PETER HORSFALL - NIGHTHAWKS
Singer, songwriter and trumpeter Peter Horsfall releases his
debut album Nighthawks this autumn. This cinematic song cycle of nighttime
ballads includes five original compositions co-written with Giacomo Smith
('Nighthawks', 'Then I Saw You', 'Secretly', 'Couldn't Stop Lovin' You' and
'This is Goodbye') as well as interpretations of 'Paradise' by Barry Harris and
'Sunset & The Mockingbird' by Duke Ellington with new lyrics by Horsfall. The
ensemble features a stellar cast of the UK's most exciting young jazz soloists
drawn from Horsfall's band mates in the renowned Kansas Smittys House Band – saxophonist Giacomo Smith,
pianist Joe Webb, Ferg Ireland on double bass and Pedro Segundo on drums.
Horsfall sets down his horn for this release, choosing to put his vocals at the
front and centre of the project. "The choice to work with this specific
personnel for my solo record was easy - it's an ensemble of musicians with a
refined sensibility for ballad playing. These are four musicians in whom I have
total trust." says Horsfall. "I've also been a fan of singer Cecile
McLoren Salvant's visual art for some years now and am overjoyed that she has
painted three beautiful watercolours on the theme of Nighthawks to accompany
this release, adding a special element to the album artwork". "Nighthawks
is a love letter to the ballad form. It embraces the twilight, loneliness, and
ultimate romance of the nighttime," says Horsfall. "Edward Hopper's
painting of the same name has always chimed with me. The lonely figures of the
nightime scene; the waiter working until the early hours, the man sat lonesome
at the counter. Perhaps it is musicians who are the definitive
nighthawks." For fans of: Kurt Elling, José James, Gregory Porter, Shirley
Horn, Tom Waits, Billie Holiday
SLY5THAVE - THE INVISIBLE MAN: AN ORCHESTRAL TRIBUTE TO DR. DRE
With "The Invisible Man: An Orchestral Tribute to Dr.
Dre" multi-instrumentalist and producer Sly5thAve releases one of his most
accomplished works to date. The album comes from a place of collaboration and
pioneers an openness to improvisation and experimentation, resulting in a
collection of visionary jazz cross-over tributes to Dr. Dre's work. A
significant marker of the collaborative process can be heard in the many
link-ups and vocal features which hit home throughout the record; from Will
"Quantic" Holland ('The Edge') and Marc de Clive-Lowe ('Drelude for
Woo') to Jimetta Rose ('Let Me Ride') and Melissa McMillan ('I'd Rather Be With
You'), each significantly contributing to the album's rhythmic and melodic
flair. Honing many of his chops through former projects and on the road as a
session musician, Sly5thAve has also worked as a collaborator and session
musician with such legendary and established artists such as; Prince, Stevie
Wonder, Janelle Monáe and Quantic.
CHIARA PANCALDI - WHAT IS THERE TO SAY
With What is There to Say , Italian jazz singer Chiara
Pancaldi demonstrates her talent to sing jazz standards in a flawless and
convincing way. Chiara formed a pure acoustic trio with Kirk Lightsey (piano)
and Darryl Hall (double bass) to record this album and they are joined by
special guests Jeremy Pelt (trumpet) and Laurent Maur (harmonica) who play on
one track each. The recording is a true live session, with the artists
improvising freely. Each song, whether it is the famous standard On the Sunny
Side of the Street or the obscure Strayhorn tune Love Came, has its own
atmosphere. 'We chose a repertoire that could allow us to take chances and get
loose but at the same time be tight on the musical structures and arrangements…' Chiara Pancaldi. The album was recorded at Studio de Meudon, Paris in March
2017.
No comments:
Post a Comment