Sunday, October 7, 2018

UPLIFT 10: Fear No Love | Rudy Royston Podcast & New Single (GREENLEAF MUSIC)


Join us to hear our latest track

Our October UPLIFT track supports Lamda Legal and their important work on behalf of LGBTQ legal and civil rights.


We've posted some excerpts and complete tracks on Bandcamp and Soundcloud so you can preview the entire subscribers series featuring Dave Douglas, Joe Lovano, Mary Halvorson, Julian Lage, Bill Laswell and Ian Chang.

Rudy Royston introduces Flatbed Buggy

This special edition of the podcast features Rudy Royston previewing tracks from his upcoming album Flatbed Buggy, discussing the inspirations for his compositions and giving an insider's view on how the record came together.


We've also released the third single from the album, Hourglass, ahead of the release date on October 26. Check it out here.

Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw (CHALLENGE RECORDS 2018)


Crossroads – a new international perspective on Dutch Jazz. Stretching the boundaries of contemporary big band music. The Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw is extending its limits, in more ways than one. The band developed its identity in the late 1990s with the bi-weekly concerts at the Amsterdam Bimhuis. Since then it has literally conquered the world, not only touring all over Europe but also playing in Latin America, South Africa, Indonesia, Japan and China. Musically, too, the band is evolving all the time. The starting point was the classic 1950s idiom, but from the beginning, the orchestra was challenged by guest soloists and composers from a wide range in jazz styles.

With the album Crossroads the Jazz Orchestra takes another step forward. Conducted by Dennis Mackrel and Rob Horsting (who has been arranging for the group since the beginning), the orchestra presents nine compositions by various band members, Martijn van Iterson, Joris Roelofs, Ilja Reijngoud, Simon Rigter and Jorg Kaaij, and Rob Horsting. The arrangements were written by Dennis Mackrel, Rob Horsting, Henk Meutgeert, and three international guest arrangers: Michael Abene and Ed Partyka (U.S.A.), and Vellu Halkosalmi (Finland).

"Along with their future-oriented American colleagues of the Maria Schneider and Darcy James Argue orchestras, with this CD the JOC marks a new century in the development of the jazz big band."
BERT VUIJSJE, Jazz journalist

Crossroads
Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw


Crossroads (double vinyl) 
Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw

Line-Up:


Live tour: 
16 november Bimhuis (premiere)
18 november Harmonie Leeuwarden (Hot House Redbad)
29 december: Paradox Tilburg (Stranger than Paranoia)
30 december: LantarenVenster Rotterdam
© 2018 - NewArts International / Challenge Records Int

Billy Leach, Jesse Doniach, Jordan Hadfield, Joe MacLaren, Tara Cunningham & Alex Dmochowski - ONE (2018)


Music collides with art as a collective of Impromptu musicians respond to two folding screens painted by artists Daniel Kerrison Stock and Ethan Reeves, in an improvised hour-long set. Accompanied by an exhibition of selected works. 

Screen changes:

Cousin Bill's Great Thrill II starts around 20:53
3 Folds in 2 Wholes II starts around 14:40

Impromptu band members: 

Billy Leach (Guitar)
Jesse Doniach (Piano)
Joe MacLaren (Bass)
Jordan Hadfield (Drums)
Tara Cunningham (Guitar)
Alex Dmochowski (Saxaphone)

1. Cousin Bill's Great Thrill (I+II) - Daniel Kerrison Stock 27:38
2. 3 Folds in 2 Wholes (I+II) - Ethan Reeves 26:17

Recorded live at Louie Louie, Walworth Road, London
Mastered by Billy Leach
Album cover from element of event poster by Will Nicholls

Supported using funding from Arts Council England

Late Works founded and curated by Joseph Bradley Hill

Huntertones - Passport (2018)


Huntertones brings people together around the globe with fun, imaginative and fearless music. Their high energy, horn-driven sound fuses inspired improvisation and composition melding jazz, funk, rock, and soul. Adding depth and contrast to their live set, Huntertones shift from a six-piece ensemble to a trio featuring saxophone, sousaphone, and beat-boxing.

1. Clutch 03:43
2. Bird Song 05:09
3. Togo 04:32
4. Hondo 03:53
5. Star of the East 04:39
6. Fara 02:52
7. Bad David 04:24
8. Change 06:23
9. Fergal's Tune 03:10
10. Parusha 04:15



ILL CONSIDERED - Live in Nantes (2018)


Recorded live on the 31st of august 2018 during the festival des Rendez-vous de l'Erdre, Nantes, France. 

Recording engineer: Vincent Louvet 

Mastered by Emre Ramazanoglu @ Hoxa HQ 

Leon Brichard: Bass
Idris Rahman: Saxophone
Emre Ramazanoglu: Drums

1. Opener 04:41
2. Four ravens 07:25
3. Sunflower 08:33
4. Interlude 03:03
5. Long way home 05:18
6. Nada Brahma 03:45
7. Unwritten Rule 04:23
8. Hidden Treasures 05:19
9. Other Worlds 13:49
10. Delusion 04:38

ILL CONSIDERED - Live in Camden Town (2018)


Recorded live in Camden Town - London UK

Idris Rahman: Saxophone
Steve Ashmore: Guitar
Leon Brichard: Bass
Emre Ramazanoglu: Drums
Satin Singh: Percussion

1. ILL CONSIDERED LIVE IN CAMDEN TOWN 1/2 15:36
2. ILL CONSIDERED LIVE IN CAMDEN TOWN 2/2 25:09

ILL CONSIDERED - Live at Total Refreshment Centre (2018)


Ill considered are a band comprising four musicians interacting with each other to create freely improvised music, based loosely around simple pre-written themes or composed on the spot. Deep grooves and plaintive melodies ranging from whispered chants to monstrous climaxes, the group react to the mood of the audience and the sonics of the room to create music that is unique to the moment.

Idris Rahman: Saxophone
Leon Brichard: Bass
Emre Ramazanoglu: Drums
Satin Singh: Percussion

1. Djinn 04:30
2. Interlude 01:53
3. Long way home 08:22
4. Nada brahma 04:45
5. Opener 03:26
6. Hidden Treasure 05:18
7. Tangled 05:55
8. Sunflower 08:19
9. Unwritten rule 07:07
10. Delusion 04:12
11. Upstart 06:25

Little Happiness Group - DEBUT (EATING MUSIC 2018)


Multi-talented vocalist Voision Xi is well known to anyone in Shanghai jazz circles. She’s been heavily involved behind the scenes of Shanghai jazz for many years now, but DEBUT represents her stepping out to claim the spotlight – with a little help from some notable Shanghai jazz friends. 

In 2015, Voision founded her first band, the Little Happiness Trio (then Quartet, then Quintet), gathering together a number of outstanding jazz professionals. After playing together for the past three years, the band has honed a sound that places Voision’s natural warmth and touching vocals at its heart. 

Released on new independent lable Eating Music on 29th September 2018, DEBUT is a collection of covers all given the Little Happiness Group treatment, with Voision joined by young Chinese jazz pioneers Zhang Xiongguan, Li Shihai, Xiao Jun, as well as remarkable musicians Huang Jianyi, Joseph Han and Jaemin Lee. Featuring five of Voision’s favourite tracks, DEBUT sees her bring a characteristic sincerity and a personal twist to songs first made famous by Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, and Nick Drake among others. 

Such names will be familiar to any music fan, but Voision’s versions contain a strong streak of originality, putting a new spin on old favourites. As guitarist, arranger and producer Zhang Xiongguan puts it, “Voision is one of the few musicians who jumps outside their comfort zone all the time.” 

This spirit – and Xiongguan’s guitar work – is prominent on EP opener "Slow Hot Wind" (original named "Lujon"), Herny Mancini’s classic 1961 composition which was first released on the soundtrack to Mr. Lucky Goes Latin. Xiongguan’s arrangement is an imaginative modern jazz piece, with a distinct vibrancy and warmth. Similarly, "How Insensitive" sees Xiongguan take Antonio Carlos Jobim’s original and supplement it with busy guitar playing and an impressive solo. "I once wondered if such changes would be difficult for the singer to adapt to,” admits Xiongguan of the bold covers. “But the excellent interpretation of these two pieces by Voision and the band completely dispelled my concerns. They also fully met the intention of my arrangement.” 

"River Man" (originally by legendary British folk singer Nick Drake) is an adaptation by saxophonist Li Shihai. In addition to the five beat rhythm and water-like texture of the original song, Li manipulates his sax and synchronises with Voision’s floating vocals to propel the track toward an emotional climax. “Boplicity / Be Bop Lives” from the famous Birth of Cool album by Miles Davis is the only fast-tempo bebop classical on the EP, and comes laced with elements of standard jazz and swing. Voision sings and scats along with the brass melody, meeting this challenge to the singer’s pitch and rhythm with aplomb. "I really appreciate the sound of Voision: warm but not boring, soft and dynamic, just like the voice of a good storyteller,” says Shihai, who arranged both these tracks. “Cooperating with her is a process full of imagination and challenges. We experimented a lot with the vocal harmony to make the singles sound different.” 

"Cause We've Ended As Lovers" comes from Stevie Wonder's album to his former wife Stevie Wonder Presents: Syreeta. Arranger Xiao Jun uses guitar effects to create a swirling backdrop, as Voision delivers multiple vocal harmonies that fully express the singer’s feelings of struggle and sorrow. Xiao Jun says: "I was trying my best to arrange the song according to Voision’s tone; I did it differently from the instrumental music that I usually write. And through the background sound of the guitar effects, the song captures the melancholy of the singer’s voice along with its pureness." 

DEBUT is not only an EP of jazz music, but also a multimedia work that attracts friends from different fields to come together as a composite of complex beauty. In addition to creating the EP cover, Voision's friend, the illustrator Garlic Sugar, produced five hand-painted works for each of the five singles based on the feelings the artist experienced while listening to them. Also, the dessert brand “HER chocolate” has made five different flavours of chocolate to go with the EP, that will be sold via Eating Music’s official channels. The packaging for each chocolate type features a QR code so that consumers can listen to the corresponding song as they munch away. 

DEBUT, the very first EP from Little Happiness Group, is both a challenge and a balm. It represents both the beauty of imagination and a place you can go to find inspiration. 

编曲:张雄关 (第1,2,6首), 李世海 (第4,5首), 肖骏 (第3首)
人声:喜辰晨
吉他:张雄关 (第1,2,6首), 肖骏 (第3首)
萨克斯:李世海 (除第3,6首以外)
木贝司:Joseph Han (除第6首以外)
鼓:Jaemin Lee (除第6首以外)
键盘:黄健怡 (第5首)

Arrangement: Zhang Xiongguan (1,2,6), Li Shihai (4,5), Xiao Jun (3 only)
Vocal: Voision Xi
Guitar: Zhang Xiongguan (1,2,6), Xiao Jun (3 only)
Saxophone: Li Shihai (all except 3,6)
Double Bass: Joseph Han (all except 6)
Drums: Jaemin Lee (all except 6)
Keyboard: Huang Jianyi (5 only)
  
制作人:张雄关
Produced by Zhang Xiongguan
联合制作人:喜辰晨
Co-producer: Voision Xi
监制:张冰洁
Executive Producer: Cookie Zhang
录音棚:上海 Postape 录音工作室 (2018年3月)
Recorded at Postape Studio Shanghai, in March 2018
录音:李炜宇, 胡仕俊
Recording by Weiyu Li, Austin Hu
混音&母带处理:胡仕俊
Mixing & Mastering by Austin Hu
艺术设计:大蒜糖
Artwork by GarlicSugar
宣传文案:吴玥
Copywrite by Cleo Wu
引言:张雄关
Liner Note by Zhang Xiongguan
摄影:王威
Photography by Wang Wei

1. Intro 01:00
2. Slow Hot Wind 02:30
3. Cause We've Ended As Lovers 06:04
4. Be Bop Lives (Boplicity) 04:01
5. River Man 05:14
6. How Insensitive 04:00


Ben Sluijs Quartet - Particles (2018)


“ 'Particles' is a perfectly balanced Album. A fragile, intimate and personal album in which every group member flowers. The music feels strongly as a heart-warming and extreme engagement for authenticity. Those who are looking for an incredibly fine jazz album to immerse themselves completely as listeners, know what to do. Great class of Ben Sluijs & co ". (Written in Music-Ph De Cleen-5-10-2018)


Ben Sluijs: alto sax, flute, alto flute
Bram de Looze: piano
Lennart Heyndels: bass
Dre Pallemaerts: drums

1. Particles 07:09
2. Song For Yusef 08:05
3. Miles Behind 05:38
4. Air Castles 07:20
5. Cell Mates 04:59
6. Mali 06:26
7. Jemima 08:47
8. Ice Chrystal 09:38