Human Feel - Speak To It (Remastered) October 2021

The American quartet Human Feel – reeds players Andrew D’Angelo and Chris Speed, guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel and drummer Jim Black was formed in Boston in 1987 and soon was one of New York’s most distinctive downtown bands of the mid 90s. 'Speak To It' was released to great acclaim in 1996 and is the fourth album of the quartet. Human Feel regrouped again in 2007 for 'Galore' (Skirl) and released its last album 'Gold' in 2019 (Intakt).

This new mastering of 'Speak To It' keeps the music of this quartet fresh, urgent and edgy. Human Feel was at the mid-nineties a powerful working band, fierce but also openly emotional, risk-taking but with an almost telepathic interplay, and a great sense of fun. Human Feel’s inclusive kind of downtown free jazz welcomed heavy riffs from Seattle’s grunge rock bands and irregular rhythmic patterns, injected a quirky sense of humor to its tight dynamics and sounded like no other band of the nineties. D’Angelo and Speed sound like identical twin brothers, always complementing each other’s ideas, and never surrender to familiar narratives; Rosenwinkel pushes Human Feel into unpredictable courses and often anchors the commotion; the hyperactive drumming of Black keeps all on their toes and supplies uplifting grooves. Great album.

Eyal Hareuveni

1. Darker Joys 02:35

2. Speak To It 06:47

3. Spaze 12:44

4. Not About You 04:53

5. Nimble Demons 08:06

6. Left Alone 04:16

7. Tic, Tics 04:37

8. Eno Eva Yood Nodi 08:32

9. Hey Roma Ain't Vein 04:34

10. Cat Teachers 07:28

Remastered Oct 2021 by Chris Gestrin for digital release. these files are 16/44.

Originally released May 15, 1996 on Songlines.

Andrew D'Angelo - bass clarinet, alto saxophone

Chris Speed - clarinet, tenor saxophone

Kurt Rosenwinkel - guitar

Jim Black - drums

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Out Friday New Release: Magro - Trippin (feat. TwizzMatic & Kurt Rosenwinkel and more)

MAGRO - Trippin

"(...) a power player with a fine sense (...)" - DLF National Public Radio Germany

"(...) breathtaking solos of speed and power(...)" - Südkurrier

"(...) If it sounds like Washington D.C. but comes from Berlin, Magro is probably behind it. (...)" - Detektor FM

With his debut album "Trippin", Berlin-based drummer and producer MAGRO shows his artistic and creative perspective on today's world. The sound of the album is characterized by abstract Hip Hop beats that mix fluidly with analog Jazz elements.

After working with numerous artists over the years as a drummer and producer (including Kenny Wesley, J Lamotta and Stimulus), he now releases his first album under his own name.

On the album, Magro features some of his favorite musicians and singers - including Jazz legend Kurt Rosenwinkel, rising Alternative RnB singer Leona Berlin and US rapper TwizzMatic.

Magro about his music: "I want to bridge the gap between catchy produced music and the deep-rooted elements of Jazz.“

In doing so, he is influenced by the creative complexity of the international Berlin music scene, in which he has been active for years.

Tours and international festival appearances (including Tremplin Jazz Avignon, Jazz Al Popolo Rome, Women in Music Festival Zambia) have already taken him around the world. Moreover, he co-produced the debut album of Leona Berlin, released in 2018 by Warner Music.

1. Trippin (feat. TwizzMatic, Kurt Rosenwinkel)

"Trippin" is the first single and also the title track of the album. The song features US-rapper TwizzMatic and Jazz legend Kurt Rosenwinkel.

TwizzMatic raps critically about the ambiguity and naive immaturity of today's society. Kurt Rosenwinkel then plays an apocalyptic guitar solo and makes the song fade out in a wide wave. I love it when an arc of tension is stretched out over an entire song.

2. Song 4 Def

"Song 4 Def" is inspired by the song "Quiet Dog" by Mos Def. When I first heard the song I couldn't get the beat out of my head and had to write my own song in that same feel right away. It starts with a Hip Hop lo-fi beat that develops into an epic explosion in the second half of the song.

3. Black On Black (feat. XHO)

During the months of the Black Lives Matter protests, I was working with "XHO" as a drummer. I asked her if she wanted to be on my album and sent her the instrumental. Without further ado, we recorded her part in her clothing store. The theme was so present at the time that it obviously couldn't be about anything else.

4. Conscious 1

Conscious 1 is the first of three instrumental interludes. To me the soundscapes express something mystical that is hard to put into words.

5. Running (feat. Leona Berlin)

"Running" is the second single and features Alternative Soul singer Leona Berlin. With Leona I have probably worked more than with anyone else. So it was clear that she would be on the album.

The song is about our restlessness as humans. We always want to improve and change things instead of just accepting the moment and the situation to be at peace.

6. Conscious 2

7. Crisis (feat. Sean Haefeli, Martin Lüdicke)

I wrote this song during the first lockdown. At that time I was busy finishing the album. I sent the track to Martin Lüdicke and Sean Haefeli and asked them if they could record something independently. I found it exciting to get the results back without having given any directions beforehand.

8. Conscious 3

9. Magic Flow

"Magic Flow" is a musical flow that develops into different parts. The track starts with a driving drum beat, intensifying and opening up more and more until it finally breaks open, leading to a heavy Hip Hop beat. The long wave and the slowly creeping new sounds are meant to pull the listener into the track's own world.

10. Silence (feat. Ronja)

"Silence" is a tribute to silence, which is often forgotten in the hustle of our everyday lives. The song is the third single and features Berlin-based singer/songwriter Ronja. The unobtrusive and powerful development of the song has a special character. I like the very slow tempo, the minimalistic development and Ronja's calm performance.

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Darren Barrett’s dB-ish To Release “The Opener” 8/22

Darren Barrett’s dB-ish Presents Experimental New Release “The Opener”

Featuring Special Guest Guitarists Kurt Rosenwinkel & Nir Felder

Due out August 22nd, 2017

With the help of his eight piece ensemble, dB-ish, Grammy Award-winning trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist Darren Barrett proudly announces the August 22nd release of his highly-anticipated new album The Opener. Featuring special guest guitarists Kurt Rosenwinkel and Nir Felder, The Opener brilliantly weaves acoustic instruments with synthesis, samples and soundscapes into the fabrics of modern jazz. “Sometimes we play open, sometimes we play structured and then sometimes we play over vamps.  What I really love is there is room for melodies, room for improvisation, room for the synthesis, room for samples and soundscapes,” says Barrett on his approach to his new project. 

dB-ish features several long time bandmates including Alexander Toth on bass, Anthony Toth on drums and Santiago Bosch on piano and keyboards. The album also includes respected saxophonists Clay Lyons and Erena Terakubo, percussionist Judith Barrett and dynamic keyboardist Chad Selph. Barrett is particularly honored to be joined by world-renowned guitarists Kurt Rosenwinkel on aptly-titled track “The Opener” and Nir Felder on composition “To Conversate”.

“Kurt is simply brilliant. His abilities are endless. Nir Felder has a wondrous approach to playing music that was so perfect for this project.”

Multi-instrumentalist Darren Barrett has had an extraordinary career. He has performed and recorded with Elvin Jones, Jackie McLean, Herbie Hancock, Roy Hargrove Big Band, Common, Will.i.am, Myron Walden Momentum, D’Angelo and Antonio Hart. After winning the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition for Trumpet in 1997, Barrett went on to release his first album First One Up in 1999 followed by Deelings in 2001, The Attack of Wren: Wrenaissance Volume 1 in 2004, and A Very Barrett Christmas in 2011.

He performed on the Grammy Award-winning Esperanza Spalding album, Radio Music Society in 2012 and in 2014 he released The Music of the Bee Gees (2014), with Energy in Motion and Live and Direct (2014), with dB Quintet. In 2015, Barrett released the reggae infused Trumpet Vibes and in 2016, he explored the work of the late Amy Winehouse on Trumpet Vibes: The Music of Amy Winehouse.

He now leads dB Quintet, Energy In Motion, dB-ish, and dB Treyo and is a professor in the Ensemble Department at his alma mater, Berklee College of Music in Boston. 

The Opener is a departure from Barrett’s previous work as it explores his interest in electronic and experimental music more-so than any of his earlier projects. “I grew up with many different influences and always experimented in the electronic world so I am so happy to have finally realized a project utilizing all of these ingredients,” says Barrett. A prime example of this is the opening track, “The Opener”, which features Kurt Rosenwinkel and incorporates soundscapes, samples and drum machines synthesized with the acoustic instruments.

Barrett considers this track to be “the heart of dB-ish”. Another standout is “Throughout” which turns the traditional jazz tune on its head with orchestrated electronics. The utilization of old synths like the Prophet 5 and Oberheim Xpander help to bring the track to life.

With The Opener Darren Barrett brings a fresh approach to the genre-bending world of experimental jazz and ushers in a new era of his already expansive career.

Jeremy Rose (feat. Kurt Rosenwinkel) - Within and Without (EARSHIFT MUSIC 2017)

“I have always been intrigued, amazed, challenged and – to be frank – totally gassed by his restless artistic nature and his consistently questing music, both as a composer and as a soloist.” – australianjazz.net 

“His playing shows subtle glimpses of a mature master.” - The Australian 

'Within and Without', the third album by saxophonist/bass clarinetist-composer Jeremy Rose features him in an impressive collaboration with US guitar luminary Kurt Rosenwinkel, along with Berlin rhythm section of bassist Andreas Lang, drummer Tobias Backhaus, and Sydney pianist Jackson Harrison. 

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Rose has travelled extensively, absorbing influences from around the world. Rose shows to be an important emerging voice on ‘Within and Without’, a set of eight distinctive originals, one from Harrison, and an unexpected arrangement of the Australian folk song 'Flashjack'. 

Rose is an award-winning saxophonist-composer with a PhD in composition and almost a dozen releases with his co-led projects including The Vampires, the 17-piece Earshift Orchestra, The Strides and Compass Quartet. Rose recently received the APRA Professional Development Award for Jazz, the Bell Award for Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year, and was runner up at the National Jazz Awards saxophone competition. 

The music was written in a time of great change in Rose’s life; the tumultuous end of a relationship, introspective travels through Morocco and Indonesia, and newfound creative inspiration. Jeremy describes the album as; “opposing forces of attraction and repulsion, joy and anguish, hope and despair, pain and ecstasy.” 

The title track 'Within and Without' suggests simultaneous opposing forces; attraction and repulsion, enchantment and anguish, hope and despair. The title is also inspired by James Turrell’s skyspace installation at National Gallery of Australia, 'Within Without', which transforms in colour with varying angles of fading natural light. 

'Trawangan' was inspired by a recent trip to Trawangan Island (aka ‘Gili T’), off Lombok in Indonesia. Strange Doors is a quote from a David Bowie song 'Scary Monster.' 'Afensou' is a remote village in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco where Rose recently traveled, with stunning views of the scenic rugged landscape. 'Night Wanderer' is a nod to those that seek the quite streets after midnight for their solitude. 'Zombie' was written after watching too many episodes of The Walking Dead, and later regretting it. 'From the River to You' is an exploration of the creative process. 'Second Chance' is for those in life that deserve another chance. 

'Ballad for Charlie' was written for the great jazz bassist, Charlie Haden, following his unfortunate death. 'Flashjack' is an arrangement of the Australian folk song, Flashjack from Gundagai. 

Within and Without will be released 2 June on Earshift Music through MGM / Herbie Martin Music. 

Within and Without will be launched Saturday 17 June at the Sound Lounge, the Seymour Centre, presented by Sydney Improvised Music Association, and 14 October at ZigZag, Berlin. 

1. Trawangan

2. Within and Without

3. Strange Doors

4. Afensou

5. Night Wanderer

6. Zombie

7. From the River to You (Harrison)

8. Second Chance

9. Ballad for Charlie

10. Flashjack (trad. Arranged Rose)

Jeremy Rose – alto saxophone and bass clarinet

Kurt Rosenwinkel – guitar and effects

Jackson Harrison – piano

Andreas Lang – bass

Tobias Backhaus – drums

All compositions by Rose unless indicated. 

Recorded 18-19 April 2016 at Audiocue Studios, Berlin by Rainer Robben 

Mixed and mastered September 2016 with Bob Scott 

Produced by Jeremy Rose 

Cover photography by Seshanka Samarajiwa 

Studio and live photography by Javier Chiocchio 

Design by Pat Harris 

All Compositions Registered with APRA © 2016 All Rights Reserved. 

Unauthorised Duplication is a violation of applicable laws. 

Special thanks to Milly and everyone at APRA, Kurt, Jackson, Andreas and Tobias for their creative input and beautiful playing, Rainer and Bob for capturing such an great sound, my family and Mei for all their love and support. 

This project has been assisted by the APRA Song Hub initiative.

Kurt Rosenwinkel - Caipi (SUNNYSIDE RECORDS 2017)

The most influential and strikingly original guitarist/composer of his generation makes a radical leap in his musical direction on Caipi, the debut release on his new label Heartcore Records. Ten years in the making, Caipi is easily his most personal expression to date and features Kurt Rosenwinkel playing all the instruments (drums, bass, piano, synthesizers, percussion) and showcases his vocals prominently on tunes like the hard rocking "Hold On," the ethereal "Summer Song" and the slow ballad "Ezra," named for his son. The lilting "Little B" is named for his other son Silas, who was nicknamed Little Bear as a toddler. Elements of rock and jazz co-exist happily with all the easily recognizable features of his personal style; above all, there is ample space for the evolving world of Brazilian music in its most recent guise and, in particular, the Brazilian love song. To some extent this symbolizes Rosenwinkel's natural leaning towards the creation of melodies of considerable emotional impact, a highly distinctive feature and an unavoidable element in his markedly romantic artistic vision. 

Although most of the instruments on the album were played by Rosenwinkel, there are some notable guests: Amanda Brecker (daughter of Eliane Elias and Randy Brecker) provides Portuguese lyrics on "Kama" and contributes layered backing vocals throughout Caipi. Special guest Eric Clapton offers a subtle touch of signature string-bending on the upbeat pop number "Little Dream." And Rosenwinkel's former musical partner Mark Turner delivers potent tenor sax performances on "Ezra" and "Casio Escher." "I had to bring Mark in because it was very important to me to have that close friendship and collaboration represented on the album." Caipi also features the participation of a new young Brazilian multi-instrumentalist and singer Pedro Martins. 

Regarding his new role as a frontman singing his own thoughtful, metaphysical lyrics, Rosenwinkel says, "Writing songs with lyrics has always been very much a part of my musical world, but they've usually stayed in my private sphere. With Caipi, I realized that these were also lyric songs and that ultimately I would sing them as well. It's definitely something different from my other albums, but it's a familiar place for me and it was just a matter of doing what the music needed." 

With Caipi, Rosenwinkel presents eleven tantalizing, effervescent compositions. It is the most uplifting album he has ever made; it is an ode to resilience, a call not to give in to negativity. Deeper songs from an even deeper well.

01. Caipi

02. Kama

03. Casio Vanguard

04. Summer Song

05. Chiromatic B

06. Hold On

07. Ezra

08. Little Dream

09. Casio Escher

10. Interscape

11. Little B

Kurt Rosenwinkel - acoustic & electric guitars, electric bass, piano, drums, percussion, synth, casio, voice

Eric Clapton - guitar

Pedro Martins - voice, drums, keyboards, percussion

Alex Kozmidi - baritone guitar

Mark Turner - tenor saxophone

Kyra Garéy - voice

Antonio Loureiro - voice

Zola Mennenöh - voice

Amanda Brecker - voice

Frederika Krier - violin

Chris Komer - French horn

Andi Haberl - drums