Lauren Henderson - Alma Oscura
Lauren Henderson is a prolific vocalist, composer, and
arranger, as well as a budding entrepreneur. Alma Oscura is Henderson’s fifth
CD since her self-titled, debut release in 2011. Based in New York City,
Henderson has been performing in major venues around town, as well as shuttling
back and forth to Miami, where her Latin sounds are particularly popular with
the area’s large Cuban population. She has also toured extensively
internationally and is returning to Europe in 2019.Henderson’s music is
strongly inflected with jazz, Latin, soul, and fusion elements, and Alma
Oscura, like all her previous work, reflects Henderson’s multi-cultural
background. Alma Oscura means “dark soul” in English. According to Henderson, “The
project is an exploration of culture,
the poisons of social norms, race relations, and the complexities navigated
through society as we encounter love and death.” Sung in both English and
Spanish, these compositions paint stories reflecting journeys imposed through
the African diaspora and filtered through Henderson's multi-cultural heritage
and American upbringing. Henderson’s voice has a soft, smoky quality that seems
to float above the music, yet conveys great emotional depth and a bittersweet
longing. The tunes on Alma Oscura are painted with a somber hue, but are never
maudlin. Rather, the entire vibe of the album creates the impression of a
person engaged in an inner monologue, looking for the answers to some of life’s
most important questions.
Charnett Moffett - Bright New Day
Inspired by the electric periods of three chief influences -
Jaco Pastorius, Ornette Coleman, and Miles Davis - legendary jazz bassist
Charnett Moffett's Bright New Day represents a new chapter in his expanding
legacy of jazz innovation.
Internationally acclaimed for his pyrotechnic upright acoustic bass work
on his own recordings and with a virtual "who's who" of jazz, Moffett
changes the game here, appearing for the first time exclusively with his
fretless electric bass guitar and a new powerhouse touring band featuring
rising-star violinist Scott Tixier, keyboard specialist Brian Jackson (known
for his innovations with Gil Scott-Heron), drummer Mark Whitfield Jr, and
electric guitarist Jana Herzen, a fellow Motema recording artist and founder
and President of Motema.
Rob Ryndak / Tom Lockwood - Gratitude
On "Gratitude,” Chicago-based pianist and percussionist Rob
Ryndack and reedman Tom Lockwood present a program of 12 original compositions.
The two artists contributed six works each, creating a montage of jazz tunes
with a distinctly Latin accent and a few dashes of pop and funk. This is
Ryndak’s sixth CD as a leader or co-leader. He’s recorded and played with a
long list of Chicago greats, and he’s performed with his ensemble at festivals
throughout the Midwest. A versatile musician, on “Gratitude” Lockwood plays
tenor, alto, soprano, and baritone sax, as well as clarinet, bass clarinet, and
flute. Lockwood has led several CD projects with different bands, and has also
been a sideman on numerous recordings. He currently performs in several bands
and orchestras, including a couple of salsa bands. Ryndak and Lockwood brought
on board for this project some of the top players based in Chicago and
Michigan, as well as Grammy-winning trumpeter Brian Lynch, who flew out from
Miami to be part of this album. “Gratitide” is a project with a lot of heart
and soul. The two artists have imbued the music not only with their expansive
musical visions, but also with their personal stories and philosophies. It is a journey through different musical
styles all held together through the masterful writing and performing of Ryndak
and Lockwood. ‘Gratitude” is a recording that is filled with lush imagery and
rife with vivid emotions and spiritual affections.
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