Brendan
Rothwell - Sentiment
UK born,
Calgary-based bassist Brendan Rothwell traces his love of the instrument and
its intense soul possibilities to hearing the legendary Marcus Miller play on
Miles Davis’ 80’s classic TUTU. On the heels of a debut that charted both in
the U.S and Canada, his latest album SENTIMENT, is an eclectic, deeply rhythmic
sonic experience. He includes several picture perfect, frothy funk, Smooth Jazz
tracks, but the collection’s deeper pleasures expand the emotional palette into
neo-soul, jazz fusion and even ambient territory. Reminiscent of the most genre-transcendent
works of Miller, Brian Bromberg and Stanley Clarke, these songs are meditative
masterpieces, taking him to contemplative realms of expression rich with mood
and immersive atmospheres. ~
smoothjazz.com
Luca - Lions
Influenced
by the laid-back neo-soul of D'Angelo, Ms. Lauryn Hill, and Anderson .paak, and
the expressive lyricism of Joni Mitchell, Kendrick Lamar, and Elliot Smith,
Lions is the culmination of a childhood of musical discovery. Written,
recorded, and co-produced by Luca (vocals/keyboards), backed by seasoned
session musicians Jordan Scannella (bass), Sean Dixon (drums), and Josh Dion
(synth bass/drums), and joined by a horn section of rising jazz musicians Zaq
Davis and James Haddad (both trumpet), all at the helm of prolific producer and
engineer David Lawrence Goldman, Lions is an immersive musical calendar, with
each song dedicated to a month of the year. Luca, a jazz pianist and
singer-songwriter from NYC, is only 18 but musically an old soul. Inspired by
the great concept records of the 1970s, he creates a vivid sonic landscape for
each season, in which songs live and breathe. From "Spring Again," a
vibrant homage to the synth-rich funk of Stevie Wonder, to "Saint
Sulpice," a passionate plea for honest love inspired by a choral concert
in a church in Paris, the album is a window into a year in Luca's life. Like
the passage of time, Lions is cyclical, beginning where it ends; more
importantly, it's music that we can all get down to.
The Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman - Open Road
A few years
ago, as his ever-evolving ensemble capped three decades as an innovative force
in contemporary jazz, Rippingtons founder Russ Freeman whimsically stated,
“When I started the band, I never imagined it would last more than the release
of one album, let alone 30 years!” The title of The Ripps’ sonically and
rhythmically eclectic album OPEN ROAD speaks to the composer, guitarist and
keyboardist’s freshly expansive mindset. He juxtaposes silky, lighthearted
tunes that recall the group’s early heyday with progressive excursions that
showcase his penchant for musical off-roading. While keeping his trademark
melodic flow, Freeman includes bold symphonic textures, scorching jazz-rock
fusion and a universe of transcendent sonic vibes and effects, including wild
African drums (courtesy of Dave Karasony) and otherworldly George Duke-esque
synth runs.
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