Jack DeSalvo - Numinous (January 31, 2022 Unseen Rain Records)

Jack DeSalvo's music covers a lot of ground, but with this trio it's an intimate affair, melodic, often swinging yet with arching, virtuosic solos all around. This trio has been the nucleus of a number of ensembles both live and on record - Quintrepid, Zone and others. DeSalvo exclusively plays nylons string guitar here, utilizing his amazing facility that's a synthesis of classical and jazz technique. Here the music's the thing from the open Dream of the Lynx to the two swinging takes of Perhaps.The fullness is more like a piano trio but with the expressive touch of the guitar. Dmitri and Tom are deep listeners which make the music rich emotionally and powerful in its realization.

1. One Footprint

2. Numinous

3. Perhaps Take 1

4. Liquid Stones

5. Aside

6. Exuvae

7. Perhaps Take 2

8. Dream of The Lynx

9. Balue Bolivar

Jack DeSalvo - guitar (Godin nylon string)

Dmitri Ishenko - double-bass

Tom Cabrera - drums

All music by Jack DeSalvo except Balue Bolivar by T. Monk

Recorded at Woodshedd Studio, Westbury, NY

Mixed and mastered by Larry Hutter, Orlando, FL

Front photo of group by Eli Forde

Design by Qua's Eye Graphix

An Unseen Rain Production

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George McMullen / Jack DeSalvo / Phil Sirois / Tom Cabrera - Sótano (January 24, 2022 Unseen Rain Records)

LA studio ace and former musical director for Brian Setzer turned eastward to NYC to share his vast improvisational universe and high level trombonisms. Joining him are veteran improvisers Jack DeSalvo on guitar, double-bassist Phil Sirois and drummer and keeper of the Woodshedd Tom Cabrera. What results is swinging, subtle music emerging from the shear joy of playing jazz.

1. Ear-rational

2. Sótano 1

3. Sótano 2

4. Sótano 3

5. Sótano 4

6. Sótano 5

7. Well you Needn't

George McMullen - trombone

Jack DeSalvo - guitar

Phil Sirois - double-bass

Tom Cabrera - drums

All music by Sótano except Ear-rational by Jack DeSalvo and Well You Needn't by T. Monk

Recorded at Woodshedd Studio, Westbury, NY

Mixed and Mastered By Larry Hutter, Orlando, FL

Cover collage/painting by Tom Cabrera

Design by Qua's Eye Graphix

An Unseen Rain production

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Matt Lambiase / Jack DeSalvo / Tom Cabrera - Jhana (January 14, 2022 Unseen Rain Records)

A fascinating journey on the nexus of contemporary classical, free jazz and folk music. Three master improvisers who are virtuosi on their respective instruments. The center of the music is silence. Musical gestures emanating from the void. This is an album of gentleness and depth.

1. Jhana - Piece 1

2. Jhana - Piece 2

3. Jhana - Piece 3

4. Jhana - Piece 4

5. Jhana - Piece 5

Matt Lambiase - cornet, flugelhorn, trumpet, conch and Native American flute

Jack DeSalvo - guitar

Tom Cabrera - drums, percussion

Recorded at Woodshedd Studio, Westbury, NY

Mixed and mastered by Larry Hutter, Orlando FL

Design by Qua's Eye Graphix

An Unseen Rain Production

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Sumari - Ramsey (December 2021 Unseen Rain Records)

Though mostly known for his time as violinist with Cecil Taylor, Ramsey Ameen was a musician, polymath, computer engineer, mathematician and philosopher. When I learned we lived close by each other we began to drive together to gigs in NYC. Ramsey was well versed in any subject I could bring up, and could discuss deeply for hours. And we did. Bach, Ornette Coleman, Gurdjieff, Blavatsky, geometry, world events, politics, et al. I called him about recording a duo with him on violin and guitarist Dom Minasi. Two days later I learned Ramsey had passed. A shock to say the least, heartbreaking news at the loss of this dear friend and great man. This album, Ramsey, is dedicated to him.

This performance by Sumari at a concert in memory of Ramsey with several ensembles was recorded at Scholes Street Studio in Brooklyn, NY.

The performance was attended by numerous Downtown Music luminaries and is likely the last recording from Sumari, an improvising unit that started as a trio and was later augmented by the presence of double-bass master Hilliard Greene. Sumari recorded 5 previous album for Unseen Rain Records. This album, Ramsey, has three extensive tracks with the last one a surprise blues. - Jack DeSalvo

1. Piece 1 for Ramsey 19:42

2. Piece 2 for Ramsey 13:54

3. Blues for Ramsey 07:28

MATT LAVELLE - Trumpet, Alto & Bass Clarinets

JACK DeSALVO - Guitar

HILLIARD GREENE - Double Bass

TOM CABRERA - Drums

Recorded at Schole Street Studio, Brooklyn, NY by René Allain

Mixed and mastered by Larry Hutter, Orlando, FL

Cover painting by Tom Cabrera, design by Qua's Eye Graphix

Produced by Jack DeSalvo

In memory of Ramsey Ameen (1945-2019)

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Jack DeSalvo Live At Scholes Street (June 21, 2021 Unseen Rain Records)

This live performance was part of a night of trios at Brooklyn's Scholes Street Studio/performance space that was curated by Matt Lavelle. Tom Cabrera and Dmitry Ishenko are among my favorite musician to play anything with, but an opportunity to perform my own compositions with them is particularly gratifying. As a trio we have two previous albums on Unseen Rain - Minerals and Volume III of the Connoisseurs of Chaos series though some of the tracks on this live record where originally recorded on earlier albums of mine. – Jack DeSalvo

It takes a trio of formidable players like DeSalvo, Ishenko and Cabrera to bring to life music like this, with its multi-hued harmonic atmosphere and these musicians' clairvoyant interplay.

1. Minerals 08:46

2. Instance 07:12

3. Sudden Moves 08:39

4. Nuvyu 07:08

5. KHB 08:45

6. She Has With 05:2

JACK DeSALVO - guitar

DMITRY ISHENKO - double-bass

TOM CABRERA - drums

All music by Jack DeSalvo

Recorded by René Allain at Scholes Street Studios, Brooklyn, NY

Mixed and mastered by Larry Hutter, Orlando, FL

Design by Qua’s Eye Graphix

Produced by Jack DeSalvo and Tom Cabrera

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Rocco John Iacovone and Tom Cabrera - Out of The Maelstrom (2021 Unseen Rain Records)

Maelstrom: a large whirlpool or confused, turbulent, agitated state of mind, emotions, and affairs. This is what we all experienced with the onset of the Covid-19 Virus. Everything changed. Too dangerous to get together and play, this duo recording with Tom Cabrera came out of an urgent need to find new ways to create.

After discussions by phone, here’s what we did. I would compose a motif, develop it, record it then send to Tom. Tom would listen until he really “got” it. Then he added his part. In Monday Meditations, I recorded one track, then accompanied myself and sent both tracks to Tom. We reversed the process with Segments1 and 2. Tom recorded first and sent me the tracks.

We also left space for each other to play. We did so with all the pieces but is most evident in the only standard, “Softly”, on the album. Both Tom and I very much enjoyed the process and found it to be very rewarding. All the music grew from the consciousness and way of life at that point in time.

Hope you enjoy – Rocco John Iacovone

1. Begone Covid 03:35

2. Dreams 05:00

3. Monday Meditation 05:36

4. Segment Part 1 02:14

5. Segment Part 2 02:41

6. Softly As A Morning Sunrise 05:29

7. Tango 06:52

8. Wee One 04:13

9. What Is 04:18

ROCCO JOHN IACOVONE - alto, tenor and soprano saxophones, bass clarinet

TOM CABRERA - drums, percussion

Recorded at Woodshedd Studio, Westbury, NY and Sage Studios, New York, NY

Mixed and mastered by Larry Hutter, Orlando, FL

Cover painting by Tom Cabrera

Design by Qua’s Eye Graphix

A Woodshedd Production

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Matt Lavelle / Ras Moshe / Tom Cabrera - Invocation (April 23, 2021 Unseen Rain Records)

Convening at Woodshedd Studio, New York Downtown stalwarts Ras Moshe and Matt Lavelle joined Woodshedd and Unseen Rain artist Tom Cabrera and found themselves deeply affected by the recent loss of several of their colleagues, among them Ramsey Ameen and Juan Quiñones, to whom two tracks here are dedicated. A ritualistic atmosphere developed and the tracks here are imbued with loss, freedom and ultimately joy. Cabrera, Moshe and Lavelle lead the listener through extremporaneous reflections on the dance of life itself.

1. Invocation for Juan 07:36

2. Procope 06:19

3. Phobos and Deimos 07:58

4. Earth's Core 07:52

5. For Juan 07:27

6. Holylodics 09:47

Matt Lavelle - bass and alto clarinets, trumpet

Ras Moshe - tenor saxophone, flute, percussion

Tom Cabrera - drums, frame drum

Recorded at Woodshedd Studio, Westbury, NY

Mixed and Mastered by Larry Hutter, Orlando, FL

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Sumari - Sumari IV (April 16, 2021 Unseen Rain Records)

SUMARI IV is the group's first studio album featuring the miraculous double-bassist Hilliard Greene. This is also Sumari's first studio album recorded and mixed after the passing of engineer Jim DeSalvo, who was responsible for documenting their previous work. SUMARI IV's commanding music, mixing the utmost in simplicity with taut, intricate layers of rhythm, appears here through the virtuosity of the musicians alone, eschewing overdubs and effects heard on Sumari II and III.

There are moments when a bell-like rhythm appears and one wonders if is it Hill Greene playing harmonics, the bell of Tom Cabrera's ride cymbal, Matt Lavelle's swallowed alto clarinet outcry or Jack DeSalvo's tintabulistic guitar and banjo pluckings, which is to say the players' musical consciousness merged during the many moments of coalescence. This an album of ancient dances and future visions.

1. Piece 1 14:55

2. Piece 2 13:45

3. Piece 3 17:39

4. Piece 4 13:54

5. Piece 5 14:10

MATT LAVELLE - alto and bass clarinets

JACK DeSALVO - guitar and banjo

HILLIARD GREENE -double-bass

TOM CABRERA - drums and percussion

Recorded at Woodshedd Studio, Westbury, NY

Mixed and mastered by Larry Hutter, Orlando, FL

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Rocco John Iacovone / Jack DeSalvo / Mark Hagan / Phil Sirois / Tom Cabrera - Conoisseurs of Chaos IV (UNSEEN RAIN Records November 2018)

The prodigious musicians here are a circle orbiting around drummer Tom Cabrera, involved in many New York-based jazz groups, recording and performing together in different aggregates. 

Connoisseurs of Chaos IV includes an extraordinary drum/bass duo, a sublime sax/bass/drum trio, an intensely swinging guitar/bass drum trio and full quartet performances of the opening track as well as a Iacovone original Dreams and Monk's classic Green Chimneys.

Rocco John Iacovone - alto and soprano saxophone

Jack DeSalvo - guitar

Phil Sirois - double-bass

Mark Hagan - double-bass

Tom Cabrera - drums

1. Arrival 33:48

2. Danceland 06:50

3. Thursday 17:10

4. Anniversary In Istambul 06:47

5. Dreams 06:34

6. Green Chimneys 04:48

Recorded at Woodshed Studio, Westbury, NY by Christof Ziegenhirte

Edited and mastered at Hutter Studio, Orlando FL by Larry Hutter

Cover painting by Tom Cabrera

design by Qua's Eye Graphix

A Woodshedd production

© 2018 Woodshedd Records

license

all rights reserved

Jack DeSalvo / Joel Shapira / Phil Sirois / Tom Cabrera - Westbury Converge (UNSEEN RAIN Records November 2018)

Twin Cities based guitarist Joel Shapira has made many a sojourn to New York City, where he spent his early career studying, shedding and playing, to reconnect with the scene. In recent years he's been coming to record with old friend Jack DeSalvo on the latter's Unseen Rain label. On this session they united with bassist Phil Sirois and drummer Tom Cabrera at Tom's Woodshedd Studio in Westbury, New York for a fiery session of modern jazz classics and a very forward take on some standards for Woodshedd Records.

Jack DeSalvo - guitar

Joel Shapira - guitar

Phil Sirois - double-bass

Tom Cabrera - drums

1. Deluge 09:04

2. Beautiful Love 08:19

3. Bemsha Swing 06:00

4. Blue in Green 07:35

5. Dolphin Dance 07:14

Recorded at Woodshed Studio, Westbury, NY by Christof Ziegenhirte

Edited and mastered at Hutter Studio, Orlando FL by Larry Hutter

Cover painting by Tom Cabrera

design by Qua's Eye Graphix

A Woodshedd production

© 2018 Woodshedd Records

Jack DeSalvo / Dmitry Ishenko / Tom Cabrera - Connoisseurs of Chaos III (UNSEEN RAIN Records November 2018)

These spontaneous pieces emerged while the trio was rehearsing and recording Jack DeSalvo's compositions. Tom Cabrera had the idea to release them as part of the Connoisseurs of Chaos series on Woodshedd. Dmitiry Ishenko's sensitive interplay and flow of ideas integrates nimbly with the longstanding partnership of Cabrera and DeSalvo leaving us with powerful music of great character.

Jack DeSalvo - guitars

Dmitry Ishenko - double-bass

Tom Cabrera - drums, percussion

1. Open I 04:45

2. Open II 10:22

3. Open III 05:27

4. Open IV 07:52

Recorded at Woodshed Studio, Westbury, NY by Christof Ziegenhirte

Edited and mastered at Hutter Studio, Orlando FL by Larry Hutter

Cover painting by Tom Cabrera

design by Qua's Eye Graphix

A Woodshedd production

All music by Jack DeSalvo, Dmitry and Tom Cabrera ℗ © 2018 Woodshedd Records

Rich Rosenthal / Phil Sirois / Tom Cabrera - Connoisseurs of Chaos II (UNSEEN RAIN Records 2018)

This time Connoisseurs of Chaos features the horn-like intensity of Rich Rosenthal's the electric guitar, the deep, soulful double-bass of Boston native Phil Sirois and master percussionist Tom Cabrera on drums.

Rich Rosenthal - guitar

Phil Sirois - double-bass

Tom Cabrera - drums, percussion

1. Piece 1A 06:52

2. Piece 1B 03:06

3. Piece 2A 03:34

4. Piece 2B 07:07

5. Piece 3A 06:25

6. Piece 3B 05:59

7. Piece 4 09:27

8. Piece 5 10:48

9. Piece 6 14:29

Recorded at Woodshed Studio, Westbury, NY by Christof Ziegenhirte

Edited and mastered at Hutter Studio, Orlando FL by Larry Hutter

Cover painting by Tom Cabrera

design by Qua's Eye Graphix

A Woodshedd production

Zone - Zone (UNSEEN RAIN Records 2018)

Zone is a quintet of distinguished musicians who create an utterly modern sound rooted in not only the history of jazz, but also in a vast array of music traditions, old and new. While the members have all played with each other in different ensembles, mostly in the downtown New York scene, Zone is particularly fertile group for their considerable compositional and improvisational abilities. Sensitivity, interplay and deep listening are always evident whether the music is lyrical or hard hitting. Rocco John Iacovone studied composition under the direct disciples of Nadia Boulanger as well as saxophone and improvisation with Lee Konitz and played with Sam Rivers at Studio Rivbea,. Rocco has released a number of recording, including two on UNSEEN RAIN, Embrace The Change - with his quartet and Peace and Love with his Improvising Composers Ensemble. Jack DeSalvo initially appeared on the international jazz scene with the groundbreaking trio D3 and as a member of the electric harmolodic group Ronald Shannon Jackson and the Decoding Society.

He is a member of Sumari, the 12 Houses Orchestra and other groups, including his own. Jack studied composition with Ariadna Mikéshina, classical guitar with Leonid Bolotine and jazz with Bill Connors and others. Jack appears on numerous recording including many on UR. Chris Forbes has been on the piano bench as a crucial part of countless NYC ensembles including Jason Kao Wang's Sing House, Matt Lavelle's 12 Houses Orchestra, the Steve Swell Quintet and Chris' own trio. He is a classically trained composer, jazz pianist, and has composed for symphonies, chamber groups, jazz ensembles, and musical theater. Dmitry Ishenko has played bass with a wide range of jazz artists, including Steve Lacy, John Tchicai, Eric Harland, Dave Liebman, Myron Walden, Jeff Williams, Roy Campbell, Jr., Sam Yahel, Steve Swell, Kenny Wollesen, Ches Smith, and many others.

A graduate of both the Berklee College of Music and New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, he is also a busy session player and arranger, having worked in the studio and on the road with Paul Banks of Interpol, among others. has toured all over the world. He appears on Blaise Siwula's UR album Remoliona. In addition to being an incomparable jazz drummer, Tom Cabrera is an adept world percussionist Initially a mainstay in the Hudson Valley, NY jazz scene in Florida Tom gigged constantly establishing himself as a preeminent player on Orlando's vibrant jazz scene.

After returning to NY he immersed himself in the creative jazz scene as a member of the Julie Lyon Quartet, the Matt Lavele Quartet, Sumari, Jack DeSalvo's trio and quartet and the 12 Houses Orchestra. He appears on a number of UR releases including with his own trio, What I've Found and Rocco John Iacovone's Embrace The Change.

1. Nomad's Dog 07:58

2. Number 16 05:22

3. Walking Damp Ground 08:15

4. Surprised By Joy 06:27

5. Whispers 06:17

6. Hide and Seek 10:01

7. A-Wa-Re 10:40

8. Faborit 09:59

Rich Rosenthal / Jack DeSalvo / Tom Cabrera - Connoisseurs of Chaos (WOODSHED RECORDS 2018)

The innovative electric guitar of Rich Rosenthal ,somehow covering ground from Jimmy Lyons to a harmonically savvy Jerry Garcia, is joined by the unconventional cello of Jack DeSalvo (known primarily as a guitarist himself) and master percussionist Tom Cabrera on drums. The unexpected power and appeal in their music results from their ability to surprise each other with unanticipated twists and turns awhile relishing in the resulting sonic locales. Rich Rosenthal is a graduate of the world-renowned New School Jazz and Contemporary Music program.

He’s studied with Dave Moreno, Reggie Workman, Vic Juris, among others. Rosenthal has worked closely with Joe Giardullo, contributing to the saxophonist’s 2007 RogueArts release, Red Morocco. Rosenthal’s first album as leader is 2013’s Falling Up, featuring Giardullo. Rich released his next album, Live at Quinn's, on Unseen Rain. Jack DeSalvo, hailed in THE WIRE magazine as “masterful”, played with Ronald Shannon Jackson and D3. Guitarist DeSalvo, a highly regarded composer, also plays cello, mandolin and banjo. “banjo player Jack DeSalvo uncorks a salvo of twangs as if Earl Scruggs has pushed his way into a Count Basie jam.” – NYC Jazz Record.

He plays with his own band and with Julie Lyon, 12 Houses, Sumari etc. He is featured on many recordings as well as on Unseen Rain. In addition to being an incomparable jazz drummer, Cabrera is an adept world percussionist often adding to the proceedings instruments from all over the planet particularly the middle-east. A native of Long Island, NY, drummer and multi-percussionist Tom Cabrera began his career in local rock, folk rock and country bands but his love of jazz shifted his focus and studies strongly in that direction. A visual artist as well, he initially pursued a career as a photo-retoucher and spent 18 years in that field. His musical pursuits continued, however, and he became a mainstay in the Hudson Valley, NY jazz scene.

Cabrera relocated to Orlando, FL in 1995 but not before acquiring a frame drum, an event that proved to be auspicious to his future work. In Florida Tom gigged constantly establishing himself as one of the most respected players on the jazz scene. After meeting his future wife, vocalist Julie Lyon, they went on to form the Julie Lyon Quartet, a swinging ensemble and released two albums: Beginning to See the Light and Live: Between Then and Now. The quartet and Tom's own trio performed all over the state. Tom appears on almost 20 Unseen Rain recordings.

1. Piece 1 10:12

2. Piece 2 17:27

3. Piece 3 07:58

4. Piece 4 08:51

5. Piece 5 09:08

Rich Rosenthal - guitar

Jack DeSalvo - cello, bass ukelele

Tom Cabrera - drums, percussion

Recorded at Woodshed Studio, Westbury, NY by Christof Ziegenhirte

Edited and mastered at Hutter Studio, Orlando FL by Larry Hutter

Cover painting by Tom Cabrera

design by Qua's Eye Graphix

A Woodshed production

All music by Rich Rosenthal, Jack DeSalvo and Tom Cabrera ℗ © 2018 Woodshed Records