Monday, July 21, 2014

New Releases: Michael Carvin Experience - Flash Forward; Greg Reitan - Post No Bills; Diane Monroe & Tony Miceli - Alone Together

MICHAEL CARVIN EXPERIENCE - FLASH FORWARD

Having played with many of the jazz giants in his impressive career (Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Freddie Hubbard & more), master drummer Michael Carvin taps into a new generation of young, international talent to form his quartet, Michael Carvin Experience. Carvin, who has taught a veritable 'who s who' of drummers, brings his vast experience to put his unique fingerprint on iconic songs on Flash Forward, an album of jazz classics. A top master of the craft of drumming, Michael Carvin has played and recorded with the biggest names in jazz, including Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Jackie McLean, Hank Jones, McCoy Tyner, Illinois Jacquet, Pharoah Sanders, Bobby Hutcherson, James Moody, Hampton Hawes, Ruth Brown, Johnny Hartman, Abbey Lincoln, Jimmy Smith, Hugh Masekela, Alice Coltrane, Cecil Taylor, Charles Brown, Terumasa Hino, Bobby Watson and Billy Bang. ~ Amazon.com


GREG REITAN - POST NO BILLS

After years of experimentation and exploration, it can be beneficial and, occasionally, revelatory to look backwards to known paths and accomplishments. The reexamination of an older composition can lead to new discoveries and goals for an ensemble that has been performing together for years. Pianist/composer Greg Reitan has led his fantastic trio of bassist Jack Daro and drummer Dean Koba since 1996, formed shortly after their graduation from University of Southern California s Thornton School of Music. Their long and fruitful tenure has created a fantastic partnership, which can be fully enjoyed on their new recording Post No Bills. Originally from Seattle, Washington, Reitan relocated to Los Angeles to study composition at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. Upon graduation, he organized the trio with Daro and Koba to perform at the 1996 Hennessy Cognac Jazz Search in New York City, in which Reitan was a finalist. The trio needed an original composition for their performance. Reitan decided to revisit a composition he had written for solo viola and orchestra and he then adapted elements for their piano trio. Being in New York City for the first time, Reitan was inspired by the myriad of sights and sounds, ultimately naming the piece after the nearly ubiquitous warning, Post No Bills. Over the years, Post No Bills fell out of the trio s repertoire. It wasn t until the summer of 2013 that Reitan rediscovered it. Reitan: I made a few changes and decided to record it as the centerpiece for the new album. It s really gratifying to see how the composition 

DIANE MONROE / TONY MICELI - ALONE TOGETHER

Two of Philadelphia s most revered jazz artists unite for an intimate, exploratory duo session on Alone Together. Violinist Diane Monroe and vibraphonist Tony Miceli have been playing together since the mid-'80s, and the fruits of that three-decade relationship are evident throughout their debut collaboration. The album s thirteen tracks encompass the wide range of the pair s mutual interests, from jazz to classical, standards to spirituals, originals to classics, and even an unexpected TV theme song. Both Monroe and Miceli have long histories of forging rich collaborations in Philadelphia and beyond. Monroe has bridged the jazz and classical traditions for most of her career. She studied at Oberlin Conservatory, Philadelphia Musical Academy, Michigan State University, and the Curtis Institute of Music. She toured for more than a decade with the Max Roach Double Quartet and the Uptown String Quartet and performed extensively as a member of the String Trio of New York, all ensembles which fused classical virtuosity with jazz improvisation. Miceli has been a force on the Philly jazz scene since 1980 while touring the world and mentoring young players as an educator. In 1990 he co-founded the group Monkadelphia, dedicated to playing the music of Thelonious Monk. He is also a member of the PhilOrch Jazz Ensemble, a quartet featuring members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He has worked with countless jazz luminaries as both a leader and a sideman. ~ Amazon.com 

 


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