Gian Correa - O Abismo Da Prata (January 2022 Anzic Records)

Sao Paulo-based 7-string guitarist and composer Gian Correa and Graffiti artist Apolo Torres join forces in social activism to create a project with recorded and visual components which update Choro music with a new timely and contemporary voice.

Choro, literally to “cry” in Portuguese, is a traditional Brazilian style born in the late 19th century in the urban landscape of Rio de Janeiro. It combines traditional western forms and harmony with African rhythms, in a similar fashion to the North American Ragtime, or the Argentinian Tango. In his latest recording "O Abismo da Prata", Correa updates it with a contemporary cry for social justice, bringing forth social issues plaguing Brazil today, and the world at large.

Each track on the album inspired the creation of a graffiti work on the streets of Sao Paulo painted by Apolo Torres, a leading exponent of the Brazilian contemporary muralism movement. Each work illuminates a different aspect of struggle, from generational discrimination and consumerism to freedom from tyranny and poverty. To realize his vision, Correa gathered a group of young, like-minded Sao Paulo-based musicians, who bring a contemporary edge to the old tradition of Choro, and superstar pianist Shai Maestro as a special guest on Fender Rhodes.

Gian Correa

 

Gian Correa | 7 string guitar

Cainã Cavalcante | 6 string guitar

Enrique Menezes | flutes

Henrique Araújo | Cavaquinho, Bandolim, Violão Tenor and Tamborim

Rafael Toledo | Panderia, Pandeiro, Adufe, Caixa, Caixeta, Reco-Reco, Pratos

Guests:

Renato Braz recorded by Mário Gil at Studio Dancape (track 8)

Juliana Amaral recorded by Gian Correa at Usina Telecoteco Studio (track 8)

Shai Maestro recorded by himself (track 4)

Recorded by Thiago Big Rabello at Da Pá Virada Studio, 25th and 26th of November, 2020

Assisted by Frederico Pacheco

Mixed by Gian Correa at Usina Telecoteco Studio

Mastered by Rodrigo Castro Lopes

Artwork by Apolo Torres

Design by Maria Birba

Band Photo by Thamires Mulatinho

Produced by Gian Correa

Executive production by Giovani Correa

PRE-ORDER

Shai Maestro / Jorge Roeder / Ofri Nehemya / Philip Dizack - Human (ECM Records)

In its review of pianist Shai Maestro’s ECM leader debut The Dream Thief, All About Jazz spoke of “a searching lyrical atmosphere, emotional eloquence and communal virtuosity that serves the music.” All of which also applies to Human, where Maestro’s outgoing, highly-communicative band with fellow Israeli Ofri Nehemya on drums and Peruvian bassist Jorge Roeder becomes a quartet with the inspired addition of US trumpeter Philip Dizack. Shai’s expansive pianism is well-matched by Dizack’s alert, quick-thinking approach to improvising. And, as ever, Maestro is taking the music forward while also respecting its sense of tradition. Near the end of a programme comprised almost entirely of Maestro originals, exploring a range of temperaments, the quartet offers its own take on Duke Ellington’s “In A Sentimental Mood”, while Shai’s tune “Hank and Charlie” pays tribute to the musical empathy shared by the late Hank Jones and Charlie Haden. Human was recorded at Studios la Buissonne in the South of France in February 2020, and produced by Manfred Eicher.

1. TIME (Shai Maestro) 03:23

2. MYSTERY AND ILLUSIONS (Shai Maestro) 08:32

3. HUMAN (Shai Maestro) 02:34

4. GG (Shai Maestro) 04:44

5. THE THIEF’S DREAM (Shai Maestro) 07:53

6. HANK AND CHARLIE (Shai Maestro) 04:41

7. COMPASSION (Shai Maestro) 03:24

8. PRAYER (Shai Maestro) 04:26

9. THEY WENT TO WAR (Shai Maestro) 05:22

10. IN A SENTIMENTAL MOOD (Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Manny Kurtz) 05:47

11. IMA (FOR TALMA MAESTRO) (Shai Maestro) 05:32

Shai Maestro: Piano

Jorge Roeder: Double Bass

Ofri Nehemya: Drums

Philip Dizack: Trumpet

CONCERTS

April 08

Shai Maestro Trio Theatre de la Manufacture Nancy France

April 15

Shai Maestro Trio Tourcoing Jazz Tourcoing France

April 16

Shai Maestro Trio La Briqueterie Schiltigheim France

Pre-order

Shai Maestro / Jorge Roeder / Ofri Nehemya - The Dream Thief (ECM September 28, 2018)

The first ECM leader date for Shai Maestro (following his label debut with Theo Bleckmann on Elegy) features the gifted pianist fronting his superlative trio with fellow Israeli Ofri Nehemya on drums and Peruvian bassist Jorge Roeder, and also playing alone. A solo interpretation of Matti Caspi’s “My Second Childhood” opens the curtain on a programme of characteristically thoughtful Maestro originals, each one with a story to tell.  “Hearing the Shai Maestro Trio is like awakening to a new world”, All About Jazz has suggested. “Expressions of joy, introspective thoughts and heightened intensity all come to the fore.” Maestro’s differentiated touch is special; he can convey a range of fleeting emotions in a single phrase. A deconstruction of “These Foolish Things”, the album’s sole standard, serves as a prelude to “What Else Needs To Happen”, a sombre meditation on inner city violence and its aftermath.  The Dream Thief was recorded at Lugano’s Auditorio Stelio Molo RSI in April 2018, and produced by Manfred Eicher, and issued on the eve of a European tour with concerts in Spain, Germany, Netherlands,  Sweden, Belgium, Italy, France, and Switzerland.

Shai Maestro, Piano

Jorge Roeder, Double Bass

Ofri Nehemya, Drums

1 MY SECOND CHILDHOOD (Matti Caspi) 04:39

2 THE FORGOTTEN VILLAGE (Shai Maestro) 06:21

3 THE DREAM THIEF (Shai Maestro) 08:29

4 A MOON'S TALE (Shai Maestro) 02:36

5 LIFELINE (Shai Maestro) 03:54

6 CHORAL (Shai Maestro) 03:50

7 NEW RIVER, NEW WATER (Shai Maestro) 06:59

8 THESE FOOLISH THINGS (REMIND ME OF YOU) (Jack Strachey) 04:24

9 WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO HAPPEN? (Shai Maestro) 06:56

Ari Hoenig - NY Standard (FRESH SOUND NEW TALENT RECORDS 2018)

For his latest album NY Standard, Ari Hoenig pays tribute to the movement and tradition of

playing jazz standards in New York City. Once you learn a song there are so many different

directions and conversations you can have using that song as a starting point. It’s kind of like a

private conversation you can have with other people who know the song. If you don’t know the

song however there will be a lot you will miss.

New York city has brought together people from all over the world. People that would normally

never have the chance to even meet but can speak to each other on a deep level using jazz

standards as the basis for the conversation.

In addition to his work a bandleader, Hoenig is one of the most sought-after sidemen of his

generation. He has appeared on over a hundred recordings and worked with a diverse

spectrum of artists, including guitarists Mike Stern, Pat Martino, Wayne Krantz and Kurt

Rosenwinkel, saxophonists Joshua Redman and Chris Potter, harpist Edmar Castaneda,

bassist / vocalist Richard Bona and many more. He’s developed deep musical relationships

with pianists representing three generations of boundless jazz creativity: Billy Childs, Kenny

Werner, Jean-Michel Pilc and Monk competition winner, Tigran Hamasyan.

01. Boplicity (Davis-Evans) 4:29

02. Bessie's Blues (John Coltrane) 8:31

03. Stablemates (Benny Golson) 6:19

04. Someday My Prince Will Come (Churchill-Morey) 6:21

05. Pent Up House(Sonny Rollins) 5:52

06. In Walked Bud (Thelonious Monk) 7:30

07. Fee Fi Fo Fum (Wayne Shorter) 4:30

Ari Hoenig (drums)

Tivon Pennicott (tenor sax on #5-7)

Gilad Hekselman (guitar on #1-3,5,6)

Tigran Hamasyan (piano on #2)

Shai Maestro (piano on #4,6)

Eden Ladin (piano on #3,5)

Orlando Le Fleming (bass)

Recorded at Peter Karl Studios in Brooklyn, New York, September 2015, except track #2 recorded on January 21, 2010

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Michael Perez-Cisneros

Cover photo by Ilkka Rantamaki

Produced by Ari Hoenig

Executive Producer: Jordi Pujol

Theo Bleckmann - Elegy (ECM 2017)

Beyond being a vocalist of rare purity and daring, Theo Bleckmann is a sound painter who creates what JazzTimes has described aptly as “luminous webs” in music. The German-born New Yorker – after appearing on two ECM albums by Meredith Monk and another by Julia Hülsmann makes his striking label debut as a leader with Elegy.

This album showcases Bleckmann as a composer as much as a singer, with several instrumental pieces voiced by what he calls his “ambient” band of kindred-spirit guitarist Ben Monder, keyboardist Shai Maestro and the subtle rhythm team of Chris Tordini and John Hollenbeck. Highlights include Bleckmann’s sublime rendition of Stephen Sondheim’s “Comedy Tonight” (“tragedy tomorrow… comedy tonight”), as well as the mellifluous vocalise of “Little Elegy” and achingly poetic “To Be Shown to Monks at a Certain Temple.”