Thomas Milovac Sextet - Sun Ray (February 2022 Cosmo Sonic Collective)

Composer Ben Shorstein wrote about “Sun Ray”:

“Thomas Milovac is an alchemist. I’m fascinated by his masterful combination of elements - textures, instrumentation, composition, structure, free improvisation, structured improvisation, dissonance, harmony, dynamics, space. He uses these aural elements as a visual artist uses the physical to create a unified and harmonious whole; each piece is greater than the sum of its parts. Milovac’s music lives within this sublime contrast of aspects. With this album, I feel pulled in different directions, my expectations continuously thwarted (in a good way). This wouldn’t be possible without the top-class musicians on the album. The absence of piano adds much, as the freed up space allows for greater sonic exploration. The title track, Sun Ray, is a great swingin’ tune, and I particularly enjoy the tasty trumpet solo, punctuated by the bass and drums. Still Moments is emotional wizardry, with beautiful ensemble textures especially from the horns and bowed bass. Quasar is a transcendent, hypnotic exploration of texture and extended techniques of the bass, accompanied by bells. Black Mask is a lovely piece with unique structure, reminiscent of a Duke Ellington ballad, with a Milovacian twist. As an album, this is thoughtfully designed, balanced, and artfully executed creative music.”

"Sun Ray" is bassist and composer Thomas Milovac's debut studio album. Flying through the musical cosmos, the Thomas Milovac Sextet visits the many worlds of the composer's mind. Varying styles, textural landscapes, driving swing, and improvisational communions bring the listener in on this sonic odyssey. We implore you to strap in for the ride.

All compositions by Thomas Milovac except for "King Porter Stomp" which was composed by Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton.

1. 10721 03:08

2. Sun Ray 11:20

3. Still Moments 10:10

4. Six Angles 05:27

5. Quasar 06:29

6. Black Mask 04:14

7. King Porter Stomp 08:34

Thomas Milovac - Double Bass, Bass Guitar, Percussion

Justin Mendez - Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax

Ryan Devlin - Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax

Shawn Villanueva - Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Zach Muth - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar

Eric Bailey - Drums

Autumn Paul - Bells on "Quasar"

Jack Miller - Percussion on "Black Mask"

Mixed, Mastered, and Produced by Jack Miller

Recorded on May 29th, 2021 at Jack Miller's home studio in Jacksonville, Florida.

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Madre Vaca – The Elements (JUNE 12, 2021 madrevaca.org)

The latest project by the stimulating modern jazz quartet Madre Vaca is no less than the musical depiction of the four elements of the world.

Guitarist Jarrett Carter, pianist Jonah Pierre, bassist Thomas Milovac, and drummer Benjamin Shorstein each contributed one extended piece to a memorable jazz symphony that represents Fire, Water, Earth and Wind.

The collective Madre Vaca (which in English means “Mother Cow”) never plays the expected. Their previous project, 2020’s Winterreise, recast Franz Schubert’s song cycle as modern jazz performed by a dynamic and creative octet.

For their fourth album, The Elements, Madre Vaca transforms the four elements of the earth into music that is often quite cinematic and always inventive. Each of the members of the quartet (guitarist Jarrett Carter, pianist Jonah Pierre, bassist Thomas Milovac, and drummer Benjamin Shorstein) contributed an extended piece that challenged the musicians, blending together compositions with improvisations filled with color, character, and subtle surprises.

Shorstein’s “Fire” depicts both the good and bad of fire. Guitarist Carter takes the lead at first with the other musicians contributing stimulating accompaniment, pianist Pierre builds on the wondrous mood, bassist Milovac adds to the atmosphere, and drummer Shorstein takes a fiery solo before the four musicians improvise together at a rapid tempo, leading to the inevitable explosive conclusion.

Carter’s “Water” starts peacefully with the depiction of a lake and the beginning of a rain storm that picks up momentum as it progresses, building in tension as the water becomes a surging river.

Milovac’s “Earth” sees the planet as a beautiful place but one that is regularly beset by natural disasters. Its contradictions are very much prevalent in the episodic music which alternates a quiet but complex calm with passionate contrasts including a section in which the musicians dramatically speed up the tempo together.

Pierre’s “Wind” has the quartet emulating a breeze (the bowed bass is a major asset). A melody soon emerges along with a happy optimistic mood that concludes the four movements of the jazz symphony.

Since 2017, the members of Madre Vaca and their musical friends have recorded 13 albums on their Madre Vaca label and seven have thus far been released including four ambitious projects by the main group: Nexus (2018), Nero (2019), Winterreise (2020) and now The Elements.

The Elements is Madre Vaca’s finest hour so far, a musical portrayal of the world that we inhabit.

1. Fire (Benjamin Shorstein) 14:53

2. Water (Jarrett Carter) 09:03

3. Earth (Thomas Milovac) 09:13

4. Wind (Jonah Pierre) 07:31

Jarrett Carter - Guitar

Thomas Milovac - Bass

Jonah Pierre - Piano

Benjamin Shorstein - Drums

Recording Engineer – JeanCarlo Mendez

Cover Art – Andre Gruber

Mixing – JeanCarlo Mendez, Dan Moore

Mastering – Brett Thorngren

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