Thursday, October 12, 2017

Jonathan Saraga - Lourney to a New World (FRESH SOUND RECORDS 2017)

Manhattan, NYC native, trumpeter and composer Jonathan Saraga has been said by All About Jazz to possess the musical “wisdom and maturity of veterans more than twice his age,” and that “his chops, lust for musical life and don't-box-me-into-a-stylistic-corner mentality make him seem like the musical offspring of trumpeters Dave Douglas and Ambrose Akinmusire."

Jonathan's professional music career officially began in 2002 when he was cast as an orchestral trumpeter in the Paramount film, Changing Lanes. That same year he would begin performing at the Jazz Standard (NYC) with their Youth (jazz) Orchestra. In '05, after receiving the Fred Mazart Music Award as he began his collegiate studies, Jonathan Saraga would win the 2007 International Trumpet Guild Jazz Solo Competition, and shortly after receiving his Bachelor of Music degree, he competed again, this time as one of five finalists in the 2009 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Competition. Saraga was also one of two trumpeters selected from an international pool to participate in the 2010 School for Improvisational Music summer intensive program, just before completing graduate school. Read more...

01. Uprising 9:28
02. The Great Journey 10:52
03. Firm Roots 8:56
04. Sabbath Prayer 9:53
05. The Guardians 8:49
06. Lullaby 7:16
07. The Fool On the Hill 9:17
08. New World 9:29

All tracks composed and arranged by Jonathan Saraga, except #3 composed by Cedar Walton, #4 by J.Bock-S.Harnick and #7 by J.Lennon-P.McCartney


Jonathan Saraga (trumpet)
Remy Le Boeuf (alto sax)
Aki Ishiguro (guitar)
Chris Pattishall (piano)
Rick Rosato (bass)
Kenneth Salters (drums)

Recorded at Peter Karl Studios, New York City, on November 25, 2015

Recording Engineer: Peter Karl
Mastering by Dave Darlington at Bass Hit Recording
Photos by Tayla Nebesky

Produced by Jonathan Saraga
Executive Producer: Jordi Pujol