Thursday, March 28, 2019

New Releases: Brendan Rothwell - Sentiment; Luca - Lions; The Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman - Open Road


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.  ~ smoothjazz.com


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