An aspect of the jazz music business that tends to be
ignored is touring. There are only so many venues with budgets and a limited
supply of booking agents. Artists who manage to find both are either popular
sensations or lucky, especially in a country as vast and diverse as the United
States. It takes a lot of motivation, courage and a devil-may-care attitude to
set out solo on the road, and since 2016, rising star trumpeter/flugelhornist
John Raymond has done just that with his trio Real Feels, self-booking an
astonishing 100+ performances with the band over the past three years.
From the beginning, Raymond’s goal with Real Feels was to
create a small, focused ensemble with a strong band dynamic and identity.
Alongside guitarist Gilad Hekselman and drummer Colin Stranahan, the group has
recorded three albums together, including 2018’s Joy Ride on Sunnyside Records.
As they have done for previous records, Real Feels hit the road for an extended
four-month, 40-date tour that allowed their material, along with the ensemble,
to grow and refine itself. Raymond recorded a handful of their concerts, and
chose the music from their performance at the Blue Whale in Los Angeles, which
is now being released as Real Feels Live Vol. 2 (January 18 via Sunnyside
Records).
When Real Feels recorded Joy Ride, each track was in nascent
form, some only having been played in rehearsals. By the end of the tour, which
spanned across the United States and Asia at venues of all types and sizes --
with audiences of all description -- the songs began to develop new personas.
Each song, in a sense, was born again from the road, which is showcased fully
on Real Feels Live Vol. 2.
The album begins with Raymond’s “Follower,” a modern
jazz-meets indie rock tune that features Raymond the entire way. The groove is
a bit faster and has more of a “lived-in” feel than it's studio version
original, making for a fitting opening statement to the album. The group’s
cover of Bon Iver’s “Minnesota, WI” opens up for both Hekselman and Stranahan.
Their development of the introduction along with Hekselman's solo showcase the
full capacity of the band’s aural identity featuring more electronics, effects
and looping. This can also be heard on the group’s rendition of the hymn “Be
Still, My Soul.” The song notably begins with an expansive, ambient solo
introduction from Raymond utilizing effects pedals and looping on his
flugelhorn, an added aspect of his arsenal that is now an integral part of the
band’s sound.
Hekselman’s plectral guitar musings set the stage for
Raymond’s plainchant horn on the intro to the title track “Joy Ride,” done here
as an expanded version of the original and featuring an extended drum solo by
Stranahan. The album concludes with the group’s take on Bob Dylan’s “The Times
They Are A-Changin’,” a piece that remains as vital today as it was when
originally conceived, and is done here in a heartrending rendition by a
simpatico ensemble of sensitivity.
Raymond notes Real Feels Live Vol. 2 is, “the strongest,
most cohesive statement this band has made yet.” Combined with the fact that he
has become a model to many of his peers as to what a successful, DIY-bandleader
should look like, the trajectory for Raymond and the group continues to reach
higher and higher.
Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, John Raymond is
making a name for himself as one of the most promising, genre-bending musicians
in jazz today. With a singular voice as a trumpeter, flugelhornist and
composer, Raymond is “steering jazz in the right direction” says DownBeat, by
pushing its boundaries, seamlessly incorporating indie-rock, folk and
electronic influences into his music. Something Else! Reviews states, “This is
jazz, yes, but jazz with an open mind."
Raymond’s primary band Real Feels is a bass-less trio which
includes rising stars Gilad Hekselman (guitar), Colin Stranahan (drums) and
Raymond on flugelhorn. The group has released four albums together since 2016,
all receiving high praise from Stereogum, The New York Times, DownBeat and
JazzTimes among others. Their warm, lyrical melodies are complemented by an
infusion of electronics and effects, giving the group a sound that is entirely
accessible and relevant. Add to this the deep chemistry between the musicians,
and it’s no surprise that Real Feels is one of the hottest new groups in jazz
today.
John Raymond & Real Feels · Real Feels Live Vol. 2
Sunnyside Records · Release Date: January 18, 2018
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