Fri, Dec 10: Newvelle Records albums by Frank Kimbrough, Aruán Ortiz, and Steve Cardenas available digitally and streaming

Three classic Newvelle Vinyl Only releases now available digitally and streaming

Friday December 10th, Newvelle Records is proud to release three previously "vinyl only" records.  Frank Kimbrough's masterpiece "Meantime" is the first record Newvelle Released and remains an inspiration for the type of music we want to produce.  Aruan Ortiz's "Cuban Nocturne" from our Second Season is a deeply personal love letter to the music that shaped this world class musician.  Steve Cardenas' "Charlie and Paul" is a tribute to two great friends, mentors and band mates of Steve Cardenas, Charlie Haden and Paul Motion, featuring a stellar quartet of musicians who were close to both icons.

Frank Kimbrough's "Meantime"

Aruan Ortiz's "Cuban Nocturne"

Steve Cardenas' "Charlie and Paul"

Clockwise from top: 1) Aruan Ortiz, Steve Cardenas, Engineers Marc Urselli and Lou Holzman, Thomas Morgan, Matt Wilson,Steve Cardenas and Loren Stillman, Frank Kimbrough.

Hailed as a "testament to Aruán Ortiz's musicianship, and a historical tribute to Cuban classical music" by Audiophile Audition, "Cuban Nocturne's" nine tracks are each a reflection on the music that saturated the artist's childhood while growing up in Cuba. Featuring interpretations and improvisations on compositions from giants of Cuban classical music like Romeu and Lecuona, Aruán's work is clean, romantic, and crystalline. The title track exemplifies the pianist's skill at balancing and synthesizing the elements of his musical identity. Ortiz has been an active figure in the progressive jazz and avant-garde scene in the US for two decades and is considered "one of the most creative and original composers in the world" (The Art Music Lounge). 

Frank Kimbrough's passing in December 2020 sent shockwaves through the New York jazz community – bandmates, students, friends, and collaborators alike. Available digitally for the very first time, Meantime is a testament to the artist's style: lyrical, melodic, focused on tone, and completely direct. He's joined here by Andrew Zimmerman on tenor saxophone, Chris Van Voorst Van Beest on bass, R.J. Miller on drums, and Riley Mulherkar on trumpet. Originally recorded in 2015 on vinyl for Newvelle Records, the album is the acclaimed label's very first pressing. Featuring "sound [that] is beautifully crisp" according to The New York Times, Meantime includes a mix of original compositions and interpretations across nine tracks. "Alabama Song," the classic Kurt Weil composition, kicks off the record, presenting Zimmerman's masterfully pure presentation of the melody, carried by Kimbrough in a gripping solo.

Steve Cardenas' 2017 tribute to the music of the great Charlie Haden and Paul Motian is now available digitally for the very first time. Charlie & Paul, originally recorded on vinyl for Newvelle Records, presents a beautiful focus on Haden and Motian's original compositions that seems to shimmer off the music. Hailed for its incredible acoustics by Audiophile Audition, the album features Cardenas on guitar, Loren Stillman on alto saxophone, Thomas Morgan on bass, and Matt Willson on drums. All of these musicians were featured in Haden and Motian's bands, perhaps explaining the clarity in their tone and approach toward these songs. "There in a Dream" is an unreleased track from the original record written by Charlie Haden.

Frank Kimbrough's "Meantime"

Aruan Ortiz's "Cuban Nocturne"

Steve Cardenas' "Charlie and Paul"

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James Brandon Lewis Quartet with Aruán Ortiz, Brad Jones and Chad Taylor - Code of Being (October 15, 2021 Intakt Records)

The charismatic saxophonist and composer James Brandon Lewis is the musician of the moment in the broad field of contemporary jazz. With Code of Being, James Brandon Lewis now presents his second album. The debut CD Molecular, which Lewis recorded with his quartet in 2020 just a few months before Lockdown, was roundly acclaimed as one of the most exciting releases in 2020 (Intakt CD 350). Code of Being is a powerful work consisting of eight compositions by James Brandon Lewis. Beautiful melodies are responsible for the magic of the songs. 

The four exceptional musicians, each with personalities of their own, create an urgent ensem ble sound, moving through a broad palette of sound-colours, rhythms and moods, charged with energy. With a profound sense for lyrical melodies, tonal concision and dynamics, the quartet develop a spirited interplay, reacting to the tiniest atmospheric oscillations on the sound and groove level. “This is captivating music which it is hard to resist, especially the melodies with their thematic beauty.," writes Florian Keller in the liner notes.

1. Resonance

2. Archimedean

3. Every Atom Glows

4. Per 4

5. Code of Being

6. Where is Hella

7. Per 5

8. Tessera

James Brandon Lewis: Tenor Saxophone

Aruán Ortiz: Piano

Brad Jones: Bass

Chad Taylor: Drums

All compositions by James Brandon Lewis (James Brandon Lewis Music/ascap).

Recorded on May 16 and 17 2021 by Michael Brändli at Hardstudios Winterthur. Mixed and mastered in July 2021 by Michael Brändli at Hardstudios Winterthur, Switzerland.

Cover art and graphic design: Paul Bieri, Berlin.

Photo: Palma Fiacco, unerhört!-Festival Special Edition, Rote Fabrik, Zürich, May 15, 2021.

Liner notes: Florian Keller.

Produced and published by Intakt Records.

PREORDER

Don Byron & Aruán Ortiz - Random Dances and (A)tonalities (INTAKT RECORDS October 19, 2018)

Ortiz, who grew up in Santiago, Cuba, and has lived in the U. S. since 2002, is among the most creative pianists on jazz's landscape. As a boy he was performing Cuban popular music. His studies broadened to include jazz, first in Europe, finally New York, where he now lives.

In Byron, Ortiz has found an unparalleled clarinetist, whose classical training and exquisite technique anchor a career spanning an unusually broad range of music that nevertheless reflects a focused line of musical inquiry. Byron was born in The Bronx, into a musical family of Antiguan descent. Some of his work has involved highly refined repertory ensembles devoted to early jazz, gospel or klezmer music. Other works assert unfettered new musical routes owing to no one style.

"Random Dances and (A)tonalities" reveals the imaginative leaps of two free-thinking minds. In both, we feel an implied swing, gentle yet with conviction, and shared values of erudition and compassion. We sense a clearly documented moment between two masterly musicians. 

(From the liner notes by Larry Blumenfeld)

Don Byron stammt aus der Bronx, New York. Aruán Ortiz ist in Santiago de Cuba aufgewachsen. In New York haben sich die beiden getroffen. Byron, der weltbekannte Klarinettist, der für die Labels Nonesuch und Blue Note erfolgreiche Platten aufgenommen hat, lud den jüngeren Pianisten in seine Quartett ein. Dann kam es zu einer Duo-Europatournee und auf Einladung von Intakt Records zu Aufnahmen in Zürich.

Der kubanische Pianist Aruán Ortiz, als Rising Star gefeiert und für die für Intakt Records aufgenommene Solo-Platte "Cub(an)isme" von der amerikanischen Jazzzeitschrift "Downbeat" mit der begehrten und selten verliehenen 5-Sterne-Rezension ausgezeichnet, findet in Don Byron einen passenden Partner. "Ich schätze seine Kühnheit ohne künstlerische Grenzen. Er ist ein Innovator zwischen Jazz, Klassik, Karibik und Klezmer", sagt Ortiz über Byron. 

Auf diesem Album finden sich die wunderschönen Zwiegespräche zweier herausragender Instrumentalisten und Improvisatoren, die tief in der Tradion des Jazz verwurzelt sind. "Wir hören einen impliziten Swing", schreibt Larry Blumenfeld in den Liner Notes, "sanft, aber mit Überzeugung. Wir spüren einen klar dokumentierten Augenblick 

zwischen zwei meisterhaften Musikern".

Don Byron, Clarinet, Saxophone

Aruán Ortiz, Piano

1 Tete's Blues (A. Ortiz) 6:38

2 Black and Tan Fantasy (Duke Ellington) 5:37

3 Musica Callada: Book 1, V. ([M.M.] crochet = 54) (Federico Mompou) 6:53

4 Joe Btfsplk (D. Byron) 5:44

5 Numbers (A. Ortiz) 6:04

6 Dolphy's Dance (Geri Allen) 4:11

7 Violin Partita No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002, II. Double (J. S. Bach/arr. D. Byron) 2:43

8 Delphian Nuptials (D. Byron) 4:35

9 Arabesques of a Geometrical Rose (Spring) (A. Ortiz) 7:11

10 Impressions on a Golden Theme (D. Byron/A. Ortiz) 5:55

Recorded December 7, 8, 2017, by Martin Pearson at Radio Studio, Zürich.

In cooperation with Radio SRF 2 Kultur. Mixed January 30, 2018, by Michael Brändli at Hardstudios Winterthur.

Mastered by Michael Brändli at Hardstudios Winterthur.

Cover art: Willi Schoder. Graphic design: Jonas Schoder. Liner notes: Larry Blumenfeld, Thomas Staudter.

Photos: Francesca Pfeffer, Jimmy Katz. Executive production by Florian Keller.

Produced and published by Intakt Records, Patrik Landolt.

Aruán Ortiz Trio - Live in Zurich (INTAKT RECORDS March 16, 2018)

When Aruán Ortiz appeared with his new trio at Zürich’s unerhört!-festival on 26 November 2016, the sense of anticipation was palpable; how would the music from the well-received studio album Hidden Voices feel in a live context. The trio were at the end of their first European tour, and on a roll. Immediately after the concert Ortiz was already enthusing about the interaction and musical dialogue.

“Mulling it over” – like the aging process of wine; carrying one or two pieces around with you for years, till the final versions emerge. In Ortiz’ case this applies to compositions such as “Fractal Sketches” and “Analytical Symmetry”, which were first heard on the studio album Hidden Voices, here in a new line-up, with Brad Jones on bass and Chad Taylor on drums, after an intensive two-week tour. That close relationship between the musicians and the song grows tremendously the more you play it, and it develops a musical trust within the band. When all goes well, the sound and energy are in tune with the compositional idea. On this live CD we can hear just how well it went on 26 November 2016 at the unerhört!-festival in Zürich. From the liner notes by Christian Broecking

Soundsamples of this CD

Nasheet Waits Equality - Between Nothingness and Infinity (LABORIE JAZZ 2016)

Batteur parmi les plus influents du jazz actuel, Nasheet Waits s'inscrit dans l'évolution d'un jeu de batterie plein, subtil, fougueux, bien en dehors des codes d'accompagnement traditionnels. Il alimente le fl ux musical par un jeu reposant sur un usage complexe de la polyrythmie, une approche très particulière de l'instrument qui ouvre la voie à une expression plus libre et authentique, une musique communicative qui révèle un attachement profond aux racines du Jazz, de ses créateurs et compositeurs.

L’album « Equality » est né favorablement lors d’une tournée printanière en Italie en 2007. Le quartet était composé alors de Logan Richardson aux saxophones alto et soprano, de Jason Moran et de Tarus Mateen, tous deux musiciens également dans le groupe Jason Moran & The Bandwagon. « Equality » s’est vu enregistrer une première proposition en 2009 chez Fresh Sound Records, intitulé « Alive At MPI » et a entrainé des pianistes virtuoses tels que Stanley Cowell et James Hurt pour plusieurs tournées en Europe de 2007 à 2013.

Il a notamment enregistré et tourné fréquemment en Afrique, en Europe, au Japon, au Canada, en Amérique du Sud et aux Etats-Unis. En plus de ses prestations, de ses enregistrements et de ses tournées, Nasheet Waits enseigne la batterie et la musique avec une approche bien personnelle.

Tout en défendant la nécessité d’équilibrer entre le traditionnel et le modernisme, Nasheet Waits rencontrent de nombreux musiciens, aussi en Master class. Il est dévoué à explorer son rôle et son parcours artistique dans la musique.

1. Korean Bounce (10’20)

2. Story Line (8’05)

3. Between Nothingness and Infinity (4’54)

4. Snake Hip Waltz (5’43)

5. Unity (7’16)

6. Kush (6’14)

7. Koko (7’32)

8. Hesitation (8’14)

9. Unity Bonus Track* (2’17)

Nasheet Waits : Batterie

Mark Helias : Contrebasse

Darius Jones : Saxophone

Aruan Ortiz : Piano

Produced by Laborie Jazz

Executive producer : Jean-Michel Leygonie

Recorded by Boris Darley at Studio Laborie

Assistant : Fabien Lambré

Mixed by Boris Darley at Holy Oak Studio

Mastered by Pierre Vandewaeterat Studio Lakanal

Photos cover & back by Emra Islek

Photos by Lucie Sassiat

Artwork / Design by Martial Muller

Booking International : 3D Family

Worldwide Digital Distribution by IDOL

Distribution by SOCADISC