Reggie Quinerly Invictus Drummer/composer
Reggie Quinerly made an indelible impression on the jazz world with his 2012
debut recording, Music Inspired by Freedmantown, a soulful and serious-minded
tribute to the historic African-American neighborhood in Houston where he grew
up. For his second CD, Invictus, which will be released by the drummer's
Redefinition Music label on March 17, Quinerly takes inspiration -- and the
CD's title -- from the 1875 poem by William Ernest Henley ("I am the
master of my fate / I am the captain of my soul").
"Many
of today's artists face great uncertainty," Quinerly observes in the new
CD's notes, ". . . and while critics, musicians and fans continue to
debate the commercial sustainability of an entire industry, I firmly believe
its sustainability rests solely within us creators: no matter who is (or isn't)
listening, we must persevere, we must create and we must document, because only
that which is documented lives on."
Invictus
demonstrates with its very different musical demands just how much Quinerly has
developed into a balanced yet ever-evolving artist. The album surrounds him
with a brilliant young cast: vibraphonist Warren Wolf, regarded as one of the
most exciting players on the instrument in years; prodigious pianist Christian
Sands; rising guitarist Yotam Silberstein; and lyrical bassist Alan Hampton.
One of the wonders of Invictus is how much freedom the compositions allow these
ravishing soloists while staying inside its textural designs.
Reggie Quinerly Quinerly had this particular
instrumentation in mind from the start, crafting compositions that took into
account the sonorities and lyrical abilities of each player. Wolf is showcased
on the album opener "Tavares," dedicated to Horace Silver and
"rooted in tradition with a certain earthiness." Bassist Hampton,
Quinerly's high school classmate and "one of my favorite musicians to work
with," is the soloist on the melodic "Nimzo Indian," named for
the chess strategy. Guitarist Silverstein is featured on the ballad "Variation
24," and Sands on the solo piano piece "Kunst Überlebt" (Art
Survives). On Reggie's arrangement of "My Blue Heaven," the disc's
only nonoriginal, the leader tips his hat to another musical influence, the
illustrious pianist and composer Mary Lou Williams.
"As
a composer, the melodies you write are like parts of your identity, like your
name," says Quinerly. "If a melody is not done right, if the notes
are not played properly, it's like mispronouncing your name. but all the
musicians on this project pay special attention to properly interpreting the
intended themes."
Reggie Quinerly, 34, was born
and raised in Houston's Fourth Ward -- once known as Freedmantown -- and
attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where his
classmates included Mike Moreno, Robert Glasper, Eric Harland, Jason Moran, and
Alan Hampton. After graduation he headed for New York City, enrolling at the
Mannes School of Music at New School University and studying there with Jimmy
Cobb, Lewis Nash, and Kenny Washington. He earned a B.A. from Mannes and later
an M.A. from Juilliard, both in Jazz Studies.
Noted as
"a drummer and composer of swinging disposition" (Nate Chinen, New
York Times), Quinerly has worked with such notable musicians as Von Freeman,
Vincent Herring, John Hicks, Joe Lovano, Branford Marsalis, Christian McBride,
Wynton Marsalis, and Greg Osby. With saxophonist Marcus Strickland, he also
played and lectured in New York City schools as part of Lincoln Center's Jazz
in the Schools program. He frequently collaborates with vocalist/pianist Enoch
Smith Jr., who appeared on Quinerly's first project.
The
first CD release show for Invictus will take place on Wednesday 3/25 at Smoke,
2751 Broadway, New York City, when Quinerly will lead a quartet comprised of
Jaleel Shaw, alto saxophone; Lawrence Fields, piano; and Alan Hampton, bass.
Additional dates are in the works.
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