Republic of Jazz

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Pianist Ryan Slatko Releases Debut Album “First Impressions” (2017)

Ryan Slatko Releases Debut Album “First Impressions” That Features Original Works And Line-Up Of Leading Artists

Florida pianist, composer, and arranger Ryan Slatko recently released his debut album entitled First Impressions backed by a notable line-up of prominent musicians including Daniel Dickinson (alto/soprano saxophone); Linda Oh (acoustic bass); Ulysses Owens, Jr. (drums); Joel Ross (vibraphone); and Samir Zarif (tenor saxophone). The independent recording was recorded in New York City in 2016 and produced by recognized drummer and producer Ulysses Owens, Jr.

First Impressions is a culmination of Slatko’s musical experiences thus far. Through thoughtfully written compositions and personalized arrangements of select jazz standards, Slatko establishes a marked sense of confidence and maturity for a young artist. Apparent throughout the recording, is the piano player’s adept improvisation and command of the keyboard, which can be attributed to his dedication to the instrument and guidance he has received over the years from distinguished instructors such as Don Friedman, Alan Broadbent, Ari Hoenig, Gil Goldstein, Taylor Eigsti, and Kenny Werner.

Slatko began his journey into jazz as a drummer and was introduced to diverse styles of music by his father who was an amateur guitarist, before being introduced to the piano at thirteen years of age. Following high school, he attended University of North Florida and earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 2015. It was during his years in Florida that he received several impressive achievements, placing third in the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition in 2014, as well as reaching the semifinals of the American Jazz Pianist Competition for two consecutive years.

A relative newcomer to New York, Slatko completed a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies at New York University in 2017 while immersing himself in the city’s unparalleled music scene. He has shared the stage and recorded with an impressive cadre of artists including Randy Brecker, Ari Hoenig, Linda Oh, Rich Perry, Chris Potter, Adam Rogers, Tom Scott, and Alex Sipiagin, among others. Slatko is currently performing in support of First Impressions and planning upcoming concerts to showcase the album; he is also serving as the musical director for the new musical Lights Out: Nat "King" Cole in Pennsylvania

First Impressions was recorded by Chris Allen at Sear Sound Studio and mixed by Dave Darlington at Bass Hit Studio. The album is currently available on iTunes and other leading digital music platforms. For more information visit www.ryanslatkomusic.com

Ross Blake Releases 'Night Song'

ROSS BLAKE RELEASES ‘NIGHT SONG’

Released November 24th via Horsearm Records

Enter the surreal world of UK Polymath Ross Blake. The London based musician has dropped the latest single from his forthcoming album – the eerie, dreamlike ‘Night Song’

Fearlessly charting a journey into a world of mystery, Ross Blake's delirious original soundtrack to Pretty en Rose conjures up the glamorous milieu of its parent film, yet goes beyond to inhabit its own peculiar and poetic realm of the imagination.

Pretty en Rose was directed by underground auteur Angélique Bosio, and documents the career of cult Parisian fashion icon Fifi Chachnil. Blake and Bosio have been acquainted for some time following Blake’s discovery of her earlier film Lilk Your Idols, which documented ‘The Cinema of Transgression’ in 80’s-90’s New York. Having then been similarly impressed by Blake's theatrical soundtracks and the experimental output of his former bands Buttonhead and Poino, she summarily enlisted him to provide a simpatico score to her film; a documentary that transcends Fifi Chachnil's diva persona, and looks behind the exotic veil of her idealised Parisian glamour-puss image to investigate the personality within.

Taking French musical themes and interweaving them with a plethora of influences ranging from Ennio Morricone to Angelo Badalementi, and Joe Meek to Angela Morley's Watership Down soundtrack, Blake creates a finely-wrought tapestry that exists on a plateau beyond kitsch and exotica, drifting effortlessly through realms of fantasy and hallucination. Nonetheless, the strains of luminaries such as Broadcast, The Advisory Circle and Basil Kirchin might make fitting comparisons for the elegant arrangements and golden filigree herein.

A modern-day polymath, Ross Blake is given to extend his work in a variety of directions, incorporating and reconciling visual art and music. He has recently provided his customary skewed film-magic for a variety of musical artists and has already created a selection of videos to exist in tandem with this soundtrack release, exploring a trademark visual language that merges Lego vomit, double-taking dogs and Crush Fetish content amongst many other unusual delights. Furthermore, an eclectic group of notable visual artists have been commissioned to provide accompanying music videos for a selection of tracks, not to mention the coup de grâce album cover photograph of Fifi Chachnil provided by none other than superstar art-duo Pierre et Gilles.

Yet for now, feast on this sonically elegant and seductive blend of the melodically rich, atmospherically uncanny, and magically haunting work that is pure Ross Blake. Above and beyond the cinematic themes of beauty and artifice its parent film explores, he has created an album that is an overwhelming and abundant audial banquet as a peerless chronicle of the chic.

1. Ages

2. Karen Black 04:49

3. Silk Trout

4. Golden Spherics

5. Night Song

6. Old Water

7. House of Miracles 03:03

8. New Water

All music composed and produced by Ross Blake

All music recorded by Ross Blake and Gaverick de Vis

All music mixed and mastered by Prizum - www.prizum.uk

Ross Blake: Backing Vocals (1), Bass (1, 4, 6), Clarinet (7), Guitar (1, 6, 8), Organ (2, 4, 6), Piano (3–7), Programming ( 1–2), Synths ( 1–4, 6–8), Taisho Koto (1, 3), Ukulele (5), Vibraphone (4, 8). Daniel John Boyle: Percussion (3). Kelly Everett: Backing Vocals (3). Eloise Goulder: Harp ( 1, 5), Viola (3–5), Violin (3–5). Karen Gwyer: Guest Vocals (2). Lillias Kinsman-Blake: Flute (3, 4, 7). Valentina Magaletti: Percussion (3). Dearbhla Minogue: Vocals (1, 8). Luca Nasciuti: Cello (3, 4). Dwight Scruntz: Drums and Percussion (4–6). Natalie Sharp: Vocals (1, 7). Tobias Warwick Jones: Guitar (3)

www.horsearm.com

www.rossblakemusic.com

rossblake.bandcamp.com

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Etnolab is an exciting new ensemble on the Danish music scene mixing stylistic features of folk music from Bulgaria and Turkey with the language of jazz and improvisation. The music is rich in odd meter rhythms, funky grooves, awesome tunes, and moods ranging from heartfelt melancholic valleys to exuberant euphoric mountain peaks. There are new fresh compositions in this jazz folk intersection as well as old folk songs that have been through the pipes and flasks of the ethno laboratory. Etnolab features a special guest, Orhan Özgür, a great talent in Turkish folk music with his bağlama and his beautiful vocal.

1 7-8 minutes rachenitsa #1 feat 8:36

2 Uşşak neşesi 6:35

3 Makya dava Yana 3:08

4 Bağa girdim bağ budanmış 4:57

5 Krivo pazardzhishko 6:35

6 Glava li ta boli 4:36

7 Nordic kopanitsa 6:09

8 Prituri se planinata 5:36

9 Rufinka bolna legnala 5:25

10 Zhivot i zdrave 4:55

11 7-8 minutes rachenitsa #2 feat 6:17

Johan Toftegaard Knudsen, sax, clarinet, kaval, vocal

Jens Christian Kwella, guitar

Torben Bøtker Bjørnskov, bass

Frederik Bülow, drums

Featured artists:

Diyana Vasileva, vocal

Borislav Galabov, gadulka, vocal

Orhan Özgür, bağlama, vocal

Aki Rissanen – Another North (EDITION RECORDS 2017)

Another North is the flamboyant and rhythmically intense new album from Finnish pianist Aki Rissanen. Demonstrating massive progression the music shines very brightly and not only confirms the trio’s promise and right to command international attention but does so with style, grace and elegance. Following the acclaimed release in 2016 of ‘Amorandom’ which collected many 5 star accolades and the prestigious and sought after Emma Prize, The Finnish Grammy, for the best jazz album of the year the group, featuring an all star Finnish line-up, has now distinguished itself as a trio with real vision and a drive to explore new directions. This is Another North.

The trio set out to avoid complacency and not just produce another high quality album. They early on expressed the intention of following their own route with a project that marks them firmly down as a trio rooted in the wider European tradition. Aki Rissanen and his band of roving Finns have avoided the clichés of the ‘Nordic’ piano trio. Instead of focusing on creating space and minimalist touch the trio relish a new world of rhythmic intensity, pulsating grooves, hypnotic loops brought together in an intuitive desire to explore. This record commands your attention.

As Aki Rissanen explains: “With Amorandom, we briefly explored a more energetic world in our approach to our music with compositions such as ‘Bird Vision’. As we toured and developed that music over the last 18 months, our desire to delve deeper in this direction became stronger. As a trio we wanted to collectively discover a greater intensity and energy, to stand out as a trio from the North. This music is the sum of that exploration”.

Opening with the vibrant ‘Blind Desert’, their direction is immediately clear and captivating, and there’s no letting up. With its brave arrangement of Gyorgy Ligeti’s piano etude, the trio reimagines the classical masterpiece – which was, of course influenced by Bill Evans’ music – fusing it seamlessly with jazz rhythm and sensibility; a happy happenstance as Evans is a massive inspiration and classical repertoire in general a big stylistic influence. This is a trio with something to say and these three are intent on saying it loud and with some attitude.

As one of the leading ensembles on the vibrant Finnish scene the Aki Rissanen Trio has reset its compass and is heading into new territories that will inevitably lead to greater international attention. It is reconceptualising what is possibly for the piano trio, what is possible for jazz from the Nordic countries, what is possible for European music. This is the Aki Rissanen Trio. This is their Another North.

1. Blind Desert 06:47

2. John's Sons 06:04

3. New Life And Other Beginnings 03:55

4. Etude 5 - Arc en CIel Reimagined 05:01

5. Nature of the Beast 07:40

6. Before The Aftermath 06:28

7. Hubble Bubble 07:08

AKI RISSANEN piano

ANTTI LÖTJÖNEN bass

TEPPO MÄKYNEN drums

Buy

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Mondo Jazz: A New Radio Program hosted by Ludovico Granvassu

Mondo Jazz, a new radio program hosted by Italian-turned-New-Yorker Ludovico Granvassu (Founder and Editor-in-Chief of All About Jazz Italia), has a mission of showcasing international jazz that's not readily available on the US airwaves.

Starting on November 15, 2017, the show will broadcast on Wednesdays from 10 p.m. to midnight via Radio Free Brooklyn. (See below for additional links to the archives, playlists, Facebook page. Radio Free Brooklyn is also available through the App Store or via the “Tune-In Radio" app, which can be subscribed to on iTunes.)

“When I first moved to the United States I was surprised that, in the country where the customer has unlimited choices, I could go to a supermarket and find 80 different brands of cereal, but in a record store the selection of jazz albums was much narrower than in record stores in Oslo, Tokyo, Brussels, London, Rome, Paris, etc. It was therefore not surprising that the playlists of the major radio stations was equally narrow," says host Granvassu. “How could it be that, in the land which gave birth to this music, jazz fans had fewer options than jazz fans from anywhere else in the world? I quickly realized that whereas record stores and radio stations abroad naturally featured albums from the US, since jazz was born in the US, they also featured albums by international jazz musicians since there are thriving jazz scenes everywhere, which produce excellent artists. These foreign artists were virtually unknown in the US and absent from American airwaves.

“My mission with Mondo Jazz is to share some of my favorite international artists with US jazz fans to widen their listening options,” adds host Granvassu. “Needless to say there will be plenty of US jazz on my program, in an attempt to show the continuity that exists between the US and the international jazz scenes. Mondo Jazz is dedicated to the proposition that jazz is a language that originated in the US but is now spoken all over the world in various, at times very strong, accents and dialects, which make it a rich resource for rewarding sonic explorations. In the end, I hope to give a small contribution towards making barriers (across music-genres and nationalities) meaningless, and show that all that matters is people, the beauty of their music and the emotions it can generate."

Schedule and themes of next episodes

November 15th: Episode 1: First Steps... Jazz Walking

November 22nd: Episode 2: Jazz Travelling

November 29th: Episode 3: Film Noir Jazz Soundtracks

Mondo Jazz

Ludovico Granvassu – Mondo Jazz (for playlists)

Radio Free Brooklyn

Podomatic archive (archived streaming and download)

Mixcloud archive (archived streaming)

CONCERTOS PORTA-JAZZ: Sábado 18 Nov - Jacob Sacks Trio + Programação Festival Porta Jazz

JACOB SACKS TRIO - CONCERTO SALA PORTA-JAZZ 18/11

Formação:

Jacob Sacks - piano

Demian Cabaud - contrabaixo

Vinnie Sperrazza - bateria

Jacob Sacks é um pianista em destaque no panorama nova-iorquino actual. Liderou o projecto Two Miles a Day, com Eivind Opsvik, Mat Maneri e Paul Motian.

Tocou com músicos como Clark Terry, Charles Gayle, Christian McBride, Brian Blade, Joe Maneri, Ben Monder, Chris Potter, Tony Malaby e Okkyung Lee.

Os seus mais recentes projectos têm sido aclamados pela crítica internacional.

www.jacobsacks.com

(Sessões iniciam às 19:00h e às 22:00h)

8º FESTIVAL PORTA-JAZZ - CONHEÇA AQUI A PROGRAMAÇÃO COMPLETA

O Festival Porta-Jazz está de regresso com a sua maior edição de sempre!

Concertos, lançamentos de discos, oficinas e jam sessions.

Os bilhetes para os concertos da 8.ª edição do Festival Porta-Jazz estão à venda nas respectivas salas e custam 5€ (preço por sessão única ou dupla).

A ENTRADA é LIVRE para os membros da associação*.

De 2 a 9 de Dezembro, o Porto vai receber 70 músicos profissionais, 20 dos quais estrangeiros, numa programação composta por 17 concertos entre estreias e parcerias artísticas. O Rivoli, a Casa da Música, a FEUP (Faculdade de Engenharia da Univ. do Porto), o Passos Manuel e a Sala Porta-Jazz – sede da associação – vão ser os palcos da 8.ª edição do festival. Haverá ainda oficinas na ESMAE (Escola Superior de música, Artes e Espectáculo) e um encontro de escolas de jazz no Conservatório de Música do Porto.

2 Dez.

18h00 Sala Porta-Jazz :: Gysler-Perez-Nick Trio (CH) - AMR

19h00 Sala Porta-Jazz :: The Nada (PT)

22h00 Sala Porta-Jazz :: Controvento (CH) - AMR

3 Dez.

21h30 Casa da Música :: Coreto, lançamento de "Analog" (PT)

22h30 Casa da Música :: In Love With de Sylvain Darrifourcq (FR)

5 Dez.

21h30 Passos Manuel :: Mirrors (Guimarães Jazz / Porta-Jazz #3) (PT, ES)

22:30 ESMAE :: Jam Session

6 Dez.

21h30 FEUP :: Ariel Bringuez Quarteto present "Jazzing the Classics" (CU, AG)

7 Dez.

21:30 Rivoli, Ricardo Toscano Quarteto (PT)

22h30 Rivoli :: Grande Auditório :: Eduardo Cardinho Group (PT, NL)

23h30 Rivoli, Café :: Gomes/Rosado/Monteiro (PT) + Jam session

8 Dez.

18h00 Rivoli, Pequeno Auditório :: AP Quarteto (PT)

19h00 Rivoli, Pequeno Auditório :: LAMA (PT, CA)

21h30 Rivoli, Grande Auditório :: Porto-Barcelona Connection feat. Marco Mezquida

22h30 Rivoli, Grande Auditório :: AXES (PT)

23h30 Rivoli, Café :: ESMAE Ensemble + Jam Session

9 Dez.

19h00 Sala Porta-Jazz :: Bode Wilson, lançamento de "Lascas" (PT, AR)

22h00 Sala Porta-Jazz :: Ricardo Formoso, lançamento de "Origens" (PT, ES)

Actividades escolas

5 dez 14h00, ESMAE :: Oficina com Virxilio da Silva

3 dez 11h00, Conservatório de Música do Porto :: Encontro Escolas (Oficinas)

3 dez 14h30, Conservatório de Música do Porto :: Encontro Escolas (concertos combos)

*Poderá tornar-se Membro Porta-Jazz à entrada de cada concerto do Festival e também nos concertos da Sala-Porta Jazz.

*portajazz.com/about/membros/ - cotas válidas por 1 ano: Membro amigo 40 euros; Membro músico/estudante 25 euros.

Nuno Guedes Campos Trio - Sensations... Illusions... (SINTOMA RECORDS 2017)

| SENSATIONS...ILLUSIONS... |

Anticipation... Dejà-vu... Elements... Contours... Palindrome... Walking... Going up... Going down... Progressive... Transition... Reasons... Sensations... Illusions... Line... Repeat... Unconscious... Contemplation... Unexpected... Environment... Unifying... Somewhere... Memory... Emotion... Recurring... Reflection... Reaction... Effect... Print... Image... Wire... Driver... Insert... Energetic... Intimist... Idea... Elsewhere... Obsessive... Surrounding... Containment... Direction... Improvisation... Satisfaction... Timing...

1. Intervalo em Ponte de Sôr 06:23

2. Walking Down the Stairs 06:15

3. O Estranho Caminhante 05:35

4. À Volta de Um Instante 05:05

5. Um Sambinha Moderno 06:18

6. Sensations...Illusions... 04:20

7. Horizon's Look 05:01

Nuno Guedes Campos (compositions & guitars)

Nelson Cascais (contrabaixo | double bass)

Bruno Pedroso (bateria | drums)

Maciej Obara Quartet – Unloved (ECM 2017)

The Maciej Obara Quartet was established in 2012 by Polish saxophone player Maciej Obara, with Dominik Wania (piano), Ole Morten Vaagan (double bass) and Gard Nilssen (drums).

The quartet embodies the very best of today's leading European jazz scene and each member posesses an individual sound emerging from differing musical experiences. Obara has invited powerful and mature artists who create complete, mindful and, above all, beautiful music together.

The band has performed in prestigious venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center (NY), Jazz Standard (NY), Porgy & Bess (Vienna), Cotton Club (Tokyo) as well as at festivals like London Jazz Festival, Tokyo Jazz Festival, Jarasum Intl Jazz Festival, Vancouver Jazz, Ottawa Jazz Festival, Warsaw Summer Jazz Days, Molde Jazz Festival, Festiwal Jazztopad, Akbank, Izmir Jazz Festival, or New Haven Jazz Festival.

After 5 years of intensive touring, the Maciej Obara Quartet received an invitation from Manfred Eicher to record an album for one of the world's most prestigious record labels – ECM. As a result, the new album “Unloved” will be released in September 2017. The album contains original compositions by Obara, as well as one track by the legendary Polish composer Krzysztof Komeda.

“Unloved” is the first studio recording of the quartet, vividly presenting the leader’s lyrical inspirations from the Polish jazz masters and Romantic-era composers alike. The whole is completed by the remarkable harmonic sensibility of Dominik Wania, the folk sound of Ole Morten Vaagan and the rock feeling of Gard Nilssen.

Freedom, intuition and great communication characterize the Maciej Obara Quartet and enable the members to follow risky musical paths, emphasising the dynamism and unpredictability of each concert.

The diversity of the band is reflected by vigorous intensity - contrastingly overcome by lyricism and completed by the leader’s compositions.

The Maciej Obara Quartet presents young and active musicians of the European jazz scene, jazz being one of the many vectors of the band. If musical genres are languages, we can easily say that Maciej Obara Quartet has mastered many of them, mainly deriving from classical and improvised music.