A new record by the «best kept secret of Portuguese creative music», as one British critic once wrote about trumpeter extraordinaire Sei Miguel. Specifically, a collection of “stories untold” with different line-ups, from a duo with Fala Mariam to a sextet with Mariam, Nuno Torres, Rodrigo Amado, José Bruno Parrinha and Paulo Curado, including the participation of other musicians like Carlos Santos, Hernâni Faustino, Luís Desirat and Moz Carrapa. This is how jazz sounds when inspired by John Cage and Alvin Lucier, each piece creating its own world, either reminiscent of Greek and Balkan chants, based on a Raksin-Mercer song, “Laura”, dedicated to the guitarist of the free rock band Caveira or having the same notion of space Miguel finds in both Gil Evans and Keith Rowe.
A veteran of the Portuguese scene, active since the Eighties, revered by some and misunderstood by others, Sei Miguel refuses to be considered an “institution” by always renewing his concepts and his playing, facing each project simultaneously as the first and the last one, letting himself to be surprised and at the same time dealing with it as a definitive statement. The consequence: a shining diamond, for you to take and cherish…
Saxophonist Bill Sears is the coordinator of Jazz Studies at the Interlochen Arts Academy, a position he has held since 1987. A native of Racine, WI, Bill attended Indiana University earning both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees, studying jazz with David Baker, George Ross and Dominic Spera, and the saxophone with Dr. Eugene Rousseau. Upon graduation in 1980, Bill embarked on a successful career in Chicago performing regularly with the Chicago Jazz Quintet, the Jazz Members Big Band and Marshall Vente’s Project 9. Bill can be heard on recordings with each of these groups as well as with Frank Mantooth, Dominic Spera and Ashley Alexander. Bill’s playing encompasses the entire spectrum of the history of the tenor saxophone- from rich, warm ballads to the searing intensity of today’s music. His versatility and fresh voice have allowed him to share the stage with jazz luminaries such as Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Bellson, Billy Hart, Bill Evans (saxophonist) and Geoff Keezer. In 1986 Bill toured the U.S. and Europe as the lead alto saxophonist in the Ray Charles Band.
Bill’s recording debut as a leader, “Chasin’s the Goal” on Manitou Records, finds him in the company of former Miles Davis saxophonist Rick Margitza, drummer Bob Meyer- a current member of Joe Lovano’s Symbiosis group, and two of Bill’s close musical associates from his days in Chicago- bassist Kelly Sill and pianist Mike Kocour.
1. Chasin' the Goal
2. The Touch of Your Lips
3. Free Smells
4. This One's for You, P.D.
5. Origin
6. With Malice Toward None
7. Due North
Bill Sears: tenor saxophone
Rick Margitza: tenor & soprano saxophones
Mike Kocour: piano
Kelly Sill: bass
Bob Meyer: drums
Recorded on March 22nd, 1996 by John Stites at Audio Sound Productions in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Mixed by John Stites & Bill Sears.
All songs by Bill Sears except "The Touch of Your Lips" by Ray Noble,
"Origin" by Rick Margitza and "With Malice Toward None" by Tom McIntosh.
Art of Life Records is proud to present the debut release by trumpeter and composer Chris Rogers. "Voyage Home" features the late saxophonist Michael Brecker, guitarist Steve Khan, saxophonist Ted Nash, pianist Xavier Davis, bassist Jay Anderson, drummer Steve Johns, saxophonist Roger Rosenberg, trombonist Art Baron, keyboardist Mark Falchook, percussionist Willie Martinez and a digital sample of the late trombonist, Barry Rogers. Recorded at Sound on Sound Studios in New York City, New York on February 2nd & 4th, 2001. All songs were composed and arranged by Chris Rogers.
Liner Notes
About "Voyage Home":
At its heart this music truly IS a voyage. Surely the songs here represent my debut as a solo performer and composer, but they also can be viewed as the spiritual and sonic offspring of some of the incredible musicians whom I have personally known my entire life. I am speaking specifically of Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Don Grolnick, Eddie Palmieri, Tom Harrell, Lew Soloff, Mike Lawrence, James Taylor and Barry Rogers. These unique artists - plus others like Hal Galper, Chick Corea, Woody Shaw, John Coltrane, Stevie Wonder, Igor Stravinksy, The Beatles, David Sanborn, Freddie Hubbard and Miles Davis - make up much of my musical palette. The incredibly accomplished musicians on "Voyage Home" were handpicked for their value to me both as musicians and friends. Finally, in the true Jazz tradition ALL solos were tracked live.
In Honor of Michael Brecker:
Michael Brecker is commonly referred to as "the most influential tenor saxophonist since John Coltrane". His recorded legacy as a bandleader, co-leader (with brother Randy) and sideman, as well as his 15 Grammys tell only part of the story. Mike was a gifted human being who has profoundly touched peoples lives all across the globe. I am deeply grateful to Mike for his friendship and presence on this album. He is dearly missed but never forgotten.
Selected Quotations
This highly anticipated CD by Chris Rogers has finally hit the shelves! I've known Chris since he was 6 years old. His father, the great trombonist Barry Rogers, was a close friend and mentor to me and my brother Mike. I've watched his progress through the years and can categorically state that Chris is AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME on this CD, and it's so great to hear previously unreleased solos of Mike's (and Barry too!). So check this CD out: Just a heart-felt first-rate endeavor that is sure to bring Chris Rogers the critical and fan-based attention he deserves! ~ Randy Brecker
“Coral Pulse” es una colección de composiciones de reciente facturación de Jordi Bonell, inspiradas sobre temática marina, ya que desde hace un tiempo Jordi vive en Caldes d’Estrac.
Tres de las composiciones son guitarra sola de carácter intimista y sonoridad clara y simple, una cuarta es una versión del tema “Wave” de Jobim. Entrelazadas con estas hay seis con colaboraciones muy especiales de músicos y cantantes. Cada una de ellas reúne sonoridades tan diversas, como evocadoras de otras culturas de ultramar, tanto africanas como americanas (Jazz), pop, orientales o incluso celtas.
La utilización de la voz como instrumento y la improvisación de los idiomas inventados y creados en el momento por Ferran Savall y Daniel Lumbreras, se mezclan con timbres de instrumentos poco habituales como el arpa de Josep Maria Ribelles o el Onoven de Matthew Simon .
En definitiva, un viaje de colores y emociones que no dejan a nadie indiferente.
Músicos que colaboran en “Coral Pulse”: Roger Blàvia, Ramón Olivares, Manu Masaedo, Pedro Campos, Ferran Savall, Jouse Dutrey, Josue Túrnez, Ganavya Doraiswamy, Roger Guitiérrez, Matthew Simon, Iñaki Sandoval, José María Ribelles, Daniel Lumberas , Carles Benavent y Jorge Pardo.
Se ha hecho esperar tres años desde su debut con Albert Marquès Trio+Jordi Bonell, pero el segundo, y esperado, disco del pianista Albert Marquès ya está aquí y lleva el por título “Live in my land” (Quadrant Records). El resultado final del disco confirma con suficiencia la valía que se le presuponía.
Grabado en directo en la mítica Nova Jazz Cava de Terrassa, sede oficial del Festival de Jazz de Terrassa y uno de los locales emblemáticos del jazz en España, el disco se compone de cinco largos e intensos temas, de los cuales tres están firmados por el pianista y los dos restantes llevas la rubrica del guitarrista Jordi Bonell.
La característica fundamental de este disco es la variedad de estilos que en él se pueden escuchar, ya que se pueden oir desde sonidos que van desde el jazz flamenco hasta el latin jazz pasando por música clásica y todo ello envuelto en una patina de jazz moderno y muy actual. Con este álbum Marquès se pone al frente de la generación de jóvenes músicos salidos de Cataluña, sobre todo por dos poderosas razones; la primera por la técnica que posee; y la segunda, por la personalidad que destila en su música, fuerte y comprometida con lo que hace. Ciertamente todavía es joven (26 años), y le queda mucha carrera por recorrer, pero no es menos cierto que no ha podido comenzar con mejor pie su trayectoria. Y es que los discos del Albert Marquès Trio+Jordi Bonell son de esos que apetece escuchar y no mandarlos rápidamente al cajón del olvido.
En este nuevo disco ha habido cambios muy importantes en la formación respecto de su primer trabajo, pues del grupo inicial sólo quedan el pianista y el guitarrista, mientras que la sección rítmica ha cambiado por completo; y así Marco Lohikari ha sustituido a Manuel Kaprovickas al contrabajo y Xavi Hinojosa ha hecho lo mismo con Gonzalo del Val.
“Live in my land” es la prueba del algodón de que a Albert Marquès hay que seguirle la pista de cerca y de que es de los escasos jóvenes músicos de jazz españoles que merece la pena estar al tanto de lo que hace.
Músicos: Albert Marqués (piano); Marco Lohikari (contrabajo); Xavi Hinojosa (batería); Jordi Bonell (guitarra). Artista invitado: Gabriel Amargant (saxo tenor)
Rubén Salvador es un músico vasco que durante tres años ha conocido la hospitalidad gallega. Lo ha querido reflejar musicalmente con ideas claras y ambiciosas.
Creo el grupo RS Factor hace algún tiempo y edito el disco ‘Starting¡’ en el 2011 que ya reseñamos en estas pagina.
Ahora ha ampliado su idea creando dos Rs Faktors uno en A Coruña, el Atlantic Faktor, y otro en el Pais Vasco el Basque Factor y nos muestra el resultado en este completo ‘Akúfeno’ que sale a la calle editado por el sello Errabal.
Son en realidad tres formaciones distintas que graban en tiempos y estudios diferentes pero que tienen como factor común la labor de este imaginativo trompetista.
Terminado en diciembre del año pasado ‘Akúfeno’ reúne todo lo vivido desde el anterior disco, nueve temas diferentes entre si ‘música compuesta desde sensaciones vividas en diferentes momentos, ciudades y experiencias’.
Rubén ha estudiado con musicos de la talla de Chris Kase, Bob Sands, Jordi Rossy, Iñaki Salvador, Víctor de Diego, Andreij Oleijnizack, Joaquín Chacon, Guillermo Klein, Wynton Marsalis, Randy Brecker, Matthew Simon, David Pastor o Raynald Colom.
Se ha pateado todos los estilos musicales, tocado por toda España y aparecido en unas 40 grabaciones.
Con esta ‘currículo’ nada malo puedes esperar de este músico y sus acompañantes.
En la parte gallega del proyecto nos encontramos con Miguel Cabana a la batería, Simón García al contrabajo, Nani García en el piano y Lucía Souto a la voz como base, en algún tema se añaden Pablo Añon al saxo alto y Iago Mouriño a los teclados.
La parte vasca esta compuesta por Hilario Rodeiro a la bateria, Javier Mayor en el contrabajo, Satxa Soriazu al piano y Julen Izarra con el saxo tenor.
Las composiciones de este ‘Akúfeno’ son en su mayoría del propio Rubén Salvador tan solo Hilario Rodeiro aporta el tema ‘Outubro’.
La musica del disco, jazz contemporáneo, hard bop con toques de los quintetos clásicos de Miles Davis y Freddy Hubbard pero tambien encuentras, como siempre, una voz singular, única que hace interesante este proyecto.
Es un disco con toques muy personales como los homenajes directos al padre del trompetista nacido en el ‘Albaicin’ granadino o a su hermana menor ‘Verónica’.
Recuerdos del viaje por los fiordos noruegos junto al pianista Satxa Soriazu en ‘Fjordsong’ o de la maravillosa estancia de Rubén durante estos últimos años en Galicia con composiciones como ‘Boa Onda’, ‘Hércules Tower’ o ‘God Times In Galicia’.
Con estas referencias ya puedes imaginar que hay gotitas de flamenco, musica norteña, morriña e incluso ‘bossa nova’ para festejar a la hermana.
Resumamos: el acufeno es un sonido irritante que se produce en el oído. ‘Akúfeno’ como indica Yahvé M. de la Cavada en el libreto interior del disco es un buen lugar para perderse en la musica de Rubén Salvador y yo añado modestamente que es buena musica para disfrutar sin complejos.
Composer/drummer Tyshawn Sorey is widely considered to be among the most important young artists at the intersection between composed and improvised music. The New York Times called his music “gestural, and philosophical” and his prior release, Alloy (Pi 2014) “elegant and shadowy.” Not only is he one of the most in-demand drummers on the modern jazz scene –regularly performing with Vijay Iyer, Steve Lehman and Myra Melford, among many others, and was named the number one Rising Star Drummer in the 2015 Downbeat Critics Poll – he is also one of a select group of jazz musicians who has pursued composition at the highest level: Sorey has an MA in Composition from Wesleyan University and will receive his Doctorate in Music for Composition from Columbia University in May, 2017. He is a 2015 recipient of the Doris Duke Impact Award and was recently appointed to a tenure track professorship at Wesleyan University, where he will be taking the place of the recently retired Anthony Braxton starting in the fall of 2017. He is an exemplar of a new breed of improvising artists who successfully straddle the contemporary classical realm: In addition to leading his trio at the venerable Village Vanguard in 2015 and the Newport Jazz Festival later this year, he has performed with the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) and will be appearing with the Leopoldinum Chamber Orchestra (Wroclaw), Klangforum Wein (Vienna), and Ensemble Intercontemporain (Paris). He has composed for members of the TAK Ensemble, and his work “Josephine Baker: A Personal Portrait” will be performed by ICE and soprano Julia Bullock at the Ojai Festival in June 2016.
The Inner Spectrum of Variables for Double Trio is an extended composition that draws from Sorey’s manifold musical influences, involving multiple harmonic, formal, rhythmic, and modal vocabularies all supported by an exploratory and improvisational framework. The largely composed work is inspired by the work of improviser/composer Lawrence D. “Butch” Morris, in particular his use of “conduction,” or conducted improvisation, Anthony Braxton, whom Sorey studied with at Wesleyan University, Harold Budd, as well as Ethiopian modal jazz, klezmer, and Western art music traditions. But that really is only the tip of the iceberg. Sorey also cites the practices of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), Schoenberg, Bach, Brahms, Scriabin, his studies with Fred Lerdahl at Columbia University, Steve Reich, his long-standing affinity for Morton Feldman, Frank Zappa, and even Louis Armstrong’s bravura playing –an inexhaustible wellspring of ideas. While still traversing many of the hallmarks of his prior compositions, such as the careful consideration of space, dynamics and texture, there is a refreshingly unexpected emphasis on melody here that reveals a heretofore largely-hidden side of Sorey’s musical personality. The work is a major leap forward for one of contemporary music’s most distinct talents.
Sorey has assembled a masterful group of musicians on the cutting edge for this recording. The Double Trio centers around his working group featuring himself on drums and conducting, Cory Smythe on piano (core member of ICE as well as a collaborator with classical violinist Hilary Hahn), and Christopher Tordini on bass (Greg Osby, Claudia Quintet, Becca Stevens, and Matt Mitchell). They are joined by violinist Chern Hwei Fung (first violinist of the Sirius String Quartet), violist Kyle Armbrust (ICE, Knights Chamber Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony), and cellist Rubin Kodheli (Laurie Anderson, Meredith Monk). An early iteration of The Inner Spectrum of Variables debuted at Roulette in Brooklyn, NY in May 2015. Energized by the success of that performance, Sorey continued to expand the work in the months leading up to the recording session in December. What was expected to be an hour-long piece became twice that and the monumental work was recorded in a single marathon fifteen-hour session. There were no half measures taken – the musicians performed this complex music with almost superhuman focus and endurance. Their commitment and refusal to compromise help bring this intensely beautiful work thrillingly to life.
For pianist Smythe, who has performed with Sorey for almost a decade, “I marvel at the fact that Tyshawn’s musical imagination seems more transcendentally inscrutable to me than ever. There are aspects of the Double Trio that I think connect it to previous works of his: its near-geological scale, probably; the way that a motivic idea will generate a staggering census of related forms; the underlying alloying of musical languages and practices. But the particular sounds and threads and meanings and everything else that emerge in this work seem unlike anything else Tyshawn has ever produced.” Perhaps violinist Fung sums it up best: “One cannot fathom how deep Tyshawn’s mind is, both intellectually and intuitionally. The music is music from the future, music that people have never heard of, or imagined to exist. Here is a piece of intricate art that flows out of a genuine creative mind.”
Gaetano Partipilo ha appena pubblicato il suo nuovo album "Daylight". Il disco, realizzato con la nuova formazione Contemporary Five, è il primo del sassofonista barese pubblicato dalla Tuk Music di Paolo Fresu. "Daylight" è stato registrato con un gruppo di giovani musicisti tra i più interessanti della scena italiana; una formazione, il cui nome rende omaggio ai (New York) Contemporary Five di Archie Shepp.
Gaetano Partipilo ha appena pubblicato il suo nuovo album "Daylight". Il disco, realizzato con la nuova formazione Contemporary Five, è il primo del sassofonista barese pubblicato dalla Tuk Music di Paolo Fresu.
"Daylight" è stato registrato con un gruppo di giovani musicisti tra i più interessanti della scena italiana; la formazione, il cui nome rende omaggio ai (New York) Contemporary Five di Archie Shepp, è attiva dal 2014 ed è composta da Francesco Diodati alla chitarra, Alessandro Lanzoni al pianoforte, Luca Alemanno al contrabbasso e Dario Congedo alla batteria. Tra umori newyorchesi e modalità compositive che rimandano al rock inglese contemporaneo, le nuove composizioni di Partipilo (oltre alle 3 improvvisazioni e ad una versione del brano "I Will" dei Radiohead) si muovono sulla linea di confine tra astrazione e melodia. Ogni brano è un sapiente gioco di incastri mai uguale, dove elementi si sommano, sottraggono e si intrecciano per creare una forma musicale in perenne movimento. La copertina è una foto di Partipilo, ed è la prima volta nella storia dell’etichetta che l’immagine viene realizzata dallo stesso musicista.
"Gli undici brani contenuti nel disco sono scaturiti dall’estro compositivo del leader, ad eccezione di I will – No man’s Land (Radiohead). Il mood onirico di Light Pressure è particolarmente pervasivo. Il sermone improvvisativo pensoso, per nulla oleografico, di Partipilo, è imperlato da improvvise scorribande cromatiche e cenni di inebriante growl multiphonics, sostenuto dal costrutto ritmico cangiante e stimolante intessuto dal tandem Alemanno-Congedo. Lanzoni dà vita a un eloquio tensivo e sussultante, dallo spirito narrativo, dal quale trasuda uno spontaneo trasporto emotivo. Choices è una composizione rasserenante, distensiva, in cui il sassofonista si esprime attraverso un playing vellutato e carezzevole. Downtown Again si apre con una intro finemente cerebrale di Lanzoni, che pullula di intriganti asperità armoniche. Qui Partipilo e Diodati interagiscono contrappuntisticamente, con energia e intensa carica espressiva. “Daylight” trasmette quiete interiore, un album in cui una considerevole prosperità intellettuale rappresenta il punto focale dell’intero lavoro." (Stefano Dentice - Soundcloud)
1 Light Pressure 2 Captain Kirk's Fall 3 Choices 4 Israel Addiction 5 Triple Malt 6 Downtown Again 7 Cross Reaction 8 I Will (No Man's Land) 9 Simonetti 10 Quiet Before 11 Versus Doom
