Frank Kimbrough counts among a handful of New York-based
pianists who have been refining and expanding the language of ensemble playing
over the last few decades (this November he marks 35 years in New York and his
sixtieth birthday). Declared a "a near-visionary whose piano-improvising,
composing, and band-leading skills seek out the dark corners of untrod jazz
terrain" by The New Yorker, Kimbrough is noted for his exquisite ensemble,
trio and solo recordings as well as his duo work with Lee Konitz, Scott
Robinson, Joe Locke and Paul Bley, his work as a sideman in Dewey Redman's
quartet, and his long-term involvement with the Jazz Composers Collective and
the Maria Schneider Orchestra. On Solstice, acclaimed players and longtime
musical companions, bassist Jay Anderson and drummer Jeff Hirshfield join Frank
to explore the music of some of the jazz masters who have left a personal
imprint on his life.
Kimbrough has had an uncanny ability of meeting the right
person at the right time. Shortly after his move to Washington, DC in 1980
Frank met the exceptional singer/ pianist Shirley Horn, who became his friend
and mentor. The next year he migrated to New York where he came under the
tutelage of one of his heroes, pianist Paul Bley. Around the same period
Kimbrough met the ground-breaking pianist Andrew Hill whose music
"...literally changed my life. Andrew was an enigma, an inspiration, a
mentor, and a dear friend." With the Big Apple as his base, the next years
were ripe with tours and recordings. In 1992, Kimbrough helped found the Jazz
Composers Collective, an entity that lasted for 13 years, resulting in a
concert series, a score of recordings and frequent tours by many of its groups.
In1993 the acclaimed American composer Maria Schneider
invited Kimbrough to join her orchestra. This ongoing musical relationship has
resulted in Frank's participation in a slew of Grammy award-winning projects as
well as in Maria's collaborations with soprano Dawn Upshaw and the Australian
Chamber Orchestra, and with David Bowie. Schneider marvels, "He wraps
himself around each soloist and takes care to go in the direction they're
going. I hear things he plays and think Oh God if only I could write
that." Add to these impressive credentials his resume of residencies and
workshops on 5 continents, an ongoing nine-year stint teaching at the Juilliard
School, and some 20 critically acclaimed albums under his own name.
For Solstice, Kimbrough chose two musicians "whose
judgment I trust completely." Bassist Jay Anderson has more than 400
recordings under his belt; he has played and recorded with an incredible
diversity of musicians, including Michael Brecker, John Scofield, Frank Zappa,
and Celine Dion (1997 Record of the Year Grammy). He and Kimbrough have been
playing together for some 20 years in Maria's band, the Gil Evans Project and
various other groups, as well as on two of Frank's previous albums. Drummer
Jeff Hirshfield and Frank also go back 20 years, including several tours
together in trio. Hirshfield's and Anderson's musical connection began in the
early 80's, and over the years they have often worked and recorded together in
a variety of contexts, including Paul Bley's highly regarded album Notes On
Ornette. It all intertwines into an enticing spiral of connections between the
three.
Kimbrough says that, "I selected compositions that
speak to me in ways that are unique and personal. Jay and Jeff didn't know what
we were going to play and didn't see the music until we arrived at the date.
There was almost no discussion and no
rehearsal - we simply began to play."
Most of the pieces are first takes.
About the tunes, Frank says:
"The simplicity of Seven by Carla Bley shows her
genius. I've loved her tunes since first hearing them as a teenager.
Shirley Horn was a magical pianist and vocalist who really
knew how to cast a spell. Her recording from a concert in Paris inspired me to
play Gershwin's Here Come the Honey Man.
Solstice was composed by Maryanne de Prophetis, the composer/poet/lyricist
and vocalist who is my life partner and constant inspiration.
The Sunflower was composed by Paul Motian, a singular
drummer/composer, and one of the most unique person- alities in jazz. I enjoyed
every moment we spent together both on and off the bandstand.
Annette Peacock's Albert's Love Theme was written for Albert
Ayler. Annette's pieces are very personal and spe- cific, yet open, like a
landscape.
The only original on the disk is Question's the Answer, as
in "the question IS the answer". It has a strong connection to the
blues and the bassist has many "root" options.
From California with Love was composed by Andrew Hill in the
'70's. I love the mysterious beauty and humanity of his compositions-so modern
and free, yet rooted in the tradition.
El Cordobes was written by Annette Peacock for the
flamboyant Spanish bullfighter Manuel Benítez Pérez. Like Albert's Love Theme
and Seven, I first heard it played by Paul Bley's mid-60's trio.
Walking by Flashlight is from Maria Schneider's song cycle
Winter Morning Walks. Maria is a national treasure, and I feel very fortunate
to be a part of her musical world."
On their first CD together the trio's philosophy was simply
to listen, trust, and respond to one another; in so doing, they have created a
gradated musical atmosphere that envelops the enigmatic and the translucent,
the mysterious and the artlessly elegant.
Frank Kimbrough Upcoming Performances
2016
Oct. 27 - Frank Kimbrough Trio w/ Jay Anderson and Jeff
Hirshfield - Small's, NYC
Oct. 28 - w/Jay Clayton group - Kitano, NYC
Oct. 29 - Frank Kimbrough/ Kirk Knuffke Duo - Spectrum,
NYC
Nov. 4 - w/Maria Schneider Orchestra - Bucknell
University, Lewisburg, PA
Nov. 10 - w/Marty Ehrlich Sextet playing music of
Andrew Hill - The Stone, NYC
Nov. 18 - w/Maryanne de Prophetis, Ron Horton, Satoshi Takeishi - Michiko Studio, NYC
Nov. 20 - Frank Kimbrough solo piano - the Owl Music
Parlor - Brooklyn, NY
Nov. 22, 23, 25 - 27 - with Maria Schneider Orchestra -
Jazz Standard, NYC
Dec. 8 - Frank Kimbrough Trio w/ Jay Anderson and Jeff
Hirshfield - Kitano, NYC
2017
Jan. 17 - Frank Kimbrough - Solo piano concert - Univ. of
Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Jan. 18 - Frank Kimbrough - master class - Univ. of Central
Florida, Orlando, FL
Feb. 10/11 - Frank Kimbrough Trio w/ Jay Anderson and
Jeff Hirshfield - "official" CD release weekend - Kitano, NYC
Feb. 16 - w/Maria Schneider Orchestra - St. Paul, Minnesota
Feb. 17 - w/Maria Schneider Orchestra - Portland Jazz
Festival
Feb. 18 - w/Maria Schneider Orchestra - Humboldt St.
University, Arcata, CA
Feb. 19 - w/Maria Schneider Orchestra - UC Berkeley
Feb. 20 - w/Maria Schneider Orchestra - Lobero Theater,
Santa Barbara, CA
Feb. 21 -w/Maria Schneider Orchestra - SOKA PAC, Aliso
Viejo, CA
Feb. 22 - w/Maria Schneider Orchestra - Valley PAC,
Northridge, CA
Mar. - w/Maria Schneider Orchestra - Kennedy Center, Washington, DC
Mar. 10 - w/Maria Schneider Orchestra - Babson College,
Wellesley, MA
Mar. 11 - w/Maria Schneider Orchestra - Yale, New Haven,
CT
May 25 - 28 w/Gil Evans Project - Jazz Standard
No comments:
Post a Comment