Gerald Clayton - Bells On Sand (April 1, 2022 Blue Note)

Pianist & composer Gerald Clayton explores the impact and abstraction of time on his ravishing 2nd Blue Note album Bells On Sand, which features contributions from mentor Charles Lloyd on saxophone, father John Clayton on bass, longtime friend and peer Justin Brown on drums, and new collaborator MARO on vocals. “Each musician on the record represents a different aspect of the axis of time and its shifting sands,” says Clayton. “My father and Charles Lloyd, who has been a mentor figure to me, reflect new permutations of my past, and the lineage of elders who have shaped my development; Justin Brown, being my contemporary and musical brother, represents my present; and MARO represents the future—she is part of the next generation, and points to a brand new collaboration.” The music includes new originals, pieces by Catalan composer Federico Mompou and Gerald’s uncle Jeff Clayton, as well as two stunning solo piano versions of the standard “My Ideal.”

If the digital album is purchased, you will receive the full album via email on April 1st, 2022.

Standard digital downloads are delivered as MP3 44.1khz/24-bit audio files.

Please note, digital downloads are only available in the U.S. 

1. Water’s Edge feat. John Clayton & Justin Brown

2. Elegia feat. John Clayton

3. Damunt de tu Només les Flors feat. MARO, John Clayton & Justin Brown

4. My Ideal 1

5. That Roy feat. Justin Brown

6. Rip feat. Justin Brown

7. Just A Dream feat. MARO

8. My Ideal 2

9. Peace Invocation feat. Charles Lloyd

10. This Is Music Where You’re Going My Friends

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Tigran Hamasyan - StandArt (April 29, 2022 Nonesuch Records)

Nonesuch Records releases pianist and composer Tigran Hamasyan’s StandArt —his first album of American standards— on April 29, 2022. StandArt includes songs from the 1920s through the 1950s, by Richard Rodgers, Charlie Parker, Jerome Kern, David Raksin, and others; it also includes a piece Hamasyan improvised with his bandmates —bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Justin Brown —and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, who is featured on two of the album’s tracks. Other special guests include saxophonist and label-mate Joshua Redman on Charlie Parker’s “Big Foot,” as well as saxophonist Mark Turner on Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein’s “All the Things You Are.” Produced by Hamasyan and recorded last spring in Los Angeles, StandArt is Hamasyan’s first release of American music, having previously only released original compositions and traditional Armenian music.

1. De-Dah

2. I Didn't Know What Time It Was

3. Tigran Hamasyan, Mark Turner - All the Things You Are (feat. Mark Turner)

4. Tigran Hamasyan, Joshua Redman - Big Foot (feat. Joshua Redman)

5. When a Woman Loves a Man

6. Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise

7. Tigran Hamasyan, Ambrose Akinmusire - I Should Care (feat. Ambrose Akinmusire)

8. Tigran Hamasyan, Ambrose Akinmusire - Invasion During an Operetta (feat. Ambrose Akinmusire)

9. Laura

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Justin Brown - Nyeusi (BIOPHILIA RECORDS 2018)

After years as an essential member of groups led by Ambrose Akinmusire, Thundercat, and Flying Lotus, – he’s also been tapped to round out the sound for Esperanza Spalding, Terence Blanchard, Bilal, Vijay Iyer, and many others – Brown is finally ready to extend his reach beyond the drumset to lead his own band, NYEUSI. 

Rounding out NYEUSI are Jason Lindner and Fabian Almazan on keyboards, Burniss Earl Travis on bass, and Mark Shim on electronic wind controller. Brown on drums is the engine propelling an intoxicating synthesis of varying influences that offers deep groove and charged improvisations. “I cannot think of a more highly anticipated debut by an artist right now that is also a lynchpin in today’s creative music scene,” says WBGO’s Simon Rentner.

1. Jupiter's Giant Red Spot 01:48

2. Lesson 1: DANCE 02:31

3. Lots for Nothin' 04:00

4. Waiting (DUSK) 01:18

5. Waiting on Aubade 06:23

6. At Peace (DAWN) 01:02

7. Lesson 2: PLAY 02:27

8. Entering Purgatory 05:18

9. Replenish 02:44

10. FYFO 03:31

11. Circa 45 06:07

12. Burniss 00:32

13. Lindner's in your Body! 02:37

Justin Brown | Drums, Fender Rhodes, Synths, Yamaha DX7

Mark Shim | Wind Controller

Jason Lindner | Moog Synth, Prophet, Mopho, Schoenhut Piano

Fabian Almazan | Fender Rhodes, Mopho, Wurlitzer, Laptop

Burniss Travis | Bass

Brooklyn Recording Studio: June 24 and 25, 2015

Engineer: Andy Taub

Assistant Engineer: Adam Tilzer

Electric Indigo Studios August 15, 2017

Engineer: Jesse Fischer

Assistant Engineer: Morgan Guerin

Mixing: Andy Taub | Tracks 1-8 & 11-13

Mixing: Jess Fischer | Tracks 9-10

Mastering: Colin Girod

Artwork: Roland Nicol

Layout: Aestheticize MediaJustin Brown

Frank Woeste (feat. Ben Monder & Justin Brown) - Pocket Rhapsody (2016)

Il y a dans ce nouvel album du pianiste allemand la marque d'une grande diversité. Celui qui vit en France et que l'on sait élevé au biberon de la musique dite « classique » et des orgues des grands compositeurs allemands, celui que l'on jurerait élevé à l'école du rigorisme protestant et qui affiche en apparence des airs de gendre idéal s'est plongé avec délice depuis plusieurs années dans un jazz de bad boys parfois bien déjanté notamment aux côtés de Mederic Collignon (Jus de bosc).

Cet album, c'est justement le reflet d'une personnalité musicale aussi riche qu'ambivalente. Entre jazz électrique, musique de chambre et ambiant jazz, Franck Woeste navigue entre l'acoustique et le fender. Il se fait ici moins soliste que formidable arrangeur, directeur artistique et compositeur. A quand Franck Woeste pour Big band !

Des compagnons de route et stars du label passent la porte du studio et viennent en ami prêter main forte. Ibrahim Maaalouf emporte avec lui quelques beaux moments paroxystiques comme sur un "Moving Light" incandescent alors que la chanteuse Youn Sun Nah laisse planer un univers plus mystérieux et mélancolique sur "Star gazer ".

Mais si l'album est superbement arrangé on a parfois l'impression de perdre le pianiste qui dirige plus qu’il ne joue. On en est un peu frustrés. N'empêche, chacune de ses interventions est absolument précieuse et lumineuse. Où fusionnent un certain clacissime et un sens du groove terrible (Terlingua) mais toujours intelliogemment et sans esbrouffe.

Parfois il se fait très americain (on pense à Bill Frisell) sur Pocket Rhapsody avec un Ben Monder étonnant de grâce. Franck Woeste a aussi l'intelligence d'ajouter parfois quelques cordes et de venir au clavier accompagner en surimpression. Franchement classieux ! Et puis c’est tout autre chose lorsque, après une intro apaisée se déclenchent des foudres noires sur un Nouakchott sombre porte par les déchirures d’Ibrahim Maalouf et les bombardements guerriers de guitare presque hendrixiennes de Ben Monder conçu comme une vrai suite.

Aux côtés de Franck Woeste, une impressionnante rythmique avec un Justin Brown qui, depuis que nous l’avions entendu aux côtés d’Ambrose Akinmusire s’avère comme l’un des véritables petits génie de la batterie. Débordant, cet album dit beaucoup. Tout simplement luxuriant! Jean-Marc Gelin

Franck Woeste (piano, Fender Rhodes, org, bass synth)

Ben Monder (guitar)

Justin Brown (drums)

Guests:

Ibrahim Maalouf (trumpet, 02 & 08)

Youn Sun Nah (vocals, 03)

Sarah Nemtanu (violin)

Gregoire Korniluk (cello)

01. Terlingua

02. Moving Light

03. The Star Gazer

04. Buzz Addict

05. Interlude

06. Pocket Rhapsody

07. Intro Nouakchott

08. Nouakchott

09. Mirage

10. Melancholia

BUY THIS ALBUM!!!

JAVI