Featuring Joe Fiedler (trombone), Jeff Lederer (tenor &
soprano saxes), Pete McCann (guitar), Rob Jost (bass) & Michael Sarin
(drums)
"Fiedler is a veteran of big and small jazz, rock and
Latin ensembles. He's composed musical cues for Sesame Street and, in separate
projects, paid tribute to Wayne Shorter and Captain Beefheart. He's equally
facile playing inside and outside, but just as important, he likes and respects
both. The trio's fourth recording marks out a boundary where these elements can
cordially coexist, and then throws a party inside that perimeter." - Bill
Meyer, DownBeat Magazine (Four-star review on I'm In)
"In addition to his diverse sideman work, Fiedler's
reputation as a vanguard artist with a penchant for experimenting outside
conventional norms is somewhat belied by the accessibility of his creative
efforts-which are well represented on this engaging (and appropriately titled)
session. I'm In, a noteworthy addition to his burgeoning discography, is every
bit as compelling as the work of his heroes." - Troy Collins, AllAboutJazz
"The versatile
Joe Fiedler has often been associated with the avant-garde . . . [but he]
proves that he's also a master of swing and blues-based music . . . he uses
superb technique, which includes playing chords (multiphonics), and a wit
worthy of trombonist Ray Anderson to invigorate straight ahead jazz, paying
indirect tributes to tradition while simultaneously turning the music inside
out" - Jazziz Magazine
The imaginative and adventurous trio of trombonist,
composer, bandleader Joe Fiedler, bassist Rob Jost and drummer Michael Sarin
just accomplished the near-impossible; with the addition of saxophonist Jeff
Lederer and guitarist Pete McCann they have broadened their melodic and
harmonic range, and expanded rhythmically, becoming even more awe-inspiring.
The Quintet is featured in all its splendor on Fiedler's new recording, Like,
Strange (available on Multiphonics Music on March 17, 2017). After thirteen
years of leading his trio (documented on I'm In, Plays The Music of Albert
Mangelsdorff, The Crab and Sacred Chrome Orb), and that format being his
primary creative outlet, Fiedler felt the urge to expand. He explains,
"after more than a decade of playing trio I still love it, but I found
myself wanting to branch out and bring different colors and textures to my
music. Thus I thought that it was time to add some people who were both unique
soloists and great interpreters of music in general."
Like, Strange, in many ways, is a continuation of the music
from Fiedler's previous critically acclaimed recording, I'm In (which also
features bassist Jost and drummer Sarin). "In general, and similar to my
previous recording, the compositions are more traditional forms and variations
of traditional chord progressions, yet still pliable and able to handle both
inside and outside playing. For my ears, adding Pete and Jeff turned out to be
the perfect way to expand the trio and give it an added, richer depth of color
and sound," said Fiedler.
Joe Fiedler on Jeff Lederer:
"Last year I was working as a sideman on a project along with Jeff
and we got to talking about our shared and unique niche in the music world. We
are probably the only two musicians that have been playing for years in both
the 'downtown' jazz and hardcore Latin music scenes. So during a rehearsal I
had an idea to loosely fuse these two worlds and make a project that played old
school Latin boogaloos, but with a more open-freewheeling vibe. Jeff was into
it and the expanded trio was set into motion. Then a funny thing happened. We
started playing together a lot over the past year in many different
configurations and I loved the hook up that we had. Suddenly the concept of the
boogaloo became secondary to the idea of writing music that just felt good and
highlighted the way that our sounds came together."
Joe Fiedler on Pete McCann:
"So I began writing music that had a Latin feel but I wouldn't
consider it 'Latin Jazz.' I realized how lucky I was to have Rob Jost and
Michael Sarin, rhythmic masters who are quite able to handle any style that I
wanted to bring to this project. I also realized that in order to fully embrace
the harmonies and textures that I was hearing I was going to need a chordal
instrument. Pete was the very first person to come to mind. I have played with
him in many different bands for more than twenty years and his creativity and
virtuosity are second to none, not to mention the sense of humor and positivity
that he brings to the bandstand/studio/hang.
More on the music on Like, Strange:
GO GET IT - Inspired by one of Fiedler's favorite composers,
Jimmy Guiffre, With this tune the trombonist/composer was looking to write
something a little playful. This has an unconventional, long form that starts
as a jazz waltz and is broken up with half-time funk sections.
MAPLE AVENUE TANGO - Fiedler has always loved the tango and
the way that guys like Dr. John and Bennie Wallace took a greasy approach this
rhythm, so here he offers his take on it. "I love the way that the two
horns trading solos turned out - Jeff's idea, in the studio," said Fiedler
A LADYBUG IN MY NOTEBOOK - This tune highlights Fiedler's
current interest in simple motifs and less angularity. After years with the
trio he was quite happy to have another horn to create melodic tension. Note
how the low register of soprano saxophone blends with the trombone, adding a
nice change of texture.
LIKE, STRANGE - The title track "Like, Strange"
was once Fiedler's daughter Cleo's assessment of his music. The composition was
also loosely inspired by early recordings of John Scofield.
E.T. (For Eje Thelin) - Thelin is perhaps the most
overlooked jazz trombone master of all time, especially in the U.S. Fiedler
explains, "next to Ray Anderson, he is probably my biggest influence and I
just really wanted to write something for him. He was known for his
Coltrane-esque 'sheets of sound' in his improvisations."
GUIRO NUEVO - "I have always loved the Guiro (the
rhythm, not the instrument) and its infectious, hypnotic quality. I was always
a big fan of the great Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache band and their use of
this rhythm," commented Fiedler.
TUNA FISH CANS - This tune was inspired by Fiedler's wife,
Shari, and her use of the expression, "tuna fish cans," while
teaching Pilates. "The expression is just a verbal cue to help clients
visualize the vertebrae in their lower back.
She encourages them to try and separate and create space between the
stacked cans. So I set out to write more of a classic Latin jazz tune with five
'cans' with a little separation between them," said Fiedler.
QUASI... - Fiedler finally got around to tackling a
boogaloo, however when completed he wasn't so sure of its boogaloo-ness, hence
the title.
YINZ - "Yinz" is a Pittsburgh expression meaning
"you guys." "For balance, and because I dig it, I felt that the
arc of the recording needed some free improvisation and textural
elements," said Fiedler.
CD Release Celebrations!:
March 22 - "Dimensions in Jazz" Series, Portland, ME
March 23 - The Lily Pad, Cambridge, MA
March 24 - Firehouse 12, New Haven, CT
March 25 - The Jazz Gallery, NYC
March 30 - The Bop Shop, Rochester, NY
April 3 - Quinn's, Beacon, NY
April 6 - An Die Musik, Baltimore, MD
May 21 - Twin's Jazz, Washington, D.C.
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