virtual suite of love songs, guaranteed to keep you under her passionate spell.

“Ms. Pearson gets to me not only with her humorous energy and stunningly musical vocal talent, but also with her “on the edge” eccentricity”. – Mark Murphy, legendary Jazz vocalist

The musical concept of the album – pairing Pearson’s indelible voice with a single instrument per song to create a collection of intimate duets – seems so clever that it’s hard to believe it is not employed more widely in the Jazz world. The simplicity of this format helps breathe new life into some of the often performed Jazz Standards, and three originals, and creates an impressive pulpit to introduce her original compositions to the world.

“These austere settings showcase the warmth and richness of Pearson’s instrument, a lush, supple voice… “You and I” is an impressive, musically exacting first effort..” – Joel E. Siegel, JazzTimes Magazine

Mary Pearson knows that it takes more than a beautiful voice to once again bring alive some of the most cherished and recorded timepieces of our American Songbook. According to the accomplished veteran, “If you can’t add something new, you may as well just put on the original and sing along”. With creative ingenuity and a vision to fashion her songs in a style never before tailored, on this Arkadia Records album, “Mary Pearson: You and I”, Pearson has been able to reclaim a glory that once existed in the classic realm of romantic Jazz, performing in the tradition of Shirley Horn, Morgana King, and Chris Conner. 

1. Lazy Afternoon 04:11

2. The More I See You 05:18

3. Take Five 02:59

4. What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life? 03:58

5. * I Am Yours / You Are Mine 05:15

6. Thou Swell 04:03

7. You and I 05:24

8. * In Your Arms 04:11

9. How Long Has This Been Going On? 05:54

10. My Funny Valentine 03:57

11. * I Can’t Believe 03:26

12. Over the Rainbow 05:10

* Composed by Mary Pearson

All vocals and arrangements by Mary Pearson

Mary Pearson: Vocals

Fred Hersch: Piano

Lynne Arriale: Piano

John Hart: Guitar

Harvie Swartz (Harvie S): Bass

Steve Davis Drums

David Lahm: Piano

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Indo Jazz Fusions with Larry Adler (February 2, 2022 British Progressive Jazz)

This is one of those occasions when we ‘labellers of music’ get stuck in our own glue. Consider the complication: A group called Indo Jazz Fusions containing Indian and British musicians, an American-born guest, and the result, a uniquely beautiful music which is patently not quite Indian, not quite jazz, not quite contemporary-American. I think the most accurate thing you can say is that it can only be played the way it is by men in contact with the jazz tradition.

The group is led, and all the compositions save one were written, by John Mayer. Born in Calcutta, trained first in Indian music, then in classical European music, he came to England about twenty years ago to pursue an orchestral career as a violinist. More recently he has devoted his time entirely to composition and to his Indo Jazz Fusions unit, an idea dating from four or five years ago. As a group it’s been through a number of changes so that now it’s a very fiery, jazzy unit indeed, which doesn’t mean that it’s no longer Indian, as can be heard in the first piece - Raga Malika, based on the rules of the classical Indian raga, a set scale of notes - a kit of parts almost - from which all the resulting solos are built. The rhythm in that case, twelve beats. Not to a bar so much as twelve beats in a recurring cycle.

In Serenade you’ll notice the pastoral nature of the sound of Larry Adler’s harmonica against Stan Sulzmann’s flute. In John Mayer’s composition Romance, from which guitar, sitar and tabla are absent, it reaches a degree of intensity seldom heard outside the music of Vaughan Williams, and the piece has one of the most sinuous, unpredictable melodies I’ve ever heard.

Larry Adler is the first man as far as I know to have made the harmonica a concert instrument, a feat he achieved in the 1930s, and it’s from the late Thirties that George Gershwin’s Summertime comes. It’s the first time that John Mayer has ever arranged a standard number for this group, and the results are very beautiful indeed.

Sarabande by John Mayer is a little more Indian in flavour, though it has a familiar title. In this, John Mayer himself plays violin.

The final piece is a return to the raga form, in this case built on a rhythm of eighteen beats. Among the things you’ll hear is a kind of duetting between Jim Moyes on guitar and Clem Alford on sitar. A technique known as the Raga Mehga.

I think that Britain is the only place where so many elements could be brought together so successfully.

Peter Clayton - July 1970 

1. Raga Malika

2. Serenade

3. Romance

4. Summertime

5. Sarabande

6. Raga Megha

Recorded 'live in-studio' in London, July 1970

Previously unreleased

Larry Adler - harmonica (tracks 2-6)

John Mayer - piano, violin

Stan Sulzmann - alto saxophone, flute

Jim Moyse - guitar

Clem Alford - sitar

Jeff Clyne - bass

John Marshall - drums

Keshav Sathe - tabla

Tape transfer by Ian Priston

Restored and mastered by Matt Parker for British Progressive Jazz

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Don Rendell Sextet - The Odysseus Suite (February 2, 2022 British Progressive Jazz)

1. The Odysseus Suite part 1: Intro / Farewell Penelope

2. The Odysseus Suite part 2: Odysseus, King of Ithaca

3. The Odysseus Suite part 3: Siren's Song

4. The Odysseus Suite part 4: Veil of Ino

Live studio session recorded in London, October 1970

Based on Homer's Odyssey

All tracks composed by Don Rendell

Don Rendell - saxes/flute

Stan Robinson - saxes/flute

Peter Shade - vibes/flute

Michael Garrick - piano

Jack Thorncroft - bass

Trevor Tomkins - drums

Tape transfer by Dave Harwood

Restored and mastered by Matt Parker

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John Taylor Sextet - Eye To Eye: Live 1971 (February 2, 2022 British Progressive Jazz)

1. And Think Again 08:53

2. Wait For Me 10:50

3. Awakening 04:31

4. Eye To Eye / Aw 04:58

Recorded live in London, April 1971

Previously unreleased

John Taylor - piano

Kenny Wheeler - trumpet, flugelhorn

Chris Pyne - trombone

Stan Sulzmann - alto sax, flute

Chris Laurence - bass

Tony Levin - drums

Tape transfer by Dave Harwood

Resorted and mastered by Matt Parker

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John Dankworth Orchestra - Composition With Colour: Live 1971 (February 2, 2022 British Progressive Jazz)

1. The Imaginary Mirror

2. Altisidora

3. A Family Joy

4. Orinoco

5. Eleven Plus

6. Composition with Colour

7. Earth Man

Recorded live in London, March 1971

Previously unreleased

John Dankworth - alto sax, clarinet

Martin Drover, Kenny Wheeler, Hank Shaw, Henry Lowther - trumpets

Mike Gibbs, David Horler - trombones

John Jenkins - tuba

Tony Cook - french horn

Don Fay, Duncan Lamont, Stan Sulzmann - sax & flutes

Bruce Graham - piano

Chris Spedding - guitar

Tony Campo - bass guitar

Kenny Clare - drums

Ray Cooper - percussion

Tape transfer by Dave Harwood

Illustration by Piergiorgio Cupellini

Restored and mastered by Matt Parker

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Miles Okazaki - Thisness (March 20, 2022 Pi Recordings)

"convulsive beauty, propulsive rhythm, elusive meaning...a spontaneous and unpredictable work of art, accordingly discordant, subversively accordant, a pendulum crushing the cage of temporality. This is Surrealism in practice. This is jazz. This is freedom."

- from the liner notes by Robin D.G. Kelley

Thisness is Miles Okazaki's third volume of compositions for Trickster, a quartet featuring Matt Mitchell on piano, Anthony Tidd on drums, and Sean Rickman on drums. The album is a set of themes that are shuffled and connected in different ways to make four large movements. Okazaki describes the process in the liner notes:

"Our previous albums were made up of what I would simply call "songs," but for this project I decided to expand the format. The intention was to make something like an exquisite corpse, the collective improvisations developed by the Surrealists. So for this album my job as composer was to bring in some ideas, set them in motion and then listen, trying to recognize the value of serendipitous events at transitional points in the music and lead the band down whatever path may be opening. The borderlands are where the Trickster hangs out, the undefined space where logic dissolves and creativity thrives. My hope was that the listener would enjoy the experience of passing through these boundaries between contrasting episodes."

The music draws on a few sources of inspiration that have connected creative elements: a magical "far off place" called Salt Creek, from a watercolor by Linda Okazaki, the writings on Surrealism by Robin D.G. Kelley, architectural concepts from producer David Breskin, and the poetry of Sun Ra. The idea that this band has been working toward since their first album is most fully realized on Thisness, a sound that discards notions of logic and control and strives toward something more like collective dreaming.

1. In Some Far Off Place

2. Years in Space

3. I'll Build a World

4. And Wait for You

Miles Okazaki – Guitar, Vocals, Robots

Matt Mitchell – Piano, Fender Rhodes, Prophet-6

Anthony Tidd – Electric Bass

Sean Rickman – Drums

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Success Pistols - First Shot (January 20, 2022 Amalgam)

BANG! ZAP! POW! Success Pistols is Dustin (tenor saxophone, composition), Scott Bevins (trumpet), Eli Davidovici (bass), and Mili Hong (drums).

Their sound borrows from new music, improvised music, and avant-minimalist traditions. Scores consist of instructions that Finer teaches the group orally; specificity of each instruction varies and unspecified elements are improvised. The result is that each piece retains an identifiable sonic fingerprint while differing every performance. Works are taught orally, rather than by providing the written text scores, so that the music must be memorized immediately. This demands a high level of concentration and fosters a unique performer experience where modalities of listening and memory are used as compositional parameters. Some works also feature game elements that encourage the musicians to interact in playful ways, such as cueing one another with subtle winks.

First Shot is Success Pistols' debut recording.

1. Pastiche No. 1

2. Speed Eater

3. Pastiche No. 2b

4. Descenders

5. three miniatures

6. Just ON3 Thing

Dustin Finer - Tenor saxophone, composition

Scott Bevins - Trumpet

Eli Davidovici - Bass

Mili Hong - Drums

Recorded by James Benjamin and Sam Rae.

Mixed by James Benjamin at Breakglass Studios.

Mastered by Jonathan Kaspy.

Artwork by Isaac Vallentin.

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Jonathan Ziegler - Verse Visa (January 20, 2022)

1. Intro Thingy

2. Just Gotta be Careful

3. On the Map

4. Tim Time (with Tim)

5. Kind of like a Blueish-Gray

6. serious?

7. Sidewalk Chalk

Piano - Connor Rohrer (Tracks 2,3,5-7)

Bass - Marty Quinn (Tracks 2,3,5-7)

Guitar - Tim Watson (Tracks 2-4,7)

Sax - David Mason (Tracks 2,3,6,7)

Trumpet - Stephane Clement (Tracks 1,5,7)

Writing, Production, Drums, Mixing - Jonathan Ziegler

Mixing - Alex Aranout

Album Artwork - Alejandra Jiminez

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Andy Pratt - Horizon Instrumentals (January 2022)

Instrumental selections from Pratt's 2017 Horizon Disrupted album.

1. Will You Be The One Tonight? (Guitar) 06:01

2. When Did The Summer End? (Guitar) 03:24

3. She's Gotten Into My Dreams (Hot Guitar) 03:28

4. Rocket Ship (Rhodes) 04:48

5. Somewhere Down The Road (Guitar) 05:34

6. Horizon Disrupted (Guitar) 04:16

7. When Did The Summer End? (Underscore) 03:22

8. Rocket Ship (Underscore) 04:49

9. Somewhere Down The Road (Underscore) 05:35

10. Horizon Disrupted (Underscore) 04:16

11. Will You Be The One Tonight? (Rhodes) 06:01

12. When Did The Summer End? (Rhodes) 03:24

Andy Pratt: Guitars & Fender Rhodes Electric Piano

Joe Policastro: Bass

Mikel Patrick Avery: Drums & Percussion

&

Quartet Parapluie:

Rebekah Cope: Violin

Inger Petersen Carle: Violin

Andra Kulans: Viola & Violin

Melissa Bach: Cello

Recorded by Steve Albini & Gregoire Yeche

Mastered by Margaret Luthar

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Carmen Gomes Inc. - Ray! (January 2022)

"We started working on Ray! in the unencumbered period before the adversity of Covid 19 came upon us. In the darkest period of lockdowns, we left it alone, and recorded 'Up Jumped the Devil' which somehow was more in sync with the life we were living in that period. When the restrictions were lifted, it felt just like Ray’s song ‘the Sun is Gonna Shine Again’; everything seemed possible. We recorded the last part of the album this summer. And a long and beautiful summer it was, a summer which made one feel grateful for all that seemed so self-evident before. Mixing and mastering was finished just before the sky clouded over and another wave came upon us.

But I still have faith. Together we are strong and we have music to get us through this. Because "Music is about the only thing left that people don't fight over" as Ray Charles used to say. To me this album represents a ray of light in the midst of the darkness and I hope it can be that for you as well." Carmen Gomes

"We quickly realized that we did not want to make a tribute album. Rather we would pay our respects to Ray by following the advice Ray gave to Willie Nelson at a recording session; “Don’t think about how anybody else does it, just do it the way that YOU feel it”. So we took the songs back to their bare essentials, tried to hear them as if they had just been written and in so doing making them our own. It is of course impossible to completely reject the sound of the originals, here and there a small citation did creep in. Listen to the last bar of ‘Let the Good Times Roll’ and you’ll hear what I mean. Carmen Gomes Inc. is a band: 4 musicians all having their say in how a song is being shaped in the moment it is being played. The key to this approach is trusting each other, keeping up a musical dialogue while respecting the framework of the song. Let me offer three songs from the album as an example on how we went to work on Ray’s music.

The Sun is Gonna Shine Again. The song is kept to an absolute minimum with only the double bass commentating on the lyrics with small melodic motifs. The lyrics are so typical of Ray Charles’ eternal optimism and at the same time they sum up the hope we all have in these troubled times that the sun is gonna shine again. The song was actually the working title for the album but our highly regarded head of marketing over at DSD Native; Floor Van Der Holst, suggested that Ray! would be more to the point and fit Milan Bjørnild’s beautiful cover photo perfectly.

Next up is CC Rider. Here Tettero’s guitar is the 2nd protagonist in this story of a love affair taking a wrong turn. The guitar is of equal importance to Gomes’ voice, it’s the CC Rider Carmen is singing about. Listen how they keep on challenging each other yet never get in each other's way. That kind of communication and musical empathy is a rare find in music. It is a chemistry that only years of playing together can achieve.

In Drown In My Own Tears, the guitar and bass take a step back, creating space in order to let drummer Bert Kamsteeg take on the role of 2nd main character in the small tragic play this song is. Here Kamsteeg treats his drums more like a bunch of percussion instruments than a drum kit in order to emphasize the intense sadness of the lyrics." Peter Bjørnild

The 2 most important engineers in Ray Charles' oeuvre were Tom Dowd and his protégé Al Schmitt. The story goes that before Ray Charles, Tom Dowd and Al Schmitt started working together, tape recording levels were kept safely way below the limit. But Charles, Dowd and Schmitt realized that by carefully getting close to the limit, a beautiful light colorization of the upper harmonics took place. In tribute to the 2 engineers I decided to use an analog signal chain to master the DXD recording to a Studer A80 reel to reel tape recorder in order to get that little bit of "tape saturation" that Ray Charles liked so much, keeping in mind Tom’s and Al’s love for minimalistic equalization and very little compression. The various reverb techniques used on the album were inspired by Al Schmitt's work. I have added a bit of depth to the beautiful natural ambience captured in the hall by carefully chaining reverb units at minimal settings. This technique helped the sound of the album become more coherent despite the different recording techniques applied, following the rules of the Arch Manifesto".

1. Worried Mind Prologue 00:57

2. The Sun Is Gonna Shine Again 03:01

3. CC Rider 05:09

4. Let The Good Times Roll 03:30

5. Drown In My Own Tears 04:14

6. Georgia On My Mind 06:06

7. Willow Weep For Me 03:31

8. Don't You Know Baby 03:14

9. Them That Got 03:29

10. But On The Other Hand Babe 04:28

11. Let's Go Get Stoned 03:50

12. Makin Whoopee 03:34

13. Worried Mind Epilogue 01:14

Carmen Gomes - vocal

Folker Tettero - guitar

Peter Bjørnild - double-bass / electric bass

Bert Kamsteeg - drums

Recording, mixing and mastering by Frans de Rond.

Produced by Peter Bjørnild.

Music arranged by Peter Bjørnild with lots of help from Carmen, Folker and Bert.

Recorded at MCO, Studio 2, Hilversum, The Netherlands, on the 12th of May and the 24th of August 2019.

Original recording format DXD 352,8 kHz

The original recording is analog mixed and mastered to tape using a Studer A80.

All other formats are converted versions of the original.

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Marbin - Aggressive Hippies (Backing Tracks) January 2022

Backing tracks for the entire Aggressive Hippies album with pdf lead sheets included (the pdf is only available with full album purchuse).

These tracks have the GUITAR and SAXOPHONE solos muted.

1. Just Music 07:04

2. Y'all Are Good 06:29

3. African Shabtay 05:59

4. Juke Joint 06:44

5. Ol' Neckin' 05:28

6. Morning Star 08:54

7. Aggressive Hippies 02:40

8. Jambo 08:02

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Arkadia Jazz All-Stars / Thank You, John! (January 2022 Arkadia Records)

“5 STARS! …”Thank You, John!” is a look at the sax genius’ music with stars from the (Arkadia) label. The variety of performers produces a range of approaches… …an album that will leave you humming – and respecting Coltrane.” – Bob Karlovits, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

This album, the “Arkadia Jazz All-Stars: Thank You, John! – Our Tribute to John Coltrane”, nominated for a Grammy Award for “My Favorite Things”, is a testament and tribute, from the elite Arkadia roster, to the awesome accomplishments and musicality of John Coltrane. From Bebop to Hip-Hop to Bossa Nova, all of the artists on this album have benefited from Saxophonist John Coltrane’s music, teaching, and influence. Wide in scope and deep in nature, Coltrane’s influence remains alive more than 50 years after his death, and will surely be felt by future generations.

“…a superb tribute to ‘Trane. “Thank You” is a salute from a variety of (Arkadia Jazz) artists, who play his music their way without trying to emulate the Coltrane sound – and the result is vibrant and fresh.” – Jared Rutter, Players- August 1998

We at Arkadia Records feel it is important to honor the legacy of some of Jazz’s greats. For our “Thank You” series of musical homages, we asked our artists go into the studio and record an all new, previously unreleased song either derived from or influenced by the enduring legacy Jazz’s royalty. The liner notes contain reflections by each of the artists about John Coltrane.

From celebrated Jazz luminaries such as Benny Golson and Billy Taylor, to Latin Jazz stars Nova Bossa Nova, and everything in between such as pianist Ted Rosenthal, Saxophonist extraordinaire David Liebman (whose track of My Favorite Thinks received a Grammy Award Nomination), and Hip Hop/Jazz fusion hip hop group Red Time, this album, “Arkadia Jazz All-Stars: Thank You, John”, all new recordings from the Arkadia roster of artists, creates a lasting tribute to one of Jazz music’s most prolific and important artists.

“A most savory and consumer-friendly clutch of fresh compilations… a top-of-the-ladder cast…. rewarding jazz without compromise.” – Dr. Herb Wong, Jazz Educators Journal

“…very moving, emotionally poignant… This is a beautiful album.” – Jeanette Housner, Victory Review

To the younger generations who never got to see Coltrane, Bird or Miles, the current jazz masters are the true link to the great historical figures. From Benny Golson and Billy Taylor, to Joanne Brackeen and David Liebman, to Randy and Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny and Dave Holland – all of whom have played with the Great Ones – they now carry the torch into the future. Even though we can choose to look back, Jazz can only move forward. “The Stars Of Jazz Volume 1” is proof that the future is for us to hear, right now.

“These (Arkadia Jazz) artists have chosen to approach the music individually and let their performances elucidate how they feel about Coltrane and what they think of his music. This is the only way that this tribute album for someone of such gigantic stature as Coltrane is going to work, and it certainly does here. Liebman… gets some sparks going. Then there are some purely unexpected delights, like Nova Bossa Nova. The best overall cuts are still the most straight- ahead pair from Billy Taylor. This is a successful tribute that could have been a real disappointment.” – James Lien, CMJ New Music Report

1. Benny Golson, Mike LeDonne, Dwayne Burno, Joe Farnsworth - Syeeda’s Song Flute 06:53

2. Dave Liebman, Vic Juris, Tony Marino, Jamey Haddad - My Favorite Things* 05:13

3. Nova Bosa Nova; Bob Mintzer, Claudio Roditi - Moment’s Notice 04:48

4. Benny Golson, Mike LeDonne, Dwayne Burno, Joe Farnsworth - Naima 05:39

5. Benny Golson, Mike LeDonne, Dwayne Burno, Joe Farnswort - Touch Me Lightly 06:33

6. Ted Rosenthal, Dean Johnson, Ron Vincent - Giant Steps 04:26

7. Nova Bosa Nova; Bob Mintzer, Claudio Roditi - The Night Has a Thousand Eyes 06:43

8. Dave Liebman, Vic Juris - I Want to Talk About You 04:52

9. Billy Taylor - Moment’s Notice 05:29

10. Red Time - Take the Trane 04:42

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Sethstat - White Night (Live at PMGRF11) January 2022 PMGJazz

Close your eyes.

Imagine a top jazz night out.

FREE download this one.

Press play.

You're there :)

One of the best concerts of 2021

as a FREE DOWNLOAD for you, our faithful.

Sethstat have done it again.

May we all be blessed by this music.

With all the love...

1. Korab 09:38

2. Wired 09:10

3. Afyon 07:56

4. Yeager 10:10

5. MVP 09:09

SETHSTAT -“White Night “ Live at PMG Recordins Festival 11

All music composed and arranged by SETHSTAT

Recorded on 25.09.2021 by Dorian Jovanovic at PMG Recordings Festival 11

Mixed by Vladan Drobicki

SETHSTAT:

Vasko Bojadjiski

Vladan Drobicki

Panche Bujukliev

Pavel Drobicki

Dino Milosavljeviќ

Cover art by Violeta Kachakova

Produced by Vladan Drobicki for PMGJazz

PMGJazz 029 / 2022

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Sean McGowan - Union Station (January 2022)

Modern original Jazz & Groove music for classic guitar-organ-drums trio.

Sean McGowan is a fingerstyle jazz guitarist who combines many diverse musical influences with unconventional techniques to create a broad palette of textures within his compositions and arrangements for solo guitar.

1. Union Station 01:13

2. Around the Corner 04:03

3. North: Cheyenne 01:19

4. Hickory Stripe 04:42

5. Blue No. 4 03:10

6. Sunflower Poetic 03:46

7. Boxcar Interlude 01:29

8. Narrow Gauge 07:57

9. Come Back To It 05:08

10. Lanterns On The Wall 06:42

11. Joie de Vivre 00:42

12. Under The Western Stars 04:38

13. Now Open 04:36

14. Cumbres & Toltec 03:27

15. Silverpoet 04:42

16. Red No. 5 05:38

17. South: Santa Fe 00:57

18. Cimarron 04:40

19. Palo Duro Canyon 02:31

20. Amarillo 03:25

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Giulio Corini / Roberto Soggetti - First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (January 2022)

1. All The Way (Jimmy Van Heusen/Sammy Cahn) 05:01

2. Samba Do Aviao (Antonio Carlos Jobim) 05:30

3. Lover Man (Jimmy Davis/Roger Ramirez/James Sherman) 02:21

4. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Ewan MacColl) 03:50

5. I'll Be Seeing You (Eddie Heywood) 06:01

6. Stella By Starlight (Victor Young/Ned Washington) 04:20

7. Rene And Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War (Paul Simon) 04:53

8. Stomping At The Savoy (Edgar Sampson) 03:56

Roberto Soggetti: piano

Giulio Corini: double bass

Recorded at Monolith Studio by Michele Marelli

Mixed by Roberto Soggetti

Cover Photo: Stefano Soggetti

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