Sunday, April 17, 2016

Matt Wilson's Big Happy Family - Beginning Of A Memory (2016)


Drummer Matt Wilson Celebrates the Memory of His Late Wife Felicia and His Extended Musical Family on Beginning of a Memory, due out May 27

Matt Wilson's Big Happy Family gathers the members of the Matt Wilson Quartet,
Arts & Crafts, and the Christmas Tree-O into one spirited ensemble

Featuring Terell Stafford, Kirk Knuffke, Jeff Lederer, Joel Frahm, Andrew D'Angelo, Gary Versace, Martin Wind, Paul Sikivie, Chris Lightcap, Larry Goldings, Yosuke Inoue, Matt Balitsaris

 "[Matt Wilson is] clear and swinging, attuned to color, pitch and the overall sound of his drum setŠ there's a specific kind of gentle humor in [his] band." - Ben Ratliff, The New York Times

"Matt Wilson has never failed to bring an element of surprise and unabashed joy to the bandstand."
- Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes

CD Release Concert on Tuesday, May 31 at The Jazz Standard, NYC

(CLICK HERE)

MATT WILSON'S BIG HAPPY FAMILY
         SET TIMES
      Tue May 31st


7:30
9:30


Both a joyous act of communion and a solemn farewell, Beginning of a Memory is a celebration of life, community and family expressed with the virtuosic wit and embracing humor that has made Matt Wilson so beloved in the jazz community as a drummer, composer and human being. Returning to the studio as a leader for the first time since his wife Felicia lost her battle with leukemia in June 2014, Wilson convenes the closest members of his extended musical family, including all the members, past and present, of his longest-running ensembles: the Matt Wilson Quartet, Arts & Crafts, and Christmas Tree-O.

Due out May 27 from Palmetto Records, the result is a warm and loving commemoration, featuring new renditions of many of Felicia's favorite tunes from Wilson's past recordings interspersed with snippets of studio dialogue that capture the spirit of the session. The release also marks the 20th anniversary of Wilson's tenure on Palmetto and of his collaboration with producer/label founder Matt Balitsaris, making Wilson's behind-the-scenes collaborators as much a part of the Big Happy Family as his bandmates.

"I made this album to celebrate a community of people and how much their love and support through all of this has meant to me," Wilson says. "It also celebrates her relationship with all these folks, because Felicia had a really special relationship with each and every one of them. "Wilson's Big Happy Family is a raucous clan whose members span a considerable stylistic spectrum, spotlighting Wilson's sonically inclusive versatility. The horn section alone brings together saxophonists Jeff Lederer, Joel Frahm and Andrew D'Angelo with trumpeter Terell Stafford and cornetist Kirk Knuffke; they all gathered together in the studio with Wilson and bassists Martin Wind and Paul Sikivie.


Improbably, that recording session was done without written arrangements, adding to the raw, informal feeling of the album and showcasing the camaraderie among Wilson and the various members of the family. "Just letting the cats play is risky business," Wilson admits, "but I was really into that. It was nice to see what would emerge. I love the courageous trust that everyone had. It was a pretty vulnerable situation to be in, but the vulnerability opened up everybody's sound to put them in a different light. Each and every one of them are characters, but the moment and the surroundings welcomed them into other territories.

"This was a very special occasion," adds Martin Wind. "Matt creates a very special atmosphere because of his style of leading. He picks the guys who he trusts and loves and then he puts the music in front of us. He trusts our instincts and decision-making and he's exceptional in the sense that he embraces everything that you could possibly come up with. There's no such thing as a wrong musical decision when you play with Matt."

Chris Lightcap added his bass parts later, as did pianist, organist and accordion player Gary Versace. Long-distance contributions also came in from Larry Goldings, who contributes a loving and tender solo rendition of "How Ya Goin'" on prepared upright piano from L.A., while original MWQ bassist Yosuke Inoue chimes in all the way from Japan with an unexpectedly moving solo version of '80s schlock-pop masterpiece "Endless Love."

Most of the pieces on the album have been associated exclusively with one of Wilson's groups or another, making nearly every track simultaneously a revival and a discovery for the various members. The conjoining of bands also carries that feeling of familiarity and freshness into the ensemble itself. At the same time it felt like a homecoming with Balitsaris producing and engineering, Michael MacDonald mastering, and former label GM Pat Rustici cooking for the band.

The most deeply personal moment comes on "Flowers for Felicia," a heartwrenchingly intimate piece that combines the melodies of Wilson's "Orchids," written for his wife, and one of her favorite songs, the Carter Family classic "Wildwood Flower." She's also there in spirit on the title track, on which Knuffke plays the melody that Felicia originally performed on violin for the original recording on 2003's Humidity. But equally indebted to Felicia's memory is the album's most unruly moment, an impromptu romp through "Schoolboy Thug," originally recorded on 1998's Going Once, Going Twice and a song that she adored.

"She liked the music that was pretty nutty at times," Wilson says with a chuckle. "I know she would love that version of 'Thug.'"

"We all knew we were gathering that day for a special purpose," recalls Jeff Lederer. "It was a day of remembering, it was a day of celebration - of Felicia, of Matt, of the special bond between them which was music, and so much more.  Each one of us in the room had our own unique relationship with Felicia and with Matt and knew that, even more than usual, there was a special purpose to the music we played that day."

That spirit infuses every note on Beginning of a Memory. Moments of uninhibited joy collide with passages of bittersweet sadness, but all of it combines with Matt Wilson's emotional openness, empathy and exuberance to conjure a mood of wistful optimism.
"I wanted this to be a landmark representing new beginnings and celebrating all the new memories that are starting," Wilson sums up. "No matter what goes on in life, we have to welcome new things all the time but also celebrate the gifts that we've been given - and all of these musicians are full of gifts."




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Peppe Jalava Band - A Guided Tour in The Kuiper Belt (2016)


SOURCE


Vuonna 1930 Clyde W. Tombaugh löysi Pluton, jota pidettiin aurinkokuntamme uloimpana planeettana.
Myöhemmin Kuiperin vyöhykeeltä löytyi lukuisia muita möhkäleitä. Vuonna 2005 löydettiin mahdollisesti jopa vähän suuremmaksi arvioitu, kreikkalaisen eripuraisuuden jumalattaren mukaan nimetty Eris, joka aiheuttikin eripuraa tähtitieteilijöitten parissa. Seurauksena tästä oli, että Pluto koki arvonalennuksen planeetasta kääpiöplaneetaksi vuonna 2006. Se poistettiin planeettojen luettelosta, muttei tietenkään aurinkokunnastamme. Se jatkaakin kieppumistaan radallaan pätkääkään välittämättä siitä miksi ihmiset sitä kutsuvat.

Sävelsin vuonna 2007 Esko Linnavalli big band sävellyskilpailuun kommenttini tästä Pluton arvonalennuksesta. "Pluto! - Siellä se kieppuu yhä!" saavutti kilpailussa toisen sijan. UMO Jazz Orchestra kantaesitti kappaleen Imatra Big Band festivaalilla ja on esittänyt sitä joitakin kertoja muuallakin. Myös Sibeliusakatemian Sibis Big Band on levyttänyt sen albumilleen "Competition Winners".
Alkuperäisessä big band-versiossa toisiaan lomittelevien kiemuroiden sovittaminen pienelle yhtyeelle ei ollut aivan helppo tehtävä, eivätkä soittajatkaan pääse tässä tiivistetyssä versiossa helpolla. Tekemistä riittää jokaiselle yllin kyllin. Jaakko Martikainen pääsee nauttimaan soolossaan Pluton gravitaation vähäisestä vastuksesta.

Neljä vuotta myöhemmin otin aiheekseni tuon paljolti Pluton syrjäyttämiseen vaikuttaneen planetoidin. Tuolloin syntyi "Eris - kummallinen", joka antaa selityksen tarpeelle vakuutella Pluton kieppuvan yhä siellä.
New Horizon luotain ohitti Pluton lähietäisyydeltä 14. heinäkuuta 2015. Tuolloin todettiin Pluton olevan hieman isompi kuin oli arvioitu ja sille suotiin kuninkuusasema Kuiperin vyöhykkeellä. Tosin Eristä ei olla päästy tarkistamaan vastaavalla tavalla.
Miksi Pluto sitten kieppuu? Koska sillä on seuranaan kokoonsa nähden valtava kuu, Kharon "kieputtaja" sekä lisäksi ainakin kolme pienempää kuuta. Tämä koko systeemi kiertää Pluton ulkopuolella olevan yhteisen massakeskipisteensä ympäri kulkiessaan rataansa aurinkokunnassamme.

Jotta saisimme aikaan mielenkiintoisen kiertomatkan otin vielä kaksi pienempää Kuiperin vyöhykkeen kappaletta mukaan: "Ixion - arvaamaton" ja "Quaoar - ylväs". Tieto Ixionin arvaamattomuudesta löytyy kreikkalaisesta mytologiasta, hän tappoi luokseen vierailulle tulleen appensa Deioneuksen. Vieraillessaan Zeuksen luona hän himoitsi tämän vaimoa Heraa. Quaoarin taas tulee olla ylväs, koska se kantaa Tongva intiaaniheimon luojajumalan nimeä.

Aivan tavalliset lomailuvarusteet eivät riitä tällaiselle matkalle lähdettäessä. Tarvitaan vähintäänkin järeästi varustettu "Maaginen matkalaukku". Tässä monet muodonmuutokset kokeneessa seniorikappaleessa matkalaukun varusteita penkovat improvisoiduissa sooloissaan Antti Hermaja, Ari Polojärvi ja Mikko Multamäki.

Täydentääkseni albumille lyhyitten ja pitkien kappaleitten vuorottelun sävelsin viimeisenä tärkeän kehoituksen tällaiselle matkalle: "Älä unohda avaruuspukuasi". Kehoitus pitää tietysti esittää jo ennen matkalle lähtöä levyn avauskappaleena. Siinä on lähdön tohinaa ja toisaalta Antin pasuunan rauhallista kerrontaa avaruuspuvun tarpeellisuudesta.


Don't Forget Your Space Suit (Peppe Jalava)
Pluto? - It's Still Swinging There! (Peppe Jalava)
Kharon - The Swinger (Peppe Jalava)
Eris - The Strange One (Peppe Jalava)
Quaoar - The Noble One (Peppe Jalava)
Magical Suitcase (Peppe Jalava)
Ixion - Unpredictable (Peppe Jalava)
The Three Last Lives of a Stray Cat (Peppe Jalava)
The Might of the Frogs (Peppe Jalava)
The Miraculous Pumpkin Meets the Barking Mandarin (Hats Off To Frank and Béla) [Peppe Jalava]

Solos: Jaakko Martikainen, Ari Polojärvi
All works composed and arranged by Pertti Jalava

Jaakko Martikainen: tenor & soprano saxophones
Antti Hermaja: trombone
Ari Polojärvi: el. guitars
Mikko Multamäki: bass guitar & double bass
Pertti Jalava: drums, keyboards (6, 8, 10) and sound effects (10)

Recording: Kari Nieminen, Musa Muusa studios
Editing & mixing: Kari Nieminen & Pertti Jalava
Producer: Pertti Jalava
Cover photos:
Charon NASA New Horizons
Plutos landscape ESO/L. Calçada
Artwork: Niko Jouhkimainen

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Manu Katché - Unstatic (2016)


Label: Anteprima Productions


Après une compilation chez ECM et un live Chez ACT, parus tous les deux en 2014, Manu Katché nous revient avec un tout nouveau et excellent CD intitulé UNSTATIC chez  Anteprima Productions.
Comme à son habitude, le batteur est extrêmement bien entouré. Parmi ses musiciens, on retrouve trois « fidèles », l’anglais Jim (James) Watson au piano et aux claviers, le norvégien Tore Brunborg aux saxophones, l’italien Luca Aquino à la trompette mais aussi deux belles « recrues » avec le magnifique tromboniste suédois Nils Landgren et la subtile contrebassiste norvégienne Ellen Andrea Wang. Cette dernière accompagne également le leader pour les voix sur le beau et mélancolique Blossom.
Manu Katché, qui a composé tous les titres, décline un album absolument convaincant et mélodieux ; alternant de jolies ballades (comme notamment Daze days ou encore Trickle) avec des morceaux plus rythmés (Unstatic, City ou Ride me Up par exemple). Et les deux se complètent d’autant mieux que Katché y intègre sur certains thèmes des changements de rythme.
Tout au long des onze plages, le batteur propose ainsi un jazz teinté de soul, de funk, de rock et même de salsa sur le premier morceau Introduccion.
On peut y apprécier les échanges entre le claviériste et les cuivres pris séparément ou rassemblés tandis que le duo contrebasse-batterie fait merveille.
A noter que le piano acoustique est remplacé délicieusement sur certains titres par le son de l’Hammond ou celui du Rhodes.
Sans imposer le moindre solo, Manu Katché démontre aussi toute la panoplie de son art et de sa virtuosité.
D’une part, avec un jeu délicat tout en finesse et de l’autre, avec un jeu vif et incisif ; mais toujours dans le swing et le groove.
Pour clôturer son album avec un thème très doux et très justement intitulé Présentation, Manu Katché fait preuve d’une grande originalité. En effet, en cours de morceau, il se présente ainsi que ses musiciens et espère à son auditeur qu’il a pris du plaisir à écouter sa musique.
Moi, personnellement, ce fut le cas avec un grand « C »…



1  Introducción (feat. Nils Landgren)
2  Unstatic (feat. Nils Landgren)
3  Flame & Co.    
4  City    
5  Blossom (feat. Nils Landgren)
6  Daze Days    
7  Rolling (feat. Nils Landgren)
8  Ride Me Up
9  Trickle
10 Out of Sight    
11 Presentation (feat. Nils Landgren)

Manu Katché - drums
Jim Watson - piano
Tore Brunborg - saxophones
Aquino - trompette
Nils Landgren - trombone
Ellen Andrea Wang - double bass

 



 
 

Eric Schaefer & The Shredz - Bliss (2016)





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