Showing posts with label Mats Holmquist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mats Holmquist. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Randy Brecker & Mats Holmquist - Together (with Umo Jazz Orchestra) MAMA RECORDS July 24, 2018


Randy Brecker has been shaping the sound of music for decades. His performances have graced hundreds of albums by a wide range of artists from James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Chaka Khan, George Benson and Parliament-Funkadelics to two Grammy winners on Summit & MAMA Records.

These arrangements all have little (and not so little) twists and turns that keep you on your toes at all times. There are 3 Chick Corea tunes, 'Crystal Silence', 'Humpty Dumpty' and 'Windows' masterfully re-worked by Mats, Two Mats 'impressions' or minimalistic versions of so-called "Standards' 'Stella By Starlight' (we both have daughter named Stella by the way), and 'All the Things you Are' which are re-imagined with delightful results, the beautiful Ray Evans- Jay Livingston ballad 'Never Let Me Go' and then three Mats original compositions: 'One Million Circumstances', 'Always Young' and 'Summer and Winter' each quite challenging in their own way.

I think you'll really enjoy this CD there are absolutely no dull moments, you are going to be taken on the ride of a lifetime, so enjoy it and let me know when you come back to Earth!

Randy Brecker

This CD features 3 compositions and one arrangement written in the late eighties; "One Million Circumstances", "Summer and Winter", "Always Young", "Never Let Me Go" - three arrangements of Chick Corea compositions; "Windows", "Crystal Silence", "Humpty Dumpty" -and 2 new re-compositions based on famous standards; "My Stella" (Stellla by Starlight") and "All My Things" ("All the Things You Are"). In other words three different periods are represented; late eighties, beginning of the 2000s (Chick Corea) and the present (re-composition of standards).

UMO Jazz Orchestra is the only professional orchestra in Finland specialised in jazz and new rhythm-oriented music. The big band of 16 musicians plays about 80 concerts every year in Finland and abroad. The orchestra plays a diverse range of modern music that is on the pulse of the times.

One Million Circumstances
Summer and Winter
Never Let Me Go
Windows
All My Things
Crystal Silence
Humpty Dumpty
My Stella
Always Young


JIM EIGO
JAZZ PROMO SERVICES
272 State Route 94 South #1, Warwick, NY 10990-3363
Ph: 845-986-1677
jim@jazzpromoservices.com • www.jazzpromoservices.com
“Specializing in Media Campaigns for the music community, artists, labels, venues and events.”

Monday, April 17, 2017

Mats Holmquist & Latvian Radio Big Band - Big Band Minimalism (SUMMIT RECORDS 2017)



Randy Brecker!

Dick Oatts!

Outstanding!

Extraordinary composer’s large ensemble tunes come to life with a special collaboration with two of best jazz musicians to surface, Legendary Randy Brecker & Dick Oatts! In the ‘works’ for many years, “Big Band Minimalism” is an attempt to merge minimalist based compositional techniques a’ la Steve Reich and John Adams with concepts from the modern jazz big band tradition. Big Results!!

On his third recording with Summit and MAMA, Mats Holmquist’s “Big Band Minimalism”, exemplifies quality, REAL writing for Large Jazz Ensemble…’breaking’ it down with a finely tuned big band and Randy Brecker and Dick Oatts, the results are impressive.


Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Dick Oatts / Mats Holmquist / New York Jazz Orchestra - A Tribute to Herbie +1 (2016)


One of the most distinguished saxophonists in the world of big band, Dick Oatts, teams with mastermind co-leader Mats Holmquist and his stunning arrangements of some of Herbie’s most intriguing and subsequently most famous tunes from the ’60s and ’70s. Throw in some of the best musicians New York has to offer, and the result is one powerful recording!



Dick Oatts: alto sax, leader
Mats Holmquist: leader, arrangements
New York Jazz Orchestra

Cantaloupe Island
Chameleon
Dolphin Dance
Eye of the Hurricane
Stevie R.
Maiden Voyage
Jessica
Watermelon Man
Toys


SONIA